Question on Type 1 Diabetes

Take the child to the doctor as soon as possible and tell him the symptoms. He/she will order blood tests first and go from there. I have a grandson who was about seven when he had what his mother thought was the flu and suddenly went into a diabetic coma and almost died. He was airflighted to the nearest trauma center and diabetes was diagnosed quickly and they saved him. He was very brittle and had a lot of ups and downs but learned how to do his own insulin shots and carried the equipment with him plus his teachers, parents, etc. were taught how to deal with it and what to do if he had problems including insulin shock. He is now 29, and is on an insulin pump. He is doing well. Another grandson,15, was at my house a lot and was always thirsty and drank a lot. I got him to the doctor who took blood tests and he was fine, just a growing, active young man. Better safe than sorry. Don't delay and good luck.

If you are concerned, a visit to the pediatrician could eliminate any doubts or worries. That is what I would recommend.
Good luck!

K.,

My oldest son was diagnosed when he was 6. (He is 13 now.) It sounds like your son has all the classic symptoms - however, since you checked his blood sugar after a fast and he was 97 - within range for a child - that would be the only thing that doesn't fit. My son's target is 100 - but we have always worked with a range of 70-140. When we took him in - after an over night fast - he was in the 300s. We checked into the hospital immediately, his sugars went as high as 800 while there. However, with all the other symptoms, I think you definitely need to take your son in to the doctor. It may not be diabetes - and for your sake I hope not (but they do have great ways of managing it today so much better than even 7 years ago) - but it could be something else, too.

Lisa (Mom to 4 boys)

If you think it is a possibility (and it sounds like he has many of the signs) I would recommend taking him to the doctor as soon as possible to have him looked at. It can be very dangerous to wait. If you are looking for a resource, I would recommend calling a local chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

I agree that you should get him to the doctor. The test that can tell sugars over time is called an HbA1c. I also agree that 97 is normal so I doubt it is diabetes, but there has to be something going on. Please call and make the appointment.

You don't need to be armed with anything except the issues you have already noticed, your educated questions, and your mother's intuition. Why wonder and delay? Get him into his pediatrician now!

Why wait. Go to the doctor and share with him your concerns. They'll take it from there. They'll share with you what to do.

He could be thirsty if his calcium levels are too high as well. He could also be tired all the time due to calcium. CVould be his thyroid.

I crave water when my calcium levels are too high and when my blood sugars are off.

I would just take your son in. Diabetes is nothing to mess with. Better be safe than sorry.

You need to take your sone to the doctor if you really think something is wrong. Diabetes is nothing you want to ignore. I don't know about a child's glucose level, but an adult would be more than happy with that reading in the morning. You didn't mention if you child had breakfast yet or not. The best reading is when you first wake.

I have experienced gestational diabetes, but do not have it otherwise.

I also have a kindergartener, some of the symptons you mention are very common for a child with a new routine. Especially the tiredness. Many nights my daughter falls asleep 10 minutes after dinner (we eat at 5:30) for the night. Your son being hungry all the time and tired may also be a sign of a growth spurt.

If you are concerned - let an expert do the testing for you.

Hi K.~

If you are interested I have some emails that might be helpful to you regarding diabetes.

Please feel free to email me at: ____@____.com and I will send them right away!

Please consider nutrients for your little one before medication if you are open to it.

Thanks for letting me share~
A.

forget about the testing unless you go online and check out what the limits are.I would take him to the DR right away and tell him what you have written in here. If he does not have it at least he won't have to get his finger stuck everyday and if he does he should be getting treatment asap. He could even be animic. Go to WebMD.com and check o ut his symptoms until you can get into the Dr. God Bless and good luck

Good morning, K.! Take your son to your doctor immediately! Even if it's not juvenile diabetes, it's not good for you to be so stressed out over it. You need to resolve the question as soon as possible for your own peace of mind. Good luck, girl. Hope everything works out!

I would call tomorrow and make an appointment to see his doctor so the doctor can evaluate his symptoms further, especially if you are concerned and he has had some symptoms at school.. It is important that he/she can address your concerns and your son can get a medical treatment plan started if he has blood sugar problems.

He has every single symptom of Type 1 diabetes. Don't wait any longer, take him in right away.

Hi K.:

I have several family members with Type 1 Diabetes. A blood sugar reading of 100 is considered "normal". The "normal range" is 70 to something like 120. When I have gone in to have my blood sugar checked at the doctor's, I have fasted overnight (12-15 hours) and my readings were around 100 and considered normal, so 97 is really not "high". Like another poster indicated, people with diabetes often have "off the charts" readings if they are not being treated.

If you are concerned, do not hesitate to bring your son in. The symptoms he is having will be enough for any decent doctor to take you seriously. Also, just checking his blood sugar randomly is not enough of a test. Your doctor will likely have him drink something (I forget what it's called, but it tastes like flat orange soda) and then will test him to see how his blood sugar reacts.

Another thing to check, too, would be his thyroid.

Good luck to you.

Edited to add: After I posted this, I remembered that my mom, who has Type 1, periodically gets a blood sugar test done where the doctors can tell what her average blood sugar has been long-term. I've heard others talking about the test--ask your doctor for that test.

Hey, K.! I've had Type I Diabetes since I was little. The symptoms are excessive thirst, excessive urination, fatigue, upset stomach, nausea, and rapid weight loss. Since you don't mention a drop in your son's weight, my guess would be that it's not diabetes. And the blood sugar you mentioned is normal. Still, it's not something that you want to put off seeing a doctor about. Sometimes with diabetes, kids can go through a honeymoon stage where their bodies still produce some insulin (should still have some weight loss and nausea though). Definitely mention it to your son's doctor and write down all the symptoms that you've been noticing. The doctor will be able to run some tests and see if anything is going on.

K.,

If you are at all concerned about diabetes call your Dr. you do not want to delay any treatement. The earlier it is caught the easier it is to get under control.

D.

I would take him to the doctor right, but have him on a 12 hour fast (nothing but water) when you do so they can do a blood test right away and not have to wait until the next time. There is a lot of diseases that have some of the same symptoms and you won't know until you get him checked out. Having him fast will save you time and a extra doctors appointment.

Hi K.! My daughter was diagnosed this summer with type 1 Diabetes at age 19 months. She had all the symptoms you mentioned but her blood sugar was almost 600. The blood sugar you posted is very normal, so I doubt that your son has diabetes. However, I would get him in to see a doctor.
*Normal blood sugar is 70-120 but varies some with each person. Diabetes is hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) so your son's blood sugar would be continually high if he was not producing insulin.

Whatever the case, call a doctor! Those symptoms are not normal. I hope you find the cause soon!
*EDIT* I forgot to say this :) How long has it been since your meter and your test strips have been used? It may give an inaccurate number if your container of strips has been open for a long period of time.

K.,
Your son has all the classic symptoms of diabetes. They usually do a urinalysis on a child at first to see if they are leaking glucose in their urine. A fasting blood sugar of 97 I know is fine for an adult. For adults we do further testing if glucose is over 100.
However, with the symptoms your child is having, you should definitely take him in to see your pediatrician.
Even if he does not have diabetes, there can be other causes of weight loss, fatigue etc. Children can have malabsorption issues etc. I would take him in so his pediatrician can figure out what is going on with him.
I would not wait to get your pediatricians recommendations.

I am a nurse and my husband has diabetes and a condition called celiac disease(allergy to wheat that prevents absorption of nutrients-diagnosed at age 1).

Hope this helps.