Wants to eat without a shot

[MommyOf4Gymnast]

Tesa has lately been wanting to eat without taking insulin. She'll come up to me and ask if she can have a snack and I'll tell her that she can but that she's going to have to take insulin for it and that's when everything starts to fall apart. She does the same thing when it's time for dinner, and breakfast. She starts screaming, crying, throwing herself on the floor. I cant keep doing this everytime its time to eat. The school nurse says that she does cry a little bit when she has to get her shot for lunch at school but it's nothing like what she does at home. I have no clue what to do. Any ideas?

[Amy C.]

It is hard when your daughter doesn't want something and neither do you. It sounds like she is throwing a temper tantrum.

What would you do if she decided she didn't want to go to bed and started crying like this?

I would remain calm and not give into this. She has to have the shot no matter what.

Some people reward the child when a shot is received with no problems. For example, a sticker each time and after so many stickers a toy or something special as a reward.

[andeefig]

Ok, this may be mean or unethical but what would happen if she had a snack and no shot?

I mean, if it where a snack that you know wouldn't make her too high, maybe a good lesson in what does happen if she eats w/o shot. I hear that high BS makes them feel pretty crappy.

It's a bit extreme and not sure if I could do it, but just a thought. It would make a point.

To harsh for an 8 yr old? Maybe. Hmm...interested to see what others say.

[andeefig]

OK, I like AmyC's ideas better.
I'm not usually harsh like that. I think it's PMS :eek:

[Kirsten]

I agree with Amy, but will add that there are zero carb snacks available, so perhaps you can sometimes offer that option?

Kirsten

[vettechmomof2]

If she is doing that for meals as well as snacks though what about going to a pump?
You would still have a poke every few days but they would be less often, or what about one of the inject a ports?
Does she have anyone to talk to about her feelings as this sounds like more of a " I hate diabetes" feelings then just not wanting a shot here or there?
Do you have a support group around or what about sending her to camp this year?
Good luck and take care,
Allene

[saxmaniac]

A couple of ideas.

Plan your snacks and roll them into the previous meal's bolus. Alex sometimes just wants to have a snack and feel normal. If I can plan it then why not have one less shot?

Of course, free snacks. Give them a choice of a shot-with-snack or a free snack.

Shots for nonfree snacks are a little tricky on MDI when you're close to a previous bolus. I wasn't very comfortable doing it until I learned more about IOB, and how multiple shots interact.

For us, shots for meals are not negotiable. Alex has always had the choice of eating with a shot, and not eating. If he throws a tantrum, which happened a few times, then he's physically removed from the kitchen. Any tantrum during a meal (D or no) is spoiling it for others, and always means instant removal while everyone else has a nice meal. They can rage all night in their room. Or they can get a grip and come back when ready.

Sorry if it sounds easy but it's not!

[hypercarmona]

Ok, this may be mean or unethical but what would happen if she had a snack and no shot?

I mean, if it where a snack that you know wouldn't make her too high, maybe a good lesson in what does happen if she eats w/o shot. I hear that high BS makes them feel pretty crappy.

It's a bit extreme and not sure if I could do it, but just a thought. It would make a point.

To harsh for an 8 yr old? Maybe. Hmm...interested to see what others say

IMO, way too harsh for anybody. Witholding meds to prove a point? Not cool.

I agree with the idea of free snacks, if possible, and even free (low-carb) meals once or twice a week, if they can be worked in. I plan at least one a week for me, mostly to just be able to skip a shot and so I can just sit down to eat without all the "work" that usually has to happen. Perhaps it could be incorporated into the reward system in such a way that the "free" meal is the reward for successfully taking all other shots for the week?

[Lee]

If she is doing that for meals as well as snacks though what about going to a pump?
You would still have a poke every few days but they would be less often, or what about one of the inject a ports?
Does she have anyone to talk to about her feelings as this sounds like more of a " I hate diabetes" feelings then just not wanting a shot here or there?
Do you have a support group around or what about sending her to camp this year?
Good luck and take care,
Allene

Just what I was thinking! This may be a good time to talk to her and the endo about pumping.

[Ali]

Re Andeefigs post. I know you were not being mean:) but one does not always feel bad with a high and at that age they may or may not associate feeling bad with a high BS or might decide the bad feeling from a high BS is worth the snack without the shot You might simply end up teaching a child that nothing too bad happens if they eat without taking insulin. For what it is worth. Ali




Ok, this may be mean or unethical but what would happen if she had a snack and no shot?

I mean, if it where a snack that you know wouldn't make her too high, maybe a good lesson in what does happen if she eats w/o shot. I hear that high BS makes them feel pretty crappy.

It's a bit extreme and not sure if I could do it, but just a thought. It would make a point.

To harsh for an 8 yr old? Maybe. Hmm...interested to see what others say.

[Eminemsmom]

A couple of ideas.

Give them a choice of a shot-with-snack or a free snack.



This is what we do. Of course, we are pump shopping (her choice- "so you mean I can have regular snacks like the other kids at school?")

