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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

Looks like 16 yr old DS3 has diabetes - any advice for mears?

46 replies

mears · 22/02/2007 20:24

My Ds3 has been complaining of increased thirst, peeing and lethargy over the last week to 10 days. I couldn't get an appointment at the GP so (naughty health professional that I am) I accessed a blood glucometer and urine sticks to find that his blood glucose is 23.7 and his urine in loaded with glucose and ketones.

The dliemma ofcourse is that GP is closed and I need to wait till the morning to phone. Since I am a midwife I am not sure of what will happen next. Will he need immediate referreal and inpatient assessment? We are supposed to be going to Fife for the weekend so I suppose that is out. Am concerned that nothing much would be done over a weekend so might be better to go away for weekend and get sorted from Monday. If I hadn't tested him we wouldn't know. Thing is we do know so should be getting something done.

Any experience out there?

OP posts:

Report

ScottishThistle · 22/02/2007 20:27

I'd go to Casualty if you're worried about not getting to the GP for a few days!

My Sister's Diabetic & my Brother's Girlfriend also been recently diagnosed at 25!

ScottishThistle · 22/02/2007 20:28

Incidently where in Fife, that's my homeland!

mears · 22/02/2007 20:34

Going to Burntisland.

I will definitely get GP in the morning - just not sure how it will be managed.

OP posts:

ScottishThistle · 22/02/2007 20:38

He'll most most probably be referred straight away to the hospital for diagnosis...Try not to worry too much, Diabetes is much more manageable these days than it was 30yrs ago.

I'm from Dunfermline!...Enjoy Burntisland!

mears · 22/02/2007 20:51

Won't get to Burntisland if Ds3 is in hospital though He is more important though. I love Fife I have to say.

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ScottishThistle · 22/02/2007 20:54

Depending on his diagnosis, you may find he's not kept in for long...I'll be thinking of you...Let us know how it goes Mears.

mears · 22/02/2007 21:00

Will do. Thanks.

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Olihan · 22/02/2007 21:03

Mears, my friend was diagnosed with this last year. The docs did the blood and glucose tests and referred him straight to hospital. He was in for a few days, mainly until they'd done all the in depth checks and he'd learned to inject his insulin. HTH

mears · 22/02/2007 21:06

Thanks Olihan. I am sure that is what will happen really. DD is so looking forwrad to party though that I hoped it might be deferred for 2 days. Stupid really.

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tortoiseSHELL · 22/02/2007 21:07

no advice mears, just wanted to send you a (((hug)))

MynamesMikeIswimlikeafish · 22/02/2007 21:10

Sorry to hear this mears.

Bugsy2 · 22/02/2007 22:10

Sorry to hear this Mears. If you have no other emergency access, go to A&E. That sugar level is horribly high. He must be feeling awful.
I don't know if this is helpful, but my mother has been diabetic (Type 1, injecting kind) for the past 38 years & she is in her 70s & going strong.
Hope it all gets sorted out soon.

Millie1 · 22/02/2007 22:34

Sorry to hear this Mears. My DS (age 3) was just diagnosed around 5-6 weeks ago. We spent a week in hospital and I would imagine your son will be in for a few days until they get him stablised (assuming he is type 1). We mostly spent the time getting his blood sugars down (he was high twenties, I think, on admission), getting him stablised on correct insulin dose and then learning how do tests/inject etc ourselves. It's a lot to get to grips with.

Please don't leave him until after the weekend - he could become quite ill in the meantime if his sugars keep rising. The medical staff told us that we had caught DS quite early, most children are pretty ill when they come in. Please go to your GP in the morning - or else straight to hospital.

I hope you get sorted out soon. Keep in touch and let us know how he gets on.

mears · 23/02/2007 03:04

Well I thought I'd let you know I am just back fron hospital where I should have gone this afternoon (stupid cow).

At 10.20pm I decided to call a friend of mine who is a paediatric nurse. DS3 was perky enough but still feeling pretty dry. She said she felt he should go into hospital but she offered to phone the paediatric registrar she knew who was oncall. Paediatric registrar agreed he should be seen tonight but needed to find out whether it should be paediatician or adult physician. She phoned paediatric consultant who said he definitely needed seen but by adult physician as he was at cutoff age for paediatric review. They phoned A&E and said we were coming up.

When we arrives, DS3's blood sugar was 32.2! He was also mildly acidotic. He got bloods taken off and was given 2 litres of fluid rapidly. He was also given a dose of insulin. He has been transferred to the ward and will be on a glucose/potassium/insulin infusion overnight.

He'll be seen by consultant tomorrow hopefully and will start insulin injections. Will probably be in hospital tomorrow and possibly out Saturday.

Can't believe I was so stupid to leave it but thank goodness we went in tonight. This will be a huge learning curve for us all. DS seemed happy enough when we left although he is not looking forward to the blood checking and insulin injections.

Can't believe it really. It could be worse though...

OP posts:

Califrau · 23/02/2007 03:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PollyLogos · 23/02/2007 05:08

What a good job you took him in mears. Especially if he had gone to a party and been drinking - I think it could have got much worse.

I think spidermama has a lot of experiance with type 1 diabetes.

Hope the fluids and insulin leave him feeling better this morning.

Saggarmakersbottomknocker · 23/02/2007 08:34

Glad you got him seen mears. How's he feeling about it all?

Jimjams2 · 23/02/2007 08:45

Hi Mears

Just been having a conversation with some diabetes researchers this week. I was sent a very interesting review by one of them. Let me know if you want me to email it to you.

Millie1 · 23/02/2007 10:11

So glad you took him in Mears and that he's getting sorted out. The night our DS was diagnosed, his reading was 20.2 and I insisted in keeping him home overnight (GP didn't argue) - he was much higher in the morning and the registrar gave me a good telling off. How was I to know!

It'll be a huge change for your family, DS in particular.

I started a thread a while back (further down the page) and have had some great advice from Tangerine, Paddyclamp & Spidermama. Hopefully they'll spot your thread too.

Good luck for the next few days.

JimJams - I hope you don't mind me asking but would the research you refer to be of interest to Mums of other diabetic children - I'd love to see it if possibe? If I'm putting you in an awkward position, just say the word and no worries. Thanks!

mears · 23/02/2007 11:27

Thanks Jimjams - have just sent you a CAT e-mail. Hopsital have just phoned to ask us to go up to speak to the consultant. Will report back later

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motherinferior · 23/02/2007 11:31

Mears, Hoxtonchick has had diabetes since her late teens, I think. She's on holiday this week but I have her email.

suedonim · 23/02/2007 13:58

Flipping heck, Mears, that's scary. I didn't know it could come on so suddenly.

Dd1's flatmate is diabetic; she has some sort of continuous insulin feed which makes her life much more 'normal'. I'm glad ds is in safe hands and hope he feels back to his old self soon.

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noddyholder · 23/02/2007 14:02

Thank goodness you took him in and had those contacts.I hope he gets sorted soon spidermamas ds has diabetes so she will be able to give you loads of info xx

Spidermama · 23/02/2007 14:06

Hi Mears. I'm really sorry to hear about this. You'll be feeling a bit shakey for a while I'm sure. Your medical training will stand you in good stead though.

My ds, who's 7, was dxd just over a year ago and his blood sugar was so high it was off the scales and the monitor just read 'HI'.

He's on mixed insulin now but there are all sorts of options I'm looking into.

There are a handful of mums of diabetics as well as a couple of diabetic mums. (Hi Millie). There's also a very good email group I've recently joined which has been a Godsend so far.

I don't want to bombard you with stuff at the moment as you have quite a bit to get your head around but I'm really sorry to hear about your ds and if you ever want to CAT me you are very welcome.

Love Spider. xxx

Spidermama · 23/02/2007 14:06

Hi noddy. X posts.

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