Does anyone have any experience with a diabetic toddler?

[Kiki92]

Hey!

My son (17 months) has been ravenous recently, drinking like a fish, and wetting through his nappies frequently (despite experimenting with different brands). He's also been a bit more tired than usual. I didn't think too much of this until I spoke to a family member yesterday who told me to book him in for a blood test asap. She said she'd experienced similar symptoms before being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

So, I've booked him in for a blood test tomorrow to play it safe, and I know I'm jumping the gun and assuming the worst, but I'm freaking out a bit...

Does anyone have experience with a diabetic toddler? Can someone explain to me what will happen if the blood test comes back and solidifies my fears. What would the next stage be?

I know there's no need to worry yet. I know... But I'd like to be mentally prepared for all outcomes.

Firstly, on the testing. Please insist that your GP performs a fingerprick blood test. Urine testing is not foolproof and some GPs will try to get you to wait for fasting bloods to be taken, etc, and that is not the correct protocol. Please make sure your child has had some food within an hour or two before the appointment. They do not need to have fasted and postprandial bloods are more accurate in early stage T1D. If your child becomes very lethargic, smells of acetone, vomits or has difficulty breathing between now and the appointment, please take them immediately to A&E.

If your child has a diagnosis of type one diabetes, you can expect them to be admitted to hospital that day and kept in for a few days. You will be taught how to monitor their blood glucose (initially with finger prick blood tests through the day and possibly at night). They would normally have about five injections a day and you will be taught to do these as well as how to estimate the carbohydrate in their food so you can adjust their insulin dose. Later on, as a toddler, you should get access to an insulin pump and hopefully a form of continuous or flash glucose monitoring which means they won't need as many blood tests.

Undiagnosed type one diabetes is fatal if not treated, so you do need to get this diagnosis excluded. Hopefully if they do have a diagnosis you will have caught it early and they will not be critically ill.

This all sounds very scary I know, but if it is type one diabetes you will have done the right thing and you will get used to it. It's a significant diagnosis but not one that should stop your child from achieving what they want to in life.

Lots of children have periods where they drink more, but you are doing absolutely the right thing by getting testing. The sooner it is caught the better, and if the results are all fine then you can relax sooner.

How did you get on?