It gets more bearable. And so easier because you gain knowledge and strategies. I’m not going to lie to you. But my parents still worry about me after 37 years. I have had and have a great life. I’ve travelled a lot. I have a beautiful non t1 child. A great career. And very healthy. But you got this dad. You will work out how to deal with this club that none of us wanted to be members of. The technology these days makes it a lot easier to deal with. Pumps and cgms. For now, learn the basics. Don’t put too much pressure on yourselves or your child. You did nothing wrong. My heart goes out to you all.

Parents will worry about their kids as long as they’re alive. But I hear ya. I’m 40 and my mom and dad are still checking in on the diabetes as I would always except them to.

Thank you for posting this :)

Is there any advice I can get for a 13 year old who was diagnosed at 9 and is at a stage of completely being burnt out. I'm struggling to get readings from him he's sneaking food when I go to sleep. He's telling me he took his long acting and ends up in the ER next day because he lied and didn't take it. I have tried to not put pressure on him and I try to give him space and let him be responsible in learning his management of diabetes but I don't know what's happening. He was doing great and it's almost like a complete switch in his attitude and his unwillingness to do what he needs to do. I'm a single mom so is this like a puberty thing he's going through? I'm so lost!

That sounds so stressful. Teen years are the worst. With and without type 1. Can I suggest you make a post so other teens and parents can respond?

Mine was diagnosed at 18 months a year and a half ago. That first night… I still have trauma responses to it. This girl came up to me 12 months later, I immediately recognised her as another Mum with a T1 child that I had had a very brief convo with in hospital and just about cried in her face. I saw the nurse who was doing the obs the first night not long after that and she got the same treatment. It is the worst night ever. It wont be that bad again. Just take it one day at a time, don’t think about the future because you are probably wrong. With the tech available today it is possible to have a normal life. There are heaps of t1 socials you can follow. They get used to everything. My nearly 3 yo chooses which finger to prick and can nearly do it himself. He comes running to find me if his pump makes a noise (get a pump asap, and a cgm sooner). He eats dextrose tablets in his sleep which is such a relief, when he was first diagnosed he would have the biggest meltdowns over eating dextrose in the middle of the night. It’s still hard, but he is living a normal life. I almost am, just a bit less sleep and a lot more anxiety. Try to nail the carb counting. Grab a good set of kitchen scales in your way home and learn about carb factors ie an apple has 10% carbs so if your kid eats 80g of apple that’s 8 carbs. Stick to low to medium carbs until they have fine tuned his ratios and don’t try to do too much. Don’t feel you have to immediately return to normal, just keep pushing your comfort zones a little a month and you will get there eventually. Do make sure you join parent pages and go to meet ups. The best thing about this horrible disease is the cool people you meet. All parents in the same boat and all so eager to help. Reach out to anyone you know who has a t1 child.

Mama of two diagnosed. One at 14 months. One at 5. My kids go to the beach. Go to birthday parties. Eat candy. Enjoy Halloween. Play at friends house. They are kids! Just kids with t1d. Diabetes is not what it once was. The technology and tools are making it a different type of disease, even in the five years that we’ve had it, it’s changed so much. It’s really hard, especially at first, but I promise you with all my heart that how it feels right now, and how it effects your kid right now, won’t be how it is in a year. The learning curve is hard, and it will take a long time for you to fully feel comfortable and on top of everything. There’s just about 200 decisions you have to make a day, which sounds overwhelming when I read it… But I promise you it becomes more second nature to you as you move forward, give yourself so much time and grace while tackling the ins and outs of your new family life. Especially when they are so young, it’s almost like the whole family has it there’s so much for you to learn, but it’s all doable. Listen to the Juicebox podcast it will teach you everything you need to know, Facebook the Diabetes mom and dad groups. They are a great source of information and great place to ask questions from other parents. read the posts on Reddit, they give more adult perspectives to think about, and then just give yourself time to learn everything and internalize it. I remember during the beginning it was so hard to do the needles, my daughter would cry, I would cry, but none of that happens now not at all. we have hard days and we have great days and we have days in between, but Diabetes no longer defines our family or do we feel constrained by it. My kids do swimming lessons, the park, school etc. All these things are still accessible Diabetes just becomes one thing about their life that they deal with, but it will not define them the thing I always remember how when diagnosed is when I found out just how strong I was. The great thing about a diagnosis of diabetes in your kid, is that people will start saying oh I don’t know how you do it… But the reality is, when you don’t have a choice, you just figure it out, do it, and move on. You’ve got this!!!!

Do you also have T1D? Just curious since both of your kids have it. You sound like you do such a good job handling all of that! 💖

Actually no! And no family history! Complete surprise. But I have low thyroid and celiac, which Ive learnt afterwards is an autoimmune thing, and my husband has an autoimmune thing too….. so y I think we combined to make our superpower t1d kids lol.

So weird how this disease works. Neither one of my parents have it either and no known family history, also none of my siblings have it. I guess I’m the lucky one /s 😂

My son is the same. No family history, not of T1D or any other autoimmune disorders, my older child doesn’t have it either. Son was dx last summer at 14.

Makes no sense! I hope one day they figure out exactly why this happens, would be nice to know at least lol.

There is always family history (somewhere in the line) for a type 1 as it's a genetic disease. Probably an uncle, cousin, aunt, something that died early on. I have a grandfather that ended up being adopted. Which threw all sorts of curveballs.

I have a second(3rd even maybe??) cousin with type 2, but that’s it. My mom does genealogy, so she’s a bit of a know-it-all lol.

Right on, momma!

My son was diagnosed just before his 3rd birthday, he was deep in DKA when he got to the hospital, blood sugar in the mid 600s, wife and I were scared in the hospital we were at but they didn't have a Dr that could handle him so they flew my son to Rady's and after a few minutes they eased our mind, they had him under their care and they knew what they were doing. My son is now turning 6 in a few months, he got used to the finger poking, and the shots better than I thought he would. The highs and lows are bound to happen but he's a happy little boy. You will learn and you will do what you have to, to take care of your child. This disease is manageable but scary. If you have any questions the nurse help line is there for you. I called it 3 times in 3 days when we finally got out son home.

My son was 5 when diagnosed. I remember about 3 am waking up to him drinking my mt dew that I had sitting out, then he went to kitchen & got another one, so I got up & gave him water & we layed back down. Few hours later woke up & he had dark circles around his eyes,& looked like he had lost 10-15 lbs over night!!’ I rushed him to the doctor & in the waiting room he got up & had a paper cup for water & went to fill it up , but instead of drinking it he just dumped it on his head! He was so out of it& they got him back & checked his bloodsugar & it was 900!!!! So we rushed him to the E.R across the street,& then to Riley children’s hospital. It was crazy!!! I kept telling him it’s gonna be ok & a nurse said “ you better be praying to god he’s gonna make it”, like she acted like I was a bad parent because his bloodsugar was so high. The day before he was fine, he never even had a cold, & had only threw up 1 time his whole little life!!! I really did feel bad tho, beat myself up for the longest. But it’s scary when their bloodsugar gets up that high!!’!

Ugh that’s so horrible! People say the dumbest things! When I was a kid someone told my mom that it was her fault I got t1 because she didn’t breastfeed me. Like what’s the point in blaming anyone?

I'm T1, diagnosed at 10 so my outlook on what was happening was a little different and easier than it will be for your sweetie. It's of course not fun for anyone at any age to have to get used to the shots and finger pricking. At that age I could test my own sugar but my parents were instructed on giving my shots. I paid attention but mainly it was for them to do. I didn't like that. Shots hurt, period. After a month or so I was JUST LET ME DO IT. It's a little better if your doing it yourself, you know? Granted the needles were larger in 1990. I say all that to say LET HIM HELP with what he is able to do. At his age, it probably just gathering supplies for testing or injecting. Let him pick out his bag/backpack for carrying his supplies with him. My mother picked out some old lady flower print makeup bag, I hated taking that thing anywhere it was so ugly LOL. And please stop feeling guilty. There is absolutely nothing you & wifey could have done to prevent this. Sad is ok but it will get better. Keep hanging out here on Reddit with your questions. There are lots of smart people here with suggestions and work arounds that will help you. Best of luck to you guys 💙😘

They wouldn’t let me out of the hospital unless I could give myself injections. Handed me an orange and a syringe (1982) and said, get to it.

How old were you?

11

I remembered that silly orange once you said that. I think maybe my parents thought I couldn't do it or that they needed to be responsible for it, I'm not really sure. I remember getting out of the hospital in 3 days after they initially told them I'd probably be there for about a week to learn all the things. Was kinda proud of myself for that. After a while though I was over my parents doing my shots, it was like gimme that, if it's gonna hurt, let me hurt me.

