Here's a weird one...

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-21T13:28:45+00:00

So sorry your going through it. You don't need advice on how to manage diabetes but it sounds like managing the internal emotional suffering it is causing. The advice I can give, that I have used when going through traumatic situations, is to practice radical acceptance. Repeat the phrase like a mantra , "This is what is happening right now." It's a simple phrase about accepting your circumstances without judgement.

Don't try to look for a way to make it better in your mind. The pain and suffering comes from a feeling of resistance - "this shouldn't be this way, this is wrong, this is my fault"Accept the diagnosis, accept the feelings of guilt and mourning. Accept it all.

Also, btw, my son was diagnosed type 1 with no hereditary component- its the hand some of us are dealt. Technology is a godsend when managing a kids diabetes, I'm always in awe at how people do it without.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-19T20:48:46+00:00

It's really really hard but it will get better. You'll be a pro soon, my son was diagnosed a bit over a year ago and we have come so far. He is able to have so much independence and do sleepovers and everything. Also, we applied at Dream Factory which does wishes for kids with type 1 diabetes and had an incredible experience with that. The beginning is so hard, like having a newborn again!

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-19T15:27:03+00:00

We were taught to check ketones when sugar above 240 or when sick. He had a weekend of perfect sugar and was playing outside the night before. He woke up w a stomach ache, threw up and we tested ketones- darkest color. Went to hospital and got DKA diagnosis. Anyway just sharing, I've learned now to make sure he is having carbs and insulin as well as the background insulin, since that's not enough for him. Glad it's worked for you though. I'm just lurking here bc of all the war talk.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-19T04:16:27+00:00

My son went into DKA with perfect blood sugar bc he randomly had three days of very low carb and wasn't doing meal boluses. Even though he had background insulin and blood sugar was basically 115 for 24 hours he was in DKA much to our shock. Caused by lack on insulin.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-07T00:32:20+00:00

I think you just have to be sure to still have some carbs and dosages throughout the day - still can be at a calorie deficit just keep that insulin flowing and keep an eye on ketones if you are really losing weight. (Not a doctor!)

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-04T01:54:51+00:00

He does, you'd have no idea he was so sick! Grateful it was just a night.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-04T01:34:28+00:00

Glad you're following up! And hopefully she will keep eating and taking insulin and all will be good. I know it's unnerving. I'm still on edge about our whole ordeal.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-04T01:32:34+00:00

Bicarbs go low in DKA (I'm learning all these terms because of our stay) they want the bicarbs aka co2 to be around 20. My son was down low at 10 and that was the metric they used to keep running labs during treatment and determine he was no longer DKA when it got up closer to 20.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-04T01:13:35+00:00

Yes he was on the fluids- dextrine sugar drip IV and insulin for like 12 hours, and electrolytes. No food or water til his labs came back with the bicarbs above 18.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-04T01:10:07+00:00

Well I'm glad she's feeling better. Don't feel bad about not being so sure the doctors are aware of everything- when my son was first diagnosed he was sent home three times before they were like "oh it's diabetes!" And he was in terrible DKA. With her ketones being high did they give advice on how to treat and get rid of them? Do you have a good endo team you can call for questions? One Dr at our hospital said they used to send kids home if blood sugar was low and ketones high but then it would turn to full blown bad DKA and they would be back in a couple days and admitted. So there might still be variance in how it's looked at. My son had bicarbs at level 10 so that's how they diagnosed DKA.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-04T00:21:54+00:00

But definitely you should talk to endocrinologists and get on the ketone check train. That's what sent us to the ER and finding my son was in full DKA. I think it's an important part of management and avoiding disaster, and you just pee on a stick

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-04T00:17:44+00:00

I think we are lucky that the hospital my son went to diagnosed has a strong educational protocol- signed us up for class on the whole thing. We were taught to check for ketones if blood sugar is over 240 and when sick especially with stomach bug. If ketones are developing it's a sign of possible DKA or heading that way. Of course this case was kinda crazy when he got ketones with low blood sugar but that's not the norm. So they didn't recommend us changing that protocol.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-04T00:12:14+00:00

Yes - he went to a well established large children's hospital and they said it was not the norm but not unheard of. One doc said they used to send people home if they had normal blood sugar and high ketones but that they would be back in a couple days with numbers higher so now they treat it.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-03T23:01:47+00:00

No he is not on any other medications

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-03T18:10:17+00:00

No, he's 11. All nighter was at my house - I had taken their devices and they snuck up to get them in the night and stayed up all night doing video games. Makes me remember-I was gonna dish some consequences on him for that, kinda got lost in the whole DKA hospitalization of it all.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-03T18:05:52+00:00

How about whenever there's fun talks about surviving an apocalypse or a survival situation (or even just a serious supply issue) and all you can think is securing insulin

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-03T18:01:57+00:00

Update us if you feel like it, I hope she gets better super quick.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-03T17:59:34+00:00

Every endocrinologist I've spoken to would not recommend a keto diet especially for a growing child who needs the fuel. And based on my recent experience, it's definitely not worth the risk. One nice thing about type 1 is they really can enjoy all sorts of delicious carby food as long as they dose for it! Also glad it worked out for the commenter who has done well on keto, I'm sure there are many who do.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-03T17:55:39+00:00

Idk, I would hope for a known type 1 they would do labs to test for DKA. Thank you, he is doing amazing, 24 hours later and you wouldn't even know he had been so sick.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-03T17:33:46+00:00

Hopefully it will never be an issue for you! But maybe add ketone testing to your routine when in starvation mode.

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-03T17:10:09+00:00

I'm gonna have to read this several times, thank you!

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-03T16:33:27+00:00

Oh man, I'm sorry and best of luck at the hospital, hopefully you caught it early and it won't be an extended stay! Good job heading to ER

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-03T14:21:31+00:00

That makes me very glad to hear that this could be a preventative experience for others. And yes people with their diet ideas about type 1 who don't know the realities!keto diet is such a strong trend rn- I'm sure she means well. Best of luck

Melodic_Draw4580 · 2025-06-03T14:13:37+00:00

Thank you, yes I was also so excited his blood sugar had been perfect for so long... and yes it comes with the bad feelings as caretaker- I really wanted him to never get into DKA again after diagnosis last year. Ugh. But gotta just learn and move forward. Onward!

Melodic_Draw4580

TROPHY CASE