ParentingDiabeticKids.com

Could you give some tips on how to dose for dinner rolls, french bread, etc. heavy breads? When my son eats these for dinner I can almost guarantee a spike about 3 to four hours later. Any help would be great.

First make sure you carb counting accurately (sometime those dense breads
can be tricky)....but bolusing before eating so you do not spike can help as
well as trying a square-wave/dual wave bolus (a time release bolus) to avoid spikes later on - especially during the holidays!

My son is 10 years old (5th grade), diagnosed in August 08. Lately he has missed some school due to illness and keytones. How much school work is he expected to make up? It just keeps piling up, we never seem to get caught up!

This is something that you need to sit down and discuss with your child's teachers and principal. If you have not already done so, requesting a meeting with the school for a 504 Plan for your child would help. This plan could outline how he can make up the work as well as some school supports to help him do so. In addition, you should keep in close contact with your son's diabetes team when he is not feeling good, so they can help him manage his diabetes while sick and get him back to school sooner

"How do we get over the high sugars our daughter constantly has?"

"How to get over the high sugars our daughter constantly has" is a very complex matter. First, if she is having consistently high blood sugars, I would make an appointment and meet with your diabetes team, because her regimen may need to be changed a bit. Keeping a log of her blood sugars will be important to identify a trend in high BGs, so that your diabetes team can make appropriate adjustments. If your child is/was honeymooning after diagnosis, she may gradually need more insulin, so you may see more frequent high blood sugars which is expected.

"How to get over the high sugars our daughter constantly has" on an emotional level may be more difficult for you. What I tell all parent is "she has diabetes, she will have high blood sugars- her BGs will not be perfect." Accepting that your daughter has a disease that you cannot fix and make better will take time. It seems like an uphill battle- you try and do everything perfect and then a 300 pops up -sometimes for no apparent reason. With diabetes you have to do the best that you can and not stress out over an occasional high blood sugar (or it can consume you). As a parent, this is easier said then done, because we constantly worry about our children. But talking with your family, your healthcare providers, and other parents of children with diabetes will help. And, as they say, time helps- as you get more comfortable with diabetes management, things will also get a little easier for you.

How are schools able in this day and age, to ignore a child's needs with regards to diabetes?

I am not sure about the UK but in the US its a federal law to provide appropriate accommodations (otherwise they loose their federal money).  So the answer is they can not here in the US.

Any advice on school field trips? My 11 yr old son is going to the museum without me for the first time since being dx a year ago August. He is pumping and the school nurse is going. I would really rather go- it's about an hour away and it is fo...r the whole day. But he doesn't want me to - he said he could handle it! I guess it's good for him to feel empowered to manage his diabetes at a young age but it is scary for me. Do you guys pack a seperate backpack with all supplies and how much should I "train" the nurse on pump stuff?

My first question would be who is managing his diabetes during school and what supplies do you keep there?  Although I know it is very anxiety provoking, I do think it is great that your child feels comfortable and wants some independence....this will be a trail run for privileges in the future. If it is the school nurse is with him, then I would feel comfortable with him going....it is the day- just as the regular school day and it is close enough to home (1 hour) that, even if he has a pump failure and your son and the school nurse can't set it up, you aren't too far away.  I would go through everything with both of them together (and tell them when you would like him to test...I would recommended alittle bit more than a regular school day) just to be sure they feel comfortable.  I would also recommend reviewing the contents of a bag you pack for the day, including snacks, water, low treatment, meter, change out supplies (and pump batteries) and a syringe.  You could also pack a cell phone (if the school allows) so that they can contact you if they have any questions....and maybe ask them to check-in once throughout the day to tell you that things are OK and he is having fun and feeling like a regular kid!!!

"How do I overcome the fear of one of my other kids getting diabetes...especially since our daughter is the third generation to get Type 1 diabetes?"