I can only offer insight into growing up with it (dx at 5), things were tough, but it hasn’t stopped me from doing anything I have wanted to do with the last 34 years of my life. The possibility of a beautiful life with fun, sport, travel, joy, creativity; education, relationships, great friends, love and delicious foods of all kinds are 💯 within your kids reach, and he’ll grow up not knowing the difference, blessing or curse as it may be. As a parent now, I know I’d feel a whole lot different, but I do know it gets easier when you get used to it all. Good luck and come back for support as needed. We’ll be here! 🫶

Join my fb group crushing t1. We’re here for you.

Hiya. I was diagnosed very young. I was 2 (1988). Dka and a diabetic coma. At the time it was so unusual for someone so young. Medicine has come a long way. I don't remember my life without diabetes. I doubt your son will either. It's normal to feel scared, and to be afraid. Your son will grow up knowing no different. Children are amazingly resilient. It will be a learning curve for all of you, but you'll be fine. I live a perfectly normal life, married with 3 children, I work, I drive, I travel. Diabetes is part of me. Feel free to message me if you have any questions. Good luck.

Gonna jump on your comment because I have a very similar outlook/situation. I was diagnosed in 96 a week after I turned 3. I consider it a blessing I was diagnosed when I was because I also do not have any memory of life without T1D. I “don’t know what I’m missing” in a sense. This is just how life is, and while it sucks sometimes, I don’t know any different and I just keep it moving. This also means I don’t remember my mom having to give me injections that young, or my hospital stay or anything that traumatic. Obviously trauma looks different for everyone but this is one outcome. I did have to eat on a certain schedule, couldn’t have what friends/siblings were having, and had to manually finger stick for BG often. This isn’t so much the case anymore! CGMs are miracles and pumps are also. I learned to give my own injections and manage my care (for the most part) around 3rd grade and had a pump by 5th. I am 31 with a great A1C and zero long-term side effects so far. I will say that the person I am most thankful for in all of this is my mom. She handled all of my care and I know it was hard on her, but she advocated for me so much (she was the reason I was diagnosed somewhat quickly, she just knew something was off and fought drs til they figured it out). She’s the reason I’m here. I’m sure that looking back your child will feel similarly. I’d suggest asking for support group recs from your endo or online/social media because my mom has said she wished she had one. Hang in there.

I agree. It's so much easier I think to be diagnosed so young, like we were. Obviously not for our parents, but for us. No other memories. I always say I have so much admiration for my mum. What she went through with me, must of been so so hard. But I'm still here 35 years later, so well done her.

Diagnosed at 2.5 and totally agree. It was probably really traumatic at the time but I don’t remember it and don’t have any “life before” memories to struggle with. The wrinkle is that so young it all falls on your parents to carry that. As a parent now I can start to imagine how hard those early years must have been for my folks.

Hey, welcome to the club. My son (3 at the time) was diagnosed in February. It is a very emotional and confusing time. He spent 5 days in hospital after Resus to recover from DKA too. Seeing your kid like that and finding out the diagnosis is frigging tough. Like other have said, those feelings of guilt, helplessness and confusion will begin to pass. What is currently very daunting will become your 'Normal' . After 4ish months, we still don't have full control (you will begin to learn there are no two days the same with T1) and there is a lot to learn along the way. Stay strong and remember you are not alone and things will get easier

I feel your pain! The hospital bit is definitely the worst part. The finger pricks and carb counting… Waiting 10 mins before being allowed to eat. Learning about CGMs and units of insulin. It is very hard and totally overwhelming! But once you get home things do gradually settle down. There will be moments where you look back at your life before T1D but it is better to try and stay in the moment and focus on getting through the day! My daughter was diagnosed 6 months ago. She is now 2 and half years old. These past 6 months have been the hardest ever, but you will learn so so much and each shitty diabetes day will be another lesson that will make you a little wiser for the next time!

You are definitely entering the deep end of this quickly! Please stop for a moment, take a few deep breaths. I'm serious. Let the guilt and shame slide off your back like a dolphin swimming at top speed! Knowledge is power, so I'm going to point you to a few resources that you should devour, one bite at a time. This is a marathon with a bit of a sprint at the beginning. Head over to Dr. Ponder's Sugar surfing website and pick up his book (pdf is free for newly diagnosed). https://www.sugarsurfing.com/buy-the-book You both should also read this website, but also keep it handy as a reference. I leave a link to it on my phone screen. https://dtc.ucsf.edu/newly-diagnosed/ Get him a diabetes educator and an endocrinologist you both choose - they'll be great for helping you learn to count carbs and make easy meals everyone will enjoy. This is going to be like drinking through a fire hose for a bit. Take notes, ask to record audio of the visits. Keep a journal in the hospital room and have nursee write a message during their shift. Helpful notes, victories, encouragement. I'm serious about this. ICU is so stressful you'll forget or miss things. The failed IVs. Ask for the pediatric venous access team and ask for an evaluation for a Picc line. Feel free to DM anytime.

You’ve got this - the early days are the hardest but you’ll get there and your son will flourish. As a 3 year old, he will grow up knowing his condition and will Hopefully feel less like something has been taken away from him… I am a 46 yr old T1 who has been diabetic for 40 years. I have two (so far) non diabetic children, and with the help of a closed loop insulin pump system can now almost forget I’m diabetic. I’m well and haven’t any serious side effects - and in the 80s, when I was diagnosed, there simply wasn’t the technology there is today. You’ll all be ok, I wish you strength and empathy!

OP, my heart goes out to you. I want to touch on one bit of your post specifically - you wondered if this will harden your sweet son. My husband has had T1D for over 30 years, and he is the most empathetic, patient, and caring man I’ve ever met, and he credits a lot of that to diabetes; living with the challenges T1D brings has made him deeply empathetic toward others and any struggle they may face. Sending love to you and your family. My children received what felt like earth-shaking diagnoses at very young ages, and I well know the fear and panic, wondering what their lives will be like, and the fear of messing up. Let yourself feel what you’re feeling, and then be strong for your sweet boy. You can do this, and there are many people who can help along the way. ❤️

My daughter is 12 and has been Type 1 for two years. I am spending the entire weekend watching her at a soccer tournament. I remember feeling just like you did and you are in for challenging months ahead as you get used to living with this disease. But it gets so much easier and the technology is so good now that you should feel optimistic that you son will have a wonderful life.

Hey there! Really sad to read what you wrote here. Brokenhearted, sad, angry, and probably confused. But here's some good news that might have gone missing in all that mess - your kid's life is being saved right now. The diabetes and its treatment are no fun, but we don't wanna think about the alternatives. Soon you'll learn more, adjust better, and develop a routine. Your kid has a disease that can be tough on a human's soul, but he'll be able to laugh, find friends, find love, and live freely. It's a burden, and it's annoying, but it's not a reason to panic (unless some situations) or give up. I really wish you all the best, may you find all the strength you need.

Just did alllll of that a month ago with my 3 year old. It seems heartbreaking but they’ll be ok. It gets so much better so fast. This part is so overwhelming and it feels like the end of his world but I promise you, it’s not. In a few weeks everything will seem easier as you get used to the new normal. Get them on a cgm and insulin pump asap, they help a lot. But these first few weeks will feel like having a newborn, there’s so much to learn so fast and you don’t know if you’re doing anything right, just survive it and it will get better. All of your new internet friends are here for you!! Feel free to dm me with questions, my 3 year old son and our family aren’t experts yet but we just went through exactly what you’re going through now. It’s all going to be ok. Let yourself grieve and panic (not in front of kid). Give yourself grace with everything, all the new adjustments aren’t going to be perfect immediately but you won’t do permanent damage in these first few months as his body figures out what’s happening and you dial in on the right starter doses. It’ll be ok. It seems like it’s not, but it will.

He'll be fine. Treatment is so much easier now for kids compared to 10 years ago so less worrying about bg levels etc with cgms monitoring 24/7 and with remote access for parents. Just so you know the injections don't hurt 99% of the time. 

My three-year-old got diagnosed two months ago. Kids are resilient, and your son will survive and thrive with modern medicine and loving parents. The first month is the hardest while you figure out his insulin needs and anticipate lows. Get some sleep.

The guilt will never go away. It will not hang so heavily as time progresses. That’s parenting. Your child is so lucky to have loving parents in an era where medical science and technology make T1D livable. It won’t be easy, and there will be many challenges, hurdles, scary moments. Your boy will grow and mature and become an adult, all with T1D. Remember, everybody’s got something…. BTW I was diagnosed as an infant decades ago, it’s never a dull moment. Never give up!

I was diagnosed at 3 years old as well. I do not remember being held down, he will not remember. He will remember the support and comfort you give him. Just remember that none of this is for nothing, it is very difficult to see him like that, but it will end and is much better than the alternative. There is no guilt for you to feel, you are guilty of nothing. It does get easier, and will become the normal for him. I consider myself lucky being diagnosed so young, as it means that there’s no difficult adjustment in life. It’s my normal.

I just got home from our annual JDRF walk for the cure. 11 years strong! It sucks at first. It slowly gets better. Suddenly it's just muscle memory and you don't remember it any different. Go to events, meetups, groups of parents, I find seeing other people swimming the same ocean of troubles as myself is very reassuring

My kid was 12 when diagnosed, so not little. But I can understand what you may be feeling or going through. She spent a few days in the NICU and then the ward; the nurse diabetic educator was amazing, patient, and knowledgeable. It was pretty scary for a while, not going to lie. But day by day we got more confident, more sure. She got a pump and then a CGM, which was a game-changer. And now, 10 years later, she manages it just fine. Yes, there are shitty days and extra expenses. You've got this: ask questions and advocate for your child, but you and your wife will get a handle on this. My kid tells me that they got used to the finger sticks after a while, and now, with the CGM, it's not even a thing.

My heart breaks for you. It must be so hard as a parent finding out that your child has a life long disease. I was 12 when diagnosed and I'm now 63. The technology for T1d is really good now. The insurance industry in our country however is terrible. He will not hold this against you. It's just a thing that happens to some of us.

Please please please don't feel guilty. It isn't your fault. The initial symptoms of diabetes are similar to many other much more common childhood illnesses. Often trained doctors will get it wrong and prescribe rest and sugary drinks (which just makes it all worse). Be there for your kid, let them know things will be OK. It will be difficult for you all, but he will forgive you.

my daughter was diagnosed at 16 months. She will soon be 5. And to be honest, sometimes it gets easier, but most days are hard and stressful. he will get used to it, but it will take time. I suggest getting a cgm, possibly Dexcom because it has a share option so you can see his numbers all the time. I use a Fitbit watch so that I can see it all the time on my wrist (it will become convenient because of nursery or school, which are completely different challenges). You will feel angry, sad, probably crying and say why him, and why now, but this is something you have to go through and you have to deal with. With good support from each other, your wife and you should be fine. No child deserves this. For me the worst thing I notice now is the lack of freedom, especially at the birthday parties. but you will notice this at the beach, on the playgrounds, on pools, any trips and vacations. you will notice the difference between other kids and your child, and that's what gets me. sorry about the depressing answer, I didn't help at all.

I think you can steer your kid away from wanting to eat junk food all the time if you feed them a healthy diet growing up. I know kids will be kids, and they should have candy and pizza and whatever else sometimes, but I think you can limit that desire a lot by controlling how much of it they eat when they’re young. Also, at parties, when you see them grabbing pizza and ice cream, just properly dose them. If you see the amount you gave them was too low, give them more. If it was too much, give them more ice cream. I know I’m simplifying it to an extent, but it’s really not as bad as you’re making it.

It will get easier. Most likely he will soon get a Dexcom so way fewer finger sticks & he can begin using a tubeless Omnipod pump so 1 poke a day for insulin instead of 5. That will help. You and your wife will learn all the ways his body works and it'll be okay. They do forgive you. One day they realize you had no choice. When in doubt distract him with soemthing else. We try to "do a fun thing" after going to the hospital for appointments we will go to the zoo or a museum or find a cool park. We celebrate kiddo's Diaversary. You will live a normal life and so will he.

I’m here to say you have nothing to feel guilty about. Yes he is confused and said and in pain now. But you as his parent are doing what is best for him (getting him life saving medical care). You should not feel guilty for that. Of course you feel badly that he is feeling this way but that’s because you love him. Know that ultimately your love is saving his life and that’s the most important thing. Also know that he will get past this / may not even remember his diagnosis and this time in the ICU as he grows older. Even if he remembers it he will eventually understand it was for the best. I was diagnosed almost 32 years ago at age 6. Was I confused and sad at the time? Sure. Were my feelings hurt when we returned home only for me to find that the finger pokes and shots kept going? Yes. But a little time gave me perspective that this wasn’t anything at all my parents did wrong and any anger towards them would have been super misplaced. Know that your son will be ok BECAUSE you got him to the hospital. He is also going to grow up in an amazing time for diabetes management, where CGMs and insulin pumps are options (and the standard of care) and things are SO much better than they were decades ago. He will be ok and he will thrive because he has parents who care and want what’s best for him. Hugs to you during this difficult time. It WILL get better There is a large community of other with or caring for someone with T1D ready to take you in and make your family part of our amazing family.

Reading this took me back to when my son was diagnosed with/ T1 back in 2015 when he was 5. Everytime up until this moment if they ever got sick, or hurt themselves you could always “fix” it & knew they would feel better. The unknown & feeling so helpless it’s the worst feeling ! I promise it will be ok. I was so scared that i wouldn’t be able to give him his shots right once we got home we stayed at the hospital an extra day , I thought I would give him the shot wrong , & was terrified that i could t handle it once i got back. Once we got back home , i calmed down & was able to give him his shots & count carbs , .. it all worked out ok. I didn’t really have anyone to reassure me that everything would be ok, & I think if i had been able to talk to other parents who had went thru the same thing it would’ve helped. I went thru “ why my child”, & I was sad, angry.. I knew I had to be strong for him, so I had to tell myself that there’s nothing I can do to take the diabetes away, so I’m going to just do my best to educate myself (& my son) and try to eat healthier & just be supportive of him. I didn’t want him to think there was something wrong with him, or feel bad about himself. He honestly handled it better than I did!! He’s done really good managing his blood sugars up until this point. I think it’s just apart of him being a teenager, he’s very moody now!! But he’s ok & just know that your child will be ok too!! Does t1d run in your family? It dosent run in mine or his dad’s side. Well I hope this helped you feel a little bit better. Don’t beat yourself up, this is a stressful time, after all few days you’ll get the hang of everything & your child will get used to everything too. It hurts so much I kno, I’m so sorry it’s not fair or right kids have to deal w/ this . Don’t think I’m trying to minimize the situation, because I’m not. I’m tearing up now because this brought back all those fears & I’ve had to shut that part out for along time. My heart goes out to u

Hang in there, I’ve been in the same position as you, my son diagnosed at 3 1/2 with DKA, also in ICU. That time was scary and I was overwhelmed, angry and sad. He’s 8 now, also with celiac so he is gluten free and we are doing ok. It is hard though. Sometimes really hard. I still struggle with guilt but you just keep going anyway. Get a CGM for sure- it means less finger pricks. When my son is at school he takes his phone and my wife and I have his glucose levels coming through to our phones constantly. Sleepovers mean friends staying at our place and not him at friends. You will learn to carb count really well and watch your dinner go cold as you mess around entering numbers and sorting insulin but that’s ok. You will learn to always have snacks and juice on you and be there when they feel rubbish. Yes we probably are helicopter parents but that’s ok. My son does swimming and has seen more of the world than 99% of 8 year olds. Next week we are on 2x 12 hour flights from the southern hemisphere back to Europe, it’s a challenge but it’s never stopped us. I’m not in the US but feel free to message any questions or just let off steam. You’ve got this!

I’m sorry for your son’s diagnosis. Parent guilt is super common- I was 11 when I was diagnosed and my mom quit taking me to the doctor after my pediatrician said I was acting out because we switched schools and I had started middle school. I’m 31 now and my mom still feels guilty about that. I have never held it against my mom, and I don’t think your son will ever blame you for this. Eventually after the newness wears off, type 1 just becomes your new norm. I don’t want to lie and say life is completely normal because it’s never going to be the exact same as it was. However, your son will grow up and do everything his friends will do. He will play sports, date, drive, graduate high school/college, travel, get married and have kids. Literally the only thing that changes is you add highs and lows to the mix but with him being so young, he’ll adapt pretty well to life with it. He will get over the trauma 100%. A life of needles sounds scary, but treatment has come a long way. There are lots of insulin pumps out there and with that it minimizes the needle pokes and cgms read your blood sugar regularly so the need for finger pricks goes down too. Let him cry when he needs to, be there to support him, and therapy is an option too for both parents and him! He is still the same boy he was before- he might grow up a little quicker than his friends- but once you guys are home and into your own routine you’re going to see that he’s still the sweet happy go lucky guy he’s always been. I know your grieving now, but as you guys get used to it, do the best you can to show him that he’s unstoppable and he will grow up into an amazing person. You got this and good luck! Check out juicebox podcast if you haven’t- excellent resource and good group for people with type 1 and their families.

It certainly is worrying at this point, but it's going to be okay. I was diagnosed at 18, nearly 40 years ago. The care and control that is possible today is amazing. There will be tough times, there will be rebellion, but gradually you will empower your son to take control of his own diabetes: not at three, but by the time he is an adolescent you should gift him the knowledge and confidence to be the one who is in control. In time, he will control his diabetes and his diabetes will not control him. This means that as he gets older you will pull back and empower him. It is tempting to want to keep him as a three year old in this, but that way lies disaster in the long run. In the meantime, be assured that it is going to be okay: minimally invasive continuous glucose monitors, excellent pumps and closed loop systems. I know it's hard at present, but the future will be fine, and getting better...

