What do you do 1st, if you have a newly diagnosed child with Type1 Diabetes (Juvenile Diabetes)

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Tim

If you found this post from a internet search, most likely you or someone you know has just had a child diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. Your head is spinning, your wondering why, how and what is next. Some thoughts like “I didn’t know a child could get diabetes”, or “I thought only fat people got diabetes”, “can I care for my child”. I want to give you a simple guide to deal with these questions and a few more.

First of all you did nothing wrong! Type 1 (Juvenile) Diabetes is an autoimmune disease, period. This is scientific fact! Nothing you can do can prevent it! Trust me, I’ve been through this twice and have read more than my share on the subject.

Second, take a breath, relax and realize you can take care of your child.  Take it one step at a time. Your Doctor and Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) have or soon will (if your still in the hospital) go over a simple plan for caring for your child. In the weeks to come you will receive more training in steps, a little at a time.

Third, if someone calls you and tries to help you by telling you their husband or someone they know has Type 2 or some other form of diabetes, tell them thank you and continue to listen to what your medical team has told you. They are trying to help, but, there is a huge difference between an older person with Type 2 and a child with Type 1. Huge difference. If another parent with a Type 1 child calls, they can help a lot, but still stick with what your medical professionals has instructed. They are medical professionals for a reason, our doctor and CDE have a deep passion for their patients, and I imagine most do.

Another helpful thing is the internet. There are many websites, Facebook groups, Juvenation and Tudiabetes. Of course there is this blog and hundreds of others that you will find comfort in. And if this is the first and last time you read this blog, that’s ok with me, you will find one you can relate to if you want to continue to read diabetes blogs. There is a great list on the right hand side of this blog, please check them out, but don’t get overwhelmed with information.

I had another d-parent (parent of a child with diabetes) tell a bunch of us be careful of the music we listen to. Many songs will relate to your mood in a negative way. I still have “Black Days” by Sound Garden stuck in my head.

If your thinking about reaching out for support, please do, you will find someone. A great resource is the local JDRF offices, they have list of people who will talk with you, so you have someone to relate to. You don’t know how good it felt when I talked to another dad, and he simply said yeah to something I said. Finally I had someone who understood what it was like and he did not have to go on a long speech to accomplish it.

Remember we are here and willing to listen, many of us, we know what you are feeling and thinking. We can’t give the medical advice like the Doctors and CDE”s, but we know what your feeling, we have kids with Type 1, or in my case (rare case) have 2 kids with Type 1 Diabetes.

Thank you for reading this short little post. I hope it will give you a bit of help on your new journey in life. Godspeed.

     *Some portions of this post was taken from what Tom Karla has told many of us in various internet posts. Tom is Vice President of the Diabetes Research Foundation. He has raised children with diabetes and has much wisdom on the subject.

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A winding trail and a windy tale. A short little story.

Posted on February 18, 2012 by Tim

It was many years ago, but I’ll always remember those woods, the image burned into my mind. I always looked with great eagerness as a young boy walking along the trail in the field the lead the way to the woods. It was a bit windy that day and I held my uncles hand as we walked along. My dad was walking in step, reminiscing about stories of past years with my uncle, for many years they had been good friends. Old fishing chaps they were before he had married my mom.

It always seemed like a long walk to me, but I was so intrigued by the sights of random wildlife. On occasion we would see a rabbit, and on that day we did. Stopped and looked at this few month old rabbit that was hidden in some scrub brush, concealed the little bunny thought he was.

The farm had been my great grandfathers, in the family it has stayed for 100 plus years. Full of rolling hills, that had grown over with brush and trees or planted with Christmas trees. The trail met the woods a short way ahead. It was almost like the trees guarded the path so no unworthy person should enter.

Being a windy that day, it blew the autumn leaves about in a swirling fashion. Ahead through the trees I heard the familiar sound that always delighted me. It was the creek. Small and twisting like the path through the field. I always called it the creek where the water run. It was one of my favorite places as a kid. My uncle, dad and me had built a few dams and bridges over the creek. Its one of those places you could photograph for a calendar. For a young boy, it was to far to jump across, but a wide board was just perfect for crossing. Not slippery like rocks or an old log.

In a few months when spring has come, I will take my girls up there to see this little creek I enjoyed so much as a youth. I’m sure the worries will be different for me than they were for my dad. I have to worry about low blood sugars, my younger d-daughters pump getting wet, it’s not water proof like my older d-daughters. But I will delight like my dad did watching my girls take in the serene beauty as he did watching me. Seeing their imaginations spark and the their curiosity run about like a kitten after a ball of yarn. Soon, I too will get to enjoy that creek in the woods once again and remember the many childhood memories.

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