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Children's health

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Original poster

Keystones in urine, how likely is it diabetes?

71 replies

WingingItWith3InTow · 12/09/2021 16:46

Hi,

First time poster here so please forgive me any mistakes xx

I’ve just taken my middle child to the gp as he has started losing control of his bladder. He’s 7. It’s been happening on and of over the last year. He’ll wet his pants or wake up having wet the bed 2/3 times a week. I thought it might be a phase but it’s been going on a while so I took him to the gp as he’s scared he’ll do it at school.

They tested him for a urine infection but that came back negative. They said his keystones were raised so they’d like to send him for a blood test for diabetes. I didn’t really worry thinking surely it won’t be that but then I googled 🙈🙈 dangerous I know.

He drinks ridiculous amounts but he always has and he does get tummy aches once or twice a week but we thought that might be allergies as the gp wasn’t interested at all when we asked about them before.

Can you have raised keystones in your urine and it be normal?

Thank you xxx

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Flump9 · 13/09/2021 12:16

You say the gp wasn't bothered about tummy aches and drinking loads when you mentioned it before - did you mention it to the gp at the same time as the ketones being present and the bedwetting? If you did it's a massive failure that the gp hasn't urgently referred you. Take him to A&E to get a blood test. I think it's highly likely he is diabetic I'm afraid, but it's a lot better to find out about it at this age and not when he's a teenager.

Original poster

WingingItWith3InTow · 13/09/2021 13:05

He seems perfectly health at the moment I only took him to the gp because he’s been losing control of his bladder. I’m not sure a hospital would listen to me x

OP posts:

FleasInMyKnees · 13/09/2021 13:26

It's your choice obviously, maybe he has been wetting himself because he drinks a lot and is asleep, maybe its diabetes, only a blood test will tell you.

FrownedUpon · 13/09/2021 13:43

This rings alarm bells I’m afraid. Please get him looked at ASAP. Don’t just wait for a blood test to come through.

Plinkplonk1234 · 13/09/2021 14:37

A hospital would believe you.

Keystones in urine, how likely is it diabetes?

cultkid · 13/09/2021 16:30

You really need to go to hospital

It's not normal to have ketones as a child unless on a whacky diet

Not normal to wet himself

Please do yourself and him a favour and get the care he needs

As a mum I always ask myself did I do all I can do? You have to ask yourself if you're doing all you can do (you need to take him to hospital and don't worry about the wait or wasting their time)

G x

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 13/09/2021 16:53

Does your dad have a fingerprick glucose meter (and does he live nearby)?

Can you phone your gp back and ask if they tested for blood sugar? If they tested and it was normal they may not have told you.

But there aren’t really many reasons why a child would have ketones and a lot of GPs have been incompetent about testing for Type 1 diabetes in the past.

A&E will not think you’re wasting time, it will take them about a minute to test blood sugar and, if he does have Type 1 diabetes, could save his life.

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 13/09/2021 17:00

@FleasInMyKnees

A finger prick test only shows the glucose level, a one off wont diagnose diabetes but it's a start, you can also get urine strips for glucose and ketones.

A one-off fingerprick test is all it takes to diagnose Type 1 diabetes. BG > 11.0 = diabetes. They’ll check it with a blood sample taken from a vein but that’s just to make sure you didn’t have sugar on your fingers! In an adult they might look for antibodies to check which type of diabetes you have but not in a fit 7yo.

I remember being hugely shocked when ds2 was diagnosed, that they could just tell me straight away what was wrong with him, in the doctors surgery. I expected a lot of “ooh we need to do all these tests and you’ll know in a few months”. Not an immediate diagnosis, an overnight stay in hospital, and sent home with a bag full of needles.

Original poster

WingingItWith3InTow · 13/09/2021 17:05

Thank you everyone. My dad lives over 2 hours away but he’s coming up Friday with his finger prick test thing. My dad being diabetic doesn’t seem to think it’s anything to worry about but he’s happy to prick his finger for me xxx

OP posts:

r0ck · 13/09/2021 17:15

If you wanted to test him sooner you can buy a blood glucose starter kit from a chemist for a tenner usually, if it would give you peace of mind, and you could do it first thing tomorrow as a fasting test.

My husband was diagnosed T1D and his GP totally missed it and he ended up hospitalised very unwell, so it sadly does happen. I don't want to alarm you, but seeing how quickly downhill he went, I'd not wish it on anyone else. I hope whatever the cause he is okay, all the best

kurtney · 13/09/2021 17:46

@WingingItWith3InTow

Please don't wait til Friday. It may be nothing or it may be diabetes. Please go to A&E and tell them he's drinking a lot and wetting the bed. I promise you they'll take it seriously. I know you don't want him to be diabetic, and he may not be, but it's better to be safe than sorry.

