My son may have diabetes also!

[Kris4]

My 5 year old daughter was diagnosed 2 years ago at the age of 3. Feb.'06.
My 3 year old son has been having symptoms for about 3 weeks now. I was in complete denial at first. He just kept begging for water. Then he started wetting the bed at night. I got my husband to check his blood sugar about 2 weeks ago. I couldn't even look at the meter! His blood sugar was 170. I thought, ok, not bad, could be just a fluke, right? Well, the symptoms continued. I started checking his blood sugar before and after meals. He has ranged in between 80 and 190, with no pattern whatsoever. Sometimes he will be in the 160's in the middle of the afternoon, having not eaten for hours. My daughter was so, so sick when we finally got a doctor to listen to us. Her bg was 625 when we were finally referred to a children's hospital ER. She was in severe DKA. It was a horrible experience. So, this time I took my son to our primary care doctor, so we could get a referral to the endocrinologist that my daughter sees. They did no tests in the office, so I know nothing more than I did before. So, now we have to just wait for this referral to go through. It is torture. I have this gut feeling he has it. What else could it be? Having blood sugar in the 190's is not normal, right? I have been so angry. Then I cry, because I get so overwhelmed with thinking that we might have to walk through all this over again. I hate to see my children sick. It kills me. I pray and pray that God will take it away. His symptoms are really strange, though. Sometimes he will be drinking and drinking water but when I check him he is only 80, which, of course, is totally normal. Other times I check and he is 190. Like today he was crying and saying he felt bad and had a headache. So, I checked and he was 167. I was wondering if these blood sugars are high enough to give him such obvious symptoms. Does anyone know? I feel a little ignorant about the onset of diabetes. My daughter was so sick for months, then all of sudden they told us she had type 1 diabetes. This time it is like I am watching it all in slow motion. Recognizing the symptoms, yet hoping it is something entirely different. Or that the symptoms will just go away. I know the onset is different for everyone. Is it normal for the pancreas to give out slowly? It is like his pancreas is working, but not enough. I know there is honeymooning faze. (My daughter's just ended a few months ago!) I am so thankful for you guys! No one else around me seems to understand the detestation that I feel that another one of my children may have this disease.

[Judy&Alli]

Hi Kris,
Can you get an A1c for him? Maybe a c-peptide too. Could he possibly be coming down with some kind of infection that would cause his blood sugars to fluctuate? I hope and pray that it is something more minor than d. Hugs and prayers to you and your family!!!!!!!!!!! Keep us posted.
God Bless!
Judy

[saxmaniac]

If this were to happen to me, I would go straight to our endo's office and bang on the desk until someone saw us. Appointment, referral, or not, I wouldn't care. I'd pay out of pocket to catch it earlier.

[Heather(CA)]

If it was my child, I would take him to the ER...The little ones can go down hill fast once they get to that point...I'm so sorry, I believe those numbers are high enough for a dx'd. Take him to the ER, they will test him...Do you love your Ped? I think they should have done SOMETHING at the office, at least sent him for blood work I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think you should wait...

[MamaC]

Kris,

For all your sakes, I hope he dodges diabetes.

Here's a thought - if he's "sick" it will pass. Of course he can (and most likely will) always get sick again. On the other hand, if he's diabetic, he'll soon be a heathy kid who happens to have diabetes. Like his sister. And like all kids, they will both get sick once in a while.

I have two overall healthy kids. One has a chronic, lifelong disease and when she's a little (or a lot) less careful about what she eats, she gets sick. And there's no medicine that can help. Then she gets beter. The other has a chronic lifelong disease, is careful but not obsessive about what he eats, and he takes medicine to keep him alive. Sometimes he gets sick, and then he gets better. But they are both overall healthy, as your kids will be!

That was my Sunnybrook Farm interpretation. Bit of a soda buzz here When I get back into my real personality, I'm the first to say, "Diabetes sucks!"

Becky

[tjirvin314]

I have had the same thoughts about my other 2 kids, when they have drank alot of water and wet throught diapers, as I never had a child wet through diapers until Madi was diagnosed.

Anyhow, I was wondering if you had checked his ketones either by urine strips or by the precision xtra meter??
THis may give you some insight into whether or not his condition is emergent, and prevent DKA if he is diabetic.
My prayers are with you,
Trish

[Heather(CA)]

How long to get in to the Endo? If it's really soon, you can probably wait, but if it's going to be a while...ER will get you in sooner

Testing for keytones, excellent idea!!

[CC'sMom]

((HUGS)) Kris! Saying a prayer for you and your little one.

[wilf]

Very sorry to read about what is happening.

Your son's syptoms are unfortunately classic for the period before diagnosis of Type 1D. Like you I pray that it turns out not to be the case, and there may be other explanations - but you have to go by what you're seeing.

The higher numbers, while not too bad for a child with diabetes, are very high for a child without.. Normal range for a healthy person is 70 to 120.

You need to get him in to be checked for Type 1 D sooner rather than later (ie. asap this week). In the meantime, make sure he's drinking plenty of water (not pop or juice) and try to keep to healthy foods (no sweets or junk foods) to not stress his system unduly.

[Momof4gr8kids]

Normal lab ranges for fasting which is considered no food for 4 hrs is 60-100. Home meters are not considered adiquate to dx diabetes unless you are talking way above 200 and even then doctors put it off because it is in a non controlled setting, and there are a lot of what if factors ect...

I know there are a lot of us that would want to be seen, but honestly your child does not meet the bg requirements yet for D so even if you were able to see an endo it probably wouldn't do much good.

Just keep watching like you have been and trust your instincts.
Take care, and please keep us updated. Jamie