Parents of Type I diabetics

[kwitcherkicken99]

DH and I were discussing tonight how DS's breath has been really fruity. He's been eating a lot but he's not gaining or losing. He shot up 3/4 in in the last month, but his behavior has been out of control, he's constantly thirsty, and he won't sleep.

I have diabetes on my side, and it seems to only affect the men in my family (both my bro and gpa have/had it). Every person that is affected gets younger and younger.

My question is, when did you have your kids tested? What symptoms did they show? DS doesn't get up in the middle of the night to go, but it's hard for me to gauge how much is too often since he's 3 - they go a lot.

What are your thoughts??

 

[Hannathy]

Those are textbook signs! Get him in tomorrow and get him tested. If he is diabetic every day his blood glucose is high is doing damage to his blood vessels.

 

[Fantasmic23]

My DS (now 7) was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 2.

Please have your son tested as soon as possible.

His "fruity" breath could be a definite sign that he has ketones.

My son's symptoms were constant urination, a yeast infection (in both his mouth and on his diaper area), weight loss, constant thirst and no energy.

Please keep us posted ...

 

[4forMe]

Yes, it definitely sounds like your child has classic sypmtoms. Please get him tested ASAP.

We have very close friends whose child was diagnosed at age 9. As soon as the blood work came back, they had to rush her to the hospital since her levels were so high. She was in intensive care for several days.

Better to be safe than sorry and get your child tested soon. Please keep us updated.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

We've got an appointment at 11:00 today so we'll see. I'm hoping against hope it's not what we think it is. It will destroy my dad. He was a mess for months when my brother was diagnosed at age 16. Being that we just lost my gran (his mom) in October extremely quickly/unexpected, he's just coming out of it. The grandbabies are his life.

Regardless of the results, I know what to! Grandpa made sure we all knew how to administer shots and check his sugar in case the unspeakable happened so I've grown up with it pretty much all my life. I know we'll have to make dietary changes (Lord help us if we have to cut back on mac n cheese! ) but it would be a change that would benefit the whole family and I know we can do it. Fortunately I don't bake much, so at least I won't have to take away too many sweets!

Keeping my fingers crossed and I'll keep everyone posted! If it is Type I, hopefully we've caught it early enough that his sugar isn't too out of whack. It was a nightmare when my brother was diagnosed... his sugar was over 450 and his veins had collapsed so it took 4 hours to get an IV in. We all felt horrible for him. I just hope we don't have to ever go through that again.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

OK... The wait is killing me!!! I've still got a minimum of 2 hours before we find anything out... Argh! How am I going to make it?!?!

 

[Ms Rox]

Your son is in my prayers. I was diagnosed when I was 12. I'm 42 now. (Wow! That shocks me to say. I don't feel that old. ) My parents didn't want to believe I was diabetic, despite ALL the classic symptoms: extreme thirst, frequent urinating, drastic weight loss. I was probably diabetic for several months before being diagnosed. My blood sugar was over 500. I had no resulting problems, amazingly. I believe that kids can be quite resilient. You're taking him to the doctor now - that's the best you can do. Keep us posted. If you have any questions, I'd be happy to try to answer.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Just got the call. They did a urinalysis for keytones and the levels were just fine so they didn't run a blood test. Crisis averted for now, but it's got me on close watch!

Thanks for the reassurance everyone! You guys keep me sane!

 

[Hannathy]

I would really want him to be seen and have the blood glucose checked. He could still be high and starting to have serious pancreatic problems. Just because he doesn't have ketones now doesn't mean his Blood glucose isn't higher than it should be. You don't usually even check for ketones until the BS is over 240. And 240 is a long ways over normal down around 100. I would keep a close watch on him and possibly talk to the nurse or DR. They didn't even do a simple finger stick?

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

So should I call my endo and see what she thinks? She'd have better insight than a ped.