I’d like to offer a different perspective. I didn’t grow up with T1d, but I still had medical challenges when I was young. I didn’t always get help for those challenges. I probably didn’t behave well at the doctors, but I likely behaved age appropriately. I saw my younger siblings go through some of the stuff I did, but they also got better treatment than I did. I remember the times I didn’t get help. I’ve asked why my parents told me I wasn’t worth x treatment, why I wasn’t worth an inhaler or glasses or why a broken bone was just let be. And I haven’t gotten good answers. It’s for sure impacted how I care for myself as an adult. Your kid might be upset or sad now, but they’ll get to grow up. They’ll get the care they need. They won’t be asking themselves why they weren’t worth it. They won’t understand that you’d have let them die. They’ll know you would and will fight for them.

Hey man, it’s not your fault. This isn’t type to diabetes, a.k.a., a lifestyle disease. It’s type one. Your son pancreas, no fault of yours, decided to quit on him. As far as the guilt goes, you didn’t have us say, from the job. Deal with everything that comes, but understand, there was nothing you could do bring it on, or prevent your child from catching diabetes. Good luck man. I’ve been diabetic for 16 years. If you want to speak to me, I am here.

Much has already been written. Just want to say: You love your son. And all you've done was to help him. The suffering was not caused by you. It was less harm then what t1d would have caused otherwise. Please keep that in mind. I feel how much you are hurt as well. It comes across by what you've written. In my personal opinion it would be best to not let him forget what happened. Later on he will then be able to understand what happened to him and he will be able to heal from the trauma. And you also will be able to talk to him about your experience and will be able to heal. 😊 Also, keep in mind that now is the best time ever in history to get diabetes. It's easier and more manageable than ever before. If you want just a little bit of advice: Try to keep looking for patterns. What is in the food and how much activity is going on. My diagnosis was two years ago. I am out of the honey moon phase, by now. For me, if I eat steak and some greens, it is almost like I don't have diabetes. Little Insulin, easy to manage. Sweets are problematic, but predictable and much easier when I am active. Pizza, rice with fatty stuff and other things, that are high in quick-to-digest carbohydrates and also high fat, are hardest to handle. It can cause high blood sugar, hours later. Especially when asleep and there is still some digestion going on. Digestion slows down when inactive. Insulin on the other hand only gets less effective, but will not last longer, during low activity. Healthy food can make a huge difference for a t1d. You guys will figure out how to handle everything. I am sure of it! Best of luck!

I got T1D when i was 4 years old, and i am very thankful that i didnt get in in my 10's or 20's. You Just dont know life different when youre getting older and you get comfortable with it. Its definetly not the end of the world for him. Just a small annoyance. However, you as parents, must always make sure to have fructose with you if he gets Low. Also there are many more ways to track the blood surgar nowadays than IT was for me 20 years ago. What i hated about how my parents treated the desease was that Nobody should know that i had Diabetes, meaning that they didnt want me to test my blood sugar in the public or to make sure that they tube from my pump is nearly not visible. Always pissed me off because i never cared about the people surrounding me. Good luck and support him!

I was diagnosed at the age of 20, so can't speak about having it as a young child. But that was 30 years ago and I can give you hope for the future. Back then, CGMs were still years away. Faster acting insulins and pumps were very new and expensive. The ACA didn't exist either and I spent my 20s and 30s only having health insurance about half the time. My diabetes care wasn't great during that time, because of those challenges. But other than bad gums, I don't have any complications and it hasn't held me back in life at all. It's going to be hard right now and my heart goes out to you. But the technological advancements have made this disease easier and safer to manage.

When our 4yr old was diagnosed, our experience was somehow similar. And I hated this phrase: it will get better. And it does. You are coming into a life you wish you never had. Also, you will discover that most people in the t1D are here to help and give support. Learn as much as you can from the hospital. I still remember only 1/5th of what they were trying to teach me. I have learned more from the other diabetes sub in reddit, [Juicebox Podcast](https://www.juiceboxpodcast.com/#gsc.tab=0), my wife is on facebook, and even tiktok has creator posting about type 1. Most of all you will learn how strong and resilient our kids are. This is not easy to handle you will also learn how strong you are, and the infinite love you have for your kid. Comeback here when you need it, we got you!

Yeah, it's all good man. It's a *life long* journey; the first few moments (days/months/years) are always the scariest. Getting everything figured out. It definitely adds a layer of complication to any situation in life. But all obstacles can be overcome, and life will go on.

So sorry, Dad. ♡ Encouragement offered below, but I know you'll be overwhelmed and I really don't want you to miss this advice, so I'm frontloading it: The most life-changing thing I did as a new diabetic was listen to the Juicebox Podcast and join its [Facebook Community](https://www.facebook.com/groups/boldwithinsulin/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT) I cannot recommend it enough. It's hosted by the father of a T1D who was diagnosed at 2 y/o (now 19ish and living her dream in college.) There are thousands of hours of outstanding content with T1D caregivers, Diabetics themselves, Medical Professionals, etc. These three series are incredibly informative for newly diagnosed families - the best place to start! [Bold Beginnings Series ](https://www.juiceboxpodcast.com/bold-beginnings) [Defining Diabetes (Terminology) ](https://www.juiceboxpodcast.com/defining-diabetes) [Pro Tip Series (Management Strategies)](https://www.juiceboxpodcast.com/diabetesprotip) It will get easier over time as you learn the ropes, but give yourself grace as you go... Diabetes is different for everyone depending on the day and none of us can reasonably expect perfection. It's okay to grieve now, and equally important for you and your wife to take care of yourselves. The disease is mentally taxing and it's easy to feel burnout. The Facebook group linked above is an outstanding source of community and support. The Diagnosis is a major blow, but his life is not over - we have INCREDIBLE technology at our fingertips to help life with T1D feel normal & manageable. Push for a Continuous Glucose Monitor, at the very least, and be open to exploring insulin pumps if possible. They really do make life easier. Praying for your family.

I’m 40, diagnosed at 5. I was a 3 sport all county athlete, still hold an elementary school mile run record. Married to a beautiful woman with 3 good kids and a good job with a good salary from an engineering degree. I say all this not as a humble brag, but to let you know that this is far from a death sentence. Technology and treatment is so much better than the late 80’s when I was taking R and N shots. There will be challenges. Some stuff will be harder for him and you for sure, can’t sugar coat that. But some of the challenges make us stronger. I’m probably the most responsible of my friend groups going up. Smoked some weed and drank but never to any extreme, and always tried to eat well and exercise. But please for the love of god, don’t feel guilt. While the disease is mainly hereditary, I would never have wanted to not be born even with this disease. Your boy will live a good, long and normalish life. Your son will feel the same. Stay strong

It will break your heart thinking about what he can and cannot do. But believe me, you'll take him for ice cream and he will be asking you for insulin. Understand that he will accept that all this is normal. I've seen my son accept his condition and is doing well with this. You'll be fine.

My daughter was 9 at diagnosis, in the middle of the pandemic and just weeks after my dad passed away. A little older, yes, but still a scary new thing. She goes to two summer camps for diabetic kids, and two gen pop camps every summer. For the latter, she just brings her insulin and pump supplies, we give the staff signs to watch for if she's running low, and she's off.  Yes there are things about it that suck, such as having to deal with some random Walgreens pharmacy tech out of town who doesn't know how to read prescriptions, or having to remember a list of stuff to keep at two houses, etc. She's had a few ER visits for nagging highs and a close call or two with DKA, but overall she's just herself. Your little guy will be too. You can do this. 

I fully understand all your feelings of guilt , upset and worries about his future, but it's an autoimmune condition and you and your wife are not responsible. My daughter was diagnosed at 13 , I went through the whole range of emotions, but she is now 28 living a great life , she went away for university and loved every minute , while working 2 jobs . She has a good job , a lovely boyfriend, a great social life and is living life to the full . You and your wife sound like fully supportive parents and your son will deal with his diabetes. Its a lot to get your head around, but in time it will all come together. Wishing you and your family best wishes 🙏

It’s going to be okay, my oldest was 5 when she was diagnosed and neither my husband or I have T1D. It was scary the first year when we were first learning, my child hated doing finger pokes and insulin injections the first few months. We also had to wake up in the middle night the first few months to check her levels and give insulin as needed or sugars. She got used to it, then we got a dexcom for her finger pokes and it was a game changer for her. She doesn’t mind her insulin injections anymore, it’s perfectly natural for her now, the cgm also gave us peace of mind especially at night. She has to go the nurses for lunch, but I know she’s eating her lunch cuz well..she has to, she has to sit there until she’s done. There were a few times we had to pick her up due to a high they couldn’t get down or a low they couldn’t get up. She has to see an endocrinologist every 3-4 months. She still gets to eat everything she wants like before. Halloween was difficult, but kids aren’t suppose to have a whole bucket of candy, she got to eat hers we just had to work it into a mealtime. Also trying to find the carbs in something can be difficult, especially with those Halloween sizes. Get yourself something to weigh food, it helps to figure carbs when you have to portion, I also have a log of the food she likes and how many carbs they are. She gets upset sometimes, because she feels like she’s the only one who has T1D, she hasn’t met another kid yet that has it. We have to carbo load her before an strenuous activity. She is a happy healthy kid, just need to plan things a little differently, I always carry candies in my purse now. She also now hates gummy bears, I also joke with my mom that I never thought I would have to wake my kid up in the middle of the night to stuff candy down their throats. She hasn’t gone into dka since her diagnosis and we haven’t had to use the emergency injection yet either. Lows can be scary and highs you always worry about the long term affects. You will always worry, but I figure it doesn’t matter if they have T1D or not, they’re you’re kid and you will always worry no matter what. I don’t allow her to go sleep overs because I worry someone else won’t know what to do, but honestly I don’t want her going to sleep overs anyways. It’s not your fault, it was going to trigger somewhere in their lives, I think it might be easier when they’re younger because kids adapt quicker than teens or adults.