This is not an easy situation- parent's fears never go away. As parents we can only do so much to make sure our children are happy and healthy- accepting this fact (that we don't have control over everything) is important. You can make sure your other children are healthy by regular exercise, a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, and managing their own stress....and then begin to try and accept the fact that you have done your best to ensure your child's health and you can not control if they develop Type 1. This is easier said then done- and will take some time, tears, self-reflection, and absolving yourself of guilt. In addition, you can enroll your other children in a study which tests for the markers of diabetes and be prepared, and possibly help delay the onset if they test positive over the years. Some parents want to know if their child will develop it, and some parents don't. It is a personal preference with no right or wrong answer.

Has anyone sent their child abroad for a trip? Mine is going to Costa Rica and I was wondering if anyone had any tips?

It is difficult to answer because we don't know the age of the child.  If it is an older adolescent who is responsible and takes care of their own diabetes, I would make sure that extra supplies are brought- strips, lancets, an extra meter, extra long and short acting insulin (even if on pump), pump supplies and syringes (in case of pump failure), glucose tabs, ketostrips, instant glucose and glucagon (and make sure someone going on the trip knows how to use it), and food.  This should ALL be carried on the plane.  The thing people most often forget is food- for both on the plane and to have in the hotel in case of a low at night.  I always recommend carrying the low food for the hotel because when you get to your destination, you make forget to buy it because of all the excitement  and/ or not be able to purchase it.  In addition, if it is an island, I recommend finding a pharmacy (before you arrive) and making sure that they have insulin there (and the type of insulin you use) at the store in the event that your bottle breaks (which is not common, but preparation is key).  And have fun!!!
 

How can you convince fairly recently diagnosed teenagers to consider the pump..?? Our kids want NOTHING to do with pumping.. They are 15 and 17.. don't want "something attached".

The first thing that I would like to know is how are they doing regarding their adjustment to diabetes?  Are they adhering to their regimens?  Adjustment to diabetes is a lot for a teen and, as adults we need to respect that they need some time to adjust.  If they are adhering to their regimens and their control is good, then I think you have won the diabetes battle.  Just because parents want their kids on pumps does not mean its the right thing for them because the child is the one wearing it.  I would not suggest pushing a pump on a teen unless they are ready- because it won't work - they will rebel, forget to bolus, etc., and you will be in a struggle of wills over something that, at the outset, you know they didn't want.  Another option to pumps for those who do not want to be attached (one of my Camp Directors wears one for the very reason of not having to be "attached" to something) is the OmniPod.
 

I'm taking my 9 year Type 1 Diabetic son snow skiing next month and just really need any helpful tips. He'll be in ski school for the 1st day and I'm petrified!

Prepare! Prepare! Prepare! As with everything children with diabetes do- skiing just takes alittle planning. Making sure he is not low when he goes up on the lift; cutting back his insulin a bit (temp basal for pumps works great) or giving him an extra snack before he hits the slops will help prevent getting low on top of the mountain. Make sure that his coat is stuffed with glucose tabs and maybe some granola bars, so in the event that he does feel low, he has stuff easily accessible. Also note that when you are very cold and shivering it may also feel like your low...advise him it in doubt treat it as a low (you can also correct a high BG later if it wasn't a low)....and have FUN!!!

How do you make your teenagers keep their routines when they are rebelling at every step? How do you insure they TEST TEST TEST !!

This is always difficult- for children and adults alike.  The question of how to make intrinsically unrewarding tasks something an adolescent wants to do when they don't even want the disease in the first place is one of the most difficult issues- a double whammy!  However, getting the adolescent involved in support activities like diabetes camp, is a great for the diabetes routine to be normalized and a part of everyday life.  Many families report that after attending camp their child has a different attitude about diabetes and are more adherent to their regimens.  In addition, rewarding the adolescent for their regimen efforts can also be helpful (just as we adults do for our selves - i.e., when we loose weight we buy new clothes).  Sitting down and having a discussion about a "reward (s)" (which does not need to be pricey) without putting the child on the defensive (which is key), can help them become more motivated to adhere to their regimens.  Therapists and diabetes educators can also help parents navigate this tricky terrain.

I have 10 yr old twins and one of them is type 1. She also happens to have Asperger's Syndrome. Her psych has recommended putting her on some sort of anti-depressant to help her to cope with social settings better. I can't find any documentation regarding research on insulin vs. mood-altering meds. Has there been any research on this? I refuse to have her put on any more medications than is absolutely necessary. Thanks!

