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Children's health

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Original poster

Worried about my thirsty son

42 replies

Notjustuser1458393875 · 26/02/2017 21:57

Maybe I should put this on the diabetes board but there doesn't seem to be much traffic.

My son is 4 and for the past week or so has been complaining of very frequent thirst. It's not like him really. He doesn't drink enormous quantities but he asks for water often, and today he woke us up to ask for a drink and went to bed after drinking two cups down in succession.

I am aware that unusual thirst can be a symptom of diabetes but also that it is usually excessive, and I don't think he's drinking enormous quantities. He's been keen for early bed recently too but has been getting up early, and I don't think he has any other symptoms.

I am taking him to the GP but I wondered whether any other posters have had 'thirsty' children and whether there are any other possible causes?

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iamapixiebutnotaniceone · 26/02/2017 22:01

Does he have any other symptoms at all? One of my daughters is your sons age and has to be tested fairly regularly as she gets very thirsty etc but we have Type 1 in both mine and her Dads family.
I don't really have any advice other than to get him to the GP for tests and be aware of other symptoms to look for x

Original poster

Notjustuser1458393875 · 26/02/2017 22:09

I don't think he fits any other symptoms, no, although this thirst is quite new in itself. His appetite is always a bit up and down and he's on the skinny side but I don't think either is worse than normal.

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Original poster

Notjustuser1458393875 · 26/02/2017 22:09

I hope your daughter stays nice and healthy, if thirsty!

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Flyingprettycretonnecurtains · 26/02/2017 22:28

Is he weeing a lot? Does he seem to have lost weight? My son didn't ever drink much. I knew something was up when we went shopping and he started begging for a drink when we got out of the car, we had to find a loo and he was very tired. We had two incodence of wet beds.

Flyingprettycretonnecurtains · 26/02/2017 22:29

If he feels sick and gets a bad headache alongside the thirst and weeing and chronic tiredness then get him to hosp.

GruffaloPants · 26/02/2017 22:43

When are you going to the GP? If it isn't Monday, I'd call them for advice.

I'm diabetic, thirst was my first symptom, followed by tiredness. By the time other symptoms started emerging I was dangerously ill. I was an adult - don't hesitate to get your son checked out,

Original poster

Notjustuser1458393875 · 26/02/2017 22:49

I'm going to make an appointment for tomorrow. Thanks, all, for the advice. At the moment the thirst is the only really striking thing. He is the most sugar-crazed of my children which worries me, even though I know there's no link to T1. (While passionate in his desires, his actual intake is limited.)

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BarbarianMum · 27/02/2017 12:58

Just popping in to say yes- straight to the doctor for a blood test (which hopefully you've done by now).

If not T1 then look at things like is he overheating at night.

Original poster

Notjustuser1458393875 · 27/02/2017 13:08

Well, I went to the GP and he's been referred for blood tests. But the GP talked utter rubbish so it was a bit frustrating. I guess the blood results are what matters. It worries me though that GPs can be so wrong about diabetes.

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BarbarianMum · 27/02/2017 13:14

I don't want to worry you but when is he due to have this blood test? I'm not quite clear why the GP didn't do it then and there (did he test his urine) but if he has T1 then he could deteriorate very quickly. If the thirst is on going and if the GP didn't inspire confidence and if you have to wait days then I would strongly consider a second opinion/a&e (and I never say that).

Ilovewillow · 27/02/2017 13:34

My son presented these symptoms last yr as well as seeing a lot. Our GP did a prick test and sent him straight to the hospital for tests as she was sure he was diabetic. They did a lot of tests at the hospital and could find nothing and suggested it was just a "phase". It does seem to have been. My point is that they took it very seriously and didn't delay so please either make sure they refer quickly or I would call 111. Hope it turns out to be nothing.

Original poster

Notjustuser1458393875 · 27/02/2017 14:09

GP said he was too little to do blood tests there, or a prick test, so they need to be done at the hospital, and be fasting, so we'll take him tomorrow. No urine test. He fell asleep in the car both ways on the journey to the GP this morning which is a bit weird, but otherwise is chirpy enough.

