Question from Davis, California, USA:

My 10 year old son was diagnosed with type�1 diabetes three and one-half months ago. He is in his honeymoon phase, and. although he initially took three injections a day (11 units NPH at breakfast and 4 units NPH at dinnertime with sliding scale Humalog at breakfast, lunch and dinner), he is now down to just one (10 units NPH at breakfast). The Humalog and evening NPH were reduced and eventually eliminated because of lows (hypoglycemia). We have been having a problem lately with low lunchtime readings (50 – 70 mg/dl [2.8 – 3.9 mmol/L]). Since there is no insulin peaking at this time on his current regimen (NPH is beginning to work, but should not be peaking yet), I am uncertain what to do. Increasing his carbs for his mid-morning snack has had no effect. Dinner readings are somewhat erratic, sometimes high (315 mg/dl [17.5 mmol/L]), sometimes low (57 mg/dl [3.2 mmol/L]). Do you have any suggestions?

Also, I have read in some of your answers to other questions that the length of the honeymoon period is often related to the severity of symptoms at diagnosis. My son was admitted with a blood sugar of 690 mg/dl [38.3 mmol/L] and urine ketones. I’d taken him to the doctor due to frequent urination; excessive thirst and weight loss were also present. How long is his honeymoon likely to last? I realize you cannot give a definitive answer, and there is no way to predict with any real certainty, but I am curious what your experience would lead you to expect.