This is a loaded question because it depends on what mood stabilizer that psychiatrist wants to put your child on.  As with any drug you need to weigh the pros and cons.  Socializing in school in very important and will contribute greatly to your child's functioning now and particularly in the future when social interactions become a lot more complicated as well as more important in an adolescent's life (and head off possible future depression many people with Type 1 DM and autism spectrum disorders experience).  There are certain mood stabilizers that are known to create insulin resistance (and even Type 2 diabetes in people without diabetes) but others are not known to have such effects and are commonly prescribed to children and adults with diabetes.  This is an issue for you to discuss with your child's psychiatrist in conjunction with your endocrinologist to choose the best option for your child.
 

How do I handle a 12 yr old not testing & bolusing? She almost went DKA last week and just doesn't seem to care. Her latest thing is lying about her number. Saying it isn't as high as it is so I won't get mad.

This is a very common situation for parents and teens (which does not make your situation any easier).  A parent's first reaction is to punish a child for doing such a thing, but punishing a child for management of their disease (that they didn't want in the first place) is not recommended.....figuring out what is going on is important and may take some help from your diabetes team and a psychologist.  Is your daughter just sick on having diabetes?  Is she using diabetes to loose weight?  Has she been made fun of because of her disease?  Is she embarrassed because of her BG reading and lying?  Does she truly forget to bolus?  Does she not want a pump anymore and need to go on a pump holiday to injections?
 
These are just a few of the common reasons teens do not adhere to their regimens.  Adolescence is a time of growing independence (mom and dad play less of a role in diabetes management) as well as a need to be like your peers (i.e., not have diabetes)....not to mention insulin resistance because of puberty (which makes diabetes even harder to control).  This whole period of life for preteens is a recipe for chaos!   So, without having a stand-off with your teen (which does not help) try to work with her and her medical team to find a reasonable solution without make judgements (i.e., "BAD" or  "GOOD" blood sugars...instead "High" or "Low").  And, once you all agree with a plan maybe set up rewards for your daughter along the way to encourage her and keep her motivated (just like we adults often reward ourselves when we try loose weight).
 

My son was diagnosed last year just after he turned 2. Now that he is 3 he is starting to get a better understanding of his disease. He has an older sister (9yrs old) and she is also very educated on his disease. I also watch 2 younger children that are 1 1/2yrs old. My question is how do I keep my 3yr old from sneaking food from the other children when he knows he is not suppose to have it? I have locks on my fridge as well as the pantry but I find him on my counters and getting into things. I have hidden the food from him but he just takes it from the other children. When it's just me and him during the day he is very pleasant and listens very well but chooses not to when he is playing with the younger boys. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Your son is being a toddler!  You would expect him to eat other kids food- it's a natural part of playdates and playing with other kids.  Instead of forbidding him from eating the food- offer him food (the same if possible) and account for the food when giving him insulin.  Although your son may understand the directions "don't eat it" he is developmentally not ready to understand diabetes and why not to eat.  You want to make your child's experience growing up as normal as possible.....the less "no no's" that are different from other kids, the better....you can also work the diabetes regimen around the child's life...this makes parenting a little more difficult but in the long run it will lead to less frustration - both on his part and for you!

My daughter, 13 years old, started to go crazy with a nearly carb-free diet. She refuses to eat properly and lost a lot of weight . She is terrified of going hyper and I think she just doesn't wanna eat to avoid high blood sugar. She is on the pump and her basal rates are already very low and she still goes low a lot especially at night. She also started exaggerate exercising . Thank you for any suggestions, we are really worried about her.

Your daughter's behavior is definitely a cause for concern.  Please go and see your diabetes educator/endocrinologist as soon as possible.  There are both concerns about her restricted eating and over-exercising as well as hypoglycemia at night (which is an immediate concern for her safety).  There are many things that seem to be going on which warrant immediate medical attention.

The Circle of Life Camp has found a permanent home at Lion's Camp Badger!  We are hosting a Family Camp Weekend in the fall there- below is the information......
 
