Suspected diabetes in 17 month old

[MaMa2Kellie]

Hello!

I'm new here. I have a 17 month old who is exhibiting signs of diabetes. We just got the results of her blood work. She had a blood sugar level of 118 and some questionable levels of electrolytes.

She has excessive thirst, excessive urination, refuses to eat anything unless it is sweet, asks for sweets all the time (hourly or more frequently), and becomes irritable with little to no warning. All of these symptoms have presented within the last week.

Prior to this last week, she was a healthy eater, moderate water-drinker, moderate wetter, and mild-mannered/even-tempered little girl. Her Doc said her test was not definitive and asked us to go back in for more tests on Monday.

Can anyone tell me what a normal blood sugar level would be for a toddler? Google has been no help... Except for leading me here! :)

[Jan B]

Hi MamatoKellie,

Welcome to DF,

I know there are a couple people here who were about your toddler's age when they were diagnosed. I believe most of us type 1s had bgs way higher when diagnosed (400 - 1000s), but most of us were also older than your little one. I need to look into this a lot more . . . but I wanted to welcome you and wish you well with your precious little one.

[fgummett]

Hi Kellie's Mama, Welcome to DF and glad you found us. You must be freaking out and I don't blame you... there are other Mums of kids with diabetes on this forum...alas I am just a Dad but I will do my best.

I found this site in Canada About Kids Health - Diabetes... (http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/Diabetes/Diabetes-Home.aspx?articleID=6497&categoryID=DB) ...it says, The following test confirms the diagnosis: a reliable laboratory blood sugar reading of more than 11.1 mmol/L (200 mg/dL) taken at any time of day. It doesn’t matter when the child last ate. ...so based on just that test her reading of 118md/dL may be OK. BUT I am not a doctor.

I hope that site gives you some useful reading and maybe puts some of your understandable fears in perspective.

All I can say for now is that even if little Kellie does have diabetes it is not the end of the World and it is certainly nobody's fault. In fact I have heard that a diagnosis at a very early age can make it easier to adjust. Kids are incredibly resilient and much tougher than we usually give them credit for
Wishing you well
~ Frank

[xMenace]

I don't know if you have any older kids, but mine led me suspect the beetus many times. All were false. Kids can be fussy little creatures, and their demeaner can suddenly change as they test the waters. It could very well be she's pushing her limits at trying to con you out of sweets. If no diabetes is diagnosed, stay firm with the little darling,

[MaMa2Kellie]

Thank you for your kind words. :) Hopefully we'll get an answer soon. It's the not-knowing that's hard.

[Alice]

I don't think craving sweets is a symtom of diabetes. Being thirsty...above and beyond normal...is a definite sign...as well as the frequent urination. (Hard to tell with babies, right?)...

Are you giving her sweet juice when she is thirsty? Or water? Consuming sugar does not directly contribute to diabetes...in a stretch...the calories may contribute to a metabolism situation in Type 2's...but not directly.