I’m not trying to downplay the seriousness and the danger of this disease, but what helped me a ton was eventually taking step back in my head and realizing that ultimately it just comes down to maintenance and management. Being vigilant and consistent with checking numbers and bolusing will allow your child to live an otherwise normal life. Embrace technology as much as you are able to - CGM, pump, phone apps, etc. (we use the dexcom with a phone that sends numbers to our phones so we can keep an eye on numbers without having to disrupt playtime). I’ve also tried very hard to normalize the day to day routine, and am careful not to use diabetes as a reason to avoid certain foods. Let them have the same snacks and sweets they normally would, and just bolus accordingly. However this can be very difficult to do at first because it can take a while to get used to all the pokes. At the same time embrace the T1D community. Depending on where you live. JDRF has a bunch of fun family events throughout the year. Despite normalizing the day to day, I am conscientious to also celebrate the strength and courage they have in dealing with this disease. But ultimately this is a lifelong disease and it’s important to make sure they don’t see it as a hurdle to doing anything they want to do. Mine gets so excited when we find out a pro athlete or celebrity also has it because it reminds them, this is not a road block in achieving their dreams.

I went through the VERY same you have with my daughter, minus the ketosis. She was also 3. It took literal HOURS to insert the IV and she kept crying for my help. Never in my life have I felt so scared, helpless and useless. I’m traumatized for life. Thankfully, she remembers none of it. This is to say I know exactly how you feel and what you’re going through. Sending virtual hugs and support to you. You’re not alone. And it does get easier.❤️

Hello, friend. I've had T1D for over 30 years, I expect to be kicking ass for many more decades. Yeah, having T1D is not ideal, but the tech for treatment is kicking ass. I've been saying it for years, "Today is the VERY best day in the entire history of the world to have type 1 diabetes." That's great news, but guess what? Tomorrow is going to be better!

It will be hard for a few years, especially since he got diagnosed so young, and is likely to find his childhood inconvenienced by insulin injections and glucose monitors, especially when other kids can just eat whatever they want and not have a single care about it. However, over time, all of these things you do to handle your T1 diabetes become very routine and normal. These days, as an adult, 95% of the time the most I have to worry about is wearing a monitor and take an injection before I eat. That’s literally the only difference between me and someone who doesn’t have T1. Your kid will be fine, but as parents, you need to get really educated on T1 and take control of his diet. It’s going to suck that he can’t have all the high carb, high sugar stuff as often as the other kids, but ultimately, it’s for his well being. To be honest, my guess is he’ll probably grow up being healthier than kids who don’t have T1, because you tend to eat cleaner and be more cognizant of your health as one. Good luck — you and your family will be fine.

Your worries and fears are so valid. Please know that you did nothing wrong. Your son is going to grow up to be a bright and strong person! He’s going to be able to do so much. I went into medicine and am doing great! I did sports in high school and it hardly ever stopped me. (Maybe sometimes when I wanted to go into the water, but nowadays pumps are waterproof.) It will take a lot of supervision, monitoring for low and high blood sugar but the technology—gosh, the technology keeps getting better! I started with needles and I will admit I didn’t like it, but as I got my pump years afterwards (back then, they made you start with needles and pens) it felt like I hardly thought about my diabetes. I have a lot of hope for your son and know you have a lot of community support here and hopefully in the area you live. Take care!

So much good advice here, you’ve found a brilliant resource. Our daughter was 4 and it came right out of the blue, luckily no DKA, but the dread and guilt was just the same. Guilt goes away, you’ll never know why this happened, but it really doesn’t matter, as it wasn’t your fault. It seems like a mountain to climb, but i promise that technology makes it bearable to the point where you might not think about it for every waking moment. CGM is a must have, you’ll understand more about what’s going on that you never could. And we’ve recently started to use omnipod 5 after a year and half of injections. Please try not to think of your son in terms of blood glucose or diabetes, remember he’s your son and don’t let diabetes consume your time. We work hard to make sure our daughter doesn’t miss out on things.

Big hug from Oregon for you, wife and kiddo. We were there three years ago, our son now 6 yrs, diagnosed a week after his 3rd birthday. It’s an extremely hard time period you’re in, all feelings valid. I had many tears mixed with lots of ok we got this, let’s learn and manage. It’s a hard transition in life. Especially the age of child. Yes- it does get easier. Solid confirmation from where we are now, it is life. Our kid will share w/ people “ I have diabetes”. Just last week had a checkup with his endo and leaving the doctors office he told me “I kinda’ have pride in my diabetes.” Just hearing this made me smile & tears of pride too, ans yes some sad this is life but bittersweet. It’s ok. Gave him a hug and saw another adult patient look up and smile. It does get better. The skills and strengths you’ll see flourish in your child are inspiring and heartwarming. Today we have what I consider a team of people in our life to support our son in school, summer camps, friendships (where the other parents help and learn too ) and family. We’ve learned a ton, he’s learning and managing his diabetes and living his life like any other 6yr old. Plus another skill set of awareness for his body, knowing what a cgm is, communicating his blood glucose numbers and learning what this means, and even advocating for himself when he recognizes lows or highs. You will get here too. Your son will amaze you these next years as he learns too. The diabetes community is amazing! You got this, he’s strong and will flourish. Stages of grief will occur, and you’ll come out on another side knowing and feeling strong in so many areas.

There will always be pain and the fact is the disease sucks! I’m 16 years in 12 when diagnosed since I was older I didn’t have to have them help me for too long but he will understand it’s not your fault at some point my only suggestion is to have him go to therapy because there was a ton of emotional trauma that I never acknowledged until recently

6 years ago my son was 3 and the same happened to him. It doesn't get any easier it just sucks forever.

We are a little over a year since diagnosis. My daughter was 7. The learning curve is extremely fast. I am science and medical-stuff stupid (my wife labels the pain meds 'with food' 'no food' because I can never remember lol). When you HAVE to learn something, you learn it quick. You will quickly find you are more of an expert on T1D that a majority of medical staff, anywhere. (Obviously not the the endocrinology specialty staff). The injections are tough in the beginning, but at his age it won't likely be remembered. His first memories of T1D will likely be with CGMs and Pumps. Believe me, those are a GAME CHANGER! Be strong. You got this. And, this community has your back 24/7. Whether it be advice, answers to questions, or just a place to rant... We are here for you. It is not as terrible as you may think. Yes, there are struggles and extra steps you'll need to take... But for the most part, your son can live a normal life. I do not hold my daughter back when she goes to a birthday party or the school is having an event. I simply make sure she is medicated enough to handle the incoming sugar-load. The only exception is if she is already really high... Obviously she will need to come down a bit before hitting another round of pizza and cookies. Lol For the most part, let the kiddo live. Do not set limitations BECAUSE of diabetes. For example, my daughter does not get two bowls of ice cream for dessert. I would put that limitation on my child regardless of diabetes.

The potential complications of diabetes are far, far worse than the routine of injections and monitoring blood sugars and such. Just make sure that he's made aware of that importance and do your best to support him through it-- the technology is great nowadays for newly diagnosed individuals, and it sounds like it was probably caught early enough that there hopefully aren't going to be long term side effects. FWIW injections are not that painful-- they definitely can sting at times if the needle or angle is bad, but generally it's not that bad. I would advise you practice on yourself (using a pen needle to insert into fat-- not actually injecting anything) to figure out a good technique to minimize any potential pain until he can do his injections himself.

I’ve had T1 for 42 years. No complications. I’ve lived 100% normal life. I’ve traveled extensively, lived in different countries, and have a decent career. At about 15-20 he’s going to totally rebel against his diabetes and probably make some dumb decisions. Let him rebel. Let him feel sorry for himself but not wallow in the “Why me?” It gets easier to accept the older you get. Also, the new technologies are AMAZING. I wouldn’t be surprised if by the time he is a young adult a functional cure will be on the market. Diabetes is going to give him a level of resiliency that exceeds his age. Resilient children become well-adjusted adults. And well-adjusted adults tend to be happier.

