burnout

[dbryant]

My son is 18 and has had diabetes for 15 years.  He's a pump user, but the last couple of years have not been good.  He refuses to check when he's supposed to, is not in good control and I frankly am lost, and don't know what to do.  He is after all an adult, but how do you ignore it when you know he's playing with fire?  Any suggestions?

thanks.

[mawilliams]

dbryant,

My husband was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes at 10 and is now 29.  When we got together 4 years ago, he was not in a good place either.  Since he was diagnosed, his mother made it her responsibiltiy to take care of his diabetes rather than teach him to be responsible.  He never had to think about taking a reading or about when and what to eat as she was a constant reminder.  This pushed him away and caused him to rebel.  When he was 24, he finally moved out of the house.  Since he never learned to remind himself of his responsibility, he didn't take his readings for several months.  By this time, he had been on an insulin pump.  He ended up in the hospital with keto-acidosis.  Luckily he did not go into a coma, but it did scare him a bit.  He stopped drinking and took his readings and ate better, but only for about 9 months.  Still at his age, his mother would constantly ask him if he had taken his reading and was always on him about his diabetes.  I myself, tried to back off a bit as I knew how it only made things worse to push.  It was very difficult.  Finally after 8 days with 5 lows I made an appointment and begged his doctor to help me.  I went with him to that appt and the doctor told me that I needed to let him be a man and back off.  After my husband saw me in tears because of his doctor, he realized the pain he put on his family and he finally took charge of his diabetes.  It has been almost a year since that day and so far so good.  He has his moments as I am sure all diabetics do, but I don't have to remind him to take his readings and he keeps good numbers.  I guess what I am trying to say is try and give him his space, but keep an eye on him so that no harm comes to him.  He will eventually find something to make him see how important his life is to himself and his family.  From what my husband says, it is difficult growing up as a teenager with diabetes.  Just as Karen said, find ways to let him eat and do what the others are doing and adjust the insulin to that.  It does help.

[Karen1968]

Hi there,

Yes it's very difficult to watch your son go through this but I will tell you I went through the very same thing when I was a teen.  At 18 I was admitted into the hospital with Keytone Acidosis.  Luckily I don't go into a coma when I have high's and low's but some people do.  But let me tell you his state of mind. I have been a diabetic since I was 5 years old and am now 36. For most of my life I have been looking for ways so that the diabetes does not control me but I control it. I'm still fighting that today.  When I was 18 I took over from my mom's constant care and nagging and it was a free for all for a while. I was desperately trying to be "normal" if you will.  During my scare I was put into a program which helped me to control things a little more. Of course I had to still take insulin but a very nice and knowledable lady showed me how to adjust my insulin so I could eat and drink the things that other people could and most importantly at the times I wanted. All it took for me was to change my insulin and get the permission I needed to eat when, where and what I wanted and that's all it took. I also went into a diabetes support group as well.  Now 3 children later I present with no problems with the exception to my recent baby losses due to my age. My health is good and I am able to control my diabetes with ease.  I hope that he does not have to have a scare like mine to change his ways but give it time and he will begin to take charge of his diabetes again. He might just need a break and attempt to be "normal" for awhile. My suggestion to you is to make every effort to talk to him about your concerns in a loving and caring manner and make him aware of the consequences, but ultimately your right he is 18 and will make his own choices. If he does not respond to you find someone that he will listen to and have them talk with him about it. Also talking with the doctor about possible changes that will him to decide to take charge can be helpful too.

Well I know it's long but I hope I helped.

Karen

[JDRF-Team-wak]

I am not a physician, but the mom of a type 1 diabetic and the daughter of a type 2. I understand the frustration.  My mom does not like to take care of her diabetes. It frustrates my sister and me. We try to remind her of the complications, of which she has had 2 mild strokes and a heart attack; we also remind her that she now has 2 grandchildren.  These scare tactics usually work.  Unfortunately you cannot MAKE people take care of diabetes they have to want to.  I am told that teenagers go thru cycles of not caring for their diabetes.  Hopefully this is only a phase.  

my daughter is stilla t the age where she listens to me.  good luck .