Thank you! I try to share some knowledge and encouragement. You should check out @Dennis - he’s a huge fountain of knowledge!
2 Likes
Hi. My 8 year old daughter was recently diagnosed with t1d about a month or so ago. I can sympathize with you about every feeling you are having. I still cry myself to sleep some nights. It’s very overwhelming!!! My advise to you is to read as much as you can about diabetes.
I just got the Dexcom continuous glucose monitor for her and it’s been a lifesaver. It alarms when her blood sugars go too low or too high. She still does finger sticks here and there but nothing like before and I don’t have to worry all night being afraid of her sugar dropping or going too high.
Hang in there momma!!! It will get a little easier 
6 Likes
@Bpaulin3 I will have to look into that for her. Thanks for the encouragement.
1 Like
@Mommaof6 I feel you. My 7 yo son got diagnosed last August and I’m still learning. It’ll get easier, I promise. The first month he was so thin that he constantly wanted to eat, which was very stressful since most food seem to contain carbs (he doesn’t eat meat). He got a lot of cheese, olives, cucumber, and sugar free jello! I also kept thinking that we shouldn’t have called the doctor earlier. Truth is, especially at this age, it’s impossible to differentiate these symptoms from other crazy stuff that kids go through. No one is at the doctor on the first week.
The important thing is that she’s fine, and has a mother that cares. You will both learn, and she’ll be the same girl as before (plus a few shots per day).
We moved to a CGM after three months. It was a great change but I’d recommend you wait until you have the insurance. It can get expensive.
Hang in there. Cry as much as you need to. But then, sleep, eat, and start a new day.
5 Likes
Hi. I’m so sorry. I know you feel completely overwhelmed and it is completely understandable. Please know this, as others have said, It does get easier. I had two of my children come down with diabetes 8 months apart from one another. I was crazy coo-coo for awhile. I learned that my kids did not have to suffer and change their diet completely. What did happen is we as a family changed and now eat WAY healthier than ever before. We still eat out and splurge on occasion junk food. What ever they choose to eat they know they have to cover with insulin, it is their choice to eat what they want. If they give too much and feel a low coming on then they drink a Capri Sun or glass of juice and follow up with a cracker or something. You will both learn what works best according to how her body reacts. Nigh-time is a bit tricky, early on I made sure they’re numbers were at least at 120 and we always have cookies or juice next to their bedside. (also a glucagon shot in the even on a severe low- had to use just one time is over 10 years) Neither of my kids has gone on a pump they both prefer to use an insulin pen. My daughter went on a CGM 1st then about a year later her older brother did too. Has definitely been such a blessing. I am kept aware of her numbers in real time 24/7, as it connects to your smart phone. We’ve been a T1 family since 2007. When school starts make sure you set her up on a 504 plan that allows her freedom and the necessary care you want for her. You will find examples on the JDRF website. It was extremely helpful for both my kids, who were very involved in school sports too. Take a deep breath and be kind to yourself, its very hard on us moms, but we are amazingly strong, and your daughter will see and appreciate all you are doing for and with her.
3 Likes
I’m just curious - can you follow more than one CGM at a time? I think you’re the first person I’ve read about who has two children using them and it made me wonder🤔… Thanks.
@wadawabbit I only have one child. It’s my 9 year old daughter.
Hello Dorie,
Sorry for the confusion
I have not tested following both my kids (now young adults) on my iphone. By the time my son started using the CGM he had moved out with his girlfriend and has since married, his wife is connected to his devise.
But just thinking this out, it should be possible being the app. is individualized per user with his or hers individual information. Assuming if I were to follow him too I would have two app. icons on my phone - one for each.
The customer service reps. at Dexcom have always been been very helpful with any and all questions i’ve ever had, that is a good question to propose if you are considering using them.
(sorry if this response posts twice, I am having problems responding through my email account, decided to respond directly from the forum)
VDenerson
So sorry! I meant to tag @vdenerson. My apologies.
Thanks for the info. Stay well, you and yours.
@wadawabbit no problem
Hi Natasha, My daughter whos 14 got diagnosed with type 1 in March and i still feel lost most of the time. In the world of carb counting, highs and lows has had me in tears. But we are getting there i really surprised myself by knowing how much insulin she needed for a wisper from the top of my head. Or maybe she has way to meny whispers lol. But i know the feelings you have but you will be fine.
1 Like
Hello, Everyone. My16yo son was diagnosed last year so I feel your pain. I just want to say that I’m sorry for what you all are going through and offer my support, prayers and encouragement. I still have days where I feel like I felt when he was diagnosed. I allow myself to grieve and then I make the choice to get up and count my blessings. It’s just so hard and I feel for you guys with little ones. My son at least understands what his body is going through. But he has said to me he wishes he was diagnosed as a small child so he would never know what life was like before T1D. That hurts my heart. I promise there will be a day very soon when Diabetes won’t consume your every thought and you’ll have moments of peace to regain your strength for the hard days. Blessings to you all. Feel free to reach out any time.
