Should I let my diabetic mother in law care for my 4 year old?!
Question: In the past year she has had low blood sugar reaction twice while driving and once on a cruise ship. Each time she became disoriented and did not know where she was or what she was doing. Fortunately, help arrived before anything happened to her. I don't feel she should be alone for long periods of time with my child. Her feelings are hurt, which I understand, however, the safety of my child has to come first. On one hand, she insists she can feel low blood sugar happening and can stop it with a piece of candy before it gets out of control. However after a reaction she will say she "didn't feel it happening" so I don't know what to think. She has had diabetes for 40 years and is in good health otherwise.
Answers: In the past year she has had low blood sugar reaction twice while driving and once on a cruise ship. Each time she became disoriented and did not know where she was or what she was doing. Fortunately, help arrived before anything happened to her. I don't feel she should be alone for long periods of time with my child. Her feelings are hurt, which I understand, however, the safety of my child has to come first. On one hand, she insists she can feel low blood sugar happening and can stop it with a piece of candy before it gets out of control. However after a reaction she will say she "didn't feel it happening" so I don't know what to think. She has had diabetes for 40 years and is in good health otherwise.
It's a tough one... I've been diabetic for nearly twenty years and in that time have had maybe five incidents where I've been completely unaware of what's going on and needed someone to help. The longer someone has diabetes, generally speaking, the more difficult it is for them to detect low blood sugar. Having said that, if you insist that she tests her sugar reguarly whilst your child is in her care then she wouldn't get to that stage. Tell her to take control if she wants to spend time with her grandchild - diabetes shouldn't be a barrier to living a normal, fulfilling life.
I'm diabetic, and I can feel a low blood sugar event coming on. Obviously, your mother either can't or she has ignored the signs in the past. I'm on your side. Sorry Mom, your child comes first. If it was just for a couple of hours and she, your mother, weren't totally alone, fine, but not for any extended time.
you should never let the fact that your mother in law is diabetic change whether or not she can keep your child. if i were you i would mention to her that you would feel better if she would check her blood sugar more often and before driving while babysitting. more than likely she will be a lot more careful when he is there. i had a diabetic grandfather and a diabetic grandmother on the other side and i used to stay every summer there as a child and love it and never had any problems...and when i was diagnosed with diabetes i was more equiped to deal with it due to the fact that i learned so much from my grandparents.
maybe taking cake of the 4yr old takes her mind off diabetes so why don't you look after the four yr old together and that way she will be happy and your 4yr old will still be safe
well i hope i helped you.
Like one of the other posters mentioned, suggest that she checks her glucose level more often if she is going to be taking care of your 4 year old. You can also teach your child what signs to look for. You would be amazed how smart they are and your child will notice that grandma is a little slow or confused, etc....they can sense when things are not right. I wouldn't think that your child would come to harm being in her care...possibly at the times she went low, she was otherwise distracted and didn't realize it until too it was too late. I don't think she would put your child in any danger and would probably not have issues with taking extra steps to ensure she is in good sugar control during the times your child is under her care. Good luck...I know this is a tough decision!
I am a type one diabetic and have been since age five, I am 25 now. I am usually very aware of when my bloodsugars are getting too low, but even though I say that there are times, when I either ignore it-I know stupid-or there are times when they come fast and sneak up on me. I currently am pregnant and this is taking a big tole on how I can or cannot feel my sugars getting low. Hormones are to blame. Besides pregnancy there are other things that can effect the feeling of being low, and your awareness of it. I would stick with your feelings, if your mother in law has had trouble detecting her lows and this has placed her in danger more times than not, then I would say you are right in limiting her time alone with your daughter. Offer to take her to the doctor to try to figure out why she is getting so low and not quite aware of it. During the day-the waking hours-it should be pretty easy to feel a low, if this is happening at night when she is asleep and she is not able to wake herself, that is a different story. Get to the bottom of it-help her to the doctor, before you allow your daughter to be with her for too long periods of time.
Good Luck!!
with respect
you are here ... and this woman raised you
so she must be doing something right
if she is outside of her own environment ( i.e on a ship or driving ) then she may not be AS aware of her low blood sugar levels while distracted by other things
but in the safety and comfort of her own home .... I am sure she is more than aware when her blood is going down
however , I do understand your concerns also though
my husband is diabetic , and it did take me quite a while to feel safe leaving the children with him
but he is their dad .... I have to give him trust and respect
please do the same for your mum xx
A person that has had diabetes for 40 years should surely know the signs of low blood sugar. She needs to get a nutritionist to help her with her diet and also see her doctor to see if her meds need adjusted. She needs to eat all her meals on time and snack on some carbs in between. If she has these episodes frequently, I would not let her watch your child for any long period of time. I would also not let her stay by herself or drive until she resolves her problem. Tell her it's for her own safety and not a personal thing. Make sure she is taking her meds the way she is instructed.