JulietDocherty's comments

"My Son Has Juvenile Diabetes and Autism." A Mother's Interview - Blog Entry

12 Jan 2009 02:16 PM

I have just read the comments about autism and diabetes, and feel a huge sense of relief that our family is not alone in dealing with this. I am the mother of a five year old boy called Francis. He was diagnosed with asperger's at four, tourettes at five and a half, and just before Christmas 08 diagnosed with type one diabetes. It has been a month now and I feel as if I haven't paused for breath.

We live in Cambridge (UK) and are lucky to have a lovely local school which embraces children with special needs. School has never been easy for Francis (or his teachers), and on a daily basis there are problems. last week he managed to escape the school and tried to reach the local hospital etc. etc...At the moment I go into school daily to inject him and make sure he eats his lunch etc.

There is unbelievably a positive slant on all this. Is it possible that certain children on the autistic spectrum can manage a condition like diabetes better because of their condition. I have found that involving Francis in every aspect of his condition with full honesty has been the best way of making progress. He has learn't all about carbs, proteins, and the gi index and is currently looking out for a teddy who has diabetes. When his teddy has a hypo he seems to know exactly what to do! He is quite a defensive little boy, so this is maybe his way of dealing with it.

Good luck to all parents out there going through a difficult time.