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Finger Pricks, Insulin and Occasional Indulgences
Parenting a Diabetic Child
By Donna Verry Dee
Other warning signs include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Constant hunger
- Sudden weight loss
- Rapid, hard breathing
- Sudden vision changes or blurry vision
- Fruity odor on the breath
- Skin infections
- Wounds that won't heal
Goin recalls her biggest fear at first was wondering how she would ever be able to poke her own child with a needle, especially since she is terrified of needles herself. But as it turns out, these days Mom isn't the one doing most of the poking. Six-year-old Zach insists on giving his own injections. "He rarely will allow me to give him his insulin shot," says Goin. "I still have to measure his dosage and pull up the skin in his tummy or leg, wherever he chooses for his injection."
"There's no magic age when children should start taking charge of their own treatment," says Dr. Siminerio. "I tell parents it's just like a baby giving up the bottle. It happens at different ages. It's very individual."
Like Zachary, Melissa takes an active part in treating her diabetes. "She injects the insulin herself," says Hagarty. "And she does all finger poes except for the one in the middle of the night."
