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Original poster

Could this be diabetes?

84 replies

Mincepiedermama · 20/12/2005 19:19

My ds1 (nearly 6) has always had big reactions after eating sugary stuff. (Going wild or feeling sick).

Over the past few weeks things have got worse. He keeps on feeling sick (and has been to quite a few parties recently with party food). He's generally very down. He's pale with dark circles under his eyes and he needs to wee a lot.

I'll take him to the doctor tomorrow.

I'm thinking diabetes. Does anyone have experience of this?

OP posts:

myturn · 20/12/2005 19:23

Is he frequently thirsty SM? I know that was one of the most apparent symptoms in my mother. There is some info regarding symptoms here though I don't want to cause you to worry needlessly. You know what it's like - you see a list of symptoms and convince yourself that's what they have! It's good you are seeing the doctor as he will put your mind at rest.

gingernut · 20/12/2005 19:26

Does he drink a lot as well? Has he lost weight recently, and is he tired and lacking in energy? Those would all be symptoms of possible Type 1 diabetes (more likely than Type 2 at his age).

Original poster

Mincepiedermama · 20/12/2005 19:53

I'd say he is lacking in energy and he does seem to drink a lot these days.
Thanks for the link myturn. I'll have a look.

OP posts:

NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2005 19:54

I think that Type 1 diabetes generally has symptoms like "passing out", rather than just gentle symptoms. (I'm assuming here that your DS1 isn't morbidly obese, and hence likely to get Type 2 diabetes?)

Ok, looked it up. If he's had too much sugar, you should see: The warning signs that ketoacidosis is getting serious might include flushed face, dry skin and mouth, nausea or vomiting, stomach pain, deep, rapid breathing, or fruity breath odor.

And if he's got low blood sugar, the symptoms are: Watch for weakness, shaking, sweating, headache, nervousness, and hunger.

Definately take him to the docs.

Original poster

Mincepiedermama · 20/12/2005 20:00

Yes I've had a look too NQC.
I'm pretty worried now as the symptoms do seem to fit him for type 1 (including the flushed face, tummy aches, headaches etc).
Oh dear. I do hope it isn't.
The link says the longer you have it the higher the risk of complications and he's only 5.

OP posts:

NotQuiteCockney · 20/12/2005 20:05

I think they know more about managing it, than they used to. Knowledge is getting better all the time. (In fact, there are some signs of a cure for type 1, by reviving the appropriate parts of the pancreas.)

It's hard stuff, though. I hope it's not diabetes.

Original poster

Mincepiedermama · 20/12/2005 20:08

Thanks NQC. Me too.

OP posts:

myturn · 20/12/2005 20:09

Will you let us know what the doctor says SM?

Original poster

Mincepiedermama · 20/12/2005 20:43

Yes myturn. I'll keep you up to date. X Fingers crossed.

OP posts:

NotQuiteCockney · 21/12/2005 09:21

Do you have an appointment today?

They should be able to test quickly for sugar in the wee, although they might want to do a fasting blood sugar.

Original poster

Mincepiedermama · 21/12/2005 10:01

I've made an appointment for him tomorrow morning. Should I try to bring a wee sample do you think?

OP posts:

NotQuiteCockney · 21/12/2005 10:04

I would. Your local surgery will give you a sample jar, otherwise any clean container will do.

There's no harm in it, and presumably a six year old can't produce a sample on demand?

myturn · 21/12/2005 12:28

Yes, I agree that's a good idea re the sample. All the best for tomorrow SM.

gingernut · 21/12/2005 15:18

yes, take a wee sample. They will still want to do blood tests but it could give you an immediate answer.

gingernut · 22/12/2005 13:08

Mincepiedermama, how did you get on?

hoXMASchick · 22/12/2005 13:11

i hope it isn't diabetes spidermama. do let us know how you get on.

myturn · 22/12/2005 17:26

Just wondering how it went SM.

Original poster

Mincepiedermama · 22/12/2005 19:38

I was right. It's diabetes. We went to the doc this morning with a tub of wee. The doc tested it and said it contained sugar and keytones so we went straight to the children's hospital for blood tests ... we were there all day ... and he's still there.

He has to stay until we have a regime established with the insulin.

I have to go now and say 'Goodnight' to him.

Thanks for your messages.

OP posts:

NotQuiteCockney · 22/12/2005 19:41

Shit. I'm so sorry to hear this.

At least you noticed early! I bet most parents (myself included) wouldn't have put this together so quickly.

hoXMASchick · 22/12/2005 19:44

oh i'm so sorry spidermama. i have diabetes too, though i wasn't diagnosed until i was 19. i also used to work for diabetes uk, & they do lots of great stuff. their website is here . lots of love to you & your ds. xxx

gingernut · 22/12/2005 19:45

Oh dear . Hope he is home soon. You might want to think about joining Diabetes UK to get their magazine, full of useful info. As someone else, said, they are improving treatments for diabetes all the time and doing lots of research.

myturn · 22/12/2005 21:21

Sorry to hear that SM. Not the news you were waiting for obviously. On the positive side, it is very well controlled these days and as gingernut said, treatments are improving all the time. It's good also that you spotted it so soon. Hope he and you are ok. xx

AChristmasCarolinamoon · 22/12/2005 21:42

Spidermama, I'm sorry this has happened to your ds. Very well done for spotting it so quickly though.

My dp developed type 1 diabetes aged 29, and I feel pretty bad that I didn't spot it - he was getting up to go to the toilet a couple of times a night, lost a lot of weight (being pretty slim to start with) and his breath often smelt of what turned out to be ketosis - I thought it was onion-breath .

For an adult, the day-to-day regimen isn't too bad. The PITA is that it's every day of your life - you can't just have a blow-out now and say you'll start being good tomorrow or next week.

this book is a pretty good introduction to diabetes, although some of the stuff about insulin is a bit dated. If you email [email protected], you can get a free booklet (at the moment - not sure how long it'll be available for) called Target Diabetes, which has some information about recent developments.

suedonim · 22/12/2005 21:46

I'm sorry to hear about your ds, SM, that's bad news. But he's lucky he has a mummy who's so on the ball that it's been picked up quickly. Hope his regime is sorted out quickly and he's home again soon.

AChristmasCarolinamoon · 22/12/2005 21:48

meant to say, low blood sugar only happens if you're on insulin and have taken too much for the amount of sugar you've eaten, or if you've drunk too much alcohol (not likely to be a problem for a few years yet ).

Most diabetics can recognise the early signs of a hypo (the shakiness etc, which is caused by an adrenaline rush as the blood glucose levels fall) - if they eat a sweet or have a sugary drink at that point, it won't progress to the stage where they get too confused/contrary to take glucose.

High blood sugar (above 10) is something to be avoided as much as poss, because that's what causes damage to nerve endings and tissues over time.

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