I've got a BGM and a few test strips lying around from when I had GD so I might see if I can get a reading from him tonight on that.

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sleepy16 · 27/02/2017 14:29

My daughter was tested at 3 (by skin prick test) because she had infections in both of her feet which the doctor said was common in undiagnosed diabetes.
Luckily it wasn't, I really can not under why the doctor couldnt do the same at your sons age.

Original poster

Notjustuser1458393875 · 27/02/2017 14:32

She was a big crap really. She said things like it was unlikely he has T1 because they'd normal have diagnosed it by his age.

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Original poster

Notjustuser1458393875 · 27/02/2017 14:33

Ha. Bit crap not big crap.

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Sandsnake · 27/02/2017 14:43

Wow, that's bollocks! T1 can develop much later than four and people are regularly well
into childhood before they are diagnosed - DH was 10. I'd be quite worried about the GP's lack of knowledge (as you obviously are). Hope all goes well with the blood test OP and fingers crossed that your DS is just going through a phase.

Original poster

Notjustuser1458393875 · 27/02/2017 14:46

Thanks. She also told me that almost everyone with T1 inherits it from a parent and laughed when I said I have an HBA1C annually after having GD because of my raised risk of T2 as 'that seems completely unnecessary'.

Hopefully he will be fine but if the results are bad then I will be going elsewhere in the group practice!

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Skatingonthinice16 · 27/02/2017 14:53

Really?? That's not good.
My dad is type 1 and so am I but prior to my dad there was no one else with diabetes and I know a number of type 1s with no link to a family member who has diabetes.
It is believed genetics is only part of what causes diabetes. They don't really know... there are other factors too.

Original poster

Notjustuser1458393875 · 27/02/2017 14:54

I knew more just from reading the Diabetes UK website.

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PuntCuffin · 27/02/2017 15:12

I had a boyfriend who I diagnosed with T1 diabetes in his early 30s which is unusually late but not completely unheard of. He wouldn't believe me (I'm a mere vet, how would I recognise it ) until he collapsed and ended up really, really ill. So age 4 is well within range.

In his case, there were no family members who had it, but he had been really stressed with work, which probably triggered an autoimmune response.

Flyingprettycretonnecurtains · 27/02/2017 18:38

It amazes me how badly informed some doctors are. My son was eight when diagnosed. T1 is an autoimmune condition and he'd had a really horrible virus. Yes, there is a genetic predisposition in the family but the virus attacked his pancreas or rather his immune system did.

Could it be that your son is fighting off a bug. That would result in thirst and tiredness. The day my son was doagnosed, he had bloods of 30 yet was full of bounce and beans although had been poorly with sickness and headache the night before.

Original poster

Notjustuser1458393875 · 27/02/2017 19:11

There's scarlet fever at his nursery so I'm hoping that's possible.

I jabbed the poor boy with, ironically, promises of chocolate only to find that my monitor isn't working. So it remains a mystery and I'm now having unwelcome flashbacks to eternal BG testing. Fingers crossed we don't have to revisit those days.

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MollyHuaCha · 28/02/2017 09:10

Poor little boy. Hope you get answers soon

GruffaloPants · 28/02/2017 17:48

I hope things go well tomorrow. Sorry to hear your GP talked such utter rubbish. I'd consider writing to the practice manager if and when you have the energy. I'm amazed a GP could be so ignorant.

Freestyle make a meter that uses a sensor on the skin to test blood sugar - no finger pricks needed. I don't have one myself as you have to pay for the sensors but I'd get one for a child. Worth keeping in one just in case it turns out he does have T1.

RebootYourEngine · 28/02/2017 18:25

Whats wrong with the meter? Sometimes all it needs is the batteries to be removed for about 10/20 mins and it works fine.

My dn is type , diagnosed at an older age than your ds.

Remember the 4Ts
Toilet, thirst, tired, thinner.

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