View Full Version : Dipstick was negative
allebu
04-19-2007, 10:29 AM
I posted before about my son, Ryan, who has been drinking and peeing a lot. His doctor sent us home with a urine collection bag and a few dipsticks. I also picked up some Ketodiastix (sp?) strips at the pharmacy. None of them changed color, so I guess no glucose in his urine.
Is that it? Is that conclusive? I called the doctor and am waiting to hear back.
Amy C.
04-19-2007, 12:25 PM
Your child is urinating a lot -- which is a problem. It would have been nice to know what he blood sugar is, but it isn't clear that the cause of the frequent urination is diabetes. He could have an infection.
The pediatrician should be doing tests to determine what is wrong.
allebu
04-19-2007, 12:36 PM
I'm still waiting to hear back from them, but he thought that it was possible that since he's getting a molar in, he's eating less and therefore drinking more.
Am I correct, though, that since the dipstick was negative for glucose, it's 100% not diabetes? He'd have to have glucose in his urine for him to have diabetes, right?
BrendaK
04-19-2007, 12:37 PM
A dipstick that you do at home is NOT a test for diabetes. Your son's symptoms are very suspicious and your doctor is not ordering the correct tests -- which include blood tests for blood sugar, A1C, and perhaps C-peptide and antibodies.
Please question your doctor's testing methods and have the correct tests done.
BrendaK
04-19-2007, 12:40 PM
I'm still waiting to hear back from them, but he thought that it was possible that since he's getting a molar in, he's eating less and therefore drinking more.
Am I correct, though, that since the dipstick was negative for glucose, it's 100% not diabetes? He'd have to have glucose in his urine for him to have diabetes, right?
No, it's not 100% for sure he doesn't have diabetes. People with emerging diabetes may have normal blood sugars sometimes and high blood sugars at other times. A dipstick in the urine only tests for sugar in that sample. The sugar level can really fluxuate throughout the day in the beginning stages of diabetes. Please ask your doctor for the appropriate blood tests.
allebu
04-19-2007, 01:21 PM
Thank you, Brenda. I'm definitely going to ask the doctor why he didn't do blood work.
The good news is that yesterday I wouldn't give me any more soy milk (he is supposed to get 24 oz. per day, no more) and when I offered water, he wouldn't drink it. I would think if he were truly thirsty he'd drink anything he could get his hands on. So I'm looking at that as a good sign.
It also seems that most people's kids lost weight, even in the beginning, and Ryan gains like a champ. I'm really thinking that he just loves his soy milk and it's making him pee a lot.
allebu
04-19-2007, 01:40 PM
A followup question...
In doing some research online, it says that once blood glucose reaches a certain threshold, it spills over into the urine and it's detectable by urinalysis. So if there's no glucose in his urine, doesn't that then mean that his glucose level isn't too high?
Please don't think I'm doubting you at all, I'm just trying to understand how everything fits together so that I have a base of knowledge when I talk to the doctor. I really value all of your opinions and expertise. I had to self-diagnose my food-allergic child before the doctors did and it could have cost him my life if I hadn't taken a stand, so I don't think doctors are infallible!
Abby-Dabby-Doo
04-19-2007, 02:11 PM
Allebu-
Boy, I'm very hesitant to repy... I sure don't want to steer you wrong. I'm not a doctor and we've only been diagnosed for 3 months, so I'm by far NO EXPERT.
I'm glad you felt better by going out and purchasing the keytone sticks. You were really having a hard time waiting to test your son. I'm happy that your not seeing any color change on the stick. If you were seeing color changes you should immediately be in contact with his doctor or the ER.
BUT like someone else already said, the keytone test is not a 100% test for diabetes. I would definitely follow up with the doctor and have some tests done~ either way to find out what's going on for sure. We had a blood and urine test to confirm our diagnoses.
Keep breathing in and out, you'll get this figured out.
I'll be thinking of you! Keep us informed.
allebu
04-19-2007, 02:14 PM
Just heard back from the doctor...
He basically wants us to keep an eye on Ryan and call if we notice that he becomes fatigued. I guess the rational behind the urine dip was that if his blood glucose was elevated it would be spilling into the urine and therefore would be detectable by the dipstick and if it's totally negative, then there's not high enough levels of glucose in his blood to spill over and therefore likely not diabetic.
Colinsmom
04-19-2007, 02:30 PM
I am just a lttle confused by your Drs logic. Maybe I am missing something.
My diabetic son almost never has ketones, and he was not in DKA, nor did the stick turn colors, when he was diagnosed. Yet his A1C was 10.1.
I hope you find the answers you are looking for. We are all here for you and know just how frustrating this can be.:confused:
gsmom
04-19-2007, 03:50 PM
My daughter's dx was just the opposite of Gayle's little ones. Her A1c was a 7.4 & when they dipped her urine it shot right up. The reason I'm pointing this out, EVERY CASE IS DIFFERENT! It may very well be something else, but you'll find here that we err on the side of being sure simply because we all know how quickly this thing can change a child with little/no symptoms to being VERY, VERY sick.
Keep us updated!
allebu
04-19-2007, 04:32 PM
Gayle - was the stick just for ketones or ketones and glucose? The ones he gave me were just for glucose, but the ones I bought were for both. None of the squares on either stick changed color.
The ketodiastix test for both ketones and sugar (glucose) in the urine. It sounds as if your son was negative on both counts. That is great news!!
The frequent urination and thirstiness were basically the only 2 symptoms that my son showed prior to diagnosis. Unfortunately, both of those symptoms are so relative and not easily quantified. I really hope that this is just a case of your son loving his soy milk just a bit too much! Keep a close eye on him while you try to limit the amount that he drinks. It is good that he will be monitored by you as well as the doctor.
Colinsmom
04-19-2007, 05:16 PM
They were for ketones and glucose.
Dont get me wrong- I sure hope it IS just a case of the soy milk being really yummy!
Keep us updated- we will be thinking good thoughts for you
yeswe'rebothD
04-19-2007, 08:09 PM
another case here of no ketones upon diagnosis. Dd's sugar was 453 in the hospital, and I can honestly say that even earlier in the day she hadn't shown symptoms. We had been watching her for a year and a half, and it settled down for a long time. Then two weeks after her baby sister got chicken pox, one Saturday evening we were driving home and she had to pee 3 times in 90 minutes. She did not have to go with that frequency and urgency earlier in the day.
Like Jodi said, every case is different. Please be vigilant in watching!
deafmack
04-20-2007, 06:18 AM
I'm still waiting to hear back from them, but he thought that it was possible that since he's getting a molar in, he's eating less and therefore drinking more.
Am I correct, though, that since the dipstick was negative for glucose, it's 100% not diabetes? He'd have to have glucose in his urine for him to have diabetes, right?
wrong you do not have glucose in your urine to have diabetes. Diabetes is diagnosed with the following numbers
200 with symptoms and a random blood glucose test
126 or above fasting on two different occasions
200 or above 2 hours after ingesting 75 grams of an oral glucose solution.
Glucose will not show up in urine till a person's blood sugar are over 200