Diabetes?!

[MasonsMummy1997]

Hi, I’m new to this so forgive me if I’ve posted to the wrong thread.

Recently on Facebook (social media 🙄) a lady shared that her daughter had passed away from untreated diabetes. So she listed symptoms us parents should look out for. I noticed my son (18 Months) has a lot of heavy nappy’s, recently has gotten a diaper rash but I think that’s from the runny poo he’s been having (Sorry, TMI) he also drinks a lot of juice, which could be why he’s peeing a lot? Also during the day he can be quite irratible, but again that could just be a toddler thing? And lastly, he does like his sleep... I don’t know, I’ve just been really paranoid recently and need some reassurance:/ can I take him to the doctors to ease my mind? Or do they not test on infants as young as my son? Thanks.

I should mention he has a balanced diet and does have chocolate few times a week as a little treat.

Has he lost a lot of weight?

And another thing I remembered. My mum said he looks like he lost weight ( he was a chubby baby) so while that’s kinda nice to hear, it can also be a sign of diabetes:(

Not drastically..

Lay off the juice and give him water.

The symptoms of untreated diabetes are obvious.

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes-in-children/symptoms-causes/syc-20355306

The juice I give him is watered down a lot, he refuses water :/ & can he have a test done? Or is that not available?

If you're in the UK, you can take him to a GP and explain your concerns.

Too much sugar (fruit juice is loaded with sugar) is a bad thing anyway.

Too much sugar doesn't cause type 1 diabetes.

Diabetes would make him very ill very quickly so I think it's highly unlikely op. Take him to the GP to put your mind at rest if you want to.

How do you mean ill? Just so I understand more:)

Weight loss will be dramatic and rapid.

The child will become weak and listless.

The breath will smell weird.

There is a simple urine test to see if there are any problems.

From what I understand, the thirst symptom is not just drinking a bit more than usual, it's being absolutely desperate for a drink.
If you have any concerns at all, make an appointment with your gp. Untreated type 1 diabetes is not something to mess around with.

Ohhh! He’s definitely not that bad. Thankyou for the information. I will get him checked just to be on the safe side.

My mum said he looks like he lost weight ( he was a chubby baby) so while that’s kinda nice to hear, it can also be a sign of diabetes

It's also a really normal part of child development.

Your chubby baby has turned into an active toddler.

Honestly I would say there is nothing of concern to your posts; however please see your GP, just to be sure.

"The symptoms of untreated diabetes are obvious."

That's not necessarily true, which is why a child a month in the UK dies from undiagnosed type one diabetes and a quarter of newly diagnosed children are critically ill before they get their diagnosis.

Weight loss can be subtle and over a number of weeks. By the time they are crazed for a drink and listless, they are very, very poorly.

A finger prick blood test (random, ideally two hours after eating a high carbohydrate meal) is the correct way of diagnosing.

The symptoms do sound very mild OP and I'm sure everything is fine, but there is no harm in getting this checked out.

Have a read of this and take it with you to your GP as not all GPs know how to diagnose type one diabetes correctly. www.diabetes.org.uk/resources-s3/2017-09/SB_DKAcampaign_A58pp_v7.pdf

A fingerprick test takes 10 seconds and costs about 50 pence. Just ask your GP for one today (or call 111 and ask where to have it done). If you suspect type 1 duabetes you don't want to postpone such a simple and cheap test. Everyone will be happy to do this quick check. You're not wasting GP or NHS time doing it because it's so quick.

I had type 1 diabetes for a week before I went to the GP (and straight to A&E after that). My kidneys were in the process of shutting down.