17 year old son, GP or A&E?

[Imamumgetmeoutofhere]

My son is 17, almost 18. For the last 3 days he’s been peeing a lot more than normal and drinking a lot more than normal. This morning I found him asleep on the sofa and he said he had been too tired to go up the stairs to bed, but feels ok in himself today, just wiped out.

I said take him to A&E as these sound like possible diabetes symptoms, husband think it sounds like a UTI and has done an e-consult and urine sample for him at our surgery.

Am I over panicking? Or should I be trusting my judgement and taking him to A&E?

Thanks in advance

What a terrible shock for you all, OP. I hope your son is better very soon.

I remember learning about the symptoms of T1DM for my GCSEs. During learning about homeostasis. It really should be taught how dangerous it can be. I think the problem now is that T2DM is on the rise, people seem to think that you can live with diabetes for years without realising that you have it. People really don't realise how serious it is and they should.

Thank God you trusted your instincts and the words of wisdom on this thread.
Hope he is getting well looked after and remember to take care of yourself too 💐

@Imamumgetmeoutofhere just seeing this message now.

So glad you went to A&E.

This sounds exactly how my DB got diagnosed with diabetes nearly 30 years ago.
Yes there will be a transition and he will have to make some adjustments.
Science has improved so much and with love and support you will all get through this.

Sending you all love and hugs x

It sounds as though you're angry that A&E turned out to be the right choice. That can't be what you meant, surely?

Also, hyperglycemia develops more slowly, but can become emergent quite suddenly. That was what happened to her DS. Being too fatigued to go up to bed was an indication. Thank heavens OP listened to her instincts.

As we now know, it was. The clue is in the sudden change in behaviour: thirst, urination and tiredness. Sudden onset T1 diabetes is a medical emergency. I know two people this has happened to.

thank you for all who advised to come to A&E. You may well have saved my sons life @Imamumgetmeoutofhere

You knew as well, your intuition was to take him to a&e.

So glad he's getting treatment now, it's a shock for you all but you'll adapt soon enough. Thinking of you 💐

Yes people hear diabetes and think ‘oh my gran had that and she was fine, just watched her diet’ without even realising how wrong they are.

Just to echo this @Imamumgetmeoutofhere . Hope he’s on the road to recovery with the right treatment plan, and well done, look after yourself x

You would be suprised it happens often which is why Lylas law was brought in as Lyla was misdiagnosed and sadly passed away 16 hours later from DKA.
This happened to my son but thankfully didn’t pass away, I took him a&e a whole team of doctors misdiagnosed him and sent him home.. 2 days later couldn’t wake him up in the morning.
Lyla’s law is to protect diabetics and future diabetics from this but it’s taking time.

A&E - my son was diagnosed Type 1 diabetic at the age of 21 - very unusual to be Type 1 at that age. Immediately started on insulin and felt much better within 24 hours.

I’m so glad you took your DS to A & E. It’s always best to be on the safe side. He’s in the right place now and will soon be feeling better. He has a huge life change to deal with but there’s so much help out there for him.

My two closest friends have been diabetic since they were children. They live full lives, have children and good careers. Sending you love and strength. ❤️💪

Not unusual at all, many type 1s are diagnosed later in adulthood. i know someone who was diagnosed type one at 53!

Sadly since covid it is on the rise.

Good for you mum ... following your instincts. There are successful elite sportsmen who have type 1 diabetes and type 2 can be reversed. He will be fine with you as his mum.

Well done for trusting your instincts and taking him to A&E. I hope he improves quickly.
You will get lots of information and education over the next few day. There are lots of resources out there, look at diabetes UK and breakthrough t1d, both have excellent resources for newly diagnosed patients. Also ask if they use digibete, if they do you will need a code from them to access the site.
Is he under an adult team or paediatrics?
Ask early about technology... Particularly continuous glucose sensors which will reduce the need for finger prick testing once he is off all the drips and on insulin injections pre meal. You will also be able to have a 'follow' app so you can see his glucose levels remotely.
Wishing you and your son all the best

Those symptoms would make me want him to be assessed sooner rather than later. Excessive thirst, frequent urination and unusual tiredness can be signs of diabetes, particularly if they've come on quite suddenly. A UTI is possible too, but I wouldn't assume that's the cause.
If your GP surgery can see him today and check his blood glucose promptly, that's reassuring. However, if he can't be seen quickly, if he becomes drowsier, starts vomiting, has abdominal pain, is breathing differently, or seems confused, I personally wouldn't wait, I would have seek urgent medical assessment.
You're not overreacting. It's always better to have diabetes ruled out promptly than to miss it, especially with those symptoms.
I hope it's something straightforward, but I'd want him to be checked today rather than adopting a wait-and-see approach.

Why on earth do you think it's unusual for a young adult to have T1 diabetes?

So glad you went to A&E and your son is getting timely treatment.
I was diagnosed with T1 diabetes in my late teens. It will feel really daunting now. It will be OK. Life will be normal for your son. The tech these days is amazing.

Everyone who's been through this will remember just how overwhelming it is when all the equipment and books start arriving at the ward. There's a fantastic Facebook group called Diabetic Kids Mums UK that I found incredibly helpful. In those early months, it was such a great source of support – whether it was asking questions, sharing worries, or just having a vent to people who genuinely understood what we were going through.

Well done for heading straight to A&E. I'm sure it's all quite surreal but keep a brave face on.

💐 Wishing your son a swift recovery, and strength for you and your family in the days and weeks ahead while you come to terms with the diagnosis

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I am glad you got help in time. I was going to post to say a&e but saw you’d gone by the time I’d read it. When we were having building work my builder’s teen lad had something very similar and ended up very ill in intensive care. All extremely sudden. He was in for a week but was back in school by the time our building project was over if that gives any reassurance. It was obviously a hideous time for them and they spent a lot of week’s check-in and checking readings and trying to settle back into more normal life and trying to experiment with different foods, heat and exercise impacts etc. I hope that gives you some hope and reassurance that while extremely serious, he can learn to manage.

@gingercat02 why on earth are you being so rude and snarky to someone whose child has just been diagnosed with a life changing condition?

Thank god you ignored some of the advice on here and went to ED.

You all have a steep learning curve ahead of you but I’d echo what others have said about how far diabetes management and treatment has come on and is continuing to advance.

YOU saved him. By thinking it, starting a thread, listening to advice, and acting on it. Well done, sending hugs