4-Year-old Just Diagnosed W/diabetes

The device Tonya is talking about is a insulin pump.

I'd wait to use a pump until you know more about your daughter's metabolic needs. The pump that leads the market is the Medtronic MiniMed, but there are other pumps that are much more kid friendly, so work with your Pediatric Endocrinologist and CDE's (Certified Diabetes Educators) to make sure you have it as fine-tuned as possible.

Type 1 diabetes isn't a death sentence. I sold insulin for 4 years and worked for another diabetes company for another 4 years. I know many people and have many friends with type 1 diabetes that were diagnosed as young children, and all are doing really well today.

There are many different kinds of insulin on the market that are available. Though they should all work the same, each patient will react differently, so don't be afraid to ask for Humalog vs. NovoLog vs. Apidra, Lantus vs. Levemir.

As far as meals go, it will take a little time to get accustomed to how carbs will affect her blood sugars. But, there's nothing someone with diabetes can't eat - it's just a matter of learning how to match the insulin with the carb load.

I'd recommend visiting the following websites and getting involved in patient support programs - often they have CDEs on staff (most of whom have type 1 diabetes) to help support your family through this journey:
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation http://www.jdrf.org/
American Diabetes Association http://www.diabetes.org/
Taking Control of your Diabetes http://tcoyd.org/ - founded by a physician, an endocrinologist with Type 1 diabetes, himself
Novo Nordisk - insulin manufacturer http://novonordisk-us.com/documents/promotion_page/docume...
Eli Lilly - insulin manufacturer http://www.humalog.com/index.jsp
Sanofi-Aventis - insulin manufacturer http://www.lantus.com/
Roche Diagnostics - glucose meter manufacturer http://www.roche-diagnostics.us/
OneTouch - glucose meter manufacturer http://www.onetouchdiabetes.com//support
Abbott Diabetes - glucose meter manufacturer http://www.abbottdiabetescare.com/adc_dotcom/url/home/en_US
MiniMed insulin pump manufacturer http://www.minimed.com/
Disetronic insulin pumps http://www.accu-chekinsulinpumps.com/dstrnc_us/
Animas insulin pump manufacturer http://www.animas.com/

Good luck! All will be well, and you will learn from your daughter that kids deal with Diabetes SO much better than adults.

Two separate families who are freinds of ours have children with diabetes...I remember when both of those children were diagnosed and have seen the process of learning to cope over the years...at first it is overwhelming, but you WILL settle in...BOTH families are very involved in the American Juvenile Diabetes Asc, it keeps them strong gathering from other families in the same boat....also participating in diabetes related fund raisers makes them feel like they are DOING something to help others...I strongly recommend you give your local chapter a call, hang in there Mom, you CAN do it!

Dear V.,
I'm so sorry your daughter has been diagnosed with diabetes. It is a difficult thing to learn to live with to be sure. We have friends who have their older children have a gadget hooked up to them that enables them to check their blood sugar at any time and inject a shot by the push of a little button. They wear it on them like a pager. I am not sure at what age you would go to this, but it is very handy. You might ask your doctor about it. I also wanted to mention that there is a link between diabetes and vaccinations. I don't know if you vaccinate or not, but you might want to look into that link before you continue with them, and if you have other children, you may want to consider not vaxing since they may have a similar long-term reaction.
Blessings

Hi V.,
I am so sorry to hear about your daughter's diagnosis. My 26 year old brother has had Type I diabetes since he was eight. It was rough for the whole family, I can symphatize with what you are going through. Just know that you are doing the best you can, and that there wasnt anything you could have done to see this coming. There is still so much that is not understood about this disease, do what you can to inform your self as much as possible. Managing your daughter's blood sugars is the most important thing. It takes some work, but it will become second nature. I wish I could offer more constructive support at this time. But if I get any helpful input from my brother I will pass it along. In the meantime, I am willing to be a listening ear or try to help with any other questions that may arise.

Hi. I know how you feel. I have children ages 26 and 13 that were both diagnosed as type I diabetics at age 8. You will do well, just give yourself time. It is a learning process. Rely heavily on your doctor and nutritionist. And learn the appropriate measurements, check sugars regularly. Then, when school starts, you just have to educate the teacher as to what to watch out for. I know it is a lot to take in. And sometimes it helps to cry.

My husband has type 1 diabetes and has had it for MANY years... since he was 5 years old! He is 41 now! He is AMAZING... people always say you'd never know he has it, though I think people with chronic health conditions who manage them well look just like anyone else, so I get a bit annoyed with that backhanded compliment. Anyway, it is IN NO WAY a death sentence. My husband was diagnosed and managed it as a child then an adolescent and through puberty without the technology and care we have today, and as an adult, shows no major effects of having had the disease for so long. He uses a pump now and is getting a new one this week that measures blood sugar throughout the day for him and alerts him if he is too high or too low. He has no eye issues, no kidney problems, great sensitivity in the extremeties, tons of energy, etc. There is a lot of misinformation out there, and even on the internet (like what a pp said about a link between vaccinations and diabetes... not true), so I'd suggest educating yourself through the endocrinologist who will manage your daughter's case. Try to stay away from all the panic and inaccurate information that even well-meaning people have.

I am also a teacher and have had diabetic students. They are just like anyone else, can eat whatever the others eat, etc., as long as they test frequently throughout the day and adjust insulin accordingly. I think it is hard as a parent because we NEVER want to see our kids "suffer" or be sick in any way, but my husband always says that it's almost a little easier for him because he doesn't remember life before he had it. Remember too that if she is super cranky or angry, it could be low blood sugar and not just typical pre-school behavior! Please hang in there and have hope that by the time she is my husband's age, there might be a cure! Or at least more advances in care. She is just like anyone else, really. She just needs a little extra attention to her health. She will have a wonderful, long, happy life!

Wish I had something to sat, but all I can do is send you a hug!!! I can't imagine what you and your family feeling right now!