Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by WifeMomPancreas on June 28, 2012 at 8:40am

I am not a doctor, but here is what the honeymoon period is. Your son's body is still making some insulin, not all of the islet cells have been killed off. Before diagnosis what little cells were left that were making insulin kind of went on strike because they couldn't keep up with all the work. Now your son is getting insulin via injections so the insulin that his body is still making is happy that it has help and has decided to start working again. So now you have the insulin you are giving him through injections and the insulin his body is kicking in and so now at times he is getting too much insulin, which is leading to the lows. Problem is, you don't know when his body is going to kick out some insulin and how much, so it makes things a little tricky. Eventually though, all of the islet cells will be destroyed and your son will only have the insulin you give him, which will at least make it easier to know how much insulin he is getting and what affect that has on him.

My son was diagnosed January 24th and seems to be in the process of coming out of his honeymoon. But he has been on the pump for 3 months now. Again, I am not a doctor, but I don't see any reason why he can't start on the pump. Talk with your son's doctor. If your husband has been a life-long diabetic, you guys obviously know what you're doing.

Hope that helps some.

Permalink Reply by Elizabeth on June 28, 2012 at 8:59am

It is not a bad idea to start him on the pump during honeymoon. All that will happen is, when he comes out of honeymoon you will have to raise his bolus insulin levels to compensate for what his pancreas isn't putting out anymore. I would start as soon as possible, so you're familiar with pumping by the time he gets to school.

Have you been told about the need for a 504 Plan? I'm just starting my 5-year-old in kindergarten and am in my first foray into that territory.

Permalink Reply by ahe05a on June 28, 2012 at 9:36am

Our Doctors had us wait 6 months after each kid was diagnosed before going on a pump. It was more to be sure that we knew what we were doing without a pump rather than worries about honeymooning. If you do get him on a pump, you will see a need to raise his rates after the honeymooning stops.

Permalink Reply by Hockey Mom on July 20, 2012 at 2:45pm

Our insurance had a 6 month waiting period, Diabetes Educator class requirement (not on the pump - just how to do MDI and Nutrition) and a A1C requirement before they would pay for a pump. It was a normal big company Aetna policy and I was surprised at the hoops that we had to jump through to qualify for my son's pump.

Permalink Reply by Hockey Mom on July 20, 2012 at 2:48pm

My cousin who teaches second grade so loves that her Diabetic student has a CGM. It really helps, maybe more than the pump if your school has a nurse that can help.