My 15 yr.old healthy son, was suddenly diagnosed with Diabetes 1. I have spent the past 11 days in the hospital with him, and I am feeling very overwhelmed, very shocked, sad, anxious and upset. This happened very suddenly. He was losing weight very fast, every day I noticed that he was looking horrible, many pimples on his face, drinking vast amounts of water, eating alot all of the time, plus plus plus! When I took him to his G.P. he told me to take him directly to the Emergency at the children's hospital, and that is how it all began, how his life has suddenly changed, etc. It has been very difficult because all of a sudden, my Ex, his Father, is in the picture and it has been very emotional for all. His Father and I have accompanied him to the hospital every day to receive education on how to deal with this through a nurse and dietician and doctor. My son 's life has changed overnight, he now is giving himself 4 injections a day (he is wonderful!), he is learning about how he is going to count carbs, and, and, and........ - he is very brave and I am so proud of him - he is handling it strongly; it is me and my Ex - that seem to be trying to deal with this! All of a sudden having to be together..... his behaviour has been very "assertive/aggresive/controlling, and it is very difficult - there have been times where I have had to get up and leave the situation to avoid more stress on my son, as my Ex is very argumentative, defiant, angry and now is the time that my son is so fragile, and he should not need to have to witness any of these behaviours . My Ex has put me in a difficult position, crying, saying "we should get back together for my son's sake" !!! I had to leave him - "for my son's sake" (11 years ago!!) - "conjugal violence" ! I would appreciate any information on diabetes and teenagers - is anyone going through this? Also, any advice, comments, etc. appreciated. Thanks.

drali77

hi,
below are two links about Diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2
go through them you will find all the details about this disease

http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic581.htm

http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic134.htm

and dont worry everything will be fine

god help those who help themselves

NeedKarma

You're looking at it the wrong way. You now know what was wrong with your son, it's treatable, millions of it live with it daily, lots of support available (groups, websites, knowledgeable doctors, etc.). A 15 year can adjust to this new lifestyle and be very independant - it's what teenagers like to do .

labman

Karma makes a great point. Often when I hear somebody is going in for tests, I say ''I hope they find something treatable''. Support him, help him follow the doctors orders. Deal with your ex as best you can. And never forget, you have supportive friends here.

violet0019

EVERYONE: THANK YOU - I APPRECIATE YOUR OPINIONS, ADVICE, SUGGESTIONS, ETC....... YES I AM HANGING IN, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR ALL THAT I HAVE IN MY LIFE - AS "IT COULD BE WORSE" (MY MANTRA!! !!) YES, FOR INSTANCE, SO YOU ALL CAN SEE ONE OF THE PICTURES: A FEW DAYS AGO, MY SON WAS GIVING HIMSELF HIS LAST INJECTION AT llpm, (AND I TRY TO BE VERY COOL ,CASUAL, AND SUPPORTIVE WHEN HE USES THE SYRINGE, AS I KNOW HE DOES NOT WANT ME BOTHERING HIM, ETC. AND AS I KNOW IT HURTS HIM (HE IS VERY COURAGEOUS, BUT HE HAS TOLD ME THAT IT HURTS ALOT, COMPARED TO THE OTHER THREE INJECTIONS, WHICH HE GIVES HIMELF DURING THE DAY, WHICH ARE VERY BEARABLE AS HE USES A SPECIAL DEVICE CALLED A PEN, TO INJECT THE INSULIN AND IT IS MUCH MUCH EASIER AND PRACTICALLY NO PAIN) SO, ALL OF MY FRIENDS:
VISUALIZE THIS - I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS "PICTURE" WITH YOU - I
WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE KITCHEN AT THE SINK, AND I HAPPEN TO
LOOK OVER, TO SEE JORDAN USING HIS MOUTH TO GIVE HIMSELF THE INJECTION WITH THE SYRINGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ........OKAY EVERYONE, I AM TAKING YOUR ADVICE AND "HANGING IN" YES, 15 YEAR OLD,
TEENAGE MALE.......... I AM HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME WITH MY SON'S BEHAVIOUR, AND I AM TRYING TO HANG IN!! THIS "PICTURE" IS JUST ONE EXAMPLE OF MANY MANY PICTURES, THAT I AM HANGING IN AND DEALING WITH EVERYDAY!! "IT COULD BE WORSE"!!

NeedKarma

Just a observation: your overeaction cannot behelping your son. It's diabetes, not cancer or HIV. Millions of people deal with it daily without a hitch. The injections will become very routine for him. But you can't be "freaked out" all the time - that ain't healthy. Being calm, cool, collected is the best thing you can do for him.

violet0019

I AM OPEN TO HEARING SUGGESTIONS ADVICE AND OPINIONS FROM MY FRIENDS ON THIS SITE, BUT THESE DAYS, I HAVE NOT BEEN ON THIS SITE AS I AM HAVING SOME VERY SERIOUS EMERGENCIES, PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES, TRAUMATIC TIMES IN MY LIFE, ASIDE FROM MY SON HAVING DIABETES 1 .... BUT, I AM CURIOUS AS TO YOUR "OBSERVATION" OF MY "OVEREACTION" AND WHY YOU SAID THIS ABOUT ME?

