support and advice for newly diagnosed?

[lisalotsamom]

We know a family with a newly diagnosed 4yo girl. I briefly talked to the parents the other night, offered sympathy, commiseration, any support they needed, told them about CWD.
They are at the stage I remember feeling completely overwhelmed by all of the new information, fears for my child's health, and the minute-by-minute details of all diabetes entails.
What other support or advice would you offer? What do you wish someone had told you/helped you with? They have amazing support from family that lives locally, so are very blessed in that way. But, I could tell from their questions that they are still feeling shell-shocked. The mom asked me if I ever slept through the night (rarely in the 3 years since Tessa's diagnosis), and the dad asked if my husband and I ever got away together (never, but they have a much better support system than we do). The mom is also very concerned, and kept repeating that she would feel better if she knew that her daughter could live a long and healthy life.
I want to help them, but other than my own experience, not sure how to do it. My heart aches for all they are going through, and I know they'll just have to slog through it like we all have done.

[Abby-Dabby-Doo]

Here are a couple great links!

http://forums.childrenwithdiabetes.com/showthread.php?t=8633&highlight=newly+diagnosed

http://forums.childrenwithdiabetes.com/showthread.php?t=8399

http://forums.childrenwithdiabetes.com/showthread.php?t=8391

[Mom2Will]

I think it's great they have YOU to talk to. I wanted someone to talk to that could really understand what exactly we were going through which was like walking blind in a place we had never been. My support system was/is great with family but they were going through the same thing we were. Terror, shear terror. I needed someone that had been in my shoes to tell me it was okay to be scared but that we would get through it. CWD is great but for me it was way too much in the early days.

[Sarah Maddie's Mom]

Maddie was also 4 when dx'd. My advise would include;
1. Any book by Dr. Ragnar Hanas. His " Insulin-Depenedent Diabetes in Children, Adolescents and Adults" that I rely on may no longer be in print, but he has others avaliable on Amazon.
2.Project a "this is just what we have to do now" attitude with their daughter. It's hard, but at four she may be able to accept the shots and tests as "normal" if Mom and Dad can stay calm and matter of fact about it all.
3. Celebrate her bravery and cooperation without going overboard.
4. Try the inject-ease if the sight on the needle is really upsetting child or parent.
5. Log onto CWD and ask questions seek a safe understanding community.
So sorry they have to go through this ... but hope they know that they are not alone and that they can do what needs to be done.

Also, I'd like them to know that Maddie is 9 now. A VERY happy, social, healthy growing girl. She is socially "normal" has many friends and plays lots of sports. She is not limited by her diabetes and does not consider herself disabled or very much different from any other kid.

[hold48398]

We know a family with a newly diagnosed 4yo girl. I briefly talked to the parents the other night, offered sympathy, commiseration, any support they needed, told them about CWD.
They are at the stage I remember feeling completely overwhelmed by all of the new information, fears for my child's health, and the minute-by-minute details of all diabetes entails.
What other support or advice would you offer? What do you wish someone had told you/helped you with? They have amazing support from family that lives locally, so are very blessed in that way. But, I could tell from their questions that they are still feeling shell-shocked. The mom asked me if I ever slept through the night (rarely in the 3 years since Tessa's diagnosis), and the dad asked if my husband and I ever got away together (never, but they have a much better support system than we do). The mom is also very concerned, and kept repeating that she would feel better if she knew that her daughter could live a long and healthy life.
I want to help them, but other than my own experience, not sure how to do it. My heart aches for all they are going through, and I know they'll just have to slog through it like we all have done.


Hey Lisa, maybe we can all get together for a playdate? I know that meeting other people in the same boat and seeing how well our kids are doing is the best medicine. Please feel free to give her my phone number, too. She is welcome to call me anytime. As far as information- without information-overload goes, another great resource is the Pink Panther Book. I think it is a fabulous book/reference for any newly diagnosed family.