Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lindzu's Mom on August 30, 2011 at 9:58am

I have a 13 year old that forgets sometimes too and because of it she has had to miss a test at school because she is too high based on her 504 plan. I think it is great that you are working to make your 7 year old independent but remember she is only 7 and she has a lot of responsibility to take on at such a young age. I'm still trying to practice this grace myself with my 13 year old. I usually wait to see her do her bolus on the pump before I let it out of my mind. It has been those times that she is rushing out of the door for the bus that she forgets to bolus and I am not there to make sure she does it. Remember we parents are human too so don't beat yourself up about missing it twice; you're doing a great job.

Permalink Reply by Aimee on August 30, 2011 at 12:38pm

Thanks for the kind words. I am trying to not beat myself up over it and just forge ahead with a better plan!

Permalink Reply by jake42 on August 30, 2011 at 10:03am

Hi Aimee,
just for comparison purposes our little one is just turned 11 and on MDI since dx a year ago. She does her own pen injections but we work out the doses (she's quite unstable). However, we do check to make sure she is doing it and find it useful to have her repeat back to us the number of units she's going to take before we leave her to get on with it.
I think having her repeat the instruction helps cement it in her own mind a little better. 7 is probably a little young to expect her to remember things - even for a few minutes! But I too know how hectic house-life can get - mistakes are always going to happen...
All the best, J

Permalink Reply by Aimee on August 30, 2011 at 12:41pm

I like the idea of having her repeat after me. I also think I may have to institute a new rule of sitting down with her every time she delivers a bolus (sometimes we bolus on the run). I think it will help both of us focus better if we are sitting next to each other and looking at the pump.

Permalink Reply by Aimee on August 30, 2011 at 12:54pm

Thanks for the info WYOmom! I will defintely be discussing this more with my husband to consider some changes.

These guidelines seem very conservative. I can see where it may be too soon for her to do these things independently, but I really do not think it is too soon for her to be doing some of it. I will definitely take this into consideration and will be more careful to check what she is doing, but I cannot see going back to doing all tasks.

I do not get mad or punish her when she forgets, but I do remind her of why it is important that she takes care of her diabetes by talking about how high or low blood sugars make her feel. I was thinking that this will help her in the future to better take care of herself. I talk to her about food choices and how everything effects her blood sugar in the effort to help her understand what her body is doing since I am not always with her (and definitely won't be when she gets older). I am wondering if these discussions are too much right now as well... What do you all think?

Permalink Reply by Aimee on August 30, 2011 at 2:25pm

Thanks WYOmom! It is sad that kids with D have to grow up so fast. I agree with you that I am more ready for her to take on responsiblity than she is. There is also a part of me that thinks, "Diabetes is a part of her life, and the sooner she learns how to take care of herself the safer she is". Maybe I should be thinking more along the lines of "she has a lot of time to learn these things from me, I should dole them out a little at a time".

I have not met with a social worker personally (except at diagnosis), but am involved with a diabetes support group in which we have monthly speakers. We are looking for new topics (we seem to cover the same ones every year) so I will throw the topic of "age appropriate diabetes" out as a topic for a meeting.

Permalink Reply by Aimee on August 30, 2011 at 12:57pm

Agreed. I feel like my husband & I are taking diabetes management a little bit for granted as the years go by. We need to take a step back and put it at the forefront again.

Permalink Reply by Nancy Hallock on August 30, 2011 at 1:24pm

My 10 year old has been doing this as well for quite some time now. He was also diagnosed at 3. Since it is such a regular routine, I too thought he should be able to remember. Well, I've had to take over his diabetes care again after a 9.9 A1C. I made a diabetes log and attached it to a clipboard. It has the times he needs to test with room in between to write down his snacks and food amounts. I set alarms in his cell phone for the times to test and I follow up to see that he's done it. In addition, I stand next to him while he boluses himself. He is easily distracted as well so I had to figure out something that he could work for to earn something at the end of the week if he keeps his chart filled out and remembers to bolus. If I'm not in the room at the time he should bolus, I look back in history within a reasonable period of time to make sure he's bolused. I think he's just totally burned out with diabetes and the doctor suggested that I take charge again. I'm trying to establish a new routine of having him right things down on the chart and put a check mark in a column next to it if he's bolused. I totally understand how busy it gets and things get crazy. It's very difficult when you're in a rush. You're doing a great job.....it's figuring out how to make it a positive thing, at least in my case, where he can work towards something he likes. Good luck and hang in there :D

Permalink Reply by Aimee on August 30, 2011 at 2:31pm

Wow, this is a great solution. Good job, mom! We are not at using a cell phone yet, but when we are I will have to borrow this from you! I understand how hard it can be to keep things positive. We are still rewarding for drama-free site changes!

Permalink Reply by Jan on September 12, 2011 at 10:44pm

Our teen was diagnosed at 8. We did not allow unsupervised boluses for at least a few years. She went to the school nurse before lunch at school. If on a play date she would call us and then she would bolus after verifying she was giving the appropriate amount. We would often ask her to go into bolus history and repeat to us the amount of insulin given if she was giving insulin unsupervised. We were not worried about her forgetting to bolus; rather, that she would accidentally put in the wrong amount. Bolus history was used for her safety. Status 2 on the Animas pump; now with revel IOB is right on the home screen.