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I have convinced myself DS(2.11) has diabetes. What do you think?

13 replies

ilovetosleep · 26/05/2014 10:05

I can't see GP fill at least tomorrow but will definitely take him.

Will start by saying I h e ds2 who is 6 weeks and I tend to suffer with extreme health anxieties after the birth of a baby. But I still can't dismiss my fears.

DS smells sweet. But I think he always has- at least it's not a recent thing. It's mainly his sweat, when he's in bed. not really any other time.

He seems to have lost weight but was v chubby before, maybe he's just slimmed down and shot up.

He has recurrent itchy penis, treated with canesten so presumably yeast. But again, this has been going on well over a year. Maybe 18months.

He does not have an increased thirst (at least not out of line with the warm weather/increased exercise) but he does have very very wet napped in the morning, the last 2 days they have leaked. He's dry during the day and urine output has not increased.

He has something wrong with one of his eyes, he just rubs it loads as it it's istht but when I ask him be days it doesn't hurt.

He says he's always tired but isn't lethargic if that makes sense. I wonder if its a reaction to new baby an everyone always saying 'oh e must be tired' etc etc. same goes for hunger - always saying he's hungry but goes without if we can distract him well enough.

He has dry skin, small patches of excema that have increased recently but DH has severe eczema so we put it down to hereditary skin problems.

So all of these things are relatively minor in themselves but when I googled the sweet sweat out of curiosity, it turns out all of these things can be diabetes symptoms. Am I just going crazy? Surely he'd be unwell? He's fine in himself, happy enough and acting normally.

Does anyone here have experience of a toddler with diabetes and what do you make of all this

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
lougle · 26/05/2014 10:20

To be honest, it doesn't sound remotely like diabetes and once diabetes develops children tend to reach a discernable crisis point where it is obvious without doubt that they are ill.

You can still take him to the GP, but on the strength of your post, I wouldn't be worrying about having a toddler with diabetes.

ThisIsYourSong · 26/05/2014 10:20

I read about baby diabetes and mildly suspected my baby might have it, I honestly can't remember how old he was at the time. Anyway I asked my GP when we were in for something else and she said (contrary to what I had read) that if he had it, he would have been sick enough for it to be obvious there was something seriously wrong with him.

Anyway she ran the test anyway as they were testing for something else, I think it was a urine sample although I can't be sure.

Sorry about the lack of clarity but hope that helps.

Viviennemary · 26/05/2014 10:22

I agree. It definitely doesn't sound like diabetes to me. I'd still take him to the GP if you are worried.

TarkaTheOtter · 26/05/2014 10:25

I'm pretty sure excessive thirst is almost always present. Your body can't convert the sugar you are consuming so your body craves water to flush it out instead.

hedwig2001 · 26/05/2014 10:26

If you do go to see gp, take a sample of his urine in a very clean jar/pot.

Ludways · 26/05/2014 10:27

My DSis is diabetic, when she first got ill there was no "maybe", she dramatically lost weight and would drink whole bottles of lemonade in a very short space of time.

My dd has sweet smelling urine and I have tested her for sugar due to the link with my DSis but she's not diabetic.

If you have doubts take some of his urine to the doctors to be tested or get some sticks off eBay.

Tangarine · 26/05/2014 10:33

This link has a list of symptoms, and I can see why you are worried that your DS may have diabetes.

My DS was waking in the night screaming for water before he was diagnosed. He also went back to bedwetting at the same time (after over 2 years dry) and lost significant amounts of weight. By the time we got a diagnosis he was very poorly indeed (I had taken him to the GP about the bedwetting, who shrugged off the symptoms, and it had gone on for another 10 days). I suggest you ask the GP for a finger-prick test (not a urine test) to put your mind at rest.

Antidote · 26/05/2014 10:39

Another no from me. All sounds very normal, a constellation of minor bits and bobs which your anxiety is escalating.

Managing health anxiety is difficult. Are you being treated?

I would suggest not taking urine samples to the GP, and certainly not buying urine sticks on eBay as these things might well increase your anxiety. Imagine if the GP says everything is fine but a week later you do a test just on case and it come back weakly positive (for a completely non sinister reason like a bit of chocolate on a finger etc). Then you'll be back to the GP again with more anxiety.

Why not try to manage your acknowledged anxiety by making an appointment for next Monday instead?

ilovetosleep · 26/05/2014 10:45

Thanks so much for the instant reassurance. I'm sure you're right and the logical part of my brain knows it but I still feel anxious. I need to take him to doc for excema cream anyway so might try and get a wee sample.

Thanks again

OP posts:
ilovetosleep · 26/05/2014 10:47

And yes I should treat myself, I was on sertraline post ds1 and am likely to do the same this time too. Thankfully have supportive gp who will acknowledge my concerns genuinely but sensibly alongside my anxiety.

OP posts:
LtGreggs · 26/05/2014 10:54

Could possibly be hayfever - if the tiredness & eye rubbing has come on over the last few weeks. My DS1 has had hayfever since 2.5. It's not always accompanied by streaming nose etc - can be more of a 'hangover' type feeling, and child looks under the weather and tireder / less stamina than usual.

Ludways · 27/05/2014 00:35

Gosh yes, if you're really over anxious about his health, then don't get sticks off eBay, they could send you doolally. I'm very laid back and the ones DSis gave me have just sat in the cupboard for ages now.

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 02/06/2014 11:00

I don't think there's anything wrong with your son but I think you need treatment for anxiety.

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