I feel like I am in no way qualified to comment on this, especially being first to comment on it in such a great post but... I just wanted to say how much...I, a Diabetes-ignorant englishman, have learnt from especially your blog and Shannon Lewis' also about this. My eyes have been opened.
You are an inspiration to us all and I am so glad that you have taken the topic into your novel. I hoped you would because if you write about this with as much heart, conviction and passion as The Bitch Posse, this is going to blow everyone away....
No. Aside from my diagnosis at nine, I haven't been admitted to the hospital even once. But, I will say, I knew a couple of diabetic friends in high school who didn't take their care so seriously...so I could see that the 50% number might be true.
Of course, with the world of carb counting now, I think the noncompliance factor is less likely. No foods are off limits any longer.
I will say, however, that the "obsessions" my mother had with me as a child drove me batty! I don't think it was good at all. Fortunately, I was a level-headed, intelligent kid who never really rebelled against much of anything.
Martha,
I wasn't diagnosed until age 24 so I don't know what I would have done. I can only guess that I'd follow the same path of being a big band dork with lots of dorky friends that didn't rebel too much. I imagine my diabetes care would have been in line with my personality at the time.
-Tek
Well now, having experienced some serious teenage angst and anorexia, I'm quite sure I'd have had SERIOUS problems if I'd been dx'ed earlier. Luckily I am now a mature adult who can give the big D the finger...
Anyhoo, Happy D-Blog Day, Martha! Have I mentioned that You Rock?!
Please pay me a visit at www.diabetesmine.com on D-Blog day, too, since this is my rare chance to ask for some reader feedback.
Thanks!
well, today is my first (and hopefully not last) blogging day, and I went with the name 'noncompliant' because I think I usually am. Sometimes I'm belligerent but other times I am just looking for my own ways to manage diabetes.
A wise CDE I once knew (when I was working at the aforementioned Clara Barton Camp actually) told me that adolescence is a disease in and of itself. Add diabetes, and you've got potential for a great big mess.
A wise CDE I once knew (while working at the aforementioned Clara Barton Camp) once told me that adolescence is a disease in and of itself. Add diabetes to the mix, and there's certainly potential for trouble. I'd say 50% is pretty accurate.
Hey there Martha,
As always, a terrific post!
I do worry about those teen years, and wonder if my own "obsession" with my son's care will come back to bite me (and worse, him) in the form of noncompliance.
Hopefully, as you say, the opposite will be true.
Take care,
Sandra
Ugh - I am scared of the teen years - and not just because of the whole puberty thing - it's mostly because of the Diabetes thing. I really, really hope noncompliance does NOT become an issue around here. I am hoping that by that time, Danielle has been living with it for the majority of her life that she won't think twice about testing and taking care of herself. As we watch our kids grow, there is going to become a time when we have to let go - another thing I dread - how am I going to do it? I know by that time I'll have trouble losing control of her disease.
My only hope?? That a cure is found before then *sigh*. To all parents that face noncompliance issues - I am thinking of you - and if you have any tips that you have found that help - share them please! The more I know - the better.
Martha- I dont have a lot to add... I still consider myself a teenager (gasp), so I better get over that first. Actually, I know that the teen years are going to be challenging, and ahh... I've got 10 years to stress until Bailey is 13.
As always, your blog and writing is terrific.
Dee
Confession of a noncompliant teenager (and early twenty-something).
I was the kid that everyone fears. Looking back- I think it's a case of burnout. 24 hours a day, seven hours a week for 5 years by the time I was a freshman. I wanted a break and what a better time than when you finally have independance. (Also- first time away from my parents, boarding school kid.) Only thing that keep me grounded- Camp. It was the only place where diabetes was a normal part of life. Stay involved, I think kids will push you away- but in the end, they'll come back.
Noncompliance? That's a very PC word for such a huge issue. I've been slightly non compliant most of my diabetic career. I have never skipped shots, but I've avoided testing when I knew the numbers would be crap. I've eaten the hidden candy bars without enjoying the taste just to rebel. I've told my mother "I hate you!" when in fact I needed her love more than ever.
Children are beautiful disasters. I'm sure I was a handful. And I'm sure (karma) that my daughter will run me upwards and sideways.
But the chaos made my relationship with my mother stronger. I wouldn't trade taht for anything.
Hi Martha -
I was exaclty what you describe - a non-compliant teenager with diabetes. I was diagnosed in 8th grade at the age of 12. I spent my high school years with a group of friends who questioned everythign I put into my mouth. They were with me at the diagnosis so they felt compelled to keep tabs on me. When I hit college - they were gone and basically so was I!
I didn't test as I should have, I ate whatever I wanted and when my endo asked if I might be interested in joining the DCCT I laughed in his face. At one point, he said to me "I know you are an intelligent girl, why are you ignoring what will ultimately cause you lots of problems later?" Honestly, that man was a saint for putting up with me as a patient - he didn't make me find a new doctor until I was out of college.
