new onset with multiple complications

[friendoftype1]

My friends daughter (age 12) was recently (about 3 months ago) diagnosed with type 1.  She has, up until now, done pretty good with keeping levels between 60 & 200.  Her MD told her to be prepared that she was in the honeymoon phase.  This past weekend she started having wide swings in her levels from 30 to 300.  Her labwork has indicated that she also has hypothyroidism and hyperlipidemia.  They are already talking about islet cell transplant and are sending her to a retinologist.  Is it normal to have all of these other issues so early on?  Does anyone know a good pediatric endocrinologist in Tennessee?

[JDRF-Team-SS]

Hello friendoftype1,

I am a volunteer, not a medical professional, so  my input / advice is based on personal experience from taking care of my son (now 10) who was diagnosed at age 3.

You are a wonderful friend to be so involved and caring.  I applaud you.  Many people do not understand the seriousness of this disease and you sound like a great support for her mother.

Honestly, I am unfamiliar with hyperlipidemia.  I only know it has something to do with cholesterol.  

Sorry, I do not know of a good Pediatric Endocrinologist in Tennessee, but you are right in wanting your friend's daughter to be seen by one.  She definitely needs a "Pediatric" Endocrinologist.  

As far as: "Is it normal to have all of these other issues so early on?"  I am unsure how to answer that.  My assumption would be to say it would depend on how long the individual had type 1 before being diagnosed.  We were lucky that our son had only exhibited symptoms for a couple of weeks when we realized there was something not right and requested he be tested for diabetes.  He then had a 3 day stay at Children's Hospital, so we could learn as much as possibel about how to care for him and so the Doctors could find an appropriate insulin dosage.

How many days was she in the hospital when diagnosed?  It is evident from the great fluctuation in her blood sugars that her Endocrinologist needs to make adjustments to her insulin dosage / schedule.  Was your friend told what type of meal plan to follow?

Here is a link you might want to look at.  It will take you to the East Tennessee Children's Hospital Diabetes Clinic.
http://www.etch.com/tourdiab.cfm

You will receive comments in regards to your posting from other volunteers who have a lot of knowledge when it comes to the medical side of type 1 and its effects.

Warm Regards

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

You might be able to get some help finding a pediatric endo by visiting this JDRF forum's main page and clicking on the link to the Online Diabetes Support Team.  There's also a link to it from the JDRF main website (www.jdrf.org) ... and there it's labelled something like "New to Diabetes?  YOu're not Alone"

The Online Diabetes Support Team, unlike our very public forum, is a place where individual volunteers ... in the community where help is being requested ... work one on one.  YOu or your friend will be contacted by a JDRF volunteer "matched" to the particular circumstance.  In your friend's case, they'd look for a parent of an adolescent ... or a parent whose child went thru adolescence with diabetes.

In general, honeymoons can last a year or so.  It's a time when a lot of learning, trial & error, frustrations & victories, come fast & furious.  Keeping good records of every little detail can sometimes help us find patterns in the chaos.  It is not uncommon for Type 1s to have other autoimmune problems.  Type 1 is an autoimmune disease, and so our immune systems are thought to be hypersensitive in general.

You are wonderful friend, indeed.  Learn all you can & know that being a shoulder for your friend is a fabulous gift.  It can feel lonely and scary ... and the feeling of powerlessness to fully protect one's child can be devastating.