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Children's health

Any doctors around? I'm worried my 4 year old may have diabetes.

42 replies

lisalisa · 19/08/2008 19:49

I have noticed for some time - at least 4 weeks that my 4 yr old is ecessively thirsty. By excessively I mean that for brfeakfast =she will gulp down 2 cups of water, by mid morning ish another 2, lunchtime another 2 etc. In betgween she always accepts if offere4d a drink and by the time she asks ( if not offered in between the breakfast and mid monring say) she actually cries for a drink on first asking - for e.g. she'll suddeenly cry/comp=lain "mummy i'm so thirsty i need a drink now" - and so she does as she'll drink it all. Surely this can't be normal?

I gazve her hot sweet herbal tea just now for the first time before bed as she wanted somthing hot and to my surpirse she drained the cup drinking it in big gulps after sayhing she was v tghirsty.

No other signs of anything at all being wrong although today she vomited and has a slight temperature. I thnk this is totally unrelated however as the excessive thirst started 4 weeks ago.

Does anyone have any ideas as tgo what it may be ? Diabetes?

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madcol · 19/08/2008 19:56

Is she otherwise well and thriving? is she losing weight or excesively hungry as well as thirsty?

There are other reasons for drinking a lot. One of the main things to know is whether or not she is weeing a lot too. Have you measured what goes in and out ina day?

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lisalisa · 19/08/2008 20:05

I really shouldn't google! I'm now wondering whther to rush her down to A and E fropm relaxedly thinking maybe it s diabetes I'm now concinced. Yes,s hge does wee a lot and is losing weight but we'd put it down to losing p;uppy fat. Frpom thinking that today's episode of vomiting and stomach aches was unrelated I've just read that when diabetes goes undiagnosed this can be the result and that's often how its diagnosed and can lead to a hypo if chldrne go unconccious. Surely I don't need to wak her and rush her down to A and E?

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saltire · 19/08/2008 20:07
  • Disclaimer I am not a doctor or a diabetes expert.

    my brother got diabetes when he was 4. He was fine, no weight loss, or tiredness, just raging thirst. He got diagnosed with it.
    My cousin was the same, she was 2 1/2, the only reason hers was picked up was becasue she was very constipated, and her dad also got it when he was6, and was the same, fine and well until teh diagnosis was given.
    What I'm trying to say is that not all people who have undiagnosed diabetes are ill.
    All of them had been ill a few weeks beforehand with different illnesses 1 had measles, 1 had a really bad flu type thing and 1 had sickness and diahorrea

    However, there ar eother reasons for drinking a lot and it's best to get her checked out, they will do a blood/urine test
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lisalisa · 19/08/2008 20:19

Ok thanks - the nausea/vomting thing just scared me as that's apparantly a sign that its raging out of control/very apparant. I know that google has a tendancy to make people panic but it did say once nausea etc set in it can be a very slippery slope downwards indeed. Do youi all think it can wait till tomorrow to see gP?

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CantSleepWontSleep · 19/08/2008 20:29

I would take her now tbh.
My brother was diagnosed at age 8 (by doctor doing home visit out of hours iirc), after suddenly becoming very ill, following I guess some more gradual signs. Better safe than sorry if it is, as you are right, they can go downhill very quickly.

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lisalisa · 19/08/2008 20:40

cantsleepwontsleep - what do you mean by becoming very ill? Although dd has vomited twice today and had tummy pains and not eaten she walked round a farm etc ( although she did sleep for part of it in her baby brother 's bugy which is unusual for her). How was your brother ill? Dd is not confused/lethargic or anything like that/ She has howver wet the bed for the first time ever so =she is clearly producing a lot more urine - she also whispered that she was thirsty when I =went to change her now so I gave her more water which she drank all up.

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hoxtonchick · 19/08/2008 20:43

i would take her to a&e now if it's at all possible. much better to be either in the right place if it is diabetes, or reassured if it isn't. please let us know how you get on.

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Hangingbellyofbabylon · 19/08/2008 20:44

Good luck Lisalisa - I am going through similar symptoms with my dd although not as strong symptoms as your dd. I hope things are ok, maybe try NHS direct and see what they say?

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gagarin · 19/08/2008 20:44

all you need to do is get her urine tested - if she's diabetic there'll be sugar in it that can be picked up by one of those dipstick things.

does she smell of pear drops? that's another sign I think.

ring NHS direct - if you're worried you should prob speak to them and not a bunch of randomers on MN!

Good luck

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CantSleepWontSleep · 19/08/2008 20:45

Well I was only 5 at the time, so my recollection might not be an exact science, but I do remember him being in bed quite lethargic, and that he'd lost weight and been drinking a lot. I'm not sure whether he'd been vomiting as well or not. I'm pretty sure that the lethargy came on quickly though.

Have you tried phoning NHS direct to see whether they think you should take her in now or leave it until tomorrow? They might at least get you to speak to out of hours doc which would certainly be helpful.

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becaroo · 19/08/2008 20:52

Take her in.

