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My son is now 19 and was diagnosed fours years ago. For the first 18 months he managed the blood testing and administraion of his medication very well. For the last few years he has really found managing his diabetes very difficult culminationg in a crisis in the last month. Fortunately he seems to have turned a corner and is very motivated at the moment to lower his blood average from the mid 20's upwards mmol/L it has been. However as a result he is now having far more hypos which is the main reason he cites for actively keeping his mmol/l high. This afternoon he has a reading of 1.6mmol/L so then had to take a significant amount of sugar to raise this. My question is what should he now do for the sugar he has eating to a.) prevent his bloods from rising and b.) to as far as possible prevent another hypo? Grrrrr sometimes I feel I know nothing at all about this which leaves me feeling inadequately placed to support my son so my heart felt thanks in advance for any guidance in this.
Responses
Ginger Vieira says
Okay -- first of all, your son is really lucky to have you in his life! Secondly, the biggest thing to remember about diabetes, blood sugars and insulin doses is that they are going to fluctuation throughout your son's entire life. In fact, even in YOUR body, your insulin needs fluctuate also, but you of course don't have to be aware of it because your pancreas still works! :)
Anyways, you and your sons goals should not be as much about trying to be "perfect" in diabetes managment, but instead to learn how to adjust and adapt to his body's needs. I wrote the book, "Your Diabetes Science Experiment" about exactly this, because when things change even slightly in our lives, our insulin needs change too. Gaining or losing 5 lbs has a huge impact on insulin sensitivity. Stress, changes in exercise and activity, how to balance your blood sugar around exercise, etc.
My book talks about all of this and how to study your own blood sugars, and make changes in insulin dosing: Your Diabetes Science Experiment: I hope you find this helpful. Remember, take deep breaths and don't expect perfection! Throughout your son's entire life, his goal will be to adapt and make adjustments to his body's needs.
Gary Scheiner says
Thanks for writing and expressing your concerns. I have seen many cases where young adults keep their blood sugar dangerously high in order to prevent hypoglycemia. This is absolutely not necessary. With an appropriate insulin program -- complete with doses matched to your son's food and activity, and use of the latest tools/technologies -- there is no reason he needs to keep his blood sugar high in order to prevent lows.
If your son does not have access to a qualified diabetes educator, please have him get in touch with me directly. I can work with him remotely via phone and the internet to help him get on the right track.
Gary Scheiner MS, CDE
Owner & Clinical Director
Integrated Diabetes Services
333 E. Lancaster Ave., Suite 204
Wynnewood, PA 19096
toll free: 877-735-3648
(610) 642-6055
fax (610) 642-8046
