Help Me - Moms of Diabetic Children!!!!!!!!!

I am a nurse, so I will tell you how we do it for children. (I do not have a diabetic child)
You need to have one room in the house that is designated the "shot room". Every time she needs a shot, take her to the same room (same place). Right now, the only thing she understands is that you are hurting her, and she doesn't know why. As you begin to take her to the same location each time she needs a shot, she will begin to feel safe in her environment & with you, as she will know that the shots only happen in one place, so if she is anywhere else in the house, she is "safe" so to speak. Never give her a shot in her "safe" place, which is everywhere except that one room/ or location.

Step 2, get her involved in the actual administration of the shot ... very slow steps here. (Do this in the shot room)
When you put the needle in, let her push the syringe down. Take it slow, and do not force her. Talk about it to her way before you attempt to do it with her. Practice on a doll first, you put the needle in the doll leg and then let her push the syringe down, make it into a fun game type thing. (this will not be easy and will take time, so be patient with her, and back off if she is not ready).
The more involved she gets with giving herself shots, the more control she will feel she has over this experience and the better it will get for both of you.

(Ask your doctor about insulin pumps)

Hope this helps

Hi C.,
My heart goes out to you and your family! You are a loving and caring mom and it shows!

I am a certified holistic health counselor who works with moms and families. I have 4 kids of my own and have a nephew with type 1 diabetes.

If you would like to talk my email is ____@____.com business is listed in mamasource. I can do a free health consultation with you.

Take care and remember to breathe deeply!

K.

C.-I am so sorry to hear that your little girl received the diagnosis that so many of us feared. My thoughts are with you and I am sending you strength.

I haven't had much personal experience with this, but you might consider trying some of the systems you may have used to get your daughter to this point. For instance, letting her exert some control over which finger gets the stick and where the injection will go. Providing some special little treat or prize whenever she is able to participate in calm manner--crying is one thing...kicking and hitting and screaming are another.

As others have suggested, use a specific spot every time you can to administer her insulin. Maybe take her to buy a special chair or stool and little cabinet to store her non-refrigerated supplies.

Also, a quiet and private spot she can go afterward for a few minutes that is all her own. A little chair with a pull down canopy or little tent or special reading corner.

Of course, you also will want to avoid making too big of a deal about it so she (or your other children) won't feel alienated. You'll have to accept your "new normal" and incorporate it into everyday family life. You have to stay calm...and you might remind her that a new family would have to do the same thing!

www.diabetes.org is the American Diabetes Association website (if you haven't been there already) and has some good information about dealing with diabetes in children.

First and foremost, find a group that is a support system for parents of children with Type 1 diabetes.

This is something I am sure they come into contact with on a daily basis and will have tried and true methods to help you through this adjustment period. Plus you will not feel all alone and your child can meet other kids her age with this disease and talk with them about how it affects their lives.

Also, shots hurt. There is a reason that I hate being the one to take my kids to get them. And to make matters worse some kids are more sensitive to the pain from the shots than others. Thus, telling them it will only hurt for a moment or that it really doesn't hurt is not comforting at all. She is angry and telling you she wants to live somewhere else because she wants to hurt you back when you give her a shot. All her life she has been safe with you. Nothing bad has ever happened to her.

To her this is not only bad, but daily you are the one inflicting the pain on her. It is going to change your relationship with her for sure. In order to be sure that this change is only temporary and not lifelong, I highly suggest therapy (not mor medication) so she has a place that is "safe" (she has lost that feeling in your home and with you) to let out her anger and frustrations over what is happening that she has not one iota of control over.

I also suggest you make sure that her therapist incorporates family counseling as well to help all of you know how to let her get her anger and frustration out safely and to help your daughter find the safety and comfort she has lost in your home and your relationship...

Just so you know...this IS NOT your fault!!!! But remember it is not hers either, and she did adjust to the rest of her new regimen. You all just need a bit of help over this one bump so it doesn't become an impassable mountain.

I think individual and family counseling for her and your joining one or more support groups for families living with this disease will go a long way towards smothing out your road ahead and to reforge your relationship with your daughter...

Good Luck!!! ;-)