Need some advice

[soremom]

Recently my 3 yr old asked me to test him. I thought it would be a good thing for him to understand better what he sees me do constantly. It was about an hour after he ate, it was 170. This made me more than a little nervous, but I know one test doesn't mean anything.

Re-tested a day or two later, about 2 hrs after eating, and it was 135. Still not were I want it. I have tested him about 3-4 times first thing in the morning and it is between 89-90's, which I believe is where it should be.

I was reading some posts on another site, and some information taken from the Joslin site was used. It stated for non-diabetic morning bgs of 60-100 could be beginning (best word I can think of) of diabetes or pre-diabetes. Has anyone else heard this or read it somewhere? I went to the Joslin site and could not find that. Reading this made me more than a little scared.

I go to the dr in the next couple weeks and was planning on talking to her and taking a few more readings. He has no obvious symptoms, other than I think he could use a little fat on him. I am debating if I should call and get an appointment with me or just wait and talk to her. Any suggestions would be helpful. I don't want to over-reacting, this is the last thing I would want to share with him, but this is my baby.

Maybe I just needed to get this off of my chest. I realy haven't said anything to anyone in my family, don't want to upset and worry them if it is nothing. We have enough problems with my father right now and I know it would not be good for my mom.

Thanks for any help or ideas, something to ease my mind would be wonderful, lol.

Kim

[TAutry]

Kim,

I understand your concerns very well. I haven't tested my one-year-old yet, but his doctor has been made aware of my diabetes and other medical concerns. My wife, my mother and I have all looked Ian up and down for any sign of anything. You can bet that at the first sign of diabetes or anything else, he will be going to the doctor to be checked out.

You are correct, it may be nothing. Then again it may not. For your own peace of mind and for his health, I would encourage you to get an appointment for your son or take him to yours.

Keep us posted on what you decide and what you find out.

Travis

[soremom]

Thanks Travis, I know I over react when it comes to my boys. I talked to my dr about having them tested, she said just watch for the signs, any problem bring them in. I will probably do that just to help me sleep

Kim

[Dewey]

Hi Kim,

I completely agree with Travis. Even if you find it's nothing, it's better to go and get good news, then to Not go and have potential problems down the road. It is definitely wise of you to set up an appt. and take your little one with you next time you go to the doctor. Here's hoping he's a-ok, and that all turns out well. :thumbsup:

Dewey

[Shalyndria]

I, like the others, don't think you're overreacting at all, Kim. I think you're being a great parent :D

I can't add anything else to what's been said, and I'll be keeping my finger's crossed that all goes well. Keep us updated and let us know how it turns out!

Shy

[nantomsuethom]

Kim, I say ditto to all of these posts. For peace of mind you should take your son to be checked out. Once you have him checked out it will be on an official record and they will at least have a base line for future monitoring.

I pray that he is diabetes free. :thumbsup:

Keep us posted.

[archimeech]

Kim, you're not over reacting. You're being a caring loving mother. nothing wrong with that. I do the same with my 2 kids. It just scares me to death that, one day, they may have to deal with all the stuff we do. Keep it up, honey. You're doing what's best for him.
Meech

[Littlebit63_99]

Kim,

I have two young adult daughters.......20 and 21. I tested them a couple times a year throughout their lives.........if I had ever gