So at the beging of the school year my son was diagnosed with dyslexia. This was after many years of requesting him to be tested.It was a struggle to see how frustrated he would get to keep up and for the most he would give up. He got behind in school and his attitude was well to put it nicely not so good. Long story short I felt so helpless that I couldnt do anything. Then the unexpected happen on April 12,2012 my son was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of 10. I was devastated all i could do was cry and ask why. I tried my hardest to hide the pain cause he had no idea what was going on. That didnt work out too well cause all I had to do was look at him lying in the hospital bed and my emotions would take over, So its been over a month and a half since that day and things are even harder. I feel so miserable cause i have noone to talk to.Im doing this by myself and Im so frustrated. I think sometimes I get so mad at him when he fights me about what he wants to eat. I still feel the guilt and I know cause people tell me over and over its nothing I did but that doesnt make it any easier. Please helpppppp.........
Thank You
Jessica from Fort Worth Texas
Oh Jessica, I am so sorry you are going through everything. We parents are hit so hard when our children are diagnosed! I can tell by your post that you are hurt, angry and confused. I felt all of those same things. My little guy was almost two when we got the news. It was terrible! I sat frozen in the hospital and just held him. Thank God my husband had the where with all to learn everything we needed to know. If it helps, I write a blog about taking care of my little guy. Feel free to check it out. I write it to help out parents just like yourself. If you look at the side about the synopsis of our life try to find our diagnosis story, it may help to know how another mom felt going through it all too. If you want to chat with someone I know that your local JDRF has an outreach manager and she/he can put you in touch with local parent mentors. I am one but not in TX. But feel free to chat with me at everydayhighsandlows1@gmail.com if you want to speak offline. It is life changing but not impossible, We are four years in and we are actually doing kind of fine,,, you and your son will too! Let me know how/if I can help!
Shari
Www.everydayhighsandlows.com
Jessica-
Diabetes is overwhelming to every family at first. It's normal to feel frustrated, sad and guilty about it. Over time you'll learn more about it and it won't seem so scary. Eventually you'll learn more about carbohydrate pumping, adjusting insulin, and may even try an insulin pump. All that stuff usually makes day to day mangement easier.
I think guilt is a part of parenting. Just try your best to have a good game face with your son. Let him know that he can talk to you about what he's going through too.
Your son is the perfect age for diabetes summer camp. Ask your doctor about camps in your area.
There are great men on this site who have had diabetes since they were kids and are now successful adults with families of their own. Diabetes isn't going to ruin your son's life, but it will definitely make it different. It's going to be okay.
This book list has a bunch of great choices. http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/d_06_b00.htm
It recommends Diabetes: An Emotional Journey by Renea Jo Zosel. Published by Zay Publishing, 2003. Hand bound hardcover, 75 pages. $24.95 ISBN 0-9743431-0-2. Every once in a while, a book comes along that captures the emotions that parents feel about having a child with diabetes. This book is one. In fact, this book is all about the emotions we feel as parents. It's about the shock of diagnosis, the anguish when you can't make it go away, the pain in looking at the eyes of a three-year-old who is asking, "Why do I have to get stuck with pins and needles all the time?" If you have a child with diabetes, get this beautifully hand bound hardcover book and, whenever a friend asks you about your child's diabetes, simply let them read the book -- but don't let them take it out of your house. This book is too beautiful -- and too important -- to loan out.
-Jenna
T1 since 1977 Minimed pump since 2002