Grown Up CWDs & Todays Parents of CWDs- Did You/Do Your Kids Participate In Their Diabetes Care?

In the title, "Did You" refers to adult t1's who were diagnosed as children. I think there was some confusion with the title.

When I was a little girl and was first diagnosed with Diabetes, my parents MADE me take ownership and take an active role in my diabetes- whether I wanted to or not.

Looking back, I'm so glad they did- it helped me to become more independent and accepting of life with diabetes...for the most part. I believe they give me enough rope so that I had a long tether, but not enough rope so that I wouldn't jet too far off course...for the most part.

When I first came home from the hospital, I was afraid to give myself shots and my parents got that - I was 8, and I was afraid of needles. So my job was to roll the insulin bottles in my hands so the both the Regular and NPH would warm up a bit and the NPH would mix properly.

I was also allowed to fill my syringe, (under their hawk eye like watch) just like I had learned in the hospital. I think that was a good thing because they really didn't want me to forget what the CDE's had taught me while I was admitted. I'd spent 3 weeks injecting saline into an orange at Children' Hospital in Philadelphia. FYI - I was not supposed to be discharged until I could give myself a shot - which I couldn't bring myself to do.

Anyway, my parents would watch as I plunged a syringe full of air into the bottle, and looked on as I tapped any air bubbles out. Then they would give me my shot.

It took me about 3 months before I could actually inject on my own, but when I was finally able to take the plunge (total pun intended) I felt extremely proud and grown up. I also realized it didn't hurt as much when I gave myself the shot because the fear factor was gone. And because I could inject on my own, sleepovers became possible.


Since it was the time known as the diabetes dark ages, we tested for sugar in the urine, not sugar in the blood - and my parents set up the Diabetes Chemistry Pee Set in their bathroom.
Looking back, the fact that it was in their bathroom was a huge deal, being that they had six kids, mom and dad's bathroom was their own personal oasis from the chaos of a big family.
Of course my dad was testing his urine as well, so maybe it made sense.

Any who, I felt like a bona fide chemist as I took the dropper and added 5 drops of water to three drops of pee (or was it the other way around?) and added the fizzy blue Clinitest tablet (which resembled a Sweet Tart) and wait for the results. The glass test tube would get super hot, and I burned my fingers more than once.

I distinctly remember bringing my friend Theresa home for lunch one day a few months after I was diagnosed (back then, my grade school allowed kids to go home for lunch ,) and she watched amazed as the test tube boiled and bubbled. She was stupefied at my scientific skills regarding "the betes." I felt so proud and worldly!

Now as I got older, I wasn't always so proud of my numbers, I was down right ashamed. And ever the people pleaser, I started to fib regarding my urine readings - AND I GOT CAUGHT - by both my Endo and my parents.

I wish that the whole "No number's a bad number, one number at a time" philosophy had come into play- but it hadn't. I felt bad enough that I was a child with diabetes who caused her parents grief and money we didn't have. The sadness and worry on my parents face made me feel awful.

My family was on diabetes overload and the stress amp was turned up to 11.

I wish I'd been more honest with my mom and dad. But I also wish my parents wouldn't have been so visibly shaken every single time a number went north. They were overwhelmed and scared, especially since my older sister had so many diabetes complications, and those feelings manifested themselves in anger ( real and perceived) at times.

Kids are sensitive , and kids are smart enough to see when and why a parent gets upset and try to avoid the situation at all costs. In my case, I lied.

We got through it as a family, but I wish we had ALL handled the issue differently.

Something really great my mother did do was have me read the exchange list to her as we prepped for meal time. Not every meal time mind you, but if I happened to be hanging out in the kitchen at the time, I'd look at the Food Exchange poster (YES, poster) in the kitchen and read the exchanges for the meal. I felt like I had a say (like did I want to choose the potato or bread for my starch?) and some control regarding life with my diabetes. It also helped me learn the exchange list!

So I'm curious - If your a PWD who was diagnosed as a child/teen, what did your parents to help you take ownership of life with "the betes?"

If your a parent of a PWD, what steps have you taken to encourage your child with diabetes to participate and take an active role their diabetes?