What to do? Diabetes/health related...

[FreshTressa]

My mom at age 64 was just diagnosed with diabetes and got all these testing supplies.

Tonight was her first night testing and we all played around and tested our blood sugars.

All of us were normal, including mom...Except my 8 year old son.

His blood sugar was 164, which I think is pretty high. Does anyone know if it is?

Should I tell his doctor? I'm kind of embarassed to have been mis-using my mom's stuff.

 

[momsgoofy]

You really weren't misusing your mom's diabetic testing stuff...IMO. As for your son's sugar level...yeah, it is worth mentioning to his doctor since diabetes tends to run in families...I'm the 4th generation in my family.

But, that said, there are factors that could have influenced the higher than normal reading...Did he just eat? If so, was it a high carb/sugar meal? My endricronlogist has me check my sugar 2 hours after eating a meal...that reading should be under 140 preferrably even lower in the normal range. Another factor that can affect sugar levels is pain. I didn't know this until last year when my dad (diabetic) was having such a hard time...his would swing from really low to really high. He had 3 compression fractures (2 ribs and a vertabrae) which caused him a lot of pain...the doc said it was a factor with his sugar.

I would still mention it to the doctor because diabetes isn't anything to mess around with and like my niece said when her daughter's pediatrician wanted to check her blood sugar after finding elevated levels in her urine...better to be safe than sorry.

 

[CA Disney Fans]

I agree with momsgoofy. You should mention it to your DS's doctor. My DH was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes earlier this month. It was a little wake up call for all of us, especially since he's 36 and had lost over 30 pounds before being diagnosed.

 

[catherine]

Does your DS show any other diabetes related symptoms, like weight loss, extreme thirst, using the bathroom more frequently? If not, then chances are that he is not diabetic. That being said I would still mention it to your paediatrician

 

[FreshTressa]

Nope, no other symptoms....just frequent headaches and a strong sweet tooth.

There is LOTS of diabetes on both sides of the family though...but only in the overweight ones.

 

[Tiffann4k]

and a strong sweet tooth.

That could be your answer right there. I would test him a few hours after a meal or at least call your ped and see what they say. Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[pumba]

being overweight is not a factor for a good portion of diabetic people........I am one of the exception to the rules.....I am perfect in my weight and I was Diagnosed last May. This blew my mind........I am in the right body mass index too. I did lose to much weight when I went on the diabetic diet too.....
I do not test anyone on my bs meter because it is used to measure my fourteen day percentage and also my monthly percentage.....
Mention your concern to the pedi for your son and hopefully this was taken after he ate high carbs or sugar items.......kids do this all the time...

 

[Microcell]

My family history of Juvenile Diabetes is very strong, so I get my kids checked at their well visits.

When I was pregnant with DS I constantly was rushing from work to my ob appointments and would scarf some sort of snack right before going and my doc made me take a fasting glucose twice with him, and I was fine, just in a bad cycle of making my blood sugar go up by snacking just prior to going to the doctor.

Oh and to answer your question, back in the 80's when my mom was testing the normal range was 80 to 120. When you go to the doctor, just tell them you want your child tested since your mom was just diagnosed. You might have to insist on it because chances are your mom has type two because of her age of onset.

 

[disneymac]

Please call your DS's pediatrician. I was diagnosed with diabetes when I was 10. You really want to know sooner rather than later - it can get ugly if you wait! Sometimes the other symptoms don't show up. It is definitely better to be safe than sorry. And don't worry about using your mother's testing supplies. It's good that you will all know how to use them sometime if she needs help! The more comfortable your whole family is with it all the better off she will be. Good luck.

 

[momsgoofy]

Does your DS show any other diabetes related symptoms, like weight loss, extreme thirst, using the bathroom more frequently? If not, then chances are that he is not diabetic. That being said I would still mention it to your paediatrician

Catherine...when I was diagnosed as diabetic in 2004, I had no symptoms at all. I just got lucky that my OBGYN (of all people) tested me...actually did a lot of bloodwork on me at the time and the glucose fasting was one of the standards...when I showed around 130 on it, he sent me for a two hour glucose tolerance test, which I blew and was then sent to my endricronologist to manage the diabetes. You are right though, frequently symptoms like frequent urination and extreme thirst are what people will notice before being diagnosed...but some don't like me.