WHY DO YOU THINK "I AM FREAKING OUT ALL THE TIME"? BECAUSE I WROTE THAT MY SON IS USING HIS MOUTH TO PUSH THE INSULIN INTO HIS ARM WITH THE SYRINGE? BECAUSE I WANTED TO SHARE THIS PICTURE ON THIS SITE WITH THOSE THAT ARE MY FRIENDS? I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO UNDERSTAND YOUR "OBSERVATIONS"....?

I TOTALLY AGREE THAT BEING CALM COOL AND COLLECTED IS THE BEST THING THAT I CAN DO FOR MY SON, BUT, YOU DO NOT KNOW ALL THAT IS GOING ON IN MY LIFE, YOU DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT ME AND WHAT I HAVE ON MY PLATE, YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN MY LIFE, AND I DO NOT KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY CHILDREN, OR ANYTHING ABOUT YOU, BUT I AM TRYING TO DO THE BEST THAT I CAN IN RAISING MY SON AND DEALING WITH ALL THE OTHER DIFFICULTIES THAT I HAVE GOING ON IN MY LIFE......... IF MY SON IS GIVING HIMSELF AN INJECTION WITH A SYRINGE, USING HIS MOUTH, AND NOT HIS HAND ..... AND I GET A REPLY FROM YOU TELLING ME NOT TO FREAK OUT, AND YOU HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE AS TO THE OTHER THOUSAND PICTURES PER DAY THAT I AM DEALING WITH AS MY SON IS VERY VERY ILL.....YOU DO NOT KNOW ANY OF THE DETAILS INVOLVING HIS DIABETES 1, AND THE KETONS, AND HIS EMOTIONAL BEING........YES, MAYBE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE DEALING WITH IT WITHOUT A HITCH, BUT BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE THOSE THAT HAVE COMPLICATIONS AND ARE NOT AS FORTUNATE AS TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH IT WITHOUT A HITCH. YES HE DOES NOT HAVE CANCER OR HIV, AND I AM NOT SURE IF YOU READ WHAT I WROTE: THAT I AM GRATEFUL, AND THAT IT COULD BE WORSE..... SO PLEASE, BE CAREFUL OF WHAT YOU WRITE WHEN REPLYING TO PEOPLE LIKE ME. I AM VERY VERY SENSITIVE THESE DAYS, AND I HAVE TAKEN OFFENSE TO YOUR REPLY. PERHAPS THIS SITE IS NOT THE PLACE FOR ME TO COME. PERHAPS I SHOULD NOT BE COMING HERE TO WRITE PERSONAL STUFF ABOUT MY LIFE, AND SO FREELY ASK STRANGERS FOR THEIR ADVICE OPINIONS AND SUGGESTIONS.

NeedKarma

Well first of all you are writing in all caps which akin to shouting at people on the internet. Second, you never mentioned anything about other events going on in your life, simply this one. Third, I have 2 kids.

Why was he using his mouth instead of his hand?
And what are "ketons"?

fredg

Hi,
I am 63 yrs old, married 28 yrs, helped raise 3 children, all on their own now. I do not have experience with diabetes, but do have experience with other type of health issues.
My wife went through Chemo and Radiation treatments for lower, back tongue cancer nodules. Thank the Good Lord, she is now "cancer free" after 1 1/2 yrs. I had to retire early to stay home with her 24 hours a day, couldn't afford someone to do that. Last year, 2004, was the year we both found out just how "bad" things can get. She lost half her weight, got to the point she couldn't get up off the couch by herself, I had to help her.
Now, this year, 2005, things are progressing better, just one day at a time; God has truly blessed us.

My point in writing this is that you will have to accept the fact that your child has an illness. Find out all you can about the illness, and be supportive. Talk at length with his doctor, find out what you can and should not do.
Other answers here have reflected that. They also point to the fact that millions of people now live with Diabetes, and it's treatable.
Your son will accept it, and learn how to live better, with his Doctors' help and advice.
Your ex husband has the problem, not you. Avoid him, avoid talking with him, and just do the best you can. When he comes to visit at a hospital or elsewhere, make yourself "lost". Let him be with your son alone. You don't have to try explaining anything to him.
Your issues sound like they are more involved with your ex, not your son or his condition. The best thing my wife and I did was to move away (350 miles) from her ex husband. This is the second marriage for us both.
Leave the visits between your son and your ex strictly between them. If your son wants to see his father, let him; but, you don't have to be there! The more you are involved with your ex, the more you will be upset.
I do sincerely wish you the best, and remember, you are the one who decides how you feel; no one else.

salimdost

Hey Violet, I can understand all your frustations, anger, jilted behaviour of your ex. But life must go on. Teach your child to be any different than him. You are very brave but consider this. His dad is trying to come to you - he deserves an honest chance. I am on neithers side. Think a bit but don't think too much. Life is too short to think too much. There's proveb - a saying in Arabic - Life is shorter than death. Why should you have to suffer and carry all the burden. If you think that he is sincere this time, than have a few witnesses in a church or a party gathering and than accept him. I know it's very easy to say than feel. But now, it's a different situation. Before you let your husband go because of your son - healthy of any disease but now it's the same child with disease. I am diabetic too and world went over my head the first time I was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. But I had patience - may be I borrowed it from someone - and now I control it with just tablets. In your son's case - who's just 15 and growing - life must be uphill and hard to live by. But you have a choice now - accept his dad for your son's future. You are better judge of yourself and your son so give it a timely thought. It won't hurt you.