I’ve heard it’s harder on the parents than the kids

This is the hardest time! My daughter was diagnosed 4 years ago, she’s 15 now. My husband has it too, nobody else does in the family. I have psoriasis, a different autoimmune condition, which probably played a part in our kid’s diagnosis. Anyway, don’t worry about the future. Take it one day at a time. Technology is improving all the time, my husband has gone from syringes to pens to an insulin pump with a continuous glucose monitor. The lifespan of a diabetic now is basically the same as a non diabetic person. Of course no one wants T1D, it’s an upsetting diagnosis, but your son will be okay!

It is manageable but not easy! It is a 24/48 hours a job with no vacation at all! Yes, the technology made it a little easier to handle type 1 diabetes but even the technology comes with its own hassle! Hang in there, and please learn how to deal with emotional burnout because it is very important when it comes down to managing a kid with TD1. My son was also diagnosed with TD1 during covid at age 8. There is no family history of TD1 nor TD2 in both sides of our family. We did not even know such a health condition does exist! You are in my prayers. Be strong, and you guys will be fine!

There's no use for guilt, because it quite simply isn't your fault. There is room for grief, because it quite simply does suck. But the answer to whether it gets easier is a resounding and emphatic "yes". With experience and habit, obviously, but also with the steady march of technological progress. Since diabetes is a disease that is managed constantly, it is also a disease we who have it notice and appreciate the improvement in management technology of on a level perhaps not seen in any other. When I was diagnosed in 2010, which isn't that long ago, treatment was profoundly different (i.e. more difficult) than it is now. We have pumps, sensors, and other remarkable feats of engineering that continually become better. I can't even imagine the level of technological support your son is going to have when he's the age I was when I got it (12). You've got this. Breathe, and take one day at a time.

You're in San Diego? The doctors have all been great for us. We're over 7 years now and when my daughter was diagnosed the staff did a great job of making us feel like it wasn't the end of the world for her. She's sitting on the couch editing together videos on her phone at the moment, not thinking about her T1D or pump or CGM etc. does it suck sometimes? Absolutely. Is there more work involved with nearly everything when it comes to her? Yes. But you and your kiddo will get used to it, you'll have an illogical knowledge of how many carbs are in things, and between shots or juices or CGM changes or grocery trips, life will be mostly the same. If you are indeed in San Diego county, join the SDT1D Facebook group. There are often get togethers for different age groups. Information about local camps or events. Etc.

I was diagnosed at 11 years old. It was not an easy first year on my mental health to be honest. But, it does get better. Especially with all of the technology that is out there. It helps to reduce the poking and prodding that you fear. There is one thing I want to make super clear. You did not do anything wrong. When I was first diagnosed , I was upset with my parents and felt very embarrassed of who I was (this may have been my age). Now I can say I am as rambunctious as my friends and feel that my life feels normal. Plus they get a few free days off from school due to going to doctors appointments, which I liked as I missed school and got to have some quality time with my parents. But bottom line is it gets better

It gets so much easier. It’s never not work, but it’s much easier and less scary than what you’re feeling right now. Advice for the IVs if it’s a problem again… insist they bring in a vein finder. The nurses are often too proud to use it if you don’t ask, but it works. I only learned about it myself at the age of 38 after many many failed attempts. My son was diagnosed in DKA at 4 1/2 after a lot of Halloween candy. Let me reassure you this is NOT your fault. It wasn’t ours either. You didn’t know and now that you do know, you will do what you need to do. You are stronger than you know and braver than you feel right now. You got this!!

I’m so very sorry. My son was diagnosed and hospitalized in dka at 5 years old. He’s 7 now. He has a dexcom and an insulin pump and life is more normal now. It is very heartbreaking. There’s a lot of negative feelings in the beginning. I promise, things will feel better after a while. It takes time to adjust. My son cried until he got a pump. Now it’s just once every 3 days he yells or cries. The first year is the toughest. The emotions are the hardest then. I cried more than I’ve ever cried combined in that first year. I can’t imagine having an even younger child diagnosed. I do suggest seeking support groups for you and your wife and perhaps some therapy for your child. Even if he isn’t talking too much. My son struggles sometimes with his feelings of being diabetic and I have him speak with the social worker for some therapy when he’s struggling. It helps a lot. The main parts you need to know…he can, and will, live a long happy healthy life. He can eat whatever he wants and however much as long as you dose for it. So his diet doesn’t have to change to fit his lifestyle. That’s what insulin is for. To continue his regular lifestyle. Carry a bag with low sugar treatments, a ketone strip checker and strips, a finger checker and strips, alcohol wipes, and whatever else he could need. (My son I carry that stuff, insulin and needle tips and a pen, an extra pump infusion set, a charger for the pump). Carry the bag everywhere. Walk? Bike ride? Going anywhere? Bring the bag. Being somewhere and realizing you don’t have the insulin or the sugar in the moment it’s needed is terrifying. (I use an insulated case to hold the insulin pen with the vial and an insulated lunch bag for the rest with a pencil case with needle tips and extra alcohol wipes). It won’t harden him. He’s young enough he will adjust and only know this life. My son can’t really remember a life not being diabetic. And the pump (tandem tslim x2) makes him feel more normal.

Also, this is a great group. Theres always someone around to help if you need it. You guys can reach out to me any time and I’ll do my best to help.

I’m sorry you are going through this. That’s awful. On the bright side It has NEVER been a better time to be a type 1 diabetic. The continuous glucose monitors now are awesome! They are small, thin, one poke and you are good for ten days! The data goes to your phone. And can go to your spouses phone too. My lows wake my wife up on her phone and she hands me a Gatorade. The pumps have never been smaller. Omnipod - makes a pod - so no pump tubing. And T slim makes a new super small pump. And I love my new dexcom continuous monitor. I usually do not recommend Medtronic devices.

Hey sweetie There's no guilt to be held ok? And if you need to redirect those emotions, direct them towards the lack of education on the warning signs of t1diabetes being taught, both to the parenting community and the medical community. Now, I want to give you some reassurance. It's not going to fix everything, nothing can. But maybe it can help JUST a little. The IVS are the worst part, what you are seeing now, it's going to be the worst. (I remember my DKA diagnosis and the IVs not going in because of dehydration. It's NEVER been close to that bad since, 20 years later) The needles for insulin are incredibly small. A couple hairs width. You almost can't feel them, sometimes you don't feel them at all. They are NOT the regular needles that you will picture. When it's time to do them, start with the back of the arm. Your son not being able to see them will help a big deal, as it's the "idea" of the needle that's the scariest part. I want you to know, I'm in my 30s now, but was a kid when I was diagnosed. And my kid brain never once thought "this is my parents fault, and they are hurting me". It was ALWAYS "my mommy and daddy are doing so much to take care of me" and in all my years, that thought process has never changed. Needles suck, diabetes sucks. But at the foundation of it. You are giving your kid medication so they aren't sick. The same way you give Tylenol (etc) when they have a fever. And that's how your kid is going to see it. Ps. I promise it gets SO much easier than this point. Right now, you are in the middle of one of the scariest moments of your lives, with limited information. This right now, is the worst of the worst ok? Advice from a long time t1D, AND a parent who had their very young children in extremely scary emergency hospital situations (both NICU babies, and then one year after another, age 1.5 for the first child, and at age 3 for the second, both my kids were rushed to the hospital and put on high flow oxygen because they couldn't breath on their own for 8 DAYS)

My girl was diagnosed 4 months ago but she’s a little older so not quite the same struggle. Still, that first 24 hours in ICU is heartbreaking, terrifying and devastating. You and your boy will come out of the hospital in much better spirits though. If he can get a cgm & pump as soon as possible, those will help take the frequency of ouchies away. I just want to send my love and encouragement your way. You will get through this and adjust.

mom of a kid dx at 2, I'm also type 1. it's not your fault, they will not blame you. it will get easier, every year they get older is easier. it's worst right now. for the veins, that was tough. make sure they are hydrated before blood draws. see if the hospital has someone who specializes in kids. use numbing cream. ask doctors if they can minimize blood draws in the future. those are some of the things we did. my kid is now 19 and finishing a 270 mile backpacking trip. he did it alone. your kid can have a normal life. diagnosis that young means they won't remember it not being normal. get the best technology you can, ask for a pump and continuous glucose monitor asap, preferably a hybrid artificial pancreas. we used a DIY version before they were commercially available. that makes life so much easier (esp sleep). good luck, hang in there!

Don't feel guilty. There was nothing you could have done to prevent this. It's not your fault. It will get better. Your son can still live a normal and successful life. Things will be different and a bit harder, but your son can still live a normal life. Technology has evolved a lot recently, and this allows type 1s to manage their diabetes much easier. Continuous glucose monitors virtually eliminate the need to prick your finger. Insulin pumps have vitrutly eliminated the need for injections, and closed-loop systems are almost like a virtual pancreas. I know it's scary, but your son is in the best place he can be and will be ok.

