Could this be diabetes?

[Mincepiedermama]

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?

Thanks shortcake. I have the number for a local group which I will certainly follow up in the new year.
It's great to hear about your dd. Well done with the blood sugar levels. You must have done really well in teaching her to take on the management of her diabetes resposibly. I hope I can do a good job too.

Diabetes is highly prevalent in my family - my great grandmother, grandmother and both parents have it. If you want to hear stories about people living a normal life, my grandmother died last year aged 93. She had insulin dependent diabetes for over 35 years and injected between 3 and 5 times a day. She managed her regime very well by herself and lived alone for 12 years after my grandfather died. The diabetes was not the cause of her death - it was general unrelated old age. One thing both she and my mother (also insulin dependent) said was that an advantage of diabetes is that your general health is really good, because you tend to be more mindful of it and tend to have to go to the drs/hospital slightly more frequently for routine check ups and so other things get picked up in passing. HTH

Anchovy that really does help. Very inspiring. Thanks.

I've been really worried about complicatins and life expectancy. I also have worries about insulin and whether they'll always be able to produce it.
So it's good to hear about people managing diabetes for years on end.

I know that my mother is very positive about a lot of the new/upcoming breakthroughs such as pumps and regeneration of your "islets" (or something!). Younger people are really going to benefit from this. There is a LOT of money going into diabetes research so please don't be too gloomy.

So I hear anchovy. My ds should really see some changes in his lifetime. I agree there's a great deal to be positive about.

I remember the Islets of langerhans from biology. I never thought I'd hear of them again, but there you go.

Thanks psychobabble.
Things are going well. I'm feeling pretty positive today.
Even though his blood sugar's still all over the place, the colour is returning to his cheeks and he's losing the palour which I had previously put down to winter bugs.

Hi spidermama,

I am so sorry to hear about your DS. Although diagnosed late (27 yrs old) I can certainly relate to all of the emotions he is feeling. As much as you may try to comfort him and remain upbeat, just understand that he might feel frustrated that he isn't "normal" like all of the other boys. I even had a period of 6 months after the diagnosis where I felt "broken" and didn't feel comfortable with people touching me.

Although I still get frustrated from time to time (2 years later) it does get easier with time. Just be prepared for him to have the occasional emotional set back.

The thing that I find most difficult about diabetes is when your sugar levels are high for no apparent reason. Remember, insulin only mimics normal body function--it doesn't replicate it. Sometimes there is no explanation for why sugar levels go high. So, as long as you and him are being vigilent about controlling it,there is no reason why he won't lead a long and happy life.

I am not sure what sort of insulin he is on now, but one thing that really helped me out was Lantus. It is a long acting (1 jab every 24 hours) that controls for the peaks and valleys. You still have to take the insulin before meals but it really helped me from the extreme swings from highs to lows.

I also found (having an incredible fear of needles myself) that certain injection sites are less painful than others. Your son might have a comfort level with where they were jabbing him in hospital but, once he is feeling a little more in control and adventurous, try out some other areas such as the bum, stomach (the fatty part) or the thigh.

I am so sorry that he was diagnosed with this disease but it is the best time in history to be faced with such a thing. Drug developments are constant and food manufacturers are coming up with new "low carb" "low sugar" products all the time! My favorite...low carb pasta!

Please feel free to ask any questions and good luck with everything!

HQ