Potentially Diabetic Child - Wait for Blood Tests?

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I can't work out if I should ask the GP to escalate this or not.

DC(3) saw a doctor yesterday who mentioned given the symptoms (frequent, urgent urination) and tested urine sample (with high level of ketones and absence of infection markers) that DC could potentially be diabetic and advised me to call this morning to arrange for a blood test as this is done at local hospitals. From our discussion and the evident high energy from DC, there's not an immediate concern of DC passing out or anything like that from their behaviour at the moment but something to watch out for. However, I've called for a test and the next one is in 3 weeks but was told it could be escalated through the normal GP with their advice they think it's necessary.

I'm trying to work out whether a 3 week wait to have the blood test undertaken in these circumstances is unreasonable or not? Surely a child shouldn't go 3 weeks with uncontrolled sugars if they are diabetic?

No, in these circumstances you shld have an immediate blood test. I’m amazed your gp didnt do a fingerprick check there and then if he / she had any clinical suspicion of diabetes. Children especially can deteriorate quickly. I would phone your gp and ask them for an immediate consultation today and a solid plan in place to get the bloods checked in next 24-48 hrs.

My childs levels were high he got rushed to hospital who did blood tests, turned out they were all high as he had an infection. It cleared on it's own and a week later he had to be retested and all his levels were fine. 3 weeks is a long time to wait.

No don't wait 3 weeks for a blood test. The GP should have been able to do a finger prick there and then! Definitely phone the GP back.

My sons finger prick tests (they did 3 different ones I think) and urine tests all pointed at diabetes. All high. which is why we were sent to hospital but he hasn't got it.

As above, urgent finger prick and urine sample, very quick and easy to do.

Finger pricks different to bloods they would have done the childs fingerprick tests. blood test shows if theres an infection which could make the fingerprick tests appear high.

Ketones by themselves aren't worrying, especially if his glucose isn't high but I would have expected the GP to do a glucose test there and then. High glucose and high ketones are dangerous. High ketones, normal glucose is fine.

If there are even moderate levels of ketones I would be going to a and e - high level is ambulance. I have diabetes. Not to cause you panic but high ketones is a sign of DKA which can cause brain damage aswell as death.

Did the urine test show raised sugar levels? My GP diagnosed my daughter with diabetes on the spot after a urine dip done in the surgery and sent us straight to the hospital, raised ketones on their own can be a sign of infection but coupled with raised sugars point to diabetes

Ketones on their own can be caused by dehydration. Most people have ketones on waking.

If you're at all concerned then go to A and E, undiagnosed Type1 diabetes can be extremely serious.

It was around 7.30pm, so I expect she was well hydrated as she'd drunk a large bottle of water at preschool and water and milk at home. The the urine wasn't dark, it didn't take her long to do the sample either. The frequency of urination is why I think he's thinking diabetes as we've gone from dry days and nights to multiple times very single day and night the last 5 days.

No finger prick test was done and I'm not sure if he tested sugar levels in the urine, I wasn't watching as he was speaking to me but showed the ketone stick to me. The blood test is definitely for the diabetes check, it's a fasting HAB1C amongst a few other checks.

Glucose would have shown up on the urine test strip. Had your child not been eating properly before the urine test? That can cause ketones to show in urine.

Not having glucose in urine doesn't rule out diabetes though. I have never had glucose in my urine.

Maybe he did check it? He suddenly (with his back turned) said "Ah. Does anyone in the family suffer with diabetes?" whilst looking at the strip. I have no idea what he could see but he showed me the ketones.

I'm going to try and bring it forwards, 3 weeks is so long!

I would email the GP and ask if they think a 3 week wait is appropriate given the circumstances. I would suspect not.

You sound clued up (not that everyone can be) so keep being cautious and dont feel A&E is ever alarmist if you are considering symptoms get worse

I have a child with type one diabetes. As others have said above, doctor would usually do a finger prick test there and then to check. The fasting HBA1C test you refer to is more likely to be used for type two diabetes in adults, not possible type one in a child. There isn't time to wait around. My child was running around the surgery like a lunatic - no visible sign he was unwell, just drinking more and weeing more. But his levels were dangerously high and we were sent straight to hospital and admitted for 3 days.
If you don't have any luck getting a finger prick test done, do you know anyone who is diabetic who would lend you their testing kit? Or worst case, you can buy them in Boots for not that much. A high result and I would go straight to A&E.
(If you've gone from being dry day and night to wetting through the night, I would want diabetes ruling out today. I hate to panic you but things can deteriorate very rapidly). Please keep us posted.

Obviously in the above, when I say you've gone from being dry day and night, I mean DC

I don't want to worry you but as a Type 1 diabetic of 49 years I would escalate the blood test.
If you have difficulty and meet with resistance, I would go to A&E
GPs are not specialists and it is surprising how many clinicians aren't up to speed with diabetes
Your DC needs to be diagnosed and with a specialist team as soon as possible
💐

I'm so frustrated, the doctor didn't want to worry me at the time and just said we'll run the blood tests and see, nothing definitive yet. I'm hoping that if he's not done some of the tests mentioned here or taken appropriate actions then it's a mistake but I'm definitely not taking that risk. It was an evening service not run by my surgery so my own surgery has said they can't go on the notes of another doctor, only their own apparently which makes me wonder why that service even exists if that's the case? Surely that doubles up the work?

I now need a new appointment over the phone to potentially bring the blood test forwards. I spoke to the receptionist and it was very "no appointments, soz" and I'll have to try them again tomorrow to see if I can get emergency phone consultation Hopefully I'll get one tomorrow and they can run the tests PPs have mentioned.

So either take her to A&E (uncontrolled diabetes is very much an emergency), borrow a test from someone, or buy your own test.

But I really wouldn't wait.

To be honest OP, if it was me I would phone 111 and get an out of hours appointment tonight or failing that present to A&E. No paediatrician worth their salt would turn you away in these circumstances. I remain staggered that the GP didn’t do a fingerprick test of blood sugar if they had even the slightest suspicion of diabetes. It is not standard practice at all in my experience.

You have received good advice on this thread and from lots of knowing parties. All being well diabetes will be very quickly ruled out but it really isn’t something that should be delayed because of lack of gp apppointments (not at all a criticism of you by the way).

I agree with @CovidStoleTheRainbow Please consider borrowing or buying a test rather than leaving it overnight and hoping for an appointment.
As I said earlier, my son was still rampaging round the doctors surgery like there was nothing wrong but actually he was very very unwell. If we'd left it another day, it could have had serious consequences.
Hopefully, it isn't type one diabetes at all, and we will all have worried you needlessly but I'd far rather that then tell you it will be fine, and it not be. Sounds to me like the doctor didn't really know enough about diabetes - so many don't :(

To be clear, you do NOT need to bring the promised full blood test forwards (as your surgery seem to be saying), you just need to get DC a simple fingerprick test. It can be done at home if you can get hold of a fingerpricker and a meter and it's very straightforward (we were doing 10-12 of them a day in the early days after diagnosis).

Some pharmacies will do them.

Passing GP here. I would go to A and E tonight for at least a fingerprick blood glucose. Take a repeat urine if you can. New diabetes in children is usually type 1 and can quickly develop into ketoacidosis which can be very dangerous. This would show as ketones in the urine. Children can seem well even when they are becoming very unwell.
Most urine dipsticks show glucose too though. If the glucose in the urine was negative then diabetes would be unlikely. You can also get ketones if unwell / vomiting / not eating.
Get checked tonight and let us know how you get on.