Opinions please

[Kwebst]

hiya
Could really do with some advice. Main question I suppose is do you think my son is diabetic or has low blood sugar issues? He’s 15, 8 stone and 5 foot 8. Been plagued with migraine type headaches which are now so bad he’s getting them 6/7 days, always on waking. He drinks a lot, goes to toilet a lot, unbelievably tired. Has managed 3 days school in last 4 weeks. Headache improves after sleep but has no appetite, when he does eat his headache often comes back. I’m at my wits end what to do and the dr keeps giving us pills for migraines. I’m not convinced this is the way to go. We’ve insisted on consistent bed time routines and x box has been banned. He’s not a great eater though as he has no appetite. Any ideas would b welcome.

 

[Mike d]

No-one here could ever answer that. GP visit necessary

 

[Mbaker]

We can’t diagnose, however you should take him to the Doctor first thing, or a walk in centre or at least a local pharmacy. He will have his blood sugars taken and have some sent off for testing. Please try and get a test done first thing.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. I'm afraid your son's symptoms could be from a very wide range of conditions and they don't point to diabetes but you can always get a rough diabetes check done at the local chemist who will do a spot finger-prick blood test.

 

[Kwebst]

Thanx for your replies. I didn’t think his symptoms ticked all the boxes but I’m clutching at straws trying to find answers.

 

[Kittycat_7_]

Please take your son back to his GP, he needs to be referred to a neurologist for his migraines/headaches.
Mention your concern about diabetes to his GP. Some blood tests can be done urgently.
Hope he feels better very soon.
Take care

 

[wiflib]

Stop that useless doctor from fobbing you off again and insist on a referal and an urge t one at that. If you are able, choose another doc at the surgery and if nobody listens, take him out of hours to a clinic.

You are his mum and I think you should trust your instincts. Time to go mama bear on those people!

 

[Kwebst]

Thought I’d give you an update. Took him back to dr on fri and stamped my feeties in a major way. Lots of blood tests done as well as usual blood pressure and hr. Had a morning fasting glucose of 5.7.
Have discovered headaches are down to low blood sugar. He MUST have something decent to eat just before he goes to bed or he will wake with a migraine He has to eat approx every 2 hrs or he feels lethargic and dizzy. Glucose tablets give him a visible flush and high. He literally goes from looking grey to white after glucose tablets. Did nothing for me!) Glucose tablet as soon as he wakes helps. since we started on the small regular meals his headaches have drastically improved. Also his sleep has gone from 16 hrs a day to 13. Hoping everything will settle in time but wondering what blood tests will show. Dr at a loss! Controlling his food intake is definitely improving thing, not perfect but maybe hope in site!

 

[Salvia]

Well done you, for standing up to the beauraucrats - and more importantly, standing up for your son! Glad that things are improving and hope that you'll get a proper diagnosis fairly soon, with the appropriate treatment. It may take a while, and might mean more tests and probably specialists intervention, but at least you are now on the road. Just keep stamping your feet as and when necessary, to keep the momentum going.

 

[Brunneria]

Sounds like your doctor needs to refer him urgently for more tests to get the bottom of what is causing this!

 

[Kwebst]

Will b interested to get the blood tests back. He’s testing everything We are seeing a pedietrician in 9 days but it’s definitely to do with sugar levels. Drs heard /saw migraine and threw pills at us- far too strong ones for a skinny 15 year old. At least I can see an improvement in my son. Just wondered if a morning fast blood glucose of 5.7 is good bad or average? I’ve no idea.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

Will b interested to get the blood tests back. He’s testing everything We are seeing a pedietrician in 9 days but it’s definitely to do with sugar levels. Drs heard /saw migraine and threw pills at us- far too strong ones for a skinny 15 year old. At least I can see an improvement in my son. Just wondered if a morning fast blood glucose of 5.7 is good bad or average? I’ve no idea.

5.7 seems to be O.K. for fasting BG - certainly not an indication of raging diabetes, nor of what would normally be considered low blood sugar.

Regular snacks seem to be the order of the day, but perhaps not glucose pills because they are a "boom and bust" solution where your BG goes sky high then can crash again soon after. Slow release energy, perhaps?

One thing to try might be malt loaf with butter. Recommended for slow energy release during exercise instead of concentrated sugars which give a quick boost then wear off.

 

[leahkian]

Hi there keep on at the doctors or they will just let thing go on, you say your son is drinking a lot that is good if he is not eating. You can give him coke or a supplement drink if he is finding it hard to eat, i think more tests need to be done before you will no what is wrong with him. With him sleeping all the time he may need more vitamins, i no a lot of people who get tired easy are given a vitamin B12 injection about every 6 weeks but all you can do is keep a eye on your son till you go to hospital. It may be a good idea of keeping a diary what he is eating and drinking everyday till you go to see if some foods make him better or worse and also write down any questions you want to ask as when you get in to see the doctor you might forget. Good luck

 

[AdamJames]

Just wondered if a morning fast blood glucose of 5.7 is good bad or average? I’ve no idea.

My own view on that would be that it's very hard to say, as some people always find that their morning bg is their highest reading, and the suspected reason for that is that their liver has been releasing glucose overnight (or towards the morning, so-called dawn phenomenon).

But for a normal, non-diabetic person, who *doesn't* experience "dawn phenomenon", 5.7 is a tiny bit high compared with results from this study:

https://www.diabetes-symposium.org/index.php?menu=view&id=322#chart=17

If getting to the bottom of what's happening proves to be a nightmare, and you suspect it has something to do with blood sugar, then it might be worth taking matters into your own hands, getting hold of a meter and regularly taking his readings last thing at night, first thing in the morning, even halfway through sleeping, and before then 1 and 2 hours after every meal.

I had an issue that 3 doctors couldn't work out for 3 months, finally after lots of personal research I realised I could be diabetic, so got a meter, did various tests, showed the results to the GP, I was sent for a formal HbA1c test and it was confirmed I was diabetic.

 

[catapillar]

5.7 is completely normal and non diabetic. A reading of 5.7 doesn't suggest dawn phenomenon. Nor does it show diabetes. Nor does it show low blood sugar. It's just normal. Normal blood sugar is <6.1 fasting, just as you sons was.

How have you determined the migraines are caused by low blood sugar? Have you tested his blood sugar when he is having symptoms? The only blood sugar reading you have mentioned is the 5.7 fasting, which isn't low, it's normal.

Low blood sugar doesn't suggest diabetes as diabetes is a condition of high blood sugar.

 

[slip]

reactive hypoglycemia? Totally off the wall idea with no real substantive evidence - just based (loosely) on what you've said.

 

[suhasini]

hiya
Could really do with some advice. Main question I suppose is do you think my son is diabetic or has low blood sugar issues? He’s 15, 8 stone and 5 foot 8. Been plagued with migraine type headaches which are now so bad he’s getting them 6/7 days, always on waking. He drinks a lot, goes to toilet a lot, unbelievably tired. Has managed 3 days school in last 4 weeks. Headache improves after sleep but has no appetite, when he does eat his headache often comes back. I’m at my wits end what to do and the dr keeps giving us pills for migraines. I’m not convinced this is the way to go. We’ve insisted on consistent bed time routines and x box has been banned. He’s not a great eater though as he has no appetite. Any ideas would b welcome.

It is good that you have started testing your son for his sugar readings and others as well. Having suffered from intense migraines myself I can tell you that there is neither clear diagnosis or treatment for this. Some food tolereated well usually might turn to be the trigger for migraine suddenly. Digestive issues like too high or low acid in stomach, poor gut bacteria can also be part of the cause. I increase my intake of ginger and pro biotics at such times. Also taking electrolyte helps. I go for natural coconut water without added sugar. From your accout he seems to be dehydrated. Good luck !