Family Camp Weekend: September 17-19, 2010
Tuition for a family of 4 is $350
Each additional person over the age of 3 is $15
 
This is affordable for families...hopefully it will help some!

Is there a certain length of time you have to wait to get a pump? What are the long term effects of taking insulin?

There is no "prescribed" time to decide to go on pump therapy.  It needs to be the right time for the individual with diabetes....which could be different than the right time for parents.  I know many individuals who were diagnosed with diabetes and immediately went on the pump and I know others who waited.  This is an individual decision that should be discussed with your diabetes care provider.  Saline trials for pumps are available so that you can "try" the pump out before actually committing to see if it works with your lifestyle.  

My 11 year old daughter was diagnosed @ 6 & has been successfully wearing a pump for about 3 years. Thankfully we have had very few issues other than a visit to the ER for a low just a few weeks after her diagnoses. In the past 2 months she has been hospitalized & put in ICU overnight twice due to "highs" ! She acts as if she is checking/bolusing...when in fact she doesn't! In short she lies about it in order to eat!! Other than watching her like a hawk...what can we do?!?! Is it normal to be rebellious @ some point?!?!?

This is a very common thing ...but it doesn't make it OK......You should arrange a meeting with your diabetes educator and all sit down and discuss what is happening without blaming- you don't want to get your child on the defensive.  With a pump there are no "no no's", so if she wants to eat she just has to carb count.  This is a very difficult time for children as they gain independence with their diabetes management- they want to be "normal" and forget they have diabetes and sometimes use it as a way to rebel from their parents.  There needs to be a compromise and your child needs to be part of the planning of how her diabetes is managed- maybe pump therapy is not what she wants at this time and going to injections may be a better option.  All of these things need to be addressed in a meeting with your child's diabetes educator for her health and safety.

My son is 7 diagnosed 2yrs ago. He just had his first stomach bug and since hasn't need insulin to cover his meals. Almost 10 days without. He is still getting 11 units of lantus at bedtime but plan to cut it back b/c he is waking up low. Is this unusual after an illness.

You should keep in contact with your child's diabetes educator/doctor during a serious illness as insulin requirements vary in each individual and is different each time an individual has an illness.  It is not uncommon for insulin requirements to change drastically, but make sure that you are checking your son's BG frequently because your child's body requirements will change again once he starts feeling better.

I am beginning to question the possibility of getting Kinsey (8) on the pump - I have heard it is just like starting over. Am I ready for that?

Well that depends on what your current regimen is....if you are carb counting already than it is a lot easier to transition.  The pump gives a lot more flexibility than injections (i.e., you can go on temporary basals whereas  you can't take back long acting insulin that you already gave)....so you changes plans a lot easier as well as assist in managing BG swings during puberty and sickness.  There is a lot to learn with pump therapy but if you already have the basics down you should be fine!

My 11 year old is scheduled for a tonsillectomy soon,does anyone have any experience or advice w/this surgery & Type 1 diabetes? I've not found much information on line.

 
This is a question that is important to discuss with your doctor or diabetes educator.  It is very important for you to be prepared before your child has surgery so having a plan in place is advised.
 

My daughter was diagnosed at 4years old. She is now 9. She does not take her diabetes serious at all. She sneaks food constantly. We hide her 100 cal. snacks because she will eat them throughout the day. She is always high in the evening, and I mean high. I am worried, I don't feel we are doing enough. We address this with her Dr. every time we go. She says this is normal for her age group. She loves grapes and her snack. 1 point a piece. But I can't really buy them for her, because she sneaks them at other times in the day. Any advice, I am so worried about her. What do we do to make her believe this is serious. Just a little background...she was adopted at birth so counselors say her diabetes just may be one thing she feels like she can control. HELP

This is very common in children but it doesn't make it OK.  Working with a
therapist can help as well as letting her know that there are no "no no's"
in diabetes.  She is able to eat foods she wants like other kids, she just
needs to take insulin.  Making things off limits promote this behavior, so
making things no a big deal, and working with her to learn that there
doesn't need to be any sneaking because its OK to eat is the best way to
curb there behaviors.

How do I protect my sons pump site when he swims?? I have tried every "waterproof" bandage, tegaderm, etc.. Is there an adhesive or skin glue??? Please help..

There is skin glue that they can use...its called mastisol The liquid adhesive works good we use it at camp.

Here's a blog from April 2010  How To Keep Your Site On?  Scroll down to the bottom and you'll find an Amazon link for mastisol. 

What are some things to be aware of when her body is changing?She is a 11.

Insulin resistance and unpredictable BGs!

My daughters basal #'s seem to not be doing the job even though we have changed the insulin and the sight 2 times over the last four days. This is her eight month with DM1. We increased her basal by 50% and still not great. She is 17 and had an A1C of 6.2. Is this normal?? Any suggestions?

You may want to talk with your doctor about this...this is often seen when
people are ending their "honeymoon" period after diagnosis.  Insulin
requirements increase as the body is no longer producing insulin.  Another thing to think about is insulin resistance around the time when you daughter is getting her period - another very common reason to increase insulin doses.  The best advise is to work with your diabetes educator when making drastic adjustments.

My daughter is going to be moving to the pump within the next few months and she seems EXTREMELY hesitant and fearful of the whole idea. Any suggestions on how to make this a smooth transition??

This is always difficult and pumping is not always for everyone.  If a child
doesn't want it they may not do well on the pump.  Doing a saline run with
the pump; talking with current pump users, and reading some books can
help...or allow her an appointment with her diabetes educator alone to
discuss fears and why she doesn't want the pump.....but remember it is her
diabetes and giving her some "say" in its treatment will go a long way!
 

My 7-year-old daughter was diagnosed 4 months ago and is in a major honeymoon period. She has weeks where she will only need a half unit of insulin all day and her blood sugar stays in the 80s and is often low. When her blood sugar levels start to rise into the high 100s and low 200s...and I can tell another batch of beta cells are gone, it's like she becomes a totally different kid. She refuses to pay attention in school, do her homework, help around the house, do her blood tests and she is mean to her siblings. Then she has a couple of days where she is a complete mess. She has a 3 hour long meltdown... and then on the day after her meltdown, her blood sugar levels are back down in the 80s and 90s and she is often low. She will be in a great mood and catch up in school, help around the house, do her homework without us asking, etc. This will last for a few weeks and then as her blood sugar levels start to rise it starts all over again. Is this normal? I didn't think anything of it until I started to pay attention to the timing of the change in her behavior and in this fourth month it happened like clockwork. Can the honeymoon period cause mood and behavior fluctuations too?

This is a very loaded question and without more information about your daughter's medical history, development, etc.,  it is difficult to answer.  I do know that many people have mood changes when their BG is high, but I would talk with your child's doctor or diabetes educator.

My son was diagnosed at 5 1/2 and is now 8 1/2. I can see him struggling with having diabetes lately, like sneaking food. In the beginning of diagnosis, I use to feel bad for him and always sorry for him. Just lots of hugs and tears. I still feel the same way but I feel I am a bit confused on how to discipline him. Do I do the tough love and tell him.... "this is how it is and always will be so lets move on and deal with it" You always hear the stories of " My mom was tough ... never let me give up . Made me keep going forward" I feel I should be that way. Maybe it will make him strong and gain control more when he is older, BUT he is only 8. I know he wants to be independent. I know he is struggling not being "normal" like his friends. I feel that approach my be too tough at this age. On the other hand I do not want to coddle him. So confused and was wondering how everyone else treats their children with the disease.

This is a tricky area for parents....you don't want to punish your child for
a disease that they didn't want in the first place, but you want them to
take care of themselves (which is hard to convey to children who are
8...because they are worried about the here and now; not the future like
adults).  So, having a frank conversation with your child can be helpful and
discuss a plan with him.  Explaining that there are no "no no's" in diabetes
(you just need to take insulin for it...when things are off limits they are
more tempting)...and explaining that the not taking insulin is the
problem-not the food.  What I am not saying is to encourage bad nutrition,
but instead to eat a healthy diet that all "normal" kids should...include
some treats!  Then, discussing a plan with some rewards built for taking
care of himself (not necessarily money or toys,but social reinforces like
privileges)....giving a reward for something intrinsically not rewarding is
helpful (just like adults buy new clothes after loosing weight).....and if
this doesn't work, talking with a psychologist or other mental healthcare
provider and your diabetes team may be helpful.