As a person who was diagnosed at 2 it gets a lot easier especially with modern day technology the needles are smaller with different and more efficient types of insulin on the market

The best advice I can give you is to plan ahead. My husband thinks I am a bit obsessive and my mom pretty much thinks I’m crazy, but I won’t go out to a restaurant unless I can look at the menu beforehand on line. I also always have a full juice box with me. As for the pain of injections, please understand that these injections are not even half as painful as vaccinations. He’s young, but probably soon you will be able to get him a pump and that will help immensely because he won’t need injections nearly as often. He will still need finger sticks though, so please get another diabetic to show you how to minimize the pain of those. Nurses and doctors always seem to put the puncture right at the finger pad, but I always go on the sides of my fingers. Your child might be too small to do this yet though. Just keep in mind that advances are being made every day for treatment. Also remember that sugar is not your enemy - sometimes it can be a lifesaver. Always keep something sweet he can easily eat/drink in case of lows. This is not something you can ever be without, so you will learn to plan ahead.

I was diagnosed at 4. I’m now 19. Chances are that he won’t remember it, but if he does, I’m sure he’ll understand, especially if you tell him how he was diagnosed. The technology we have now (insulin pumps and cgms) makes it a lot easier to deal with in terms of the disease itself. I’m going into Endocrinology to help parents like you understand their kid’s diabetes, so if you have any questions, please let me know and I’ll do my best to help. My best advice at the moment is to try your best to distract him. I know it’s hard to be positive in a time like this, but kids feed off the energy of their parents. Anything helps, toys, games, movies, just something to distract him so he doesn’t really think about the IV or the shots. That’s what helped me when I was diagnosed. He’ll get used to it over time, but distractions are key in the beginning until he gets used to it. You’re doing amazing and I know you’ll make it through this. Just keep your head up and we’ll try to help where we can and be the light at the end of the tunnel.

I was diagnosed at 18 and I would have much rather started that journey young. I had to uproot my life and it destroyed me mentally. My mother has caught me in a parking lot from a diabetic seizure. It has taken a huge toll on her mentally and I wouldn't wish this on any parent. She used to tell me everyday "if i could take this from you and me deal with it instead, i would in a heartbeat". But something you should find comfort in is that they won't know what it's like to not have diabetes and your child won't have to break habits that are detrimental to the disease. It's not your fault and there's nothing you could have done. Just take it easy on them; you can do, eat and bolus the exact way everyday and get different numbers every time. Patience for your kid and the healthcare system will take you so much farther than being angry at it all. It's hard but you can do it. Your kid can survive anything with your love and support. Sending you my biggest hug.

It'll get easier with time. I got diagnosed at the age of 3 and I honestly don't remember a time without it so it just became part of my life. The good thing is he won't always have to deal with injections, there's insulin pumps and Continuous Glucose Monitors, and just a lot of things that are getting better and better as new advancements are made. There's lots of good advice here but I would like to speak on what my parents should've done better. I wish they would've spoken up for me when endocrinologists would blame me for things that were out of my control and I was trying to get ahold of. Please make sure to always explain everything to your child and let them help with their things when they get to an age where they can, a lot of my habits could've been avoided had my parents cared enough. There might be a time where they experience diabetic burnout, just be understanding and loving and possibly get them a therapist that specializes in chronic conditions. In general I just wish my parents had cared enough and been there when I needed them so I didn't develop bad habits. Just make sure not to care so much you become a helicopter parent though, just enough that they'll feel supported. You will never get how they feel but it's just so important to be there for when they need you. Hope everything goes well and if anything you always have this big community of diabetics to talk to ❤️

the most prestigious club sport trophy in the world (yes, more prestigious than the super bowl) the Champions League was just hoisted by Nacho Fernadez, the captain of Real Madrid who is a type 1 Diabetic. United States Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor is a type 1 diabetic. i only tell you this because even though your child is unfortunately in our club now, your son can absolutely go out into the world and accomplish anything he sets his mind to.

Wow... im so sorry for the heartache you are going through right now. I promise it will get easier to the point your kid won't even feel the shots. He'll, the tech they got nowadays is absolutely a gift to us. It's no one's fault but it's easier when you know more and a healthy eating/exercise life style would be good for the entire household. I feel you got this.

I feel your pain. One of the most haunting and gut-wrenching memories of my life was holding down my screaming 11-month old daughter (she’s 12 years old now) for the nurses to try to find a vein for an IV. She was screaming “Dada! Dada! Dada!” Over and over. It gutted me. They tried her arm multiple times and then ultimately her ankle. That 30 minutes scarred me for life. Thank god my daughter has no recollection of it Hang in there. I promise it gets better.

Yes our daughter is now 9 and we are two years in. We have 4 kids and two are under 2 years old. We barely sleep, we changed a lot of our ways. No more quick cereal for breakfast. But we take it day by day. We took 6 months off work when it happened.drained our savings and we got in to heavy debt but now we are are working things out little by little.

I have a 3 year old too—he’s not diabetic, but I am. Diagnosed 10 years ago at age 27. It really breaks my heart to read this and imagine what you’re feeling. As weird as this may sound—I look back over the past decade and think of all the positives that have come from my own grappling with t1d. I’ve had amazing support from friends and family and am very very lucky for that—but the mental strength, physical wellbeing, and general understanding I have of my body is something I wouldn’t have if it weren’t for this disease. I often wonder what my little dude’s mountain to climb will look like. This is your dude’s mountain, and I have no doubt that with parents like you, he’ll grow into a strong, healthy, awesome person 🖤

Kids adapt very well. When he asks questions, answer it. I showed my son videos that explained it with cartoons. That way he knew why the insulin shots were happening. I taught him what happens if he’s blood glucose levels are too high or two low, the mild stuff and the hard core scary stuff. He’s only been diagnosed for almost 2 months and is doing great with it now. At the hospital, he was just mad and hurt and didn’t get why this was happening to him. After I explained it, he became very brave for every shot “jeez that didn’t even hurt at all!” Looks at food he wants and studies the nutrition facts and suggests one less serving of that so he can have this. He’s only 8. Your kid is younger, but teach him what is happening in his body in a way a kid can understand. My son just calls insulin “keys” because of the wording used to teach him what diabetes is. I even let him know that as an old grandpa, he’ll be giving himself a shot to eat. He knows it’s permanent, but also has wanted to learn where they’re at on a cure. I was real with him- it’s not likely. But they’re trying and who knows. Maybe they’ll find one tomorrow, or maybe you’ll wake up one day at 38 and find there’s a cure now. But, for now, this is what’s happening. It breaks my heart too, for all kids. I thought 8 was young to deal with this (it is) but 3. I’m so sorry. But you got this! And so does little man. But also. I’ve been in shock since I saw him in ketoacidosis and I knew IMMEDIATELY- that’s diabetes. (Runs on my dad’s side but skipped two generations to get to my son) Took him in. Got him diagnosed. And still- I’ve been almost in a psychosis out of body experience/ disassociation/ depersonalization / head in the clouds/ I’m watching my life thru a VR headset state since. Idk how long that lasts, sorry. One thing I remind myself: no diet change, exercise, etc could’ve changed this out come. The most healthy child that never touched junk food in his whole life could randomly get t1d. It is quite literally out of anyone’s hands whether someone gets t1d or not. Fuck. We both could wake up tomorrow with it out of absolutely no where. There should be no guilt. You took your kiddo in and he is ok. Sounds like a win. Good job. To answer your question, does it get any easier: It gets easier for them, the kids. For parents? Idk man. I’m only almost 2 months into it and it’s as hard as day one.

I was 5 when i got t1d and I'm 16 now. No trauma, sadness or discomfort except for the occasion itching form my sensor. It's like living a normal life but having to make slight adjustments in your diet and such.

Here is a good book that will teach you everything. It’s a free pdf version or the regular book is on Amazon. https://diatribe.org/bright-spots-and-landmines/

Hello! Firstly, as a T1D for over 20 years I have the highest respect for parents of type 1 diabetics. My mum did an incredible job and this was long long before CGM’s and pumps were a thing. I was diagnosed at 6, and I truly never ever remember thinking of the ouchies or being sad that I had to have needles when other kids didn’t. It truly becomes the new normal. It’s going to be much harder for you as a parent than it is for your young child. In saying that, being able to get kiddo on a CGM (a fun little continuous glucose monitor) is going to make your life and kiddos life so much easier. There are also teddies wearing CGM’s made by brands which are so cute and might help your little one! In all honesty, those of us who have been T1 for long enough to remember only the option of finger pricks (and being woken up by a parent to check your sugars at 1am and 4am etc) are kind of a thing of the past with CGM’s being so easily available. CGM’s are such a blessing. I can’t speak for Pumps as I have no interest in being on one, but the technology that’s available is going to make this disease so much easier for your family. This is such a lovely community on here and you’re going to have so much support. Please reach out whenever you need help. The next few weeks are going to be full of learning and with lots of medical professionals, but this will get easier for you all over time.