[frizzyrazzy]

She's newly dx so this is sort of to be expected. Initially she probably did fine with shots because she couldn't really see that it was forever. Now that it's gone on this long she's realizing that it IS forever. What I did with my son is tried to be just as non-chalant about it as possible. I wouldn't even bring up that she can skip the food if she doesn't want a shot, because clearly she wants the food, otherwise she wouldn't ask. So when she says "can I have a snack" just say "sure thing" and get the shot ready without even mentioning it. Then put the snack in front of her, say "let me have your arm" check her bg and give her a shot. And if that doesn't work, tell her she's much too old to take a temper tantrum (cause she is lol) and send her to time out (or whatever you use) punish the temper tantrum, not the refusal of the shot. When she's calm, definitely explain how diabetes works, WHY she needs a shot, and what happens inside hr body when she doesn't get one (no energy for play etc)


yeah I would definitely bring up pumping with her. This may be a perfect opportunity for her to WANT to pump.

But the key is just to remain as calm as possible and let her know that shots are not an option.

Good luck! many of us have been there so we know how hard it is.

[andeefig]

Ok, I have to aplogize...I was way out of line. I would never NOT give insulin or try to tortue a child with a high BS. I guess it was more along the lines of what I've heard others say when their kids know what it feels like to be high and don't like it. Sort of when they may sneak food and realize how crappy they feel and decide that it's not worth it, but to be honest that they ate something and need insulin for it. I'm in this whole "choices" thing with DS and am trying to teach him about consiquences to his decisions (like choose to pick up your toys and then get to go outside and play or choose to not pick up toys and stay inside.)

I think that was where my head was at. Like, choose to eat without shot=feel like crap, or eat with insulin and feel good.

Does that make sense? Oh, I feel so bad that it came out wrong and that I probably offended some people. I swear, I didn't mean it to sound so harsh. Please forgive me

[Mary Lou]

She's newly dx so this is sort of to be expected. Initially she probably did fine with shots because she couldn't really see that it was forever. Now that it's gone on this long she's realizing that it IS forever. What I did with my son is tried to be just as non-chalant about it as possible. I wouldn't even bring up that she can skip the food if she doesn't want a shot, because clearly she wants the food, otherwise she wouldn't ask. So when she says "can I have a snack" just say "sure thing" and get the shot ready without even mentioning it. Then put the snack in front of her, say "let me have your arm" check her bg and give her a shot. And if that doesn't work, tell her she's much too old to take a temper tantrum (cause she is lol) and send her to time out (or whatever you use) punish the temper tantrum, not the refusal of the shot. When she's calm, definitely explain how diabetes works, WHY she needs a shot, and what happens inside hr body when she doesn't get one (no energy for play etc)


yeah I would definitely bring up pumping with her. This may be a perfect opportunity for her to WANT to pump.

But the key is just to remain as calm as possible and let her know that shots are an option.

Good luck! many of us have been there so we know how hard it is.

Are you peeking? This is exactly what happened at our house. ;)

Seriously, though, at some point when there is no question of food or shot in sight you need to sit down with her and calmly explain that there are many things in life she will have a choice about and many things she won't. Insulin is one of those things she doesn't have a choice about.

She CAN choose where to get the shot. She CAN choose which finger to poke.

Also, and i don't know if this is a factor in your home or not, but kids are super-sensitive to our emotions. If you are stressed or anxious or freaking out, they are going to pick up on that and mirror your fears back on you. You need to accept that insulin isn't a choice and your life hasn't come to an end and that everything WILL be fine. Your family will be fine. You will figure this out. You will have fun again.

One trick that works with my boys over a multitude of things they would rather not do is to have them count (or time) how long it takes. Our rule is they must count "One-one thousand (or elephant or whatever 3 syllable word floats your boat). They are usually surprised at how quickly the actual event takes and how much longer it takes when they fuss (or even how their fussing exceeds the time the deed itself takes).

Good luck!

[jendean]

I want a snack without a shot too. :cwds: I wish I knew how to help you. This is a real part of diabetes. It gets better.

[mom2kenny]

how about some free snacks? Maybe cool whip with a few sprinkles on top!

[Darryl]

Hi,

Our daugher was 8 when she was diagnosed last January. We did shots for 3 months and went through exactly what you did. She did not want shots for snacks, and we hated having to talk her into each and every shot (but of course, we did, because there really is no choice). Free foods are an option, but they don't work well at school and other situations.

We started started her on the Omnipod after just 3 months on shots. It has been a great experience. She does not mind her pod at all, and she can eat as freely as anyone else (other than having to avoid wheat, but that's another story). We usually put on the pod when she's sleeping. She has no trouble giving herself precise boluses for any snack from 2 carbs & up while at home or school. Highly recommend looking in to it.

[JohnMom]

We had the same problem with snacks, my son would spike if he had snack with more than 5 carbs. The solution we did was to give him novolog to cover his meals and than mix it with one unit of Novolin R to cover his snacks. The Novolin R is a slower acting insulin and it peaks between 2 and 3 hours so at 2 and half hours he eats a 20 carb snack. It works great for us. Though you must have a snack between the 2 and 3 hour period or he drops. You might want to talk to your D team about it.

[Amy C.]

If she will always eat a snack the above suggestion is worth considering. Give enough regular for a snack of a set amount and mix with the Humalog that covers the meal.

The other idea about giving enough Humalog at the meal to cover a snack might work, but the snack needs to be within 2 hours of the meal.

Both of these lock a snack down in the time frame and the amount.