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.

Well I’m a bit of a wreck after less than an hour’s sleep. Feeling sorry for myself and anxious and weepy. But.... Going to do lots of reading today and Diabetes team will be in today to teach us as much as possible. My boy is obviously a bit angry and sad but he is being so cool too. He’s already had a go at injecting his insulin and I am very proud of him.

Myself and dh come from a long line of non-medical types so going to a&e is far from our comfort zones. I think I walked in saying “I’m sorry for probably wasting your time” and yet here we are 8 hours later. Guess sometimes you do have to just listen to your motherly instinct and the wise words of the mn-ers!

Sorry I meant we don’t go to the doctors very often!!

When he is having a grumble (which I am sure will happen) tell him about my Grandad

OP, please don't do this. I am so sorry about your son's diagnosis, it can be a really tough condition to live with. He is also allowed to express his feelings about his diagnosis without it being called 'grumbling' FFS. And please don't try and tell him he is lucky compared to a previous posters grandad (seriously, would you tell an anorexic about starving children in Africa?!).

T1 diabetes is a life changing condition, some teens find it harder to get under control than others and the hormone changes of puberty can make management harder at this age. Support and endless love are needed, which I am sure you will give, not 'pull yourself together' dissmissive comments (you can probably tell that previous posters glib tone really irked me).

I'm so glad that you took him and bloody well done for having a suspicion and asking for some back up here. He would have been very poorly had you not done that so be gentle with yourself while you adjust to a new normal.

I loved the granddad's story! I guess only OP will know whether it's the sort of thing that will motivate her DS or not. I was diabetic when pregnant and now constantly at risk etc etc (mother and grandmother both have it) so I understand its a shock and a lot to get your head around but well done for spotting it and getting it sorted. He'll get used to the testing and injections pretty quickly I should imagine, its the being a bit more careful of sugary and white carbs he might struggle with especially as a teen so my sympathies to you both. Good luck

Your story is very familiar to me .Well done for getting the diagnosis .It is a shock for you all initially and can be very tough to come to terms with .There are some supportive groups on Facebook if you feel the need .All the best to you and your son .

Bloody well done on listening to yourself (and the wise and knowledgeable MN-ers!).

Sorry he has this diagnosis. Things will be different for sure, but as PPs have said, it's perfectly manageable. You're son will get to do his DoE hike another time.

Oh @DakotaFanny , what a shock

Of course this means he’s going to have to limit the usual teenage boy debauchery with junk food and alcohol, (and other associated hedonism) but the side effects are so gruesome, that hopefully it will stop him from experimenting. Maybe that will put your mind to rest at a later stage in his life, OP.

Hi Dakota!

I have a DD15 who is T1D and has been for 8 years and your family have my full sympathies. T1D is a life changing diagnosis and you'll have a full range of emotions over the next few months because this effects everyone in your family not just your son who will be feeling angry, sad and frustrated once the realities start to sink in.
Hopefully you are in an area that has a proper full time juvenile diabetes unit that will help your son until he's 19 but you are likely in for a horrendous time of it for a while.
Please feel free to PM me for advice and/or support as it's hard being a parent of a diabetic child (particularly teenage diabetics) and there is so much that you will need to learn and accept.

Good luck to you and your son - my thoughts are with you.

Sorry to hear this. When my son was born he had the opposite of T1 diabetes until he was about 18 months old so he made too much insulin rather than not enough. Different challenges having to deal with a teenager with these issues no doubt, but there is amazing technology to help these days. Sensors you scan with your phone for an instant reading (Freestyle Libre), even sensors that read continuously and send you an alert when out of range (like the Dexcom) or even hook up to an insulin pump and deliver the correct dose. It’s really quite incredible how many advances there have been in this field. Of course it will mean some lifestyle changes and it’s never good to be diagnosed with something that requires ongoing care and monitoring longterm, especially as a 14 year old. But I promise you that you’ll be amazed by how quickly it becomes normal for you all. You are an awesome mum for taking him when you did, you may have saved his life.

Hi Dakota, Just to say very well done for getting on this asap, you did good. You'll get lots of support and he'll soon be in a new routine. Thank goodness you noticed before the weekend. Best wishes to you going forward.

I also echo what others have said. It's a classic sign of diabetes. Hope he doesn't have it though.

Ah, just read your update, sorry! Treatment now for diabetes is much more sensitive and clever and less intrusive than it used to be with sensors checking blood sugar and feeding information to an insulin pump, the technology mimics natural pancreatic function and enables excellent control. It's a lot to take in and adjust to but it's the best of all times to be diabetic iykwim. I know all this due to each having been diabetic for many years. He enjoys a full life and excellent health. Your boy will too.

Sorry, exh has been diabetic for many yrs

Well done you and your quick resolution. The power of Mumsnet, are lucky to have it. Wished I had put my husbands cancer symptoms on here ...... an earlier diagnosis may have saved his life, it took NHS months to decide what it was sadly they took too long

Well done for trusting your instincts !

Bless you. It will be a massive shock to you all. X

It will be a worrying few weeks but please be assured, and reassure him that being type 1 diabetic does not prevent him doing anything! Seriously, my friend climbs mountains, camps, travels to far flung places, eats and drinks normally etc. His daughter has also developed diabetes and it is harder for females, hormone fluctuations can cause issues but she literally does everything a teen does, the only thing she has given up is rugby because she chose to have a pump and contact sports are tricky with it (if you inject there's no issue)

Well done for trusting your instincts (and MN) and going to A&E.

I am sure it is a shock for you all.

Thank god his symptoms showed before he went on his expedition.

Thank goodness you went, OP. The diagnosis will come as a huge shock, but it can be well managed these days and it sounds like your son is a fit, healthy, well motivated lad, so he'll be sensible and well organised about it.

Thank goodness you didn't ignore the symptoms and not tell anyone (as my sister did - she ended up being airlifted to hospital!)

Hope you can all get some sleep shortly. It’s such an awful shock.

Be gentle on yourself, the news will take some getting used to.

Diabetes UK is a really good source of support.

Oh no wonder you are tired and weepy.

Right now it seems like everything has changed. But things will become incredibly normal again! As others say, there have been great developments to support diabetes management. It will take a while for your son's body to settle down, and for you all to learn how it all works, but he can and will be fine.

I got type 1 as a teen. I am now in my forties and can honestly say it hasn't stopped me from doing anything - including some pretty adventurous travel, trekking etc.

Well done to your son for getting started with injecting. Soon it will be second nature. My only problem now is remembering if I've done it or not, because it is so routine!

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

I know. As a T1 I'd like to say that the beginning can be very hard, you feel shocked, and cheated and angry and you need to learn so so much but it will be ok. There will be times that there are highs and lows but his life will be ok. Just keep that in mind

In time take a look at the 670g pump (or the upgrade if it takes a longer while to look at it) combined with sensor, it has made my life easier, it's a bit maintenance heavy but gives me more freedom and better glucose levels.