How to tell ds that mommy has d

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
How to tell ds that mommy has d
17
Tue, 04-06-2004 - 10:09am
I read a great answer to this, but can't remember where.  I'd really like your ladies' reply.  DS has to find out before I start checking my bs next week (I'll probably have to take him to the appt with the cde next week, although he can sit in the lobby).  I'm not sick or hurting, but something is definitely going on.  How do I explain diabetes to him so I'm not lying, but so that he doesn't get overly concerned (he's very sensitive)?  I'm stumped.

Nancy

 


Pages

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Tue, 04-06-2004 - 10:48am

Hi! I just read your profile to see if you had your son's age listed, and you did! Coincidentally, our son's are the same age (if your profile is recent!). My son turned 8 in December and is also very sensitive and empathetic. He's so sweet about this. I told him that I had been diagnosed with diabetes and said that I needed to change alot of the things I did and ate. He became my "walking buddy" and as he already knows about the food pyramid from school, that made the next part easy. I explained to him about carbs and told him what they were and how many I could have for each meal. I said that if I have ice cream or cake, that I can only have a very small piece because too much of it would make my sugars get too high. I told him that there were complications if my sugar levels were to go too high or too low and that because I don't want to go blind or lose my leg, I have to eat properly to maintain my health.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
Tue, 04-06-2004 - 11:25am

Angie,


Thanks so much for your reply.

Nancy

 


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Tue, 04-06-2004 - 3:28pm

You're so welcome! Yes, we're open with our son. He's a very smart boy and I felt he deserved to know the truth. He's so inquisitive that I knew he'd have a lot of questions so I tried to answer a lot of them right away.


If you read books or look thru websites that you like, pass the book and links onto your husband. He'll see that although diabetes is still diabetes, the treatment is so much different than when his mom was first diagnosed. So many more studies have been done in recent years and more information is available to keep complications from us for a long time if not forever. I'm sure every newly diagnosed person and their family and friends have atleast a brief time of being scared out of their minds with the news of the diagnosis. With proper diet, exercise, and medical care, you can and will life a long, healthy life -

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
Tue, 04-06-2004 - 8:08pm

I told ds.

Nancy

 


Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 04-07-2004 - 3:55am

My best advice is to read to him what diabetes means from a good book with a great description and let him ask questions from that in which he has so that way he gest to feel more comfortable with it.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
Wed, 04-07-2004 - 8:39am
Thanks, Denise.

Nancy

 


Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 12:50am

Thank you so very much for the congratulations on our expecting news. I wish you both a ton of good luck with dealing with this and may your son not worry to much, which I have a great feeling he will catch on quickly and not be so worried after he learns more about diabetes. It is the learning part that takes time to get adjusted to and the new way of eating. Good to know that things went well with you telling him, because that is a fabulous start to a long road ahead. Do keep us posted on how your doing or ask us any questions you might have, because we sure have a great group of ladies here who are so helpful with finding answers or giving them. Take good care of yourself and do have a fantastic day!

Denise Motorcycle 2


Mom to

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 11:22am

Thanks, Denise.

Nancy

 


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-28-2003
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 11:51am
I'm so glad that you told him and am sure that he'll be as much support and help as my son is to me. Just wait until the first time he answers for you when you're offered a big piece of cake and ice cream...it's priceless!
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-26-2004
Thu, 04-08-2004 - 5:31pm
Yup, I can see it happening.

Nancy

 


Pages