Luckily, to date I have had only small complications that have been manageable and have not had a hospital stay that was due to my non-compliance. But in college I did have an ER visit after a rather crazy night of drinking my freshman year. Lucikly I was not really in danger from the diabetes, just from too much to drink.
Happily in my 20's I made friends with someone my own age who was a diabetic and who took great care of herself. Becoming friends with her changed my whole attitude about diabetes and how I manage the disease!
Hope this is helpful!
Maridee
Hi Martha –
I was exactly what you describe - the non-compliant teenage diabetic! I was diagnosed at age 12, 8th grade. In high school I had a great group of friends but they took on the role of the “Diabetes Police” and questioned everything I did or ate. But when I got to college –they were gone, and basically so was I!
I rarely tested my bg, was not very vigilant about taking my shots and pretty much ate whatever and whenever I wanted. At one point, my pediatric endocrinologist suggested I might be a good candidate for the DCCT that was taking place in Minnesota at the time. When I heard I might have to wear an insulin pump, I ran the other direction. I remember seeing a notation from my doctor in my chart that read, “Despite Maridee’s obvious intelligence, she does not seem interested in following the necessary steps to get your Diabetes under control.” Luckily I was never hospitalized from this non-compliance but I did have an A1c of 14 at one point! Today that number terrifies me!
In my mid twenties, I made friends with a girl was a Diabetic and took great care of herself. She helped change my whole attitude about the disease. It became cool to pull out my meter at a hockey game and then give myself a shot in my seat. She was doing the exact same thing and neither of us minded! Today, I am truly grateful that I met and became friends with her, and that I didn’t cause too much damage that will come back to haunt me later!
Maridee
I was diagnosed at age 12. I was an independent girl and my mom gave me space. She swore to herself to be supportive but not on my case and she wasn't except that she often thinks my problems only have to do with diabetes and not anything else.
I was noncompliant in my late teen years mostly because of eating issues and wanting to stay at a good weight. I never skipped shots or stopped testing my blood though.
Hi Martha –
I was exactly what you describe - the non-compliant teenage diabetic! I was diagnosed at age 12, 8th grade. In high school I had a great group of friends but they took on the role of the “Diabetes Police” and questioned everything I did or ate. But when I got to college –they were gone, and basically so was I!
I rarely tested my bg, was not very vigilant about taking my shots and pretty much ate whatever and whenever I wanted. At one point, my pediatric endocrinologist suggested I might be a good candidate for the DCCT that was taking place in Minnesota at the time. When I heard I might have to wear an insulin pump, I ran the other direction. I remember seeing a notation from my doctor in my chart that read, “Despite Maridee’s obvious intelligence, she does not seem interested in following the necessary steps to get your Diabetes under control.” Luckily I was never hospitalized from this non-compliance but I did have an A1c of 14 at one point! Today that number terrifies me!
In my mid twenties, I made friends with a girl was a Diabetic and took great care of herself. She helped change my whole attitude about the disease. It became cool to pull out my meter at a hockey game and then give myself a shot in my seat. She was doing the exact same thing and neither of us minded! Today, I am truly grateful that I met and became friends with her, and that I didn’t cause too much damage that will come back to haunt me later!
Maridee
I'm a high school teacher, and I've been conversing with our school nurse quite a bit since I"ve been having trouble with my blood sugar since school started.
We have both types of diabetic teenagers but all are on insulin, and they make her crazy. Dealing with one of us unconscious really worries her.
One of the type twos is in my class, and I have had problems with her, but we have resolved the main one. She's newly diagnosed and the first few weeks she waited until I told her to go. We had to have a conversation with her caseworker, since the family doesn't speak English and neither I or the school nurse speak Spanish. She thought I had to give her permission to leave.
We've got that straight, but I have had to fuss at her for eating in class a few times, and she is not allowed to eat between meals.
The good news, is that she would have remained undiagnosed if her family had not immigrated here.
I was 11 when i was dx'd in 95 . as for that Hospitalization ,I never had anymore hospitalizations related to my Diabetes even though i wasnt and havent been up on care for my D.
Wow, what great comments! Maridee, let me apologize... the way I have my commenting set up, I have to approve each post, and I was gone all afternoon! Which one of your posts do you like the best? 
Anyway, it's certainly a fine line to walk as a mom. We don't want to be on their case all the time and cause rebellion later but by the same token, we don't want to transmit a cavalier attitude either. Food for thought... pardon the expression!
I've never visted your site before. I've found a lot of wonderful blogs recently by following links from one D blog to another, and yours was one of them. I love the idea of a diabetes blog day,a nd I have enjoyed reading eveyones stories. I can identify with many of them myself. I was diagnosed at the age of 22months old. I was one of the teens that took care of myself during my teen years. My endo was also so surprised at how well I did. I'm not sure how true the 50% is. I know several other diabetics, and none of them really went through a rebelious stage. I think it is possible to be in between a "rebel" diabetic and one who takes great care of themselves. Thanks again for the great post!
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