Replies to 'Living with Chronic Pain'

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand-one belonging to him and the other to the Lord. When the last scene had flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints and noticed that many times along the path there was only one set of footprints in the sand. He also noted that this happened during the lowest and saddest times in his life. This really bothered him and he questioned the Lord. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk all the way, but I noticed that during the most troublesome times of my life, there was only one set of footprints. I dont understand why, when I need you most, you deserted me". The Lord replied: "my precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you......"

Just wanted to write and say that I do understand what your son is going through as I am also Diabetic. I have been since Sept 2000. I am now 35 years of age and am quite healthy.

One thing my Specialist told me afew years ago was that as long as you can keep your blood sugars under good control there is much less chance of having health problems later on in life. And I do have very good control of my sugars.

When I last saw my Specialist which was only two weeks ago he told me that I was one of his easier patients because I DO keep my sugars under good control.

3 years ago I became pregnant and had to go on insulin fulltime, before being pregnant I was on tablets only, but after finding out that I was pregnant I had to stop taking them as they could have harmed the baby. I was then on insulin until after I had my little girl. I had to give myself 4 needles per day and check my sugars sometimes up to 8 times a day. I had to keep my sugars very low all the time so that my baby didn't end up being too big. And in keep my sugars very low I had alot of Hypos's. And yes Hypo's can be just as bad as having too higher sugars for any one but especially pregnant women.

My baby girl was born fine and after spending 24 hours in Newborn Care to check her sugars she was fine no problems there. After I had Stephanie I was able to go back to tablets and I only have night time insulin.  She is now 3 and doing great, as for me I'm doing fine as well. This coming September I will have had Diabetes for 5 years and so far no other health problems and I hope to keep it that way for many years to come.

In time your son will come to see having diabetes as just part of his life. I have a friend who has lived with diabetes since she was four and yes she does health problems but these are due to her not looking after herself as a teenager.  She told me herself that if she had taken better care during her teen years then she wouldn't have half the problems she's got now.

I hope that this has helped in some way. Just know that your son will be ok and he will live for many years to come and will be a very happy and healthy child as look as he looks after himself. Please TAKE CARE. LOVE KELLY.

My husband has been on an insulin pump for a few years now.  He was on six shots a day before the pump.  He has been diabetic all his life.  The insulin pump has changed his life.  He is no longer chained to such a regimented schedule.  The pump gives a constant dose of insulin, and he sets it to give him a dose of insulin related to the amount of carbs he is eating and his current glucose levels at meal times and snack times.  He uses a test meter to frequently check his blood sugars.

 

Call 1-800-Minimed to get info on the pump.  They can send you a video and info on how to discuss it with the doctor.  They have just come out with a new system where there is constant monitoring of the blood sugars and automatic adjustment of the insulin pump. I think this would be ideal for a child, who may not realize when their blood sugar goes too low or too high.  Insulin reactions make a person rather grumpy and uncooperative, I have first-hand experience with this. My husband's doctor wants him to consider the new system.  Most insurances will cover the cost of the pump and the supplies needed.  My husband changes his site every three days (a poke every three days is better than multiple times a day). 

 

 We have several friends with young children on a pump.  Good control of the blood sugars when a person is young can help them avoid the common problems associated with having type 1 diabetes.

 

I'll keep you and your son in my prayers.

Becky

 

PS  sorry to be a "board hog"

I can't say I have any kind of pain after reading your story. I love children and I know it has to scary for him.My husband and I are both disabled and I have chronic pain. I have Lupus and osteo artritis. My husband is diabetic and has been sense his 20's. It was very hard on him then I can't imagine what it would be like with a 5 y/o.My husband had to have his pancease remove so that made him brittle so now it is very hard.My husband and I have been through so many crisis that I under stand you asking why.I don't know how many time I have buried and resurrected all in 24 hrs because of how critical he was.It is by the Grace Of God that your boy will be carried through and you to.When I was diagnosed with Lupus it was 3 months before my Mother died with Lupus of the kidney and I decided right then I was not going to die with Lupus.I may die from getting so mad at the chronic pain that I'll have a stroke but I won't die of Lupus.God made women special and I believe that with all my heart.I believe the word If it doesn't kill you it will make you stronger.You take care of you,when you can God bless you and know you have truly touched my heart.Mary

My husband, John, is 48, and he has had Type 1 Diabetes all of his life.  He was diagnosed at age 13 months, when he went into a diabetic coma, after being very ill for his whole first year of life.  At age 48, he has relatively few complications.  He still has his eye sight, his organs are still fully functioning, and he still has all of his limbs and digits.  The complications that have developed are diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic gastroparesis.

