14 year old smells of acetone

[DakotaFanny]

Just that really....he says he feels absolutely fine but the following things are really bothering me.

He smells like I smelt when I did Atkins! He eats plenty of carbs.

He is suddenly heavy eyed- his lids are more closed than usual. But maybe he is just tired! He’s been up a bit in the night going to the loo etc.

He’s drinking loads (but seems to be doing this because he’s been told we should drink 8 glasses a day etc.

He’s weeing a lot (see sleeping but also, increased liquids so of course he Is!)

It’s all so easily explained, except for the smell, and as I said he says he feels absolutely fine.

Would anyone be worried??? (He is never ill!)

Thank you oh wise mumsnetters.

Home is literally heaven after hospital. What a huge change in so short a time, enjoy the peace.

Good news about coming home.

And glad people have reassured you about life expectancy. Just to add my voice to the chorus - there will be people who manage their diabetes well, and people who don't particularly, and people with very chaotic lifestyles (one dear relative of mine, sadly, who smoked, over ate and didn't routinely test bloods...). All get lumped together in the stats.

If your son is well organised - and all indications so far are that he is - it shouldn't make a difference to his life expectancy.

Hugs and for the homeward journey.

It really isn’t as scary as it can sound long term.

I have type 1 diabetes, it has never stopped me doing anything, I was a semi-professional rugby player for a long time.

Try not to scare yourself, a lot of the data used is based on data gathered in the 1970’s, things have moved on a lot since then.

I had a pump and sensor, when I had this I actually could eat anything, I just had to avoid sugary drinks. I chose to remove these and go to old methods for vanity reasons, as I know my body well and I have a good diet I find my diabetes very easy to manage.

One thing I would warn is that being ill can impact on blood sugars, mine are all over the place if I have a cold etc.

It really isn’t the debilitating illness that it used to be.

When I read the stats on life expectancy I was heart broken. Then I decided that I wasn’t going to worry about it anymore. She has another 60 years until her supposed life expectancy age and things will change massively in those 60 years. I really hope they’ll find a cure by then.

Ah, glad to hear he is coming home - he must have stabilised well OP, you caught it early.

It is also OK to be nervous when you do get home, without the medical backup to call on! Be kind to yourselves either way

You are getting lots of advice here but I highly recommend the juvenile diabetes message boards as they are the experts. My friends opted to have their daughters pump fitted immediately (she was only 6) whereas my other friends daughter has stopped using her pump because it caused more problems than it solved (her dad is t1 and injects so she has an excellent role model). Get all the advice and digest at home. The juvenile diabetes charity has good dietary advice on carbs and labelling is as good as it has ever been. All the best, please update in a few weeks, we'll all be thinking of you guys.

OP I can't imagine what you are going through at the moment.

Just wanted to say I have a friend who runs. He is in his 60s. He is T1. He has had some problems recently but that's been down to a bad knee, not his diabetes! He is in good health. As well as Diabetes Uk there is also a charity for kids: jdrf.org.uk/

Home. First insulin successfully administered. DS currently singing ridiculously loudly in the shower. Life feels okay!

And he has already gained 2.5 lbs which is amazing!

(I should point out that at 6.30 this morning I was hiding in the hospital toilet sobbing....suspect there will be a million emotional swings to come!)

Again, thanks to you all. This really has been the very finest of Mumsnet. We so very well could be in real trouble without you all on Wednesday night and the subsequent support has also been so so helpful xx

😀. Glad you’re home and he is doing well!

So glad you are home

Yay for being home in your own bed!

Yay for home! And the singing

Yes there'll be emotional moments, but he's going to be okay lass.

Well done! Go Team Fanny! (That made me smirk)

😜

I have a friend with T1 who has recently had an islet cell transplant into her liver (her pancreas is basically defunct). She no longer needs to inject, although the daily cocktail of pills she needs to take is quite astounding.

I find that hard to believe. It must be T2. Correct me if I'm wrong but t1 means your pancreas is dead. You inject for life.

Not if she had the procedure the PP specifically mentioned

I've just googled it! I can't believe I've never heard of that- my apologies

There’s so much to learn and investigate! I can’t believe that five days ago I basically had no idea what diabetes was and now it is the main focus of our lives.

DS is still coping really well. His base insulin units have increased every day and today he had his first reading under 10. They’re still up and down but today is also the first day without any corrections which is great. He is back to school tomorrow....feel terrified in some ways about that but life has to crack on and he feels ready for it. We meet at lunch time with our diabetes lead and the school to get his care plan up and running. I pray they will be knowledgeable, reassuring and sympathetic. Had a major meltdown about school last night having read tales of horror online, but feel better about it today. There are 8 other students in the school with diabetes so I have to believe that they know what they are doing and he will be safe. I’m worried about hypos, having not experienced one, and the likelihood that we won’t be there for the first one. From what I’m reading hypos are pretty much inevitable- is that right, dos anyone know? And can anyone tell me what they look like/how they develop/at what speed it moves from feeling a bit rubbish to major emergency?? Argh, still so much to learn!

DH and I are doing okay. So proud of our little man but both occasionally bombasted by some new emotion or horror. Generally I feel pretty positive but there is always a nagging sense of injustice. But, people cope with soooooo much worse and we will be fine.

We’ll be looking at technological options in October I think. For now focusing on getting a more consistent reading and fitting diabetes into daily life. Yesterday we ran around the supermarket like headless chickens trying to get home for the next blood tests!! One step at a time, eh? 👍

Hi op

Sorry to hear about your boy, if it hasn't been mentioned already, has anyone mentioned
Him having an IPORT fitted? Instead of injecting several times a day, it allows for a bigger
Dose, and means going without injecting for a few days at a time, or so I'm told
Disclaimer I'm not an expert

It can cost roughly £70 a month, and could be paid for by the local CCG
Glad he's back at home

Hi
Hypos are inevitable with good control occasionally, but don't panic just yet unless he is doing intense exercise like swimming

All diabetics are different I.e

EXP hypo like being drunk, voice changes, sweating, falling down, shaking. Not hypo aware so no warning

DD crystal, sleepy, falls over, zones out. Not hypo aware.

DS feels dizzy before a hypo, gets angry during a hypo. Is hypo aware.

Main hypos are when inject but dont finish planned meal, miscalculated or guestimate dose, or exercise intensely or for prolonged periods.

Swimming drops both DC blood sugar like a stone, constant jelly babies!

Crying not crystal

So glad to hear your DS is coping well Dakota. It will be all consuming at the moment but you'll eventually get to a stage where it's not on your mind all the time.

Our kids have so much to deal with but my DSs resilience and altogether positive take on living with this condition forces me to give myself a kick in the backside anytime I start to wallow about life before diagnosis.

In terms of hypos I think our team said to expect them 2-3 times per week if trying to run with fairly tight control of blood glucose. He might feel shaky, weak and generally just rubbish, but hopefully he'll get to recognise them coming on. A quick treatment of fast acting sugar is usually enough to be back in range fairly quickly.

Good news is that Flash Glucose and Continous Glucose Monitors give indicators of high and lows to allow action to be taken before hypo happens or gets any worse. Won't say anymore because that's a technology conversation for October and don't want to bamboozle you. Day at a time and all that!!

I also think the word hypo is a scary one. In reality it's just low blood sugar. Yes, it needs prompt attention but don't let it scare you, and when you're ready for tech it'll be even more manageable.

Hope you get on well tomorrow with school. I've only had positive experiences with schools but there is a rights at school for Type 1 children facebook page should you ever need it.

Thanks chickeny that’s all really useful info.

Thanks mint. The dextrose tablets are packed! 😬