Child diabetes
Answered 4 years ago
So my 4 year olds doctor has asked me to get her checked for diabetes and I'm full freaking out. Like I took her in asking for her to be tested for a UTI, she has lost weight but never stops eating, she will go to the toilet 7 times in an hour (and that's a good day, it can be way more, she is tired and cranky all the time despite getting like 11 hours sleep (she goes to bed at 7, asleep by 8 and gets up 7am every morning). I have no idea how I'm supposed to convince a 4 year old to sit for a blood test? And what the hell am I meant to do if she does have it? Doctor also wrote on the blood test referral that she is pale, but she's always been pale. I'm not even 100% sure what my question is, I'm just freaking out. The more I look in to the signs and symptoms the more it describes her.
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A normal blood sugar reading should be less than 8 mmol upon waking or two hours after eating. In the early stages it can be hard to diagnose as the pancreas will still produce a bit of insulin so the numbers might be perfect first thing in the morning but it might not be the case later in the day. A fasting blood sugar test and a Glycated hemoglobin test should be done. They might also test for antibodies common to Type 1.
If she tests positive, you will be ok. I won’t lie, it is hard and I cried for weeks but life does get back to normal, just a new kind of normal. She will be put on an insulin regime and you will have to monitor her blood sugar levels regularly. I cannot recommend a Constant glucose monitor enough. They are subsidised (free) to all children under 21 and allow you to monitor her on your phone. BUT that is getting too far ahead. Get the tests done and go from there. If she is positive, don’t hesitate to reach out, I will answer any question you have as will many others I am sure.
Hugs to you and your little one.
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To make matters worse I took her in to pathology today and they said they couldn't do it as they were short staffed and I'd have to come back tomorrow. My poor partner is trying to keep me calm but I don't think that's going to happen until I get this done and get the results. But the referral sheet doesn't say that she needs to be fasting for the test which really confused me?
Thank you so much for your kind words ❤
We thought the same thing, it’s getting hotter, we are all drinking more, etc but the day he drank 3 full glasses of water back to back and asked for more we knew something was up.
I hope this isn’t a club you have to join but if you do, there is a lot of support out there.
And putting her thirst in to perspective, I sent her to bed at 7.30 with a litre pump bottle, it's current 12.15 and she just came in asking me to fill it back up because she is "so, so thirsty." And it's only 14°, made it to a top of 26 today so it's not even hot.
As any mother would, I'm seriously hoping that it's something else and not serious, but I know we will he able to cope if she does have it. After I have my little break down of course lol