Son Diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes : ( - Ben Lomond,CA

Hello L., I am so sorry you are going through this. I know all too well how you are feeling right now. My daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes (we say DM1 for diabetes mellitus 1, mostly because it's faster to write or type) at 19 months old and my son was diagnosed at age 6. My daughter is now 4 and my son is now 8.

I am so sorry to tell you this, but your son's pancreas will not be restored. I am very dedicated to natural and holistic cures, but this is one thing that you will not be able to reverse. You can use the herbs and such that you are doing now for optimal health, but your son will be using insulin for the rest of his life. I am not trying to be a downer, I want to tell you the truth because false hope is rotten. People try to tell me all the time that I can regenerate my kids pancreas' but they are completely ignorant of what DM1 is all about.

We eat a very healthy, low glycemic diet, do homeopathic treatments and have done this for our kids entire lives and they STILL got DM1. Please don't take blame for this and don't let anyone put that on you. I have been down that road many times.
Please don't listen to people who tell you that you need to try to "wean" your son off of insulin. This is impossible for people with Type 1. If people have claimed to have "weaned" themselves, then they were most likely misdiagnosed and should have been diagnosed with Type 2, which is completely different.

Do you have a Pediatric Endocrinologist? It's essential for a strong support team.

I am so sorry that your family is going through this. Your son will be going through a wide range of emotions but there is HOPE. My husband has had DM1 since he was 3 years old and he is very, very healthy. He wears his "pancreas" on the outside of his body (an insulin pump) and that is the only difference between him and a person who's body provides it's own insulin. My kids also have pumps and I am so thankful that we are able to have such technology at our disposal.

I still have a hard time coming to grips with the fact that my children and my husband have a serious life long condition. Allow yourself time to grieve and cry, I STILL am. My heart goes out to you and I will be praying for your family.
Please private message me if you ever want to "talk".
HUGS!!!!

EDIT* I don't mean any disrespect to the previous posters but please do not do any juice fasts or extreme alternative treatments. Your son is still growing and a juice fast would be a detriment to him. Herbs, juices, homeopathy etc. should be only done if approved by your doctor IN ADDITION to insulin therapy. All of the "cures" have been done on people who have Type 2, which can be reversed.

Sunshine is totally on. Type 1 diabetes is nothing like Type 2. It involves your immune system destroying your pancreatic cells. It has nothing to do with lifestyle and diet - it's JUVENILE diabetes. Totally different from obesity related diabetes (type 2). Please be sure that all the medical doctors involved in his care know all about the other things you are doing. It is not the end of the world. He will be able to live a normal lifestyle once you adjust.

THere is a lot of research into a cure for type 1 diabetes but there is nothing right around the corner. One day we will be able to use stem cells to regenerate all organs, but we are not there yet.

Best of luck to you & your family.

I have 2 children with Type 1 diabetes and as appealing as "homeo/naturopathic treatments may sound they are NOT a cure or an effective treatment for type 1 diabetes. One of the best resources around is an online support group called Brave Buddies. It is a yahoo group ____@____.com
Find a good pediatric endocrinologist and get connected to other families through JDRF and other type 1 groups.
Good healthy eating is always a part of treating diabetes so seeing a nutritionist can be a great part of that team.
One of the most important things is to get prepared for the school year. You will need to work with your son's school to define a system that works for him and provide all the supplies and likely do training for school personnel. A 504 plan with your school district is one option for defining and ensuring that he gets the support he needs to stay healthy.
My daughter was diagnosed just before she turned 13. It was a VERY difficult and emotional time for her so be on the look out for that sort of stuff as well and get him counseling support if he needs it.
There is no doubt that this diagnosis really SUCKS, but it is manageable and our kids can have full, healthy, active lives despite the challenges that type 1 brings.
There is also research that is going on at UCSF that is looking for newly diagnosed Type 1s that might be interesting to get connected with .
Good luck. Stay connected to other families.
J.

My daughter was diagnosed at 12. Shes 28 now. Its been the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. As a M. you want to make everything ok for your kids but you cant fix diabetes. Its managable, but can be very difficult and unpredictable at times. Study up on it, and get Diabetes Forecast magazine. Get a good dr, and dont listen to those who think they can cure it. I wish they could. If they could, there wouldnt be diabetes. The insulin pump is a great device. My daughter finds she cant use hers all the time so if you check into it, dont be surprised if your son still has days where he needs to do shots instead. It also might be months or a year or more before any Dr will approve him for one. Theres a lot to learn. Youll just have to see what works and doesnt work for him. I wish you the best. It makes me a bit sad to know another kid has just joined our world. Anytime you want to talk, just PM me. Sunshine knows what shes talking about. 50 flowers to her!

Find yourself a good pediatric endocrinologist and get your son and you into an educational program to learn all you can about Type 1 diabetes. Check with large, well known children's hospital in your area. At 13, he may feel he is too old for a "children's hospital", but the pediatric endos are the best ones to deal with all of the issues regarding puberty and diabetes. The JDRF website (juvenile diabetes research foundation) is a great reliable sight for information and research on type 1 diabetes (although the juvenile phrasing is old terminology-adults can get Type 1 diabetes from autoimmune problems)
Also, find out if there are overnight camps for kids with Type 1 diabetes in your area. They are staffed by trained medical personal and they provide an opportunity for great fun (in a safe environment), great education, and an opportunity to meet other kids with Type 1 diabetes. In our area, the American Diabetes Association holds day camps for kids (TYPE 1 & 2 ) with diabetes but 13 may be too old for that camp. Ask at your local JDFR office for the overnight camping organization for diabetes. Good luck to you and your family.

Watch the documentary Fat Sick and Nearly Dead. He had an autoimmune disorder and diabetes and they were both cured by doing juice fasting for durations of time, then eating healthy in between and other excersizing. Definitely watch it and speak to your nutritionist.

Listen to Sunshine and do not set yourself up for a great tumble by believing that homeopathic treatments can cure this. The only hope for a cure is stem cell research. Contact Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, your Diabetes Educator, your specialist, and other families who have Type 1. Elite sportspeople, actors, politicians, scientists, and businesspeople have lived with Type 1, and your son will too. Best wishes.

I'm so sorry, L..
My friend is a naturopath and does homeopathic cures also. Her website is www.a-healthy-balance.com
Good luck and God bless.

Please do not take advice and do anything extreme as suggested. There are probably diabetes education classes conducted by your doctor or affiliated hospital. Please learn as much as you can about his condition.

ETA: Thank you Sunshine!!!

Look for a naturopath in your area - a certified practitioner should definitely be able to help your son using homeopathy, herbs, etc.

There are some natural ways to help your son with this challenge. Email me and I will send you some information.

Stay calm you are going in the rght direction'

N. Marie
____@____.com