Tina from Waterford knew very little about Type 1 diabetes when her six-year-old daughter Taylor became seriously unwell in February 2024. Taylor was extremely tired, dehydrated and vomiting, and all Tina knew was that her child needed urgent medical care.
“I brought her to Caredoc and the doctor suggested we go to the hospital and that she probably just needed fluids,” Tina recalls. “That was on the Sunday.”
Overnight, Taylor’s condition worsened dramatically. She went into a diabetic coma caused by extremely high blood glucose levels. Doctors diagnosed her with Type 1 diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious and potentially life-threatening complication caused by a lack of insulin.
“She was vomiting throughout the night and could not keep water down,” Tina says. “On the Monday morning, the doctors told us she had Type 1 diabetes.”
After spending a week in Waterford University Hospital, Tina began gently introducing Taylor to the realities of everyday diabetes management. Initially, Tina managed all of Taylor’s insulin injections herself while her daughter recovered at home.
“Every day I explained why she needed injections and what they were for,” she says. “After the first week back at school, I decided it was important for her to learn how to inject herself.”
Now aged seven, Taylor is confident and independent in managing her diabetes, even while at school.
“At the start, I would still count the carbohydrates and set the insulin dose,” Tina explains. “But I let her pinch her skin, insert the needle and press it herself. It made her far more comfortable.”
Tina noticed that Taylor had struggled with having different teachers and special needs assistants administering injections during the school day. Learning to self-inject helped restore her confidence.
Recognising the Warning Signs
Looking back, Tina realises that Taylor had been showing clear warning signs of diabetes, including excessive thirst, extreme tiredness and constant hunger. She believes recognising these symptoms earlier could have prevented diabetic ketoacidosis.
“She was exhausted. She was barely moving and had gone completely limp,” she recalls.
Tina is passionate about raising awareness and encouraging parents to act quickly.
“If you are unsure about what is happening, go straight to a doctor,” she says. “If people understood these symptoms better, they could act sooner before their child became so unwell.”
Support at Home
Taylor has an older brother, Dylan, who is 12. Tina says he has been a great source of support.
“He has a friend in school with Type 1 diabetes, so he understands it and has been brilliant with her.”
Like many parents, Tina and her partner initially struggled to come to terms with the diagnosis and the changes it brought.
“I thought I would never get a handle on things,” Tina admits. “But I learned by educating myself and asking questions of nurses and doctors.”
Her advice to other parents facing a similar situation is simple and reassuring.
“Ask questions and never be afraid to do so. Take everything day by day and trust that things will get better.”
A Bright Future
Before her diagnosis, Taylor loved sport and was an enthusiastic runner who also played soccer and GAA. After a short break, she is back playing soccer and excelling in athletics.
“She recently became a Munster champion in sprinting,” Tina says proudly. “She runs, she long jumps and she still plays soccer. She and her brother really shine in athletics.”
For Tina, Taylor’s confidence, resilience and love of sport are a reminder that a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes does not limit a child’s future.