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lisalisa · 19/08/2008 20:59

Please be reassured that I am a very careful mum - not likelyh to hang around a nd discuss matters with a bunch of strangers on MN if I thought my dd was in danger! But - I have no real desire to drag her out of bed on a cold night anrd subject her to the drunks and druggies of A and E which is what our local is if it can wait till the morning and a nice clean and sober GP's office. If she were drwosy, confused or "ill" in any way ( i.e. complaining of tummy ache actively or still vomi=ting or any other funny symptoms ) I'd be there like a shot.

We have just come back from holidafy abroad ( on sunday) and I do remember that she went to the toilet excessively o n the plane and had tons of drinks but that she also ate spectacularly on hliday so if it is diabestes on set is sudden.

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gagarin · 19/08/2008 21:12

oops - didn't mean to imply that - just that other people seemed to think she needed to go to hosp asap!

hope tonight is quiet and you sort it out tomorrow

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artichokes · 19/08/2008 21:18

I have a good friend who was diagnosed with diabetes aged 8 after a period of minor illness and excessive thirst. He was acutally in a coma it got so bad. Given that example I would call NHS and get medical advice about whether you need to go to A&E.

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GrinningGorilla · 19/08/2008 21:27

My half sister died from diabetes aged 6, poor litle mite .
Get your daughter seen tomorrow, ring the GP first thing and try to delay your daughter having any breakfast and only water to drink until you speak to G.P as they may want a "fasting" sugar level done.

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Mummyfor3 · 19/08/2008 21:32

Definetely go and see GP asap tomorrow and take urine sample fromm DD with you.

With that history and if there was sugar in her urine she should be checked out in hospital on the same day.

From what you are posting I would imagine it is ok to wait for morning but if anything changes any A+E deparment will be able to deal with this at any time of day or night.

I had similar scare with DS2 a couple of weeks ago, v scary, although he was ok in the end.

Very best of luck.

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lisalisa · 19/08/2008 21:35

Thanks everyone - mummyfor3 - can I ask what was wrong with ds2 eventually anbd what his styptioms were? jUST trying tro work out what it could be other than diabetes?

Also grinninggorilla - pleae dont' go into details if its too painful or you just don'[t want to but why did she die? Was it undaignosed/sudden etc? Again, wanting to concrete myt decision to remain home on basis that dd does not appear ill as such.

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lilymolly · 19/08/2008 21:40

Agree dont rush to A and E
Does she have breath that smells of pear drops? this could also be a sign.
Take her to gps tomorrow and insist they dipstick her urine and send sample to hospital.
Dont panic!

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Mummyfor3 · 19/08/2008 22:01

Lisa, different story to yours with DS: he had past history of urine infections, was ill with high fever and as usual I dip tested a urine sample to check for infection. Was all clear from that point of view but had sugar ++++ in it . I was v panicked (and all that abroad..) but it turns out that some children, particularly when they have some scarring on kidneys like he does will "leak" a bit of sugar in urine when unwell.
So, sorry, not relevant to your situation, but taught me quite a lot about sugar in urine/diabetes/or not.
Fingers crossed for you and DD.
Would you consider posting how it turned out? I will be thinking of you and DD tomorrow.

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giraffescantdancethetango · 19/08/2008 22:04

hope all goes well tomorrow.

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lisalisa · 19/08/2008 22:28

Yes I will. I will gtake her tomorrow at 8.ooam as early as possible - she has been to the loo 4 times now since going to bed at 6.30pm so all is def not right. No pear drop breath though or more tummy aches or vomting though thanks goodness.

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lulurose · 19/08/2008 22:35

Hi,

Please follow your instinct and take her in as soon as you are able.

A simple urine/finger prick blood test test will rule Type One Diabetes in or out.

My DD2 was diagnosed at 18 months old in A and E, she was in ketoacidosis with a BG of 40mmols (should be 4/5mmols. Again, excessive thirst, lethargy and weight loss were the main symptoms.

I really don't want to worry you unduly as it probably isn't. Take care, and please let us know how you get on.

LR x

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lulurose · 19/08/2008 22:35

Hi,

Please follow your instinct and take her in as soon as you are able.

A simple urine/finger prick blood test test will rule Type One Diabetes in or out.

My DD2 was diagnosed at 18 months old in A and E, she was in ketoacidosis with a BG of 40mmols (should be 4/5mmols. Again, excessive thirst, lethargy and weight loss were the main symptoms.

I really don't want to worry you unduly as it probably isn't. Take care, and please let us know how you get on.

LR x

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lulurose · 19/08/2008 22:35

Hi,

Please follow your instinct and take her in as soon as you are able.

A simple urine/finger prick blood test test will rule Type One Diabetes in or out.

My DD2 was diagnosed at 18 months old in A and E, she was in ketoacidosis with a BG of 40mmols (should be 4/5mmols. Again, excessive thirst, lethargy and weight loss were the main symptoms.

I really don't want to worry you unduly as it probably isn't. Take care, and please let us know how you get on.

LR x

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lulurose · 19/08/2008 22:37

sorry, no idea what happened there

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