Does anyone have a child with diabetes?

[Minnie824]

Hi. I'm new to this board. I had posted the following post on the community board and someone suggested to post here for more info as well. Thanks!

Would you be able to provide me with some information? What symptoms did your child have that you got them tested? Was it just a blood sugar test to check? Did you just go see your pediatrician? How is it being treated now? Any information would be great.

My DD hasn't been feeling well lately, and it may just be me over-reacting, or trying to diagnose her, but I want to get her tested for diabetes. For a few months now, shes been having to go to the bathroom during dinner. We just assumed it was a bad habit, but now I'm wondering if its more. She also has very dry skin, which I heard could be a symptom. Then this week, she hasn't felt well, but can't tell us whats wrong with her and just seems to have some nausea/bathroom issues. Then when she's hungry she gets really grumpy, she gets food, we just say, oh she was hungry. I'm wondering now if maybe she really did need food. I'm hoping maybe she has some stomach bug, but everything adding up is just nagging me to get her tested. Thanks for any info.

 

[Selket]

How old is your child? Diabetes in children is mostly type 1 and not type 2 (older kids can get type 2 but that is uncommon).

If you suspect that she could have type 1 you should make an appointment to have her seen by her doctor immediately. Different doctor's offices do different things but they can poke her finger and check her blood sugar there in the office. Our doctor did a urine test first (for ketones and sugar) - then when the sugar level was abnormal did the finger stick. I would not leave until they do some sort of test - absolutely demand it of them.

The most common "early" symptom is excessive drinking and peeing. Later the child may have flu like symptoms of lethargy, etc. With those symptoms (extreme fatigue, vomiting, etc) - the child should be taken the emergency room immediately. A symptoms list is here: http://www.childrenwithdiabetes.com/clinic/signs.htm

Every child is different but the major symptoms (peeing/drinking) come on gradually but over a short period of time and last for awhile (a few weeks maybe?) before more serious symptoms develop. It is often hard to tell that they are drinking and peeing so much.

I urge you to see your doctor ASAP. There are quite a few parents I have met who did not recognize the symptoms or knew something was wrong but their doctor told them it was the flu. Then these children rapidly became very ill - sometimes needing to be life-flighted to a hospital and near death. I'm not saying that to scare you - really - I just want you to know that it cannot be ignored and you should not accept it if the doctor says your child cannot possibly be diabetic and refuse to test.

The person I saw at the office when we took our son in examined him and said something like she was 99% sure he didn't have diabetes cause "I've seen kids with diabetes and they are much sicker." Well...she was apologizing to us about 30 mins later - his blood glucose level was in the 400's - but he was still caught early enough to not be sick yet - but he was peeing and drinking A LOT.

I suggest that if you have more questions that you go to the Children With Diabetes Parents forum at: http://forums.childrenwithdiabetes.com/forumdisplay.php?f=3
Write a post there - I KNOW that EVERYONE will tell you to take your child TODAY to the doctor. A difference of a day or two can make all the difference if she really does have type 1. Chances are...she does not....but it needs to be checked out immediately if you have any suspicions - you could be catching it early like we did.

 

[mechurchlady]

Grumpy is one of the signs of diabetes and low sugars. It sounds like celiac, food allergies, or diabetes.

Immediate doctor visit and in the mean time do a food diary. What the child ate and how much. Also note changes in behavior like a kid eats dinner then has a nap attack or for an allegry reaction the kid may bounce off the walls then nap. Note anything unusual.

 

[pudge the fish]

TOTALLY agree with PP's
Take your child to a DR. ASAP -like yesterday ASAP

Dr.'s are the only ones who can diagnose a diabetic child
Symptoms can be all over the boards-
get tests done and please don't wait-
it could be minor like a tummy issue but it could be something more serious.

 

[buffettgirl]

for us the peeing and drinking were astronomical. Just off the charts amounts.
The behavior - irrationally irritable was how I called it.

don't be afraid to give your dr a call.

 

[MomofLogan&Evan]

Our son was 15 months old when diagnosed. I knew all of the signs, however, at 15 months I did not even imagine he would be diabetic. I took him to the drs and he said, "he has a sinus infection and a stomach bug". This was after 3 days of breathing funny and constant vomiting. Finally he went lethargic and we took him to the emergency room. His sugar was 484 and had to be transferred to a hospital that could handle his case. He was extremely close to dying. After 7 days in the pediatric intensive care unit, he came home. He is a healthy and happy 3 1/2 year old and is on an insulin pump.

Take it from me - TAKE HIM TO THE DR/ER and get a blood test, a ketone test, and A1C test IMMEDIATELY!

 

[Belle4mygrl]

Please take her to the doctor immediately. And do not let them put you off which happened in my case. I called on a Thursday and they brushed me off and said well bring her in Tuesday. By Monday, my baby was very near a coma. She was diagnosed in December had blood sugar level of 790!

Her symptoms were excessive drinking, wetting bed, then the heavy breathing, funny smelling breath, lethargic, and dry skin from being dehydrated . I thought for a long time she was a "drinker" but when she started wetting the bed and sneaking to the bathroom to drink out of the faucet, I knew. She lost 5lbs in like a week. Alot for a 35 pound 4 year old who weighed 30 lbs during ER visit.

If you want, run to CVS and get a cheap monitor. I think less than $20 to check blood sugar. (That's what we did before we ran her to ER.)

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I realize that this late at night you may not be able to see the doctor. If you take the above suggestion and get a monitor it can at least give you an idea. Most monitors will come with everything you need, including 10 free test strips. The only monitor I know of off the top of my head that does not come with test strips is the Ultra Mini.

Choose a cheap one that comes with strips (should be listd on the box). Follow the directions in the manual. If it is over 200 mg/dL she has diabetes and you need to take her to the ER.

 

[Minnie824]

Hi everyone. I just wanted to post an update. Thank you all for your suggestions...everything was very helpful! I ended up taking DD to the dr. yesterday and it turned out to be two minor things, thank goodness. The stomach issues were a mild flu going around, according to the dr. The bathroom issues was related to a really bad yeast infection, possible UTI. DD never ever complains of itching so I would have never known. She said there was no glucose issues w/the urine testing at all. Thanks again for all your comments!

 

[SueM in MN]

Glad to hear everything turned out OK.
Diabetes can go bad very quickly. When I was a home care nurse, one of my adult patients had been not feeling quite right for a week and finally drove himself to the ER. They could not figure out how he got there because his blood sugar was so high he should have been unconscious.

Anyway, I am going to move this thread to the disABILITIES Community Board. That is the place for more general topics.

 

[visitingapril09]

Hi everyone. I just wanted to post an update. Thank you all for your suggestions...everything was very helpful! I ended up taking DD to the dr. yesterday and it turned out to be two minor things, thank goodness. The stomach issues were a mild flu going around, according to the dr. The bathroom issues was related to a really bad yeast infection, possible UTI. DD never ever complains of itching so I would have never known. She said there was no glucose issues w/the urine testing at all. Thanks again for all your comments!

So glad to hear it all went well. Our daughter, almost 15, was diagnosed at 10.

Alison

 

[Belle4mygrl]

Hi everyone. I just wanted to post an update. Thank you all for your suggestions...everything was very helpful! I ended up taking DD to the dr. yesterday and it turned out to be two minor things, thank goodness. The stomach issues were a mild flu going around, according to the dr. The bathroom issues was related to a really bad yeast infection, possible UTI. DD never ever complains of itching so I would have never known. She said there was no glucose issues w/the urine testing at all. Thanks again for all your comments!

Thank you for the update! I came on here to look specifically for your update.