Type 1 Diabetes

I have an eleven (soon to be 12) year old daughter who has had type 1 diabetes now for about 6 years. I wrote an article, and you can find it here: http://bit.ly/6jRZBh and another one here: http://bit.ly/4NxLgD . One talks about what to do to get them started back in school after being diagnosed and the one is titled: Trials and Tribulations of a Parent who has a Child with Type 1 Diabetes. It just lets you know that you are not the only one. Good luck and I hope this helps!

My son was diagnosed this past April. You are in great hands with Children's endocrinology doctors and diabetes specialists. My son is in elementary school, so I suspect your teen daughter will have more control of counting her carbs and dosing herself. I suggest using an insulin pen for injections at mealtime. This is easier to carry around-not having to refrigerate open insulin viles.

For your peace of mind while she is at school, there is an internet website called mycareconnect.com. Once she is registered to use this, she can text her BG, carb number and amount of insulin she dosed herself. It will send you a text message/email with that report.

There's so much more information to offer and I'm sure you have many more questions. I will send you a private message with my contact info.
Jenn

I have a very dear friend whose 12 year old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes this past summer. It is hard on her emotionally and physically. When going out to eat at a resturant, it is hard to do carbs. Just really be aware of carbs and do alot of reading. Lizzy is a really sweet girl but this whole thing has changed her life. She wants to be a normal kid but if she does that that she will have to take shots. She tries to keep her snacks virturally no carbs so that way no shots. It will change your life on how you normally do things. If you have any questions, just email me and I will hook up with this wonderful family and I am sure they can help you and hook you up with some resources. HTH. K.

My heart goes out to your daughter but diabetes doesn't have to be a burden.
I am also an insulin dependant diabetic and am now on the insulin pump.
This may my life so much simpler.
I don't know if your insurance will cover it but if it does you should look into it.
Good Luck!

A P.E. teacher friend of mine (my own kids had her, their favorite teacher during those years) but we became friends. She shared with me the ordeal of her developing Type I diabetes when she was in her late teens. She had to do all the standard management techniques they taught back then, but what she found most helpful was that staying active, in sports, dance, running, etc., helped her to stave off most of the difficult complications. To the extent that she worked out, maintained regular exercise, she was able to cut way back on insulin. It was a life-saver, and she has always been very faithful to maintain her activity life. She is in her early 50's now, and still in extremely good health, with none of the complications that frequently show up in later years.

Hi-
My daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes when she was 2. She is now 13, so we have had many years to deal with it. She is on an insulin pump and it greatly improved her/our quality of life we put her on it. We use Cook Childrens in Ft Worth for her care. The best advice we got from her CDE when she was diagnosed is that she is a child first. I think that's very important to remember and in your daughter's case, she is a teenager first. It's hard to deal with diabetes because you never get a day off from it. My daughter also goes to Camp Sweeney and she loves it! It is the highlight of her summer. It is expensive but insurance usually pays for the medical portion of the fees and they offer financial aid. Another good resource is the Children with Diabetes website. It has sample 504 plans for school on it as well as other helpful information. The forums are also a great place for adivice.
http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com Please send me a message if I can help you in any way. Diabetes is definitely a life changing diagnosis but it's also a doable diagnosis.

My daughter was diagnosed when she was 4 & she's now 19.
The best thing for her is Camp Sweeney.
http://www.campsweeney.org/
It always makes a huge difference when she gets back.

My daughter is 10 and has had type 1 since she was 2-1/2. This is not an easy thing to deal with but there is a lot of help out there. Check into Camp Sweeney. It is in Gainsville and has helped our family in dealing with this.
My daughter has gotten to where the shots and finger sticks do not bother her because she has learned the hard way that it is better to take care of herself than to do what she wants. I know it is hard but you have to be tough. She has a twin brother who doesn't have diabetes and she didn't understand why he could eat whatever he wanted and I would have to tell her no. Now she acecpts the reasons why not her. Good Luck.