Comment by dino on May 19, 2008 at 9:10am

I understand your frustration, Carla. When I was diagnosed, my mom pretty much lost her mind for a while too. I don't know if you've ever seen a Filipino woman lose her mind, but it's not pretty. She took it a lot harder than I did...I guess that's what moms are for, right? It was over 17 years ago Carla, but I remember like it was yesterday how much I HATED seeing my mom like that...

I know you say the diagnosis date was the "worst day of your life"...and I understand that this is all new and overwhelming right now...but I guarantee that with a positive attitude, this will get so much easier for the both of you.

I strongly advise you to be strong and positive for your daughter...especially now during this critical time. She sees the worry and anxiety on your face right now and feels that diabetes is something so terrible and scary. She probably resents the fact that her diabetes is causing so much grief and sorrow to her mom. It's nobody's fault, Carla, so instead of trying to figure out "why?" this has happened to you, it's time to focus your energy on being positive and showing your baby how to live a new, healthy and happy diabetic lifestyle.

Positive spin baby, that's what life is all about.

I suggest joining more support groups in your area, meeting more parents and leaning from their experiences. Your baby needs to meet more kids with diabetes too...something that I never did when I was diagnosed.

Diabetes is tough, but it doesn't have to be a nightmare. If you let it ruin your dream of life, then diabetes wins...and you and your daughter lose. We are all here to win this battle Carla...you are not alone :)

Comment by Kristin on May 19, 2008 at 12:44pm

I was diagnosed with type 1 at the age of 21... and I remember everyone's reaction was "You are so strong, you can do this". Then all of a sudden, someone came up to me and said "I hear you got type 1 diabetes- that sucks". It was the most refreshing thing that I heard.

So Carla, I heard that your daughter got type 1 diabetes, that sucks. It does.

But with all the struggles that are ahead of you, know that things do get easier with time and experience. Just as Dino said, you both will find your "happy diabetic lifestyle". But it always helps to know that you are not alone and it will help to find a support network, preferably some kids with type 1 diabetes and their parents.

To find support groups in the Boston area, email : baystate@jdrf.org
This is the Massachusetts branch of Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Also check out this webpage for newly diagnosed type 1's:
Link

Link 2

Comment by Marie B on May 19, 2008 at 12:56pm

Support groups, and opportunities to meet other kids with the (excuse me, I want to add aa adjective that also starts with f) D is a great idea. My mother did want me to do these things for odd reasons, and I felt so alone. I had my 13th birthday in the hospital. Like Kristin says, it sucks, and I wouldn't try to put any "spin" on it. My heart goes out to you.

Comment by Linda G on February 6, 2010 at 7:34am

I'm so sorry Carla, that your little girl has to go through this...this illness/condition that robs them of their childhood.
There are 2 little girls in our school with diabetes...both 4 years old, who at lunch time have their meal with a nurse in a separate room, so that she can inject their insulin, and monitor what they're eating...so right off, they're deprived of interacting with their peers at lunch time!
One of my cousins has a son who was dx at 2 (he's now 32). She would often share her heart ache, frustration and anger....nothing SHE has done to cause this....nothing YOU have done! You have this SUPERB network of friends to support you....I wish that would have been available to her back then. Take it not day by day...but moment by moment, and please keep in touch. We're all in this together.
Luv ya...wish I were there to give you a REAL hug!

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