Type 1 diabetes and ADHD in teens

[Seansmom]

My 13yo son Sean was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes nine months ago.  He is also significantly ADHD, requiring daily medication in order to be able to function socially and academically.

We have found that the ADHD meds and the insulin are difficult to schedule because the ADHD meds suppress the appetite, and now that he has diabetes, he cannot skip meals.  We have had to give up the best ADHD meds (such as Focalin XR) because they are slow-release, and when he takes them he cannot eat for up to eight hours at a time.

We have had to adhere to a very strict schedule:  insulin/breakfast, gereric 3-hour Ritalin, morning school, insulin/lunch, more gereric 3-hour Ritalin, afternoon school, snack/insulin, more gereric 3-hour Ritalin, karate, dinner/insulin, snack, bedtime.  If we deviate from this schedule in the least, it throws everything off.

Also, his ADHD hyperactivity increases dramatically with high blood glucose, significantly affecting his ability to get along with other people.  Add that into normal teen emotional issues, and you have a real mess.  (Plus, our ADHD doctor passed away suddenly just before Sean's diabetes diagnosis, and we have yet to find someone else.)

I don't really have any specific question other than, "Are there other families out there struggling with the combination of significant ADHD and Type 1 diabetes in a teen?"  I would be grateful to hear of your experiences and ideas that have worked for you.

[JDRF-VOL-RL]

Hi.  I'm not a medical professional, just the parent of a kid with diabetes.  What insulin is he using?  If he's not using NPH as his long acting insulin, skipping meals isn't as big of deal.  Something like Lantus or Levemir as the long acting would work fine, then for meals when he can eat he would just give a bolus shot with Novolog or some other fast acting.