My 4 year old just got diagnosed with type 1 a few days ago while on vacation. Blood sugar was over 600. His sister also has type 1.
she is 12 now but was diagnosed at 1 in DKA. Would love to talk to more people with siblings that have it. I’m having a hard time processing it all. It’s been such a tough journey with my 12 year old. We are nearing the age of more independence. Feels like I’m starting over
Thank you.
I believe both @glitzabetes and @RachelMaraii have siblings with T1. Hopefully they will stop by and post.
Hello yes! I was diagnosed at 2 and my older brother was diagnosed when he was 21 (I was 16 at the time).
Our situation is likely a little different than your kids as my brother was pretty much managing his own diabetes from the start, although of course he had a lot of information/support from me and my parents when he was first learning everything.
I do have a sense of the heartache of this diagnosis for you guys though. We had been hoping my brother might be “in the clear” since I was diagnosed so young, so it was emotionally hard on our whole family when he was diagnosed.
If you have any specific questions I am happy to try to give insight
Thank you
My brother was diagnosed at age 6 I believe (when I was 2), and I was diagnosed at age 8. Now as an adult, I can’t imagine how hard it was for my parents… I feel for you and your kiddos
I really appreciated having a sibling with T1. I’m sure my little sister resented it a little – she got pricked every time she felt a little sick haha. Besides occasionally going to T1 support groups with my family, my brother was the only T1 person I knew for years. It was really valuable to have someone I could complain to who got it in the most visceral way, and to have someone who I could go to for advice too. We still joke about our Thanksgiving bolus “strategy meetings.”
I now have a really good friend from college who is also T1. And my brother is still an awesome resource. I’m grateful to have community in all its forms. I hope that your kids can learn to lean on each other in new ways too!
That’s wonderful you have him. Thanks for sharing your story with me. Yes already I feel like it has bonded my son and my daughter. Soon she will be also old enough to babysit him too which would be a huge help if I need to run out. I know it will get easier. Now I fight for Dexcom and Pump. I use the word fight because with my daughter that’s what I had to do with insurance. Thank you
@Nreid77 There some FUD members that can help you with stories of their “fights” with insurance companies. Not all are winners, but there’s something to be learned from each story. You may want to search the site for some of them, just hit the magnifying glass icon in the upper right. Others will like post here! The rest of us will hope for the best result for you!
Did insurance not approve your daughter for a pump?
When she was first diagnosed the insurance company wanted us to be diagnosed for 6 months first before going on the pump and found the dexcom not medically necessary. Of course we appealed. That was 12 years ago. I know a lot has changed now. 6 months back then wasn’t a big deal because I didn’t really know a lot about managing Diabetes, but now I want my son on the pump right away because it makes life so much easier.