Two year old Newly Diagnosed

[M&M]

My son has been dianosed with Type one diabetes one week ago.  Right now i am back at work and my son is in daycare. The daycare is trying to work with us.  I am wondering with him being so young should i take FMLA(and is this condition covered under FMLA) for some time just to get more familiar with his behaviors, symptoms, etc.  He is surprisingly wonderful with taking glucose tests and even the novopen shots.
This is all very new to us and we were shocked.  We took him to the Dr. thinking he had a bladder infection only to find out he was near to having been in diabetic coma.  The Dr.s said we are amazingly in tune with our son to have caught it early.
Thank You

[M&M]

Thanks to all who have responded prior.

This is such a learning experience for all. Once you think you have all down pat you learn something else!! I just read where i dont have to keep my sons Novolog or Lantus refridgerated after the first use!  Do you know i threw away half a novolog vial because it was carried around in my purse at my daughters ball game to long!!!  Well better safe then sorry i guess smiles.

I am going to join JDRF as well.  Missed the Sugar free easter egg hunt this go around.  I am also joining CWD(Children with Diabetes) they have a wonderful Quilt of Life that they put on show to represent all children with diabetes and to raise awareness check it out at www.childrenwithdiabetes.com and click on Quilt of Life.  

Can someone explain to me about A1C levels i think that is the correct name for it?  My son has his first appt for Endo clinic next month i cant wait because i think he is in the honeymoon stage now.

MM

[MelBT73]

I'm so sorry to hear about your son...my son as been diagnosed 3 months ago...It's been challenging but it does get alot easier and every time you take his blood sugar level and you're right on target, it's like little victories...I'm happy to hear that your son is taking his tests and insulin well...My son is the same...I find that these children are amazing...It's almost like they know that their lives depend on it...I'm very proud of him and I'm sure you are too...I read alot...everything and anything I can get my hands on...I get it most of the time and sometimes I just can't figure it out. I guess that's part of the learning process... Best of luck to you and your family

[JDRF-VOL-RL]

Hello.  I'm sorry for your son's diagnosis.  I know exactly what you're going through, though, being the parent of a child with diabetes myself.  I understand your concerns about getting to know the behaviors and symptoms before you can feel that you can explain them to someone else.  We approached the situation as trying to learn together.  There would come a point when we would have to trust others to care for our daughter when we weren't there, and early on that scared the heck out of us, because we didn't know what we were doing ourselves.  

Our daughter went back to school (and then day care) the day after diagnosis.  We spent a lot of time with our school nurse, with her teachers, and with day care, and we told them with everything that we knew at that point, and we were open with saying that we were going to learn together.  That they are willing to work with you is encouraging, there are some day cares that refuse to.  They are used to seeing your son's behaviors through the day, so they should be able to recognize the symptoms just as easily as you.  They will need to learn the symptoms sooner or later, showing you trust them and are willing to learn with them, will do a lot to make a tough situation better.  It's a hard thing to do at this point, but I'd suggest to let day care learn at the same time you are.  We worked through the menus and portions to figure out the carb counts, we talked about what she could have and shouldn't have any more, and things like that.  Along the way we learned about how exercise affects her blood sugar scores, about exactly which symptoms she exhibits when she's low, all sorts of things.  Call and check up on them a lot, but having that support is a good thing.  Having as much support is a good thing.  I don't know where you live, but I'd also suggest joining a JDRF support group in your area.  From JDRF's main web, at the bottom, you can search for a local chapter.  (http://www.jdrf.org)  There is also a bunch of other information and resources there which are really useful.  Our support group has been a wonderful resource for us, and we've made some very good friends from that group.

I think the FMLA does cover diabetes care, as it states as a reason to take it:  'To care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, parent) who has a serious health condition'.

Please let us know what else we can do to help.