Diabetes and Children - Chapter 2

Click here to read chapter 1.

Once your child has been diagnosed, the next step is accepting this new life. Unless something happens through ongoing research, this is forever!

Trying to help my son deal with this life-changing event is, at times, very daunting. When my son was in the hospital, things seemed very surreal. He was tired, not feeling well, and in shock. Anger had not reached him yet. Thinking back, I realize that what we all experienced was the same emotions that one goes through when dealing with death or divorce.

At the hospital, once he was admitted into the PICU, he seemed to just become numb. No tears except when dealing with painful procedures. I think he was just to ill and exhausted. Once he was moved to a normal room, he still did not allow himself to show anything. He watched television, did word searches, and played with his GameBoy. I don't know if he was trying to be tough in front of his father, or if it was just a matter of survival. Once we reached the car, emotions came out, mostly in tears of disbelief. When we were home, he just cried and cried. Yet, he was so very brave. I would be so totally unnerved when it came time for an injection, and he would let me know that it was okay. Such an amazing young man!

After a week, he went for his first appointment with his new doctors. Due to insurance issues, we had to switch to different doctors. At first I was upset by this, but it ended up being a good thing. They changed his insulin delivery from manual syringes to the pen, which is like Epi pens used for bee stings. The only thing is that it was recommended that my son be given time to reach the point were he could give his own injections. The new doctors insist that he become responsible for his own injections immediately. This was quit a shock for my son. Yet this new system made it possible for my son to be able to eat what he wants to, even though he still has to count his carbs.