How do you handle a 20 yr old who is terrified of going low so she keeps her b.s. too high and is afraid to be independent? She was diagnosed at age 10 and has never had a severe low where she needed assistance. Everything she learned years ago is being ignored, it's as if she needs are-booting. Are there any programs for college students to address this issue?

The Diabetes and Education Association holds terrific programs for
college-age young adults which may help http://www.diabetescamps.orgprograms/show-all-events.html.  Having your
daughter speak to her diabetes educator as well as a psychologist would be
helpful and important to her future health.

My 3 1/2 was recently diagnosed with T1 and we are struggling with a possible growth spurt causing him to constantly be hungry. We are still on35g/25g/25g meals and 15/15/15g snacks. After a meal he's full (sometimes a struggle to get him to finish) but then within 1/2 hour -he wants more food. We have maxed his carb allowance for that meal/snack so we turn to 'free foods' that don't have carbs. Cheese sticks, turkey roll ups, chicken strips, salami - he's tired of it all. Any other options you can give me?

Many newly diagnosed children are put a strict diet in order to get used to adjusting insulin.  Once families feel less overwhelmed, sitting down with a diabetes educator and/or nutritionist and learning how to carb count and adjust insulin accordingly to how much the child ate (instead of feeding the child to a set insulins dose) is a more flexible way and realistic way to manage diabetes.   
 

I'm researching insulin pumps right now. Dawson will be able to get one in August. My husband & I are having such a hard time deciding which one to go with. He wants tubeless, but I'm not convinced with the reviews I've read on the Omnipod. He plays a lot of sports. Any suggestions?

This is an individual subjective decision- there are pros and cons with all types of pumps.  The best way to make a decision is to do a saline trial and figure out which one you like the best.  Good luck!

What's it like traveling with a pump for a month? We will be flying to California then driving to South Carolina.

Traveling with diabetes always requires a lot of planning, but wearing a pump makes it a bit easier because you can be more flexible. First all diabetes supplies from pump supplies, insulin, meter, strips, glucagon, low treatment, syringes and long acting insulin in case the pump fails, etc, should all be packed with you and go in a carry-on on the plane and should be in the car (not trunk) when driving. Monitoring Bgs more frequently is recommended because there are a lot of changes in activity when traveling. If you child is going to change time zones also monitor BGs and change the time on your pump.

My son is 8, he was diagnosed with type 1 on Feb.10th, 2011. He went to diabetes camp a couple weeks ago and had a great time. Although, I was told when we picked him up that he asked to have his sugar checked 20 - 25 times a day, he became very paranoid about going low. Since he has beenn home, he's been acting the same way, telling me he feels "weak," and thinks he's low. He wasn't like this before camp AT ALL, he played soccer and finished his basketball season no problem...after he was diagnosed. He had fun and never went low. Now, he's saying he doesn't want to play football ( his favorite sport ) or any sport, for that matter. Is this a normal phase for a child his age ? Do I make him play a sport for exercise ? I honestly think the only reason he doesn't want to do anything is for fear of going too low... I don't know what to do.

We see this a lot at diabetes camp...it is often he first time away from parents, there are many people getting low at camp, you tend to check more often at camp because of the activity level or embarrassed by your readings....There are many things going on at camp and often carried out after leaving (usually for the better)..but your child may have seen a camper require glucagon which can be scary or heard stories of bad lows and have gotten scared. Having a meeting with your diabetes educator who can discuss these fears with your child and mutually decide on a comfortable "target" BG level and possibly discuss using continuous glucose monitor, which can reduce the number of fingersticks.

I have a 20 year old daughter with type 1, She has had diabetes since she was 12. She was in ok control. Her A1c's was about 8.6 or around. She is living away from hm, for the first time. We got a terrible result of an 11.1 .She is planning a mission trip to India for two weeks in Sept. What advice do you have for me. As a concerned mother I want to say she cant go .She is not in good enough control.Am I crazy ?

This is a difficult situation because your child is no longer "a child" ....she is a young adult. First and foremost she needs to meet with her diabetes team ASAP. They can problem solve together issues she is having. And from there, together with her diabetes team, she can discuss safety concerns as well as try to figure out how to get into better control (i.e., going on a pump, refresher in carb counting, re-evaluating basal insulin). Once you get her diabetes team involved she can make an educates decision of what to do.

I have a 13 year old daughter, diagnosed 6 years ago with T1. The past 2 years had several episodes of very high BM & Ketones, occasionally gone into DKA and has had 8 hospital admissions this year! Intially this was put down to puberty/hormones, so tried an insulin pump for 18 months, with little imrovement and now our consultant has put her back onto mutiple injections, again little improvement. I also have another diabetic child and myself which are all on insulin. Any help/advise, greatly appreciated.

This is difficult to answer because there is limited information. But having a meeting with your daughter and her diabetes team together is very important to review what is going on (is she not taking insulin at the right time? Is she not taking enough? Is she not monitoring her BGs often enough? Is she not being being truthful about what she is doing to manage her diabetes?). Another things to think about is possibly changing diabetes health providers, if working this current team is not helpful to managing her diabetes.

My daughter is in her honeymoon period and her bgs remain near normal. She has not had any low blood sugars under 60. What will happen to her levels once the honeymoon is over? Will she experience more lows?

Everyone is different, but what you will see is an increased insulin requirement to keep her BG in the target range. And, as you increase her insulin to cover higher BGs you may get some lows.

Having the worst trouble with my sons #s starting this past summer... We've been pumping for over 4 years... He's up he's down, he is all over.... He is turning 11 Oct 10... we pump with medtronic mini med. I can't come up with much of a pattern but I'm noticing his #'s are just higher in general and he is higher in the morning. I recently changed his 3:30 am basil up from .55 to .65 and sensitivity to 90 from 100... and insulin on board from 4 hours to 3... he has gone as high as almost 600 a few weeks ago... to as low as 44 today!! Ok any suggestions would be greatly appriciated.. ps .... Camren missed over 30 days of school last year not counting latenesses or picked up early... this year he has missed 3 half days and 2 full days already for being high sick or pump malfunctioning.

This is a situation that you need to meet and discuss with your diabetes team about...and if they are not helpful it maybe time to shop for one that you can work with because your child is entering the age of puberty, a time notorious for crazy BGs. You and your family need some support from your medical experts because your child's education is very important to his long term well being also.

My 14 year old son has had diabetes since just before his 2nd birthday and lately we've been dealing with burn-out... ALL of us but most importantly our son. Over the past 3 years he has taken some of the responsibility for his d-care; testing and giving shots with reminders from us. He lately has been lying about testing (what his numbers are) and even lying about giving injections. I have taken back his responsibilities because he is clearly stressed out... our family has had a rough year personally and financially... we lost his granfather (who he was very close to), lost our home/everything we worked hard for for years (cars, savings, etc.) and had to move to another state. We also don't have medical insurance because if the step back my huisband has had to take in his career after being unemployed for 2 years. I try to keep this stress from him but kids sense/know when things are tight especially trying to afford diabetes insulin and testinf supplies. All of this stress... How can we get him through this rough patch? His diabetes has to be his/our priority and I don't know how to get through to him whille being sensitive to what he's going through? Any ideas?

Diabetes is often an enigma....just when we think we have got things down, the rules change! I would definitely consult your diabetes professional and work closely with them. But some other things to consider is that woman are often VERY insulin resistant while menstruating, many have different basal setting for that time of the month. In addition, viruses can seem mild because our bodies are doing such a great job at fighting them off (also can increase BGs). And make sure she is drinking a lot of water to flush the ketones out to get rid of them more quickly. In addition, while spilling ketones, make sure she is not starving herself (because she is scared to increase her BG)....because her body will go into starvation mode and produce more ketones.