Diabetes in children

[DumbledoresGirl]

Does anyone have a child who has developed diabetes? If so, I would like to know how you first found out that that was the problem. What were the symptoms that first told you something was wrong?

Dd was sent home yesterday apparently pale, cold and feeling sick. However, it was just before lunchtime and I found that she was fine after I had given her something to eat.

Then later in the day she was uncharacteristically thirsty and again became pale and lethargic and went to bed early. This morning she said she felt fine and went to school. I was just thinking it over, thinking about her apparently flagging through lack of food (sugar?) and then thought about the thirst and it was if a light bulb lit up in my head.

So, does anyone recognise this as possibly diabetes or do I have an overactive imagination?

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Is it possible for a 13 month old to have diabetes? He drinks an abnrmal amount of liquid for such a little fella. Even the nursery has mentioned he drinks a lot. He drinks between 4 and 8 beakers whilst he is at Nursery (8.30 - 5.30) and will drain a full one on the way home - 5 min journey. Apart from that he shows no other symptoms. AM I being over dramatic if I take him to the doctors?

Longlegs. I am not sure about your ds. My neice used to drink loads too but she definitely does not have diabetes - it was just a bit of a habit she had grown into.

I don't know what to do about my dd. I can't take her to the doctors after just what happened yesterday, but my suspicions are definitely aroused.

It could just be low blood sugar levels..you can help by ensuring she has regular small amounts to eat especially of low gi foods

Spidermama's ds has diabetes and there are a few others too

Longlegs, it is posssible for a child of that age to get diabetes, my cousin's DD did at 12 months. however there is a high percentage of it in our family, which could have been a contributing factor. if you are worried, take Ds to get him checked out

Zippi, what are low gi foods?

And why would a child have loew blood sugar levels and how is that different to diabetes?

I need to learn some more about this I think!

Thanks ladies, you are right, best to get it checked out rather than pondering on the what if's etc. Just seems that we are never away from the surgery what with ear infections and coughs! x

Sorry dumbledore's girl i ginored your post and didn't mean to. My brother was diagnosed with diabetes at 5. hois symptons weren't evidnet straight away as he had german measles. However the diabetes in our family all seem to have been triggered by another illness. The symptoms were there, just not very vclear IYSWIM. My cousin's daughter was severely constipated when she was diagnosed, and my dad had flu when his was diagnosed. As i said to longlegs, if you are unsure get her checked out. I'm sure someone better qualified than me will be along

These are the symptoms

Increased thirst
? Going to the loo (for a wee) all the time ? especially at night
? Extreme tiredness
? Weight loss
? Blurred vision
? Genital itching or regular episodes of thrush
? Slow healing of wounds

More info on the diabetes UK website

Yes, I have a medical encyclopaedia and it does mention that diabetes often starts after a viral infection, which my dd has not had, but I know enough to know that in most things there are exceptions.

It justs seems so odd that she should have felt so ill simply for lack of food, although I have to say both my mother and I are known within our families for being the same: we reach a point when we need food and it suddenly becomes imperative that we eat there and then... I thought it was more that we were impatient individuals rather than a physiological thing, but I suppose it could be dd is just the same as us.

But then the thirst thing...that is very unlike dd who rarely drinks more than a drink at each meal and a bedtime drink of milk.

Sorry puddle, my post was in response to saltire's. Well, yes, the tiredness thing would fit too, but I don't recognise the other symptoms.

Yes sorry..you can have low blood sugar levels and not be diabetic, you will feel faint, become pale, sweat and feel clammy or hot and cold...very soon after eating or drinking you will return to normal but might feel tired or thirsty because oit is partly the adrenalin which has caused the previous symptoms.

Low blood sugar levels are a sign of lack of available energy from food

Some people are more susceptible than others to this and it is possible that there could in some people be a relationship with a diabetic tendency but not necessarily.

Low GI foods are ones which release energy slowly eg porridge, pears and not sugary foods which cause a quick hit..though if you are having a low sugar dip then a quick burst of chocolate or coke will get you over the worst of it.

Oh thank you Zippi. I know I am trying to self diagnose my child here, but I am not one to run to the doctor at the first tiny sign. Your description exactly describes dd yesterday, and accounts for her tiredness and thirst later in the day. Also, what you describe sounds a bit like the unreasonable panic my mother and I get into when our blood sugar levels drop. I have been known to start shaking and have to stuff biscuits or chocolate into my mouth even as the dinner is cooking as I just have to eat there and then. It would be reasonable to assume dd might be the same as her mother and grandmother wouldn't it?

Yes that is typical, i have this but i'm not diabetic though in fact my mum and aunt were diabetic..one of my dds also has it and is not diabetic eiother

she just doesn't have a quick reserve to call up

if you are susceptible it's best to have a diet which doesn't have many sugary or quick acting carbohydrates in as they tend to make blood sugar levels (and moods) cycle rapidly up and down..if you google gi foods ypu will see some lists

of course for peace of mind there is every justification to see the gp, but hopefully she won't be diabetic but it is possible..in children it usually develops quite quickly

Thanks for the google suggestion. I have had a look. Of course, our case is not helped by the fact that dd is not the easiest of children to feed (not out and out difficult, but she does not like many healthy foods).

I also saw in my encyclopaedia that fact about diabetes developing quickly in children, so I guess it will soon be apparent if I have anything more to worry about. At least now I feel I am on the alert for it, but I am desperately hoping I am overreacting, for her sake.

I am diabetic. I was diagnosed at age 10 and it took the doctors six months to figure out why I felt lethargic or shaky sometimes. At the end of the six months of feeling unwell all of the classic symptoms were noticed by a babysitter whose father had been diabetic. Good luck.