We went to the GP 4 times with my daughter (she was 2 at the time) and were sent home each time with antibiotics (not one of them mentioned diabetes or testing for it). We ended up going to A&E as her breathing went funny one night and she's was rushed straight to ICU. They knew exactly what was wrong.

Ruple · 13/09/2021 18:50

Please listen op. You need to take him to A&E.

wombatspoopcubes · 13/09/2021 18:55

It takes A&E 1 minute to do a finger prick test. If he does have type 1 you do not want to wait till friday. Waiting can cause lasting damage to his kidneys, eyes and can cause death. When I was diagnosed my kidneys were starting to shut down. I didn't feel it at all.

Please go NOW.

Doubleraspberry · 13/09/2021 19:08

A pharmacist can also do a finger prick test. You could take him this evening.

GPs can be shockingly poorly informed on diabetes. When I took my son, aged 4, because he was suddenly drinking more than normal, I was told it was unlikely to be diabetes as neither of his parents had it, that he was already 4 and it would normally have shown by then, and that he wasn't dangerously unwell which would have happened if he were diabetic. None of these things are true (well, the last IS true but only once the diabetes reaches a certain point).

FleasInMyKnees · 13/09/2021 19:15

I dont understand the delay, you said the dr is going to send him for a blood test so why not just do this yourself and get the answers you need.

cultkid · 13/09/2021 19:22

You're making stupid choices OP

I am not going to try to persuade you on how best to care for your kid

Just take him to a&e

@mumsnet I think this is madness

Wagsandclaws · 13/09/2021 19:31

Couldn't agree more, all the signs point to diabetes and waiting till your dad comes on Friday is just crazy. Children can go downhill very quickly with undiagnosed diabetes.

Op you asked for advice/opinions , now take it please!?

Plinkplonk1234 · 13/09/2021 19:46

Your Dad is obviously type 2 diabetic and has no understanding of the danger your son is in or the difference between type 1 and type 2. If he was type 1 one he would know what ketones meant and all the emergency symptoms your son is displaying.

JellyBabiesSaveLives · 13/09/2021 20:05

Does your Dad have Type 2? It’s a completely different illness to Type 1. They have similar names because they have the same symptoms. A bit like migraines and brain tumours both give you a headache.

Friday may be too late.

HumourReplacementTherapy · 13/09/2021 20:06

I am also T1 and agree with all the others who have advised this is an emergency situation and should most definitely not be left until Friday.
If you really won't go to A&E go to a 24 pharmacy and buy a blood testing kit and some strips. Tell us what the reading is.
Is your DF T1 or T2? I am guessing T2 otherwise he'd know your DS needs to be seen ASAP.

You really need to complain about that GP. They did the same to me. My blood glucose was 22 mmol and I was very nearly in ketoacidosis (diabetic coma)

Original poster

WingingItWith3InTow · 13/09/2021 20:12

I understand that you are all concerned and I am trying to take the nastier comments as well meant.

I only wanted to know if there was an other reason there might be keytones in his urine as diabetes is so unlikely. I think my gp is only doing bloods to be careful.

I have not put his full medical history down as I only wanted to know about keytones but my son (and daughter) were born with complicated health issues so we are in an out of hospital where they are monitored. I don’t know if they have ever tested specifically for diabetes but they have a full check up twice a year at Birmingham children’s hospital. My gp knows their medical background as we’re in a small village practice. He is very good at sending them to their consultants if there is any worry’s.

My sons health issue shouldn’t be causing the bed wetting so I will double check his blood sugar but they’re so well monitored myself and the doctor feel diabetes is highly unlikely although I accept it is a possibility which is why they’re running his bloods to be safe. I scared my self Googling but I have to trust his medical team. And the gp is even calling me this week to check on him.

I promise my child is being well looked after. I’m very grateful for the concern.

OP posts:

Plumtree391 · 13/09/2021 20:13

You can go into a pharmacy and have a fingertip test for diabetes, it only takes a minute.

frazzledquaver · 13/09/2021 20:20

Honestly, either go to A&E or go buy a blood glucose testing set tonight from a late night chemist. It's not something you mess around with (son diagnosed with a blood glucose of 50 mmol on a Saturday night - would have been in a coma at best by Monday if I'd waited). It's probably nothing, just a sickness bug or something, but if it is type one diabetes, time is not on your side.

Clarice99 · 13/09/2021 20:27

This has got to be a wind up. If not, it's the most irresponsible thing I've read on MN for ages.

OP, your child has signs of Type 1 Diabetes.

A high percentage of posters say 'GO TO A&E' and you do ...................................... nothing.

Lougle · 13/09/2021 20:32

I don't think the GP will be too concerned if there were ketones but glucose was normal on the dipstick. The trouble you have, though, is that you don't know if glucose was normal because you weren't told.

A finger prick is so simple to do and could be very reassuring. Equally, it would highlight if your DS has diabetes.

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