Our friends just found out their 4 year old has diabetes- how can we help?

Question

They are really on an emotional rollercoaster this last week since they found out. They seem to be struggling with a few things (1) giving shots 4 times to a day and hurting their child is getting to them (2) it's forever (3) they are concerned about treatment- worried that they are not doing it right- she could have a low blood sugar episode, etc. (4) their daughter is confused and bummed out- they feel like this will break her spirit (5) they have other young kids and it's putting stress on all of them.

any advice on what we might to do to help, things we might be able to say to assuage their stress, or resources that they might use to help them transition? Anything.

thanks.

Answer 1

Maybe offer to help with the other kids.
Look up diabetic recipes, and bake a couple of casseroles, to take the burdan of dinner off them one night.
Just let them knoe that you are supportive, and be an ear if they need to vent (It would be really good if you had some knowledge, so you could participate in a conversation)
You are a good friend!!!!

Answer 2

Write a card. But don't say "get well soon" since that will just make the foreverness of it seem much more real.

Learn all you can about type 1 diabetes. I recommend starting with childrenwithdiabetes.com. If you know a lot about diabetes you may be able to help with babysitting later, and it's hard to find a babysitter that is willing to deal with diabetes.

Still treat the girl no differently than you would any other 4 year old.

If she is at your house often keep fast acting sugar on hand for low blood sugar.

Answer 3

Wow so young, you have quite a journey ahead of you, the amount of information you need is beyond the limits of my ability to type. Make sure you see an endocrinologist, he will have nutritionist and other specialist you will need. Be thankful that you found out early, but the treatment and testing and the whole ball of wax will be very difficult till the kid gets older.
I'm not a doctor, but do not get overly upset about failing to "do your job" during the first few months. Any treatment will be good but 8 yrs of strict control might actually be harder to do, maybe not though. Surely girl will survive till older when treatment will be much easier.
Go TO DIABETIC CAMP, she will get to go about 10 times she lucky, other kids will be jealous, perhaps a bro or sis could go with her because they need to learn about this also.
Please see Endocrinologist and don't take information too seriously from this board. Someone will tell you about all the home remedies, there are none.
the shots are the ez part, its balancing all the other crap like the rest of your life that makes it difficult.
when she gets older, she will shine in school. Rise to top of class, able to handle responsibility, excel in many areas. I have seen it b4. The kids who handle their diabetes grow up a little quicker than others. Good Luck

Answer 4

My daughter was 3 when she was diagnoused, I was a single parent and I can't even explain what I was going through emotionally. But there are some shining light for them to look forward to: the first one is having great friends like yourself. Second, they're not alone! We were and at time still worried if we as parents are doing things "right".
Third, we know so much more about diabetes then we used to. She isn't limited to what she can and cannot eat. There are these great insulin pumps...my daughter LOVES hers.
To address your questions is order:
1) Yep, shots hurt. If they are not use BD ultra-fine, short needles, they can ask the doctor about changing the Rx. Not to mention the longer they are doing this the better they will become at it. Also give her something else to foucus on, ie tell me about this picture, what do you want to do after this, something where her focus is not on the shot.
2) Yes, it is forever. Just like she's a girl, that's forever too. But they are working on a cure....let's keep our fingers crossed.
3) Different doctors have different beliefs in treatment, some believe in daily shots till a child is older. Some doctors believe in the insulin pump, the sooner the better. Get a second opinion in treatment options. And worried about not doing the right thing, don't we worry about that as parents no matter what?
4)She is confused, all she knows is one day she went to the doctor's and now she's getting her finger poked and shots all the time. Contact JDRF.com and get the "bag of hope" for her. It comes with a "Diabetes Bear", kid friendly books to help her understand and adut friendly books too. It's free and my daughter used to use her "Diabetes Bear" to tell me she was scared. After all she was brave, it was the Bear that was scared.
Her spirt will depend on her parents and how they react. I told my daughter that diabetes was a part of her, just like her blonde hair and blue eyes. Period the end. I explain it wasn't her fault, just for some reason her islet cells died. She's nine now, at the top of her class, plays sports, goes to sleep overs and is ready to take over the world.
5) Be honest with the children. Stress is stress, just remember life is a roller coster ride. Just hold on tight to eachother.

Be there for them, learn about the disease. There are diabetes camps now for children, support groups, web sites, you name it. Just remind them, no matter how alone they feel, their not.

Answer 5

It may not be too late. The child should be taken off dairy products immediately. Go here: http://www.drmcdougall.com/ and research child onset diabetes.

While I'm no expert on type I, I've heard some interesting university reports linking consumption of dairy proteins with type I. Apparently, the dairy proteins are similar to our pancreas and cause an immune response that attacks the pancreas. Well worth researching.

Then read this and follow the links:

For type I and type II diabetics.

I've found a wonderful book that will help you control your diabetes and minimize or even eliminate the complications. Some folks who became diabetic due to poor diet and obesity are effectively cured by following the advice in this book. I'm a hereditary type II, which makes it more difficult, but it helps all types, especially those who became diabetic due to poor eating habits. It's by an author who has really done his homework, Patrick Quillin, Phd. I have tried his suggestions and found them to be very helpful. I have no complications whatsoever and my blood sugar levels are quite stable. Yes, I still have to take Metformin (Glucophage) daily, but it's the minimum dosage (500mg) and I only have to take it twice a day. I have been off Metformin for as much as a week, but this was with vigorous exercise. Many non-hereditary type IIs have gotten off medication completely, just with diet, exercise, and supplements. So, in some instances, it most certainly can be 'effectively' cured.

The book explains what's going on in our system and what to do about it. It's really easy and inexpensive. It's basically diet, supplements and exercise. For example, did you know that cinnamon helps blood sugar absorbtion? It also controls cholesterol and triglycerides. This is according to the USDA: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/np/fnrb/fnrb0104.htm#pinch

For men: Are you suffering from erectile dysfunction? I was. Yes, WAS. Now that everything's under control, I'm able to have nearly normal sex again.

Read more about it here:
http://www.diabetesimprovement.com/

I've also put together a little webpage highlighting some of the things I've learned here: http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/Type_II_Diabetes.html

Here's another great health site with all kinds of general health information:
http://www.chetday.com

Answer 6

They say that it takes a good year to figure out what amount of insulin/food you need. So it will be stressful on them for a while trying to figure out how her body works so she can adjust to proper insulin levels. It is sad that she has it however it is VERY common and people of all ages live wonderful full lives. My friend is 20 and she has an insulin pump that is attached to her. It is subcutaneously (under the skin) attached to her and it automatically tests her sugar and gives her the proper insulin. She is a nurse and every summer she helps out at a camp that only has children with diabetes there. That would be something in the future they could look into for her. Of course these children are all 100% normal they just have diabetes. It's nice for them to be together and talk about there issues. They need to support there little one and give her all the information and love they can. It will be a lifelong journey for her but it can be well-controlled and it will work out wonderfully. It' s just a bump in the road for the wee one. All the best to her and her family. I'm positive it will work out for them.

Answer 7

I know of someone that have diabetes and had an open wound almost 1 feet in size on the leg. Fully recovered on the wound and the sugar level back to normal after taking a product call Colostrum for about 3 months. That is not a medicine for diabetes but the good news is, doctor certify cure!

Answer 8

Find a local hospital that offers a support group for juvenile diabetes and go with them.
Other parents can really help them and the 4 year old can meet other kids in her shoes.

Good Luck.

Answer 9

MANGOSTEEN.......contact me by email thru here and I'll lead you to information. Many doctors are now recognizing mangosteen juice and are using it to help counter the effects of diabetes and many other health challenges. All natural, fully patented and it tastes fantastic! Mangosteen juice is the fastest growing health supplement in history. Helps to rebuild the immune system on a cellular and molecular level, which is the basis for good health. Great for all ages!!

Answer 10

my mom was just diagnosed with a disease also so I can tell you what my mom's friends did and what my friends did for me. Writting cards simply did alot by its self.


Tips for helping out!

-Write her a card or buy her a card to show you care
-DO NOT CALL HER ALOT it made my mom so upset because she couldn't relax for a second
-Make her some food;i know sounds corny but my mom's friend made us enough food to last us a week and it helped so much since my mom just came back from getting surgery and we didn't have time took cook all our meals.
-i know it is hard to hurt your own child my dad has to stick tubes into my mom and it hurts him too but they have to remember they are doing it for the better
-Tell them there daughter is a regular child she can do anything that any other four year old can do it is just a disease a dis-ease it just makes life harder but you will get through it i promise
-The other children may be hurt and upset but they willl get through it if you have children take her children off her hands for a while let her children get out of the house i know it sucks having to stay with my mom all day.