 

John has had an insulin pump for 10 years, and it has changed his life.  He no longer has to stick by such a rigid meal schedule.  He checks his blood 5-6 times a day, and it is under really good control because of the pump.  He uses a Medtronic Minimed pump, but there are also some other brands out there.  Google "insulin pumps" on the internet to get more information.  I'm not sure if I'm allowed to say, but if you want to look into the Medtronic Minimed pump, call 1-800-MINIMED, and they can send you a video and some information.  Don't worry, they won't hound you until you buy one.

 

Your son does not have to look forward to a life of diabetic complications.  You are on the right track by taking good care of him now.  Instill good eating and testing habits at a young age.  And, do look into getting him an insulin pump.  Then, instead of several shots per day, you change the infusion site every 3 days...only one poke every 3 days instead of several needle pokes per day.  There are new pumps out there that even monitor the blood sugar and adjust the insulin output.  So far, our insurance will only cover the standard insulin pump.  Perhaps they will eventually see how much better the blood sugar control would be with constant monitoring.

 

The trick with the hypoglycemic episodes (low blood sugar) is for your son to be able to recognize the symptoms in himself and do something about it before he goes ballistic.  I know he is pretty young, but talk about how he feels when his sugar gets low (at a time when his sugars are normal).  See if you can get him to tell you when he starts feeling sweaty and shakey.  John's sisters report that he also went berserk when his blood sugar went low...so crabby that he wouldn't eat his crackers and juice that were meant to get his blood sugar up.  (Actually, I still have to ask once in awhile..."is that a temper tantrum or low blood sugar?")

 

So, keep up with the good work, and your son will grow up to be happy and healthy, with good habits.

 

Becky

My daughter also has type 1 diabetes. She was diagnosed 7 days after her 8th birthday, June 2006. She has spells where she is very angry. I have her in therapy it helps a lot. Also I looked into diabetes camp. She is there now. It is one week every summer. There are kids from all over. They all get together and have fun. It has given her a reason to be positive. I saw her smile for the first time in a long time. I cried. We have went through this change together it has helped her. I told her that God gave it to her for a reason and to think of it as a gift. She is special. Everyone has a calling in this world and maybe this is hers. Maybe she will grow up and help find a cure or maybe even find the cure. I told her to embrace it and everything will fall into place. When her friends found out that she was diabetic they all stopped playing with her. Even her best friends mom would not let her stay the night anymore. She now has a new best friend, she also has diabetes. They are perfect for one another. Does he know any other kids with diabetes? If not find him some it will help to be around other kids like him. Find diabetes web sites and look for things that you can do together with other families going through the same things. There are support systems out there you just have to find them. My daughter was almost 700 when she was taken to the hospital. She was in ketoacidosis. She had lost over 20 pounds. She was just skin over bones. She would say things like I hate myself and why me, but after being in therapy she has cut back on it. She will never be the same again. When she is angry it's like I'm not even looking at her. She was always silent and never got in trouble, but not anymore. She says what is on her mind. We have had to work as a family to show her that she is not different she is special. Being in school has been very hard. There is no good system for children with diabetes in school. She always runs high and low when at school. They do not have a nurse so it is all up to her to know what to do. The teachers never listen to her. She was in computer class and dropped to 24 and the teacher wouldn't let her go to the office to test. She told her to go lay her head down. After that happened I got calls from everyone about how sorry they were, but they still do not listen to her. They treat her different than the other kids. She hates going to school, but she is so smart. She learns easy, but because she is treated different she just doesn't want to be there. She has had it hard, but seems to keep going. She is very strong, stronger than I am.