Hello everybody. I am 67 year old with 33 years flying experience. I was retired at age 57 due heart attack in 1999. CABG - triple vessels was done in 2006. Type II diabetic since last 35 years. Medically advised to adopt Relaxed Lifestyle, with active care of personal health. Am looking forward to more info / discussion on Diabeties.

So my 4 1/2 year old daughter has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. I am frustrated, angry, sad and devastated all at the same time. Everyday feels like a battle. I am thankful she is alive but I cannot understand why this would happen to her. I am sure everyone else feels the same. I just wish it had been me not her. She is so happy and so far it has not affected her joy for life. How do you cope with this? Next year she starts kindergarden and I am so afraid to send her off to the public schools. I just do not trust them. Any advice?

Your strong feelings about this diagnoses is very understandable. You don't even have the time to be in denial--you must deal with this now and every day. There is a lot of help out there--you need to be working with a pediatric endocrinologist and a diabetes educator for continual contact until you and your daughter learn to take over the controls. Your children's hospital may have a support group, or you might be able to find one on line. There are many many people with Type 1 who have lived full and long lives. Read some of Riva Greenberg's articles. Riva feels her life is better because she is type 1. On this website, we interviewed a college student, Jordan, who has a normal life and very positive attitude about her diabetes. She doesn't remember any other way of living. You and your daughter will learn a lot about the way our bodies work, and there will be scary times, but you can and will do just fine. Public schools are under regulations that they must have a plan and system to help your child. You will need to meet with the administration and get the plan set up. Find other parents of diabetic children in your school district to get the scoop. Best of luck!

Thank you SharonRD for you help.The only thing is i was never given a glucmeter so i never can test my suguar levels.This is why i am finding controing my blood suguar so hard.I live in spain and they seem to not realy know anything about diabetes.I was told not to eat cakes prepaked food.That has been my help for the last year,I have suffered high and low blood suguar that have left me feeling ill and very scared.