Chapter Four: "Daddy, Can I Sleep Over Grandma's?"

A normal part of every child's life is sleeping over at a friend or relative's house. This will be scary not only for you but also for whoever will be responsible for your child. For a while your answer will probably be no. That's likely a good idea until you, your doctor, and your child, have a better handle on insulin dosages. The time will come for this but it will take a while. This is a change from normal that can't be helped. However, visits during the day to grandma's, birthday parties, and play dates can be accommodated with a few preparations. First write everything down. Times for finger sticks, carb counts for meals and snacks. Pay particular attention to symptoms, both high and low and what to do about them. A list of acceptable foods if you use one. Phone numbers, yours, the doctors, the restaurant where you will be, you get the idea. Then make a bunch of copies.

You'll spend half your life writing this list over and over if you don't. For a while until everyone is more comfortable leaving your child during insulin shots, time it so you give the shot while you are there as everyone is sitting down to eat. That gives you the best chance at a couple of free hours. If your child is spending the night you will have to come back to give the bedtime shot. You will also have to come back in the morning to give the breakfast shot. This may seem like a lot of back and forth. It is. But until your child can administer their own insulin this is the best way to keep their life normal if not yours. If you cannot avoid being gone during an insulin injection and someone else has to give it, follow up! Kari was at her aunt's house and was given her nighttime shot. Over the phone I asked what she had been given. It turned out they gave her the correct dosage of insulin. Unfortunately, they gave it from the wrong bottle. She had been given a very large dosage of short acting insulin by mistake.

When something like this happens you will be glad you have the emergency number for the doctor on call at the hospital. Use it. Never be shy. In this case it turned out to be Kari's lucky day. She got to eat all of the ice cream and soda she could stand. She also got to stay up extra late for the hourly blood tests her aunt had to monitor. Her Aunt on the other hand was mortified. Who could blame her? Don't assume everything will be just fine. Follow up. Then spend all the time you need calming the aunt down. If you don't she'll be too scared to keep your child over night again.

Birthday parties are a different story. You have no control over times. Do the same thing with the list. Write everything down: Times for blood tests; carbohydrate requirements; times for meals and snacks. Include the signs of hypoglycemia and what to do. If the activity falls into a time where an injection is needed explain that you will be there to give it. Most parents will be comfortable having your child over if they have instructions and they know that you will be available. Knowing that they can reach you at all times is usually enough to reassure most parents.

Educating the parents of friends will probably be ongoing, as your child makes new friends and as her social life expands as she gets older. You will be surprised how many people will be comfortable with your child's situation if they just have instructions. You may also be surprised at how many people have a diabetic niece or nephew. They may be more familiar than you are with how everything works. Remember, a normal life is what you are striving for.

Always ask whoever will be responsible if they are comfortable with the responsibility. Some people may just nod their heads while you are explaining all this then be panicked the entire time you are gone. This isn't good for them and especially isn't good for your child. They pick up on these feelings. It makes them feel even more different. When you ask make sure you get a yes or no answer. If it's no make other plans. How old your child is and how much responsibility they can realistically be expected to take is also a big consideration. No one knows your baby better than you do.

You and your child may get a lot of different responses to your child's Type 1 diabetes diagnosis - some positive and some not so positive. Sometimes people react fearfully just because they are ignorant about juvenile diabetes. When my daughter was diagnosed (she was 8) She knew more about diabetes than I did because a character in a book she had read was diabetic and it was discussed. If you find this happening, the first step is to take the time to educate others. This discussion is very important, not only for others but also your child. They need you to help them realize that having diabetes doesn't make them different. Special maybe, but they are the same person they have always been. Usually, just having more understanding of diabetes and its treatment will help people respond better to your child and her needs.


 Next

Chapter Five: School


 

Legal Statement

The Book "So Your Child Has Diabetes" A Step by Step Plan for You and Your Child , is Copyright © 2004 by Russell A. Turner.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any other means: electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of the copyright holders. This book is supplied for information purposes only and, as experienced in this subject matter as the contributors are, the material herein does not constitute professional medical advice. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher and contributors are not engaged in rendering medical, psychological, or other professional advice. If medical or other professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. The reader is advised to consult with an appropriately qualified medical professional before making any medical decision. The publisher and contributors do not accept any responsibility for any liabilities resulting from decisions made by the purchasers of this book.

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