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Original poster

Worried about teenage son and diabetic like symptoms

26 replies

churrosconchoc · 29/03/2025 21:36

Hi
My son passed out at college last Monday. I took him to the drs and he had a blood test for anaemia - waiting on the results for that. However other symptoms have ramped up over the last few days - he is complaining of feeling so thirsty no matter how much water he drinks. I will call the drs on Monday but am getting really anxious. Anyone out there with some advice

OP posts:
changeofnameagain1234 · 29/03/2025 21:37

dont wait until monday go now to a and e

zippococo · 29/03/2025 21:40

Yes I agree urgent assessment required

Hercisback1 · 29/03/2025 21:40

At least phone 111.

Pigeonqueen · 29/03/2025 21:42

changeofnameagain1234 · 29/03/2025 21:37

dont wait until monday go now to a and e

Yep, this.

Scutterbug · 29/03/2025 21:45

Call 111.

Original poster
churrosconchoc · 29/03/2025 21:47

Thanks - will call 111 for advice. He is out with friends atm

OP posts:
CrunchyKnees · 29/03/2025 21:49

Go straight to A&E which is what 111 will advise you to do so don’t waste time calling them.

The unquenchable thirst is a dead giveaway.

Please get him to A&E tonight as untreated T1D can quickly lead to diabetic keto acidosis, coma and death.

Better for it not to be T1D than untreated T1D.

YouBelongWithMe · 29/03/2025 21:51

Go to A&E. This was my son two years ago. He was T1 D and DKA. It was only due to the many Mumsnetters urging me to take him that meant he was seen in time.

It is hugely dangerous. They can test and know in minutes.

Please get him home and go.

CrunchyKnees · 29/03/2025 21:52

I’d get him home and go straight to A&E tbh.

Other symptoms weight loss, tiredness, lots of peeing (obviously and pee is often clear), ketone smell on breath which is how I picked up my DS’s T1D.

Readingismyfirstlove · 29/03/2025 21:53

The thirst is a giveaway. Call your son now and take him to a and e. My father was born in 1937. He was at boarding school age 12 in 1949 and had ridiculous thirst. In those days drinks were regulated. He drank from lavatory bowl. Ended up in hospital on verge of deathbefore diagnosis. Type 1 diabetes.

Don't waste time with gp go to and e and ask for blood sugar tests

YouBelongWithMe · 29/03/2025 21:57

YouBelongWithMe · 29/03/2025 21:51

Go to A&E. This was my son two years ago. He was T1 D and DKA. It was only due to the many Mumsnetters urging me to take him that meant he was seen in time.

It is hugely dangerous. They can test and know in minutes.

Please get him home and go.

This was my post, just over two years ago: https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4705740-diabetic-teen?page=2&reply=122564139.

I will be forever grateful to all the Mumsnet voices who told me A&E.

Page 2 | Diabetic teen? | Mumsnet

Posting in chat for traffic, sorry. I'm taking him to the doctor's tomorrow, but I'm just hoping someone might be able to share experiences of their...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/4705740-diabetic-teen?page=2&reply=122564139

Scutterbug · 29/03/2025 22:02

Does his breath have a strange smell, like pear drops?

CrunchyKnees · 29/03/2025 22:20

Hope you managed to get him home or pick him up to take him straight to A&E OP.

If he’s out with his mates and is possibly drinking that’s only going to make his blood sugar levels more dangerous.

Oblomov25 · 29/03/2025 22:24

Like the old thread. Go to A&E now. I'm a T1 since birth.

But if he's out with friends, is he currently ok? I mean if his blood are not ok, he'd be so ill he'd be back home wanting to do nothing but go to bed, surely?

CrunchyKnees · 29/03/2025 22:53

Oblomov25 · 29/03/2025 22:24

Like the old thread. Go to A&E now. I'm a T1 since birth.

But if he's out with friends, is he currently ok? I mean if his blood are not ok, he'd be so ill he'd be back home wanting to do nothing but go to bed, surely?

My DS’s blood sugar was 39.1 when he was finger pricked in A&E.

The day before he went on a 6 mile bike ride with no issue, we’d just come back from abroad where he’d been running around water parks, up and down slides, swimming etc and was fine aside from being a bit more tired in the evening which we put down to the heat.

He went into A&E looking perfectly healthy and I was sure we’d be sent away. We initially thought he’d lost weight due to not liking the different food where we were, filling up on drinks, and drinking so much because it was 40c!

bearfood · 29/03/2025 23:27

111 will tell you to go to A and E and it does sound to me very much like he has T1. My son’s story is very similar. Good luck, if it is T1 you have a journey ahead of you which will seem hard but you will both be ok

MysticCatLady · 29/03/2025 23:31

I'm a GP. This is an A&E situation today, not waiting for a GP appointment on Monday.

nocoolnamesleft · 30/03/2025 00:06

I'm a paediatrician. I agree that this is definitely an A&E job.

Noroomfor · 30/03/2025 08:22

Yes I agree with the need for emergency.

My adult son, in his 30s, was diagnosed with type one diabetes 8 weeks ago. His symptoms were raging thirst, rapid weight loss and no longer having the stamina to do his running and physical hobbies.
He also told me after his diagnosis he had started to have problems with his eyes, which is what prompted him to go back to the doctor after earlier tests hadn't picked up on the diabetes. Turns out his eyes were damaged but be cause of the swift action to bring down his ridiculously high blood sugar the eye damage has reversed.
I must say he has had first class treatment since his diagnosis.

I hope OP your son gets urgent assessment.

Bimblesalong · 30/03/2025 09:08

I hope you managed to get your son seen last night.

Butterfly44 · 30/03/2025 09:52

Thirst is number 1 symptom and I didn’t think it serious and was going to ‘wait till Monday’ but was told to go to A&E for my daughter. Thank goodness I did, even though I felt ridiculous as she seemed fine otherwise. If it is T1D then leaving it longer is detrimental to the body. Best to go and know for sure

YouBelongWithMe · 30/03/2025 11:31

@churrosconchoc how is your son? Have been thinking about him all night. Hope all is well.

Original poster
churrosconchoc · 30/03/2025 18:48

Thank you everyone for your messages and advice - DH took him to A&E where they did lots of bloods and tests. His Glucose level came back as normal and he is not anaemic. They are a bit unsure of what is causing the thirst but he is going back on Tuesday for more tests for Diabetes insipidus as there is a specialist in the hospital

OP posts:
YouBelongWithMe · 30/03/2025 22:20

Thanks for updating, OP. Hope you get to the bottom of it soon! Well wishes to your son ❤️

Original poster
churrosconchoc · 31/03/2025 09:08

@YouBelongWithMe - thank you

OP posts:
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