Lost

[koot]

I am really lost on which is the worst low count or high count. My 2 year old grandson was just diagnosed with type one, so we are trying to understand it.

[Penny]

Hi Koot, there are many people here that will help you. Both Highs and Lows can be dangerous, I am sicker with a low, but seems like the highs do more damage to my body. I am not sure about a two year old, but I think it's probably about the same. It's a shame this has to happen to one so young, but the little angel is lucky to have you trying to help. Welcome to the forum.

[HollyB]

Hi and welcome,

Frequent highs do long-term damage, but are not an emergency unless the BG is extremely high for long enough to cause DKA. Lows are a problem right away. And they can be more dangerous with little ones as toddlers often can't recognize and/or communicate how they're feeling so they can go way low before you realize it.

Because of this, docs are often pretty cautious about bringing down a newly diagnosed toddler's blood sugar levels, doing it gradually so as not to bottom him out. It's also easy to give too much insulin to a tiny child because their doses are so low to start with.

Ideally of course, you are trying to avoid both highs and lows, but I think most paediatric clinics will suggest keeping a toddler's blood sugars a little above "absolute normal" in order to provide some protection from lows. You can get better control with a pump because it can give teeny doses of insulin and so correct moderate highs without so much risk of overshooting.

Hope your little grandson is doing well!

[soso]

Hi Koot
A low count is more serious in the short term, needs attention immediately to avert serious problems such as loss of conciousness and possibly siezures,also makes the person feel very ill (usually)
The high counts are more serious viewed long term over ones lifetime.. resulting in complications in the future (10 to 15 yrsfrom onset)
The big trick with Diabetes is to try to stay level, within ones target range..at first this seems impossible, but even within the first year you will pick up all kinds of tricks to help you achieve this. Also nowadays there are some very good insulins and of course pumps to help us fine tune...I hope your little one is doing well, I can imagine what a terrible confusing time this is for you all... but believe that you will pick it all up in no time...
ss

[KickStart101]

Hi There! :) Sorry, to hear of your Little Grandson
being dxd. I know that you must be Very worried
about him. Nowadays treatment and equipment is
so much more improved than when I was dxd. at
the age of 3. So your Grandson has an Excellent
future ahead of him.

It is harder to control a child's blood sugars but try
not to worry too much if you see higher and lower
numbers. I know, easier said than done. Just try and
get his numbers in a decent range by his Parent's/Dr.'s
directions, if you are occasionally looking after him.

As mentioned, it's prolonged high's often, that cause
eventual damage so be careful of that or a severe
overdose (too much Insulin,without or very little food).
That can cause damage also.

The bad low's are Very scary and most unpleasant
for the Child and the Caregiver. Obviously a low should
be corrected as soon as possible to avoid this. A Child
can have a seizure without harming him. Make
sure there is nothing near that can harm him and do not
restrain his movements.

Don't forget, Children are Very flexible and resilient so they
come out of these occasional highs and lows pretty good
and without damage.

[Erin]

I am really lost on which is the worst low count or high count. My 2 year old grandson was just diagnosed with type one, so we are trying to understand it.

All of the things said so far seem to be great advice. I feel like I should emphasise again how much worse lows are for little kids (adults are much more able to identify, treat, and prevent low blood sugars). That's why a pediatrician might advise you to keep his blood sugar higher than the folks on here talk about. (I'm not an MD but I think that's good advice).

In terms of general what's the worst low or worst high... these varry. I have felt worse at 40 mg/dl that I have at 20 mg/dl even though 20 is a lower number.

An ideal blood sugar is probably 80 - 120 although a child might aim higher than that... I vaguely remember 100-180 being the goal when I was young.

This is complicated by a few things.

1) americans measure blood sugar in mg/dl, while most of the rest of the world measure in mmols. The conversion factor is 18. So when I said "an ideal blood sugar is probably 80 - 120" I was talking about mg/dl. If I was not from New York, but rather London I might have said "an ideal blood sugar is probably 4.4 - 6.6"

I'll speak from my personal experience.

I think I have pretty good control, but over the course of a number of years I've hit extreems at both the high and the low end of the spectrum. Lows are bad "in the moment" and must be treated like a medical emergency. I've had my blood sugar read 20 mg/dl (1.1 mmol). If I hadn't had food on hand, and the presence of mind to eat it that could have been disasterous.

Highs are more long term issues, and because of this each individual high number (within reason) is less important than how I am managing my blood sugar in a general sense. I have spiked so hi that my glucometer was unable to give a reading, which means I was 600 + mg/dl (33.3 + mmol). That wasn't terribly fun, but I took some insulin and was back to a normal reading relatively quickly. I feel worse the longer I am at a high number, even if it is a lower high. A few times I forgot to take my lantus insulin, and so was high all night long, and into the next day. I don't think I went above 300 (16 mmol) but I know that I started feeling like I was producing ketones, and I know it was bad for me.

[Bladerunner]

My lowest count wat 1.7, that is 30.6??(conversion factor 18?) 2 times it was lower, but how low I cant tell you because i was uncousious ;D, my highest I also dont know because the meter said hi (I thougt it was saying hello to me ;D ;D) everybody knows the long term effects of hi.s in the long run, but I think the lows are just as bad, also in the long run, because it effects the brain, the point is that it's harder to measure brain then to measure things like Hacb1 or kidneys etc. your grandson is only 2 years old so it must be very hard for you to figure eveything out. most people dont have a clue how it feels to a diabetic, its also very difficult to explain if not impossible. I hope you find some awnsers that can help you, I know your grandson is lucky he has a grandmother who takes the effort to find things out about diabetes :)

[kel4han]

You might want to check out childrenwithdiabetes.com as well, the moms there are amazing. They have been a wealth of knowledge and support. Thru JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) you can become aquainted with a mentor family in your area. You must be overwhelmed right now, but your mind will clear and you will be able to take more in over time. Search, search, search online. You may learn more there than from your own Endocrinologist! Know also, that the rollercoaster of emotions is normal. Allow yourself to cope and grieve if you need. Dont feel guilty. There is alot of support and knowledge to be found. Hang in there!