3 Likes
I know that you must be really scared and confused at the moment. My sibling got diagnosed like 2 months ago and it has been quite the experience. Low sugars are what you have to worry most about. I have noticed that when my sibling has low blood sugar, her numbers tend to drop faster. When this happens make sure to stay calm because it is easy for you to pass your emotions to her. You want to stay calm and quickly give her something with sugar. My sibling usually has 4 ounces of orange juice or some gummy lifesavers. Anything with sugar works, you just want to make sure that she has some quickly and check her blood after 15 minutes to make sure it’s in range, otherwise she needs to take more sugar.
If your daughter has a high blood sugar, i’ve heard that drinking lots of water helps the numbers lower. A helpful tip is to give her proteins when she eats, this will help her numbers not rise so much. Another helpful tip is that when you give her insulin to wait 15 minutes before she eats. This will also help prevent a high blood sugar. But it is normal for her blood to rise after she eats. If you gave her a correction dose, make sure 3 hours have passed before you give her another correction dose. And if the three hours have passed and her blood numbers are still high, dose for carbs and then give her another correction dose as well.
Right now is gonna be a time where you are gonna feel nervous, but I promise you will get the hang of it. Something to keep nearby is a helpline/phone number in case you need assistance.
Hope this helps! My best wishes for you!
1 Like
@Hayleyuk, let me let me welcome you to our JDRF TypeOneNation Forum! You are in the right place. Share your questions and someone will pick it up and share ideas and solutions.
Dear Natasha,
Welcome to your new “family”. I am the mother of a 14 year old daughter with T1D who was diagnosed at the age of 7 years old. I remember the fear and living hour to hour and day to day. It was like a “fight or flight” feeling all the time but I promise you that will go away. I know there is so much information to absorb.
One of the things that helped me and my daughter when she was first diagnosed was watching Youtube videos of adults and children with T1D. I learned a lot from watching those videos. I also joined a Facebook group for Parents of Children with T1D. The support is so important. I also found a local mom whose daughter has T1D and went to school with my son. She became my new best friend and she let me call her anytime for support and advice.
I also suggest getting a food scale which will help you measure carbohydrates. I got our food scale at Bed, Bath & Beyond. It is called “Perfect Portions”. You can probably find one on Amazon. Let me know if I can help you find one or I would be happy to send one to you as my “T1D Mom” gift.
Does your daughter like The Jonas Brothers? If she does, I encourage her to look up videos about Nick Jonas who was diagnosed with T1D when he was 13 years old. My daughter LOVES listening to his T1D experiences. Tell her that even one of the justices on the Supreme Court has T1D (Sonia Sotomayor) and the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom has T1D (Theresa May) and was the first world leader to have T1D. You will see that your daughter will become of strong woman just like these women despite having the diagnosis of T1D.
Keep asking questions. We are here for you.
Cheryl
2 Likes
@cherylkilpatrick thanks but I got a food scale. We’ve been watching videos and reading books. She loves the Jonas brothers 
and I told her about him having the same thing. Thanks for your kind words.
1 Like
I was diagnosed when I was 7 years old and I remember my parents being/feeling the same way you do. All the information you’re given when your daughter was first diagnosed is a lot to take in. We were given a 3-4 inch binder with info in it. My parents took that binder to every endocrinologist appointment to take notes that my doctor was telling us. Over the past 14 years, we have learned a lot. I have learned more and more about my body and my diabetes as the time has gone by. I’ve learned that diabetes is a learning process. Diabetes isn’t the same for everyone. One thing that works for me might not work for your daughter. The diabetes community will give you support, advice and possible solutions to try. If you’re not feeling like you’re doing something right, talk with your doctor. Also, talk with your daughter about how she’s feeling. Not just being newly diagnosed but when she gets older as well. I had a period of time that I was dealing with a diabetes burnout. I was tired of dealing with it and I felt like I had no one to talk to that could understand what I was going through. I needed a lot of support and love from my friends and family but I felt like I wasn’t getting that. No one in my family or family are diabetic. I’m the first type 1 diabetic in 3 or 4 generations In my family.
Diabetes takes a lot of patience and learning, and it takes time to get used to dealing with physically and emotionally/mentally.
You can also look into Camp Kudzu (if you live in Georgia) or a camp that is similar to it where you live. I never went to it as a kid because I was always busy with softball or we’d just forget about sign-ups. Interacting with kids and possibly camp counselors dealing with the same disease as your daughter might be beneficial to her. I know Camp Kudzu offers a family camp to bring families with diabetics together.
If she’s in public/private school, when/if she goes back, make sure her teachers, school nurse and possibly the principal know what’s going on and that they do need to keep an eye on her to make sure she’s ok.
2 Likes
Hi, my son was also diagnosed at nine and we as a family know the shock of all this as well. A couple of things: Try to set up a Telemedicine situation to help with the many insulin dose and other questions you are needing help with, especially at the beginning. Our Children’s Hospital has a diabetic hotline and we were calling that daily for the first several months until we got used to things.
Another tidbit of info that we learned at a JDRF workshop: You can use the toes for glucose testing! We did this when our son was asleep and it never woke him up;) It’s good to rotate through all the fingers and toes equally so less chance of sores or an infection.
2 Likes
@Cerdahl Thanks for that information.