4yo diabetic daughter wants to do her own injections. Should we discuss with doc or wait til she is older?
My 4year old was diagnosed Insulin Dependent Diabetic at 5 months, so she can never remember a time without the daily routine.
A couple of months ago, with her doctor’s approval, I started letting her do the blood tests by herself but under very close supervision, because with a finger-pricking machine and an electronic blood test meter, she could not really go wrong.
She now wants to start doing the injections herself too, but this gives me a lot more concern than the blood tests. There is the concern that she might hit a vein, What if she tries to stab it in quick and bends/breaks the needle, what if she doesn’t expel the air properly, will she accidentally confuse the doses etc…..
I know that sooner or later she will take over doing this herself, but what is a good age for that? Should I just say ‘OK, I said I’d think about it, I’ve thought, we’ll come back to this discussion when you are about 7, or should we make a doctors appointment to discuss with him?
Website content
diabetic testing
Make the appointment and with the doctor and her discuss why it may not be best for her to give the shots herself just yet.You have voiced many legitimate concerns and the doctor will undoubtedly agree she is too young.If you talk to the doctor with her she may see she needs to wait a few years and it won’t all fall on mom won’t let me.
Kansieo.com
You need to consult her doctor on this one. She may be able to do it but she is really young. It is commendable that she wants to take part in her health at a young age, but she really is probably too young.
Caffeinated Content
I think you need your doctor’s advice, but it sounds to me like she is pretty mature for her age–even accepting the responsibility of doing her on blood testing. I think she can probably handle giving herself injections, but I would watch her like a hawk until I knew she was capable of doing it on her own. But, as I said, consult your doctor first!
diabetic testing
I started giving my own injections when I was 5
Create a video blog
I agree with the others about checking with your doctor. She does seem mature about the whole process and should be commended for testing herself.
You should not allow her to draw her own medication in any circumstance tho. She is definitely not old enough for that! Those needles are sturdier than you think though. Most diabetics I know just jab the needle in and inject the medication not worrying about veins. My son in law hated my daughter injecting herself in the stomach because it left bruises so he did her injections most of the time.
Good Luck to you and the little one.
Caffeinated Content
You can draw it up for her.She is too young to count numbers very well .
Help her find the right spot and let her insert the needle and push the plunger.You will need to supervise.
We all at one time or another hit a vein and it’s really no problem.
One of my children has had diabetes since the age of 2. She is now 17 and doing well.
I know how you are feeling.
Lots of supervision but giving her more responsibility is best all around for her.
Good luck
Kansieo.com
Your daughter wants some control over her care. What if you measure the insulin together and you show her how to do the injection and rotate sites. For awhile do it together and then let her assume the amount of responsibility she is capable of. I wouldn’t let her measure the insulin by herself but she can be taught where and how to give the injection. (supervised of course) Maybe a chart with the different sites available will allow her to assume some control. She can check off which sites she has used and where the next injection is going to go.
Kansieo.com
Start with your doctor and ask him/her if this is an appropriate age for your daught to begin doing her injections. Obviously for a long while, whenever she does start doing it, it will be done under your close supervision. When she does start, have her practice on an orange.
Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress
Kudos to your daughter for wanting to take a more direct approach to her diabetes care.
However, this is something you will need to talk with her doctor about. She may be young…however, I believe that children are more receptive when they are younger. And this is something she will have to do for the rest of her life.
You can also think about getting her an insulin pump. She may seem like she is too young for one but even younger children get pumps and do fine with them. Pumps have lock-out features the prevent children from changing the settings, either by accident or intention.
If you daughter wants to have more involvement, let her. She still would need adequate supervision but she can start learning for when the day comes she will need to give the injections without someone looking over her shoulder.
Good luck.
EMT
Create a video blog
that is great that your daughter wants to do that – but yes check with your doctor first- I think the suggestion made of you drawing it up and then letting her do it if the doc ok’s it is probably the best right now – Your daughter is really grown up fro her age when i started insulin at 35 i was so afraid to take shots Best of luck to your you and your daughter