 

[Chloesmom]

My daughter is 8 and has type 1 diabetes. Diabetes is nothing to mess with since it can snaeak up on you and be really bad really fast. That being said.. type 1 and tyoe 2 diabetes are completely different. Just because you have a lot of adults with diabetes in your family it does not mean your son is at higher risk to get type 1. Type 1 is an auto immune disease that is usually triggered by a viral infection such as strep. A child who gets Type 1 is " pre destined" to get it when they are born.. when is just a matter of time though.
A normal active child's sugar can be up to 180 with no concerns. Of course you should have him checked out if you are concerned. Better safe than sorry. Also, you can buy urine ketone strips at any pharmacy. They are cheap and easy and a sure indicator of uncontrolled diabetes. You can also get urine glucose strips. Niether ketones or glucose should be present in any great amounts in urine.

 

[FreshTressa]

Thanks!

I took him to the doctor and he told me that kids sometimes do have higher blood sugars.

He did a fasting blood test just to be safe...and DS is normal...(although the high end of normal)

 

[MsDisney23]

I would do a fasting BS, that is testing his blood first thing in the morning, beforre eating and drinking. yes, you should tell the Dr. I was on insulin for 40 years and know alot about this terrible disease. Keep us posted.

 

[Disney Doll]

Call your pediatrician and let him/her know, and she what they say.

With your family history, sounds like it might be diabetes.

 

[Laura]

My daughter is 8 and has type 1 diabetes. Diabetes is nothing to mess with since it can snaeak up on you and be really bad really fast. That being said.. type 1 and tyoe 2 diabetes are completely different. Just because you have a lot of adults with diabetes in your family it does not mean your son is at higher risk to get type 1. Type 1 is an auto immune disease that is usually triggered by a viral infection such as strep. A child who gets Type 1 is " pre destined" to get it when they are born.. when is just a matter of time though.
A normal active child's sugar can be up to 180 with no concerns. Of course you should have him checked out if you are concerned. Better safe than sorry. Also, you can buy urine ketone strips at any pharmacy. They are cheap and easy and a sure indicator of uncontrolled diabetes. You can also get urine glucose strips. Niether ketones or glucose should be present in any great amounts in urine.

This is absolutely correct. A lot of people confuse type 1 and type 2 diabetes, think they're more similar than they really are, and believe that if a family member has one type you're also susceptible to the other. My DH has type 1, and has no family history of diabetes at all. He was diagnosed with it at 20 (which is old for that type) after, yup, catching a virus.

To the OP, I'm glad your son turned out normal after further testing. It's always better to be safe than sorry, isn't it?

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Many doctors will repeat the testing again in two or three months just to be on the safe side. (Did they do just a blood sugar or did they do a hemoglobin A1C - which shows a trend of blood sugars over a longer period of time?) You may also use this to your advantage and consider a dietary consult with a nutritionist to go over healthy dietary principals with your DS (lessons we all can benefit by). Good luck.

 

[LynnTH]

My DH37 was just diagnosed with Type 1 last Thursday and was in the hospital for 3 days trying to get him stablized and re-hydrated. He first noticed something was goofy when his eye sight had all of a sudden changed (this happened about 3-4 weeks ago while we were in Florida) It was really bothering him so he went to see an eye dr while we were on vacation. Eye Dr just told him his prescription changed and gave him new contacts. We get home and eyes are still bad - goes to his regular eye dr. and was just told he has a stigmatism. Neither of them even mentioned diabetes. So, a week or 2 go by and he is really thirsty and achy and just doesn't feel good. Went to the Dr. last Thursday with a blood sugar of 600+ and was put right into ICU. It was a total shock to us. So, now we are just getting into the testing and insulin shots and all that stuff. We have an appointment on Friday with a dietician to go over carb counting. Lots to know and very scary but also know that if he keeps it in check he can live a long and healthy life. But, boy what a lifestyle change. I'm sure soon it will just become like second nature and just part of our lives.

 

[Laura]

Don't worry, the shots and testing are all just part of everyday life in our household; you'll get used to it. Just make sure when your husband says he needs to eat, he eats!

 

[Zurg]

We have two type 1 kids.

Type 1 and type 2 are not related. Neither is a lot of fun.

One thing that can mess up the numbers is sugar on their fingers.

Delaney did a test tonight 161 right after eating a few tootsie roll because she was low 60.

Washed her hands and she was 100.

Fasting BG test is a good idea.

I hope it is just a fluke reading.


Oh and for anyone with type 1 Disney experience. I am collecting Disney With Diabetes tips on a blog at http://DisneyWithDiabetes.com I just started it to keep ideas we get on our upcoming trip.

For you new to type 1. The American Diabetes Association has a web board for parents at : http://community.diabetes.org/n/pfx/forum.aspx?nav=messages&webtag=adaparents

Nice folks, willing to help, and they "get it" when you have had enough and need to vent.

 

[disneymac]

Thanks!

I took him to the doctor and he told me that kids sometimes do have higher blood sugars.

He did a fasting blood test just to be safe...and DS is normal...(although the high end of normal)

Glad to hear it!!