[concernedbun]

hi, my name is Billy, I'm posting here on behalf of my mother.
Neither of us have diabetes, but her best friends daughter does.
The child is about eleven years old.
My mothers knowledge of diabetes is limited but she is worried about how her friend treats the insulin injections.
The friend was told by doctors to give the little girl something small and sugary when her levels are low, and a shot of insulin if they are too high.
The friend instead lets the little girl eat whatever she wants no matter how sugary (yesterday she ate six donuts and a snow cone, and that was just in front of my mother)
The friend lets the little girl eat like that everyday and then objects her directly after to "balance it out"
Now, I know nothing of diabetes but my mother is severly worried for this kid, who she is godmother for.
She's tried to do research but she's pretty internet hopeless so she asked me to get some advice.
Is what her friend doing okay?
Could it potentially harm the little girl?
If it IS harmful, does anyone have some facts we could give the friend about why she shouldn't be doing it?
If it isn't harmful I'll be sure to tell my mother so she can relax.
Any help is really appreciated.

 

[Janknitz]

Type I diabetics absolutely need to take insulin, but the less insulin a diabetic can take the fewer diabetic complications he or she will have.

This is extremely harmful, but the woman was probably told that it was ok for her daughter to eat what she liked as long as they "covered it with enough insulin". In my opinion this is ignorant child abuse but since she is following her doctor's orders no consequences will result.

Your mom may want to get her friend the book Dr Bernstein's Diabetes Solution but I wouldn't expect much to come of it because her doctor will not agree with Bernstein's approach. This is really, really sad. It will be hard to watch this little girl grow sicker and risk losing her legs, her eyesight, and her life.

 

[Shalynne]

Sadly, Janknitz is absolutely correct. In addition, it is usually impossible to exert control over another adult's actions; in this case, those of the child's mother.

I wish we had happier answers for you.

 

[concernedbun]

I was afraid the answers might be like this
Does anyone know any facts or details my mother could give her friend to discourage what's she's doing?

 

[skb]

There are a bunch of studies that say that roller-coaster BG levels are very harmful. You could try Jenny's site where the studies would have links.

 

[silvertiger]

I would send your mom to the Blood Sugar 101 website and have her read there, and she can forward that link to her friend. Good luck!

 

[Richard157]

It almost sounds like the mother is not taking her daughter to an endocrinologist (diabetes specialist). She needs the advice a specialist can provide. It would also be wise for her to join an online parents group and see how other parents care for their children. I have been type 1 for 69 years, and am a very healthy diabetic. My mother did not let me eat food with sugar. If I had eaten a lot of sugar I would not be alive and healthy now.

Here is a link that gives a good support group for parents of tyoe 1 children:

children with DIABETES Online Community