debbie

Hello
I have a 17 year old daughter who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in May of 2006 during her sports physical. It was, of course, a shock to both of us because she had not displayed any symptoms of the disease. We have gone through the diabetic education and also meet with a pediatric endocronologist and his staff every three months and keep in contact with them via fax and telephone calls trying to regulate Kaylees insulin dosage. My daughter refuses to take responsibility for her care!....She "fudges" her charts that I fax to her doctor every 12 days, doesn't test her blood often enough (maybe 3 times per day on a good day!) and "estimates" the carbs she's eaten. It's impossible to regulate her insulin because we have no idea what she's eaten and unless I go back and check her meter on a daily basis we have no idea what her sugar is. I have tried desparately to make her understand that how she cares for her diabetes now will affect her future. She knows about kidney failure, blindness, loss of limbs, etc...but I think she truly believes this won't happen to her! I have grounded her, taken away her driving, computer and phone priveleges a few times now and she's "good" for a couple days, then reverts back to her old ways. Does anyone else out there have a child who was going through the same thing? Any ideas or tips on how to get her to step up and take control of her diabetes??? I'm so sad and angry and frustrated....I don't know what else to do. Her attitude when I ask her why she isn't keeping track of her sugar, carbs etc is just a plain old "I don't know Mom" and she sports an attitude from then on. Please...if anyone has any suggestions I would really appreciate hearing from you.
Thank you.
Debbie

T-Dubb88

Oh man we all hate this phase. First off trying to come out of this phase I can tell you be happy she does test 3 times a day... I have been a week without testing once (no im not proud of it but it happens), iv been threatened by doctors about the driving deal, and heard every speech you can imagine about limbs. To be honest, if she is anything like me it won't work much. I don't know how her A1C is but my ended up being 6.7, no one really knows how i pull it off because they got mad when I tell them I bolus from my guesstimation i made on food and correct for how i feel. coming from the stand point of someone trying to pull out of this stage rather then being a mother I can only say it's a hard time... and nothing can really happen till she gets the motivation to do it herself. How active is she? the could only conclude that it was (my a1c) where it was because of sports and activity. She will realize she needs to get her diabetes in order and will change... trust me. good luck and feel free to pm me if you need help!

otep

That's a hard case. Anyway, she is young and unfortunately finding out that she is diabetic isn't easy, more so if her lifestyle is about to be changed. it's like a free bird suddenly caged. Maybe you want to approach this differently. If you become too stiff or strict she might rebel or become more stubborn. Bring her to a diabetic educator - but gradually insert your visits until she gets used to the schedule and not see it as a "hassle" in her day to day activities. Just a suggestion though.

STRIKER

javis

I´m always listening here and there that young people are always the most problematic ones in taking care of themselves and following all aspects of the diabetes therapy. I hope you could make her understand that is so important now to make things right thinking in her future.

Cheers,

JAvier