DD drinking lots and lots of wee

[RidingMyBike]

DD (21 mo) has started drinking lots in the last week or so - draining her water bottle when we're out and getting grumpy if she hasn't had a drink for a bit. We normally have a cup or bottle around all the time so she can access it when she wants, same with nursery.

There have also been epic quantities of wee in the last week or so (losing track a bit of when this started). She had been dry at night most nights for a few months but now I find her in the morning with nappy soaked through, PJs wet and sleeping bag wet.

Any ideas what could cause this? I'm worried about diabetes (no family history on either side, although I did have gestational diabetes put of the blue.

Have booked a GP appt for her but it isn't for another nine days!

Oops the thread title makes it look like she's drinking wee...

I think you need an emergency appointment with this if possible or walk in centre. It could be diabetes and if so, shouldn't wait 9 days.

I also thinks she needs to be seen much sooner, out of hours?

You don't need a family history to develop type one diabetes. I would get an urgent on the day appointment to check.

Other symptoms to look out for are tiredness, weight loss, waking in the night to drink/wee, breath that smells like pear drops

Thanks people - I can try and get a same day GP appt tomorrow. It's one of those nightmare ring at 8 and keep trying until you get thru situations - and by 8 I'll be on my way to work 45 mins away and she'll be at nursery. The walk in centre won't see under-twos so isn't an option.

How do they test for diabetes in a toddler? I had sugar in my wee at 31 weeks pregnant so had to do the glucose tolerance test for GD but that wouldn't be feasible for a small child?

No other symptoms - normal happy soul, usual amount of sleep/naps, not night waking. Eating same as usual. No idea about weight loss, so many of the baby clinics have shut around here she's only been weighed once since she was 12 months. She's growing out of clothes still though.

Haven't smelt pear drops on her breath either

Maybe take a wee sample if you can get it to the GP?
We had a similar situation with my DD and GP put a stick in her wee sample and basically said nope it's not diabetes.
So even if you can't see a Gp you may be able to get them to test a sample.
But it is urgent as children with diabetes can deteriorate quickly and 9 days is too long to wait x

We got a wee sample from my boy about that age by chasing him about the room trying to catch his wee. And that was at the hospital when he had a suspected urine infection lol

I don't want to scare you, but by the time you'd smell pear drops she'd be really, really sick - dangerously so. She needs a same day appointment even if you have to sack off work and take her to the surgery in person to make that same day appointment.

You can get a urine collection kit that goes in the nappy. The Dr's surgery receptionist should be able to give you one.

They'll dip the urine and if it has glucose in they'll need a blood test.

If you take her water bottle away does she get distressed and ask for it? Or is she just drinking because it's there and she likes it? If it's the former then get her seen ASAP.

Type 1 diabetic here, I really don't want to sound alarmist but please take your dd to a&e asap. Children who become T1 can develop diabetic ketoacidocis very quickly, it is very dangerous and can be fatal, the test to ascertain this is so quick and simple. The four It's for T1 are: tired, thirsty, toilet, tired. I collapsed and ended up in critical care in a coma, as I just thought I had a virus. Please get her checked immediately.

Tired, thirsty, toilet, thin, that should be!

A quick finger prick test to check her blood glucose levels is all they need to do. If these are high then they will do another finger prick test to check her blood for ketones. It will take less than a minute.

They can do a finger prick if necessary.

After 9 days of diabetic symptons I was in the hospital andmy kidneys starting to fail. Get your child to a gp or if not possible a&e today. Whatever necessary. A fingerprick costs next to nothing and takes seconds.

Have got her a GP appt for this afternoon.

Nappy was dry when I went into her this morning though. She has at times been desperate for a drink but then sometimes not that interested - some mornings first thing she refuses a breastfeed and/or some water, some mornings very enthusiastic!

Hopefully she's ok bit you are doing the right thing getting her checked today.

Hope your dd is OK.

Also hoping you got on ok !

Thank you. The GP thought she was looking quite perky but wanted to test her urine to be on the safe side. So she's asleep with cotton wool in her nappy which I need to squeeze into a tiny bottle tomorrow and drop off at the surgery. GP will test and then give me a ring!

All OK- GP rang to say the urine sample was fine. Apparently a blood test would be the 'gold standard' to check but she'd rather avoid it for a toddler and there are no other signs anything's wrong.

Good news!

Phew!