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.

Just another thought, if you have a 24 hour chemist you can buy glucose testing strips but I really think a and e is the best option.

This is a medical emergency here, OP. Go to A&E!!!

As a parent to a type 1 diabetic teen who ended up in a&e with dangerously high ketones a few weeks ago after 12 hours with no insulin please go to a&e tonight, don’t leave it until the morning, a few hours can make a massive difference to how ill you are with diabetic ketoacidosis.

I agree you should get him to a and e tonight. How long has he had the acetone smell?

I am a nurse and the mum of an adult with diabetes.
She has had it since she was 5

Doctors first thing ....if in the mean time you can't wake him up then 999

GO TO A+E NOW.

THIS IS A CLASSIC HISTORY FOR DIABETES. UNTREATED DIABETES CAN BE FATAL.

Sorry for shouting but do not leave this overnight and please let us know how you get on.

DH is a type 1 diabetic. When he was diagnosed he was in hospital for 4 days and when he was discharged I remember the nurse said to me that if he ever got to the point of ketoacidosis to take him to hospital and insist that he must see a doctor immediately and not be made to wait. Please get your son's blood tested tonight. If he is diabetic every minute that he isn't being treated may be causing irreparable damage.

Adding to the chorus of A and E, now.

Family member nearly fell into a diabetic coma before she was diagnosed with T1 - and we could have lost her.

I say this not to scare you, but because your son needs you to take action

I'm a nurse ....... please go to A&E tonight.

Hope he's OK, OP. Please update us when you can? 💐

Hopefully you're on the way to A&E now
Ignore your DH, trust your mum instincts

Get him to a doctor ASAP. No one here will be able to diagnose him so really you’re just wasting your time

I really hope you are at A & E and that is why you are not replying. An 8 year old boy in my area died last year after similar symptoms. They didn’t get him into hospital in time.

I hope you’re getting him checked out.

Just to add, ketosis that you can smell does not necessarily mean diabetes. My son has Ketotic hypoglycaemia, aka accelerated starvation - his blood sugar drops shortly after eating and his body starts burning fat / muscle and producing ketones. He frequently smells of ketones. However, undiagnosed and unmanaged this would still be an emergency situation requiring IV dextrose. It would also be unusual at his age but not unheard of.

I’d definitely seek medical attention now.

Also a HCP and also adding to the chorus of A&E now. It may be diabetes and untreated can rapidly lead to diabetic ketoacidosis which is a medical emergency.

Please take your son to the nearest A&E

After reading this I’d say doctors/A+E now. At the very least call 111.

I’m not qualified but have been on a steep learning curve of late.

My, adult daughter, was diagnosed with T1 diabetes in the new year. Looking back she was showing some of the signs you’ve described in your post.

She’d been feeling a bit under the weather and we suggested she saw her doctor.

When he said you need to go to hospital - would you like an ambulance? She then realised she had a serious problem.

She was later told she was just off collapsing/coma etc - but apart from feeling a bit shitty didn’t feel that bad.

Fortunately ok now - well apart from being T1.

Please don’t delay. Hope he’s ok.

We’re in A&E- i’ll Update when I can. Thank you all

I hope you're both seem quickly and everything is ok 🤞☺️

My sister developed diabetes st age 12, her symptoms were exactly the same as your ds. My parents twigged in when I complained than she had drank all of the pop we had in. She was taken in to hospital immediately, so it would be best to get him their ASAP.

Hope all is ok.

Well done op. If your son does have a diabetes diagnoses, please know that it's not the end of the world and there are lots of us parents of type 1s on here that can help you with any questions/feelings you both have.
Good luck.

Oh excellent. Am v glad you’re there OP. Sending best wishes

I'm glad you've taken him to A&E and hope you don't have to wait too long.

Glad you got him to A&E hope it isnt but it does sound like diabetes

well done OP. hopefully it's not Diabetes but you've done the right thing getting him checked. Thinking of you both