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.

Wishing you all the best

My husband has T1 and was diagnosed at 8 yrs old. He was very poorly when eventually admitted to hospital. Really hope your son is ok.

Glad you are in A&E, best place for him.

Hope it is good news OP but am glad you are in a safe place.

Hope he's OK OP.

I hope A&E take you seriously.

2 T1 DCs here. Hope you are both ok xxx

I am glad you are taking this seriously. We had no idea before my son was diagnosed.
The first clue we had was when he collapsed at home and was admitted to the hospital in a diabetic coma.

Not read all comments but get him to A&E now if he looks unwell and smells strongly of keytones, it could be ketoacidosis which is bad!

Choc. Rtft!!!

Why do people believe their comment is so important that no other poster may have suggested it? READ THE FUCKING THREAD and then comment

Hey. So yeah, he’s diabetic. Thank you so much to each and every one of you who responded and made us realise how serious this was.

I’m very sad for him and pretty sad for us too. Life looks like changing very quickly. 😞

Dont be so bloody cheeky!! I was actually just finishing my break IN A&E actually and didnt have time to RTFT!!!

OP - glad he is sorted :)

Dakota, a shock for you and DS but well done on getting him seen so promptly. Hope it is brought under management quickly.

Don't be sad, diabetes is manageable and doesn't need to be limiting in any way.

I'm glad you managed to get him seen so quickly and have a diagnosis. Also glad it didn't take a turn for the worse first. All the best to you and DS OP.

@DakotaFanny what a shock for you both. It's a lot to take in but there is information and support online plus support from.specialist diabetes nurses.

Sorry OP but I'm glad it was caught before it became too dangerous. Try not to be too sad. A lot of changes for sure, but if you tackle it as a family, you'll probably all end up better off, healthier. I've seen it so many times, a whole family adopts a diabetic friendly lifestyle and they all start looking and feeling better than ever. What better motivation than to help your son adjust. Good luck!

@DakotaFanny Very glad you got it sorted so quickly. So many come on here whingeing about a health matter and then never take the advice given.

There will be changes, but it is all so much more manageable these days and you will soon learn to read the signs of any problems. When he is having a grumble (which I am sure will happen) tell him about my Grandad. He was a Type 1 diabetic back in the days when insulin was given via glass syringes and re useable needles that had to be sterilised by boiling after every use. Every single carb he ate had to be weighed, and every sugar counted; then he would have to do the maths to determine the insulin dose before the days of calculators. Testing was by strips, no handy little blood sugar monitors. And, you know what, he was Captain of an oil tanker all through WW2 and running the gauntlet of Nazi submarines trying to sink his ship as he worked to keep this country in oil. He lived until he was in his 90s with no diabetes induced problems. Compared to that diabetes is so easy to cope with these days; I am Type2 and all I have to do is watch what I eat, stick a pricky thing in my finger each day to check sugar levels and take a couple of tablets. Walk in the park compared to G'dad.

He will find it hard at first and I hope his mates are sympathetic and support him by not stuffing their faces with sweets and carby snacks when he is around. You will soon get the hang of it and as a PP said the diabetic nurses are a mine of information and help so never sit and worry, just contact one of them.

Genuinely glad you got this sorted so fast and before any damage was done.

Sorry to hear this. It is a big shock for all of you. In our experience Diabetes UK are very helpful. Allow yourselves time to process this. Any kind of life changing diagnosis like this takes time and is almost like a kind of grieving. People do go on to lead very normal, very healthy lives in most cases with T1. There is support out there.

Son in law is diabetic, very active guy. Now has that sensor thing fitted to monitor his bg. Main thing is your son will be okay.

Classic symptoms of diabetes. Why are you dithering? It's life threatening!

Ok you went. Good. Was so concerned I didn't read the later threads!!

Thank Dog you didn’t listen to your husband and just send him off on the D of E walk!!!! I’m so pleased you’re onto it! Diabetes is blah, there’s no question, but it’s manageable. The good news is is that there is a LOT of funding and research into finding a cure. It’s not an obscure disease that doesn’t attract much attention, so I’m fairly confident that the next decade or so, it will be a thing of the past!

I have a T1 DD (10). Yes, your normal will be different normal and sometimes it will really suck but as so many others have said, it is infinitely more manageable than in the past! Thank goodness you took your son in so quickly esp. as he smelled of acetone.

I thought dd had a UTI, went to the GP, and we got home several days later with a massive bag of kit.

Show your son this. No need for limits (apart from the DofE hike this weekend!!)