 

[Cloudwatcher]

I can't believe that with the symptoms you listed they didn't do any blood work. I would keep talking to them. Last year my DD5 was having similiar issues, bathroom breaks alot, drinking more, eating less etc. It was also when she was having a growth spurt. Well I took her to the doctor and the did a cbc and said everything was fine. A month later I took her back because everything was not fine. They tested her for diabites and for thryiod. When it was all said and done we found out she has over-active bladder (OAB) and now is on medication to stop the bathroom breaks from being to frequent.
What I am trying to say is, it may take more then one time to get you the answers that you need (might not want )

 

[Hannathy]

If you have an endocrinologist then yes I would call. Better to be safe than sorry. I still can't believe they didn't do a blood test.

 

[Ms Rox]

I would really want him to be seen and have the blood glucose checked. He could still be high and starting to have serious pancreatic problems. Just because he doesn't have ketones now doesn't mean his Blood glucose isn't higher than it should be. You don't usually even check for ketones until the BS is over 240. And 240 is a long ways over normal down around 100. I would keep a close watch on him and possibly talk to the nurse or DR. They didn't even do a simple finger stick?

I agree completely. Just a finger stick would show a potential problem if there is one. A nurse can do it, too. Prior to being diagnosed 30 years ago, my family doctor told my mom that I was losing weight because I was eating a lot of tuna fish and it was summer so I was more active. I was 5'4" & 83 lbs. I was previously QUITE chubby. That's "normal"? Why in the world he didn't do a simple blood test is beyond me. Back then they didn't have the finger stick tests like we have now, but still. . . Just my opinion, but I would persue this a bit more. Just to be on the safe side. The earlier it is caught, the better. That is good news about the lack of ketones in your son's urine, though.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

My assumption is that they didn't want to put him through any unnecessary tests because of his age. I'll probably check with my endo (I see her for thyroid). I'd volunteer to do it myself with my brother's meter but I know that would NOT go over very well.

Wonder if my brother would come with us to show him what they do for the prick test? That way he could see it done and that we as adults go through it too. I doubt they'd stick me without orders, even if I asked.

 

[Ms Rox]

I'd much rather make him cry briefly than for him to have unnecessary health problems.

I used to check my own son's blood sugar levels periodically when he was younger. It wasn't popular, but it reassured me and my husband. My son is 12 now, so he's able to tell me how he's feeling. But, that's just me. You have to do what you think is right. Don't mind me - I tend to lean to the overly cautious side when it comes to Diabetes. It's just such a central part of my life.

 

[bookgirl]

My assumption is that they didn't want to put him through any unnecessary tests because of his age. I'll probably check with my endo (I see her for thyroid). I'd volunteer to do it myself with my brother's meter but I know that would NOT go over very well.

Wonder if my brother would come with us to show him what they do for the prick test? That way he could see it done and that we as adults go through it too. I doubt they'd stick me without orders, even if I asked.

Do it while he's sleeping. He'll probably sleep right through it.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Sorry it has taken so long, but to update: WE'RE ALL GOOD!

We ended up running a finger stick and his blood sugar was in the normal range, right in the middle.

It's not going to stop me from keeping him under a microscope, but at least we can relax for a little bit.

 

[Fantasmic23]

I am glad that his blood sugar was in the normal range.

My DS woke up at 204 this morning! The tubing to his insulin pump had kinked during the night.

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I am glad that his blood sugar was in the normal range.

My DS woke up at 204 this morning! The tubing to his insulin pump had kinked during the night.

OMIGOSH! We're you able to get it back down in a reasonable amount of time?

 

[Fantasmic23]

Yes! I had to change his tubing and give him a "correction" (insulin pump speak).

Last week in the World, his blood sugar was on the low side (40, 57, etc.), but his doctor said that was very normal of type 1 diabetic children who go to Disney World. DS was very excited ... Didn't want to eat too much. I had to bring his blood sugar back up a few times with juice (I carry juice boxes EVERYWHERE).