Questions for parents of type 1 diabetic children - am I doing the 2+2 = 5 thing over 3yo dd2?

[TigerFeet]

I'm just casting out some feelers as I can't get an appointment with our GP for a non emergency until early next week. I don't usually overreact wrt my dc's health but am wondering if I am in this instance...

dd2 is 3.6, and usually a very active typical 3yo. She was reliably dry during the day from about age 2.8ish, but since around Christmas time (she was 3.3 then) she's been wetting her pants again, often several times a day. At one point the urine seemed quite strong smelling so I took a sample to the GP, dip test was negative for infection. So - Q1 - would the dip test have picked up ++glucose in the sample or is it specific to infection markers?

We recently moved house so I put it down to that but she's showing no signs of improvement. Today, for example, she'd soaked through her night time pullups (she's never been dry at night but have not been concerned due to her age), had a wee at 8am before taking dd1 to school, had another wee at 10am when we arrived at a friend's house, another at 11am before leaving friend's house, then wet herself in the car on the way home, another wee at 12.30. She hasn't drunk much this morning really... a small bottle of squash and a half finished cup of milk with breakfast.

Also she often complains of being tired and has bags under her eyes, and has occasional stomach pains which I understand can also be symptoms.

What she doesn't have is excessive thirst or pear drop breath.

Q2 is obviously - should I be concerned or not? Wait for a routine GP appt to set my mind at rest or insist on an emergency appt today or tomorrow?

We're hypervigilant of symptoms of diabetes as DH has been type 1 diabetic for 30+ years, diagnosed age 10. He was diagnosed after falling into a coma :( but thankfully is well controlled and leads an entirely normal life (well he has other issues but these are not diabetes related so not relevant here).

I have considered doing a finger prick test with dh's BM meter but I don't want to traumatise the poor child unnecessarily.

Final Q - what was it that raised the alarm for you wrt your child's health? How was your child diagnosed? What happened next?

Thanks for reading, tis a bit of a brain dump I know.

Bump before school run

I am GOOGLING and that is BAD

I don't have a child with diabetes but like your DH i've had type 1 since i was a child ... i regularly do finger pricks on my kids as i'm pretty paranoid if they show any signs ... when they were younger i used to do it when they were asleep!

Worst case is she has type 1 and you'll have picked it up early ... best case is she is fine and you will be re-assured!

Urine dipstick would most likely have picked up glucose if there was any. The most basic sticks all test for sugar.

Personally I would insist on an appointment tomorrow. Don't wait on the possibility of a diabetic emergency. At best it's a urine infection, at worst it certainly could be diabetes. Either way, she deserves to be seen and sorted as soon as possible. Agree that in your circumstances I would do the fingerprick when she is asleep. By the time she wakes, the discomfort will be over and you may have your answer.

From what i can remember about my diagnosis i was EXTREMELY thirsty ... i would have drunk the bath water it was that bad! Was very tired too, so bad that once i'd got ready for school i barely had the energy to do anything else.

Hi. My brother had diabetes so I am also hyper vigilant.

I really,really doubt she has diabetes without the thirst symptom. I would say some urinary issue perhaps.

Maybe get it checked . I feel your pain. I know what it is like to live with that shadow over you.

The dipstick would definitely have tested for glucose as they are all on the one stick. What I'm not sure about is if you can have high blood sugar and normal glucose in urine. I would think if she was diabetic something would show in the urine but best check this with GP.

I had a child tested for diabetes .
Go said the urine is not a certainty.

As in you may not have sugar in the urine but still be diabetic . He said the blood test was necessary to be conclusive.
My Ds had a test where they took blood every hour after a sugary drink.

He tested negative,one of the best days of my life.

Sorry,that should say the GP said!

Just do the finger prick test and you will know immediately.

thanks so much for replying. I will do the finger prick test whilst she's asleep. Should have thought of that myself really. wish me luck...

My dd2 (3.4) has type 1 diabetes, she was diagnosed in december, had been ill for a few wks with infections etc. She was thin and had stomach pains and what we thought was a uti.

Glucose kept showing up in urine samples but it was repeatedly dismissed as 'contamination'.
Finally the gp did a finger prick test it was 25 and by time we got to hosp it was up to 32.

If I were you I would just do the test, she may not even feel it if you do it when she's asleep.

Good luck

Just put the finger pricker on the lowest setting and use a new lancet ... she honestly won't even feel it

I will second that about not feeling ot when asleep. Dd2 sleeps through it all the time (as did ds1 recently when I checked his).

Hope your dd is ok.

and relax...

her bm is 5.0, couldn't ask for better

she didn't notice a thing

I'm extremely relieved, I think there may be something going on but at least I know it's deffo not diabetes

thank you all for taking the time to reply and for pointing out the obvious solution.

So glad your dd blood sugar was ok, you must be really relieved.

Might still be worth a visit to gp just to see what is causing her symptoms, hope she is feeling better soon.

Oh my god,delighted for you. Great news.

Yay! But still get that appointment!