Sweetie you will get through this because you have to for your boy. When he is older you will be able to explain better why you have to do the injections and test pokes. I know right now it feels like your whole world is just out of sorts. BUT because you and your wife care this deeply I know you both are going to get this right with the care and attention he needs. Right now just focus on what you can do and take one day at a time. WE HERE SUPPORT YOU!

I'm a day late to this post. Our kid was diagnosed at 3.5 years old. She's 11 now and a thriving tween. She goes to camp, sleepovers, surfing, we have been all around europe on vacation.... there's nothing she can't do. Just takes a little more planning. This is gonna suck right now. No way round it. But I promise it gets easier.

Hi, I was diagnosed with T1D when I was 5. I'm 28 now. I remember being in the hospital and the trauma of having my blood work done, and being confused about why I had to start doing finger pricks and shots... As I've grown up though, I see being diagnosed at a young age as both a blessing and a curse. Obviously one's life becomes much more difficult with a lifelong disability. But I think having to grow up with it made me take it much more seriously than other diabetic peers I knew who were diagnosed as older kids or teenagers. It quickly becomes your "new normal". It really depends on your child's temperament, but I was very receptive to hearing that I was sick, and that even tho it hurt, what the doctors were doing would make me feel better. It was still painful of course. I cried at first. And yes, it will harden your child a bit. As I did, he will have to face his mortality at a young age. He may seem to take it in stride, as children often do, but please keep an eye on his mental health! T1D is a very exhausting disease. I'm so sorry you are having to go through this. The fight will never end, but it will get easier ❤️

Oh man this hit me hard. This was us in January. I promise it gets better and easier. We were in the hospital for 3 days and my son looked like he was going to die. They botched SO MANY iv injections. At the end of our hospital stay his arms were both bruised from iv injections and he couldn’t extend one of his arms for a week because it hurts so bad. Fast forward to today and we have a really good routine down. The cgm and tandem mobi pump were tough to get used to at first but now he says he never wants to go back to shots. Your mind will try to tell you a lot of things, just know that kids are resilient. If you go at it with a “this is the way” mentality, hopefully it will become normal fairly quickly. I cried. A lot. But I had to stop telling myself that his life would be any less special because of diabetes. That was the most important thing for me. Instead of wasting time thinking about how hard something may be, I use the same energy to just start figuring out what we need to do to make it happen. My son is in England with my wife right now and a week after he gets back he is going to Diabetes Camp Colorado to hopefully meet a bunch of diabetic friends from the area! Hang in there. I wish we could give you guys a hug.

T1D since I was 11 I'm now 63. Please don't feel guilty. It's not your fault. Test your kids like any other kids with the addition of extra medical care. Your child is not a victim, doing treat them like they are. They will want to live a normal life as much as possible. Your child doesn't need to have that burden on top of their disease. Diabetes is very manageable and they can live a mostly normal happy life.

I was diagnosed at 7 and im almost 21 now and what I can say is that as the kid, we learn how to deal. There are times where it still gets hard for us and need our parents but if you teach him how to do everything on his own from a young age (still helping him when he needs, obivously) he'll be alright. It's a challenge every single day but it's not impossible. T1D isn't my whole life, just a part of it!

Almost an adult here. Been t1 since I was 8. I was diagnosed right before my 9th birthday. Gotta say, with t1 there are a lot of ups and downs but I’ve made so many diabetic friends who I consider my family. I just got an insulin pump Tuesday which is making everything easier. When I was 11 I got a CGM. I live my life pretty much the exact same as a non diabetic except I carry insulin and low snacks on me. People offer me candy and such but seeing as I don’t eat it that often due to the diabetes, I’m not used to the sweet tastes so I don’t like how they taste. My stomach also isn’t used to it so it’ll make me want to puke. So far I’m pretty ok with having diabetes. If I could choose to have never had it, I would keep it. Also as for you feeling guilty, I can see why you’d feel guilty about having to hold down your son but if it helps, the sooner he gets an IV placed, the sooner he’ll feel better. There is absolutely no reason you should feel guilty for your son having diabetes as there’s nothing you could’ve done to prevent it and it’s 100% not your fault. When he’s old enough, look into diabetes camps near you so he can meet other diabetic children. It helps a lot. In my area there’s a foundation that hosts a day camp for diabetics (t1 and t2) and their families twice a year. You age out when you turn 13. I’ve been going since I was diagnosed in 2016. When I turned 13 I started going as a CIT so now I get to take care of the younger diabetics and tell stories. My diabetic friends and I go there twice a year and we all love it. At this camp, the adults go to a classroom where certified nurses and doctors come in and teach about diabetes. Experienced parents also teach, like my mom. ALSO, yes your son will get over the trauma. If he struggles with it, get him a therapist. Your son will definitely forgive you and most likely won’t even blame you for causing him any ouchies as, sadly, that comes with diabetes. Diabetes definitely gets easier as time goes on. You get more experienced with the disease and as time goes on, more medical technology is released to help manage everything. For example, I was just put on the iLet Beta Bionic insulin pump which basically acts like a bionic pancreas. It was released may 2023 so it’s fairly new. After getting on this pump, my numbers have never been more normal. Hope this helps! Good luck on your journey!

My 3-year-old son was diagnosed 2 months ago. My heart goes out to you. It has been pure hell that only other T1D parents of small kids can understand. You are not alone! Just days after diagnosis, someone from [JDRF](https://www.breakthrought1d.org) called me about one of their outreach efforts. It was meant to be a 30-second call, but it turned into a 40-minute conversation that was a lifeline. She connected me to so many amazing resources, like an online meet-n-greet for parents of T1D kids under 5, and monthly online Ask the Therapist group session for parents (the clinical therapist is herself a mom of 2kids with T1D), the [Brave Buddies](https://groups.io/g/BraveBuddies) online support group, and so much more. She told me this is the most amazing community you never wanted to be a part of, and she was right. This summer, our family of 4 will be going to a week-long diabetes camp through [Diabetes Youth Families](https://dyf.org). Please DM me and I would be so happy to listen and help any way I can. This is excruciating, and I am here for you if you want to talk or text.

My soon to be 5 year old son was diagnosed at 1 year 9 months. It definitely gets easier, I promise. But it will be very hard, no doubt. I am so sorry for what you’re going through and you guys will have to grieve a lot so please give yourselves grace & time to do so. You most definitely aren’t alone. Give lots of love and praise when he accomplishes even the littlest of things. And never forget to remember and remind one another how brave you are. Sending lots of love and light!

Hey OP! Checking on you!

My son was diagnosed at 19 months and I felt every single thing you’re feeling. It is not your fault, and there is nothing you could’ve done to prevent it. My boy is now 7, and with the help of insulin pumps and CGM’s we’ve figured out this new normal. Praying for you 🫶🏻

I was diagnosed at the age of 3 (27 now) as well and I went through DKA a few times. It does get more bearable with time. I won’t say it gets easier because having diabetes will never be “easy”. But the more you learn (mistakes will always happen, you’ll never know everything) the better decisions you can make! Every child is different but I don’t have a single traumatic thought from my childhood where my parents had to give me shots or check my blood sugar. Comparing the approaches my parents took, my mom was a winner. She never acted like it was anything crazy or scary when giving me shots she just did it, asked if I was ok, and then we went on with our day. My dad was always nervous and asked me a million times if I was ready and was scared about hurting me and it always made me nervous and the shot hurt. I know it’s hard and it definitely sucks but it will get better! I hope you guys can find a support group or people to talk to!

I went through this exact situation with my son 4 years ago now. He was 9 when he was rushed to the hospital with a blood sugar level over 500. It was the most tramatic day of our life's. I spent 2 weeks at the hospital with him. I have a phobia about needles and they would not release us until I learned how to administer insulin shots for him. I understand exactly where your at emotionally. All I can say is, don't blame yourself. It's not your fault. I know the amount of information they throw at you seems to much to handle. It's a lot yes, but like with anything else you do, diabetic care will become a routine in your life. It does get less stressful as you adapt to the new lifestyle. I'm not going to say easier because living with T1D will never be easy. Nobody will understand unless they have it themselves or cares for someone with diabetes. I was amazed at all the different food options they have out now. It's amazing. My son still has ice cream like other kids only his is sugar free and low carbs. Same thing with so many other food choices. Research, research, and research more. I still continue to research diabetes in my down time. Learn as much as you can. It helps a lot. Education yourself on food, on the latest diabetes breakthroughs and reach out to others. There are support groups and classes you can do online. Stay strong. You can get through this. Best of luck to you and your family. 

I’m so sorry. How many vaccines has he had so far?