Advice about my 2 year old

[Grimm90999]

Just wondering if any parents with small children with diabetes can help.

The last 2 weeks I have noticed that my 2 year old has started to drink alot ( almost finishing a cup and 5 mins later asking for more) including waking up 3/4 times a night for a drink (which she has never done before) but she is not urinating any more than normal. She has lost weight slightly but her behaviour has changed to being more irritable etc which we put down to age.
What signs did you notice that lead you to taking the little one to a doctor about diabetes? I am a type 1 diabetic and have a slight concern but the wife doesn't think there is an issue and doesn't want the doctor to think we are over reacting

 

[ExtremelyW0rried]

Take a bm? Not a fasting one, one after a meal ideally.

 

[Robinredbreast]

Just wondering if any parents with small children with diabetes can help.

The last 2 weeks I have noticed that my 2 year old has started to drink alot ( almost finishing a cup and 5 mins later asking for more) including waking up 3/4 times a night for a drink (which she has never done before) but she is not urinating any more than normal. She has lost weight slightly but her behaviour has changed to being more irritable etc which we put down to age.
What signs did you notice that lead you to taking the little one to a doctor about diabetes? I am a type 1 diabetic and have a slight concern but the wife doesn't think there is an issue and doesn't want the doctor to think we are over reacting

Hi, my granddaughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 2 1/2 years. She was irritable ( we first thought it was the terrible two's) drinking more and tired. If you have any concerns or worries, please make an appointment with your Gp as young children can deteriorate quickly if poorly.
Hopefully it may not be diabetes at all, but if you could test her BS after a meal, or on waking, just to be on the safe side,
( not the nicest thing to do, pricking a little one's finger) take care and wishing you all the best x

 

[Jaylee]

Hi @Grimm90999 ,

Get the little one to the doctor.. It will settle it either way...

Wishing you family the best of luck!

 

[Celsus]

Quick, cheap non-invasive way to get good indicator on your suspicion is simply buy the old classic urine test sticks at the pharmacy and check it out.

Weight loss is indeed often the first symptom of diabetes in small children. Small kids who have type 1 diabetes will be eating regularly, maybe even more than usual, but will be unable to gain weight. Unexplained vomiting may also appear next, aka the kid may throw up over a three- or four-day period for no apparent reason.

And as you are a diabetic yourself, the ultimate yet simple is drawing a small blood sample to check your child’s blood sugar level. Just do a quick finger or heel stick. A reading on 11-12 mmol/L or higher would mean the young child could have diabetes.

The health of your child is in any case much more important than what your doctor may think about you overreacting. I am actually sure he/she will be very understanding of your concern. So do never hesitate. The doctor can also get the A1c test done.

 

[SimonCrox]

Quick, cheap non-invasive way to get good indicator on your suspicion is simply buy the old classic urine test sticks at the pharmacy and check it out.

Weight loss is indeed often the first symptom of diabetes in small children. Small kids who have type 1 diabetes will be eating regularly, maybe even more than usual, but will be unable to gain weight. Unexplained vomiting may also appear next, aka the kid may throw up over a three- or four-day period for no apparent reason.

And as you are a diabetic yourself, the ultimate yet simple is drawing a small blood sample to check your child’s blood sugar level. Just do a quick finger or heel stick. A reading on 11-12 mmol/L or higher would mean the young child could have diabetes.

The health of your child is in any case much more important than what your doctor may think about you overreacting. I am actually sure he/she will be very understanding of your concern. So do never hesitate. The doctor can also get the A1c test done.

very helpful advice, but several caveats.
T1DM can arise so quickly that he HbA1c does not have time to rise and can give a falsely reassuring negative results.
Children can have a low renal threshold for glycosuria, so that non-diabetic nippers have a falsely positive result on urine test..
As others say, get to GP and could do a heel blood test yourself - the GP should see your child same day. Or even take yourselfand child to local children hospital emergency department.
Unfortunately, T1DM in youngsters has become more common, for some reason, although some evidence suggests it is just arising earlier in life rather than more people in total developing T1DM in childhood / adolescence.
I am sure that you are not over reacting (I would never be patronising)
I am unsure whether GPs could get blood from a 2 year old, but they must be able to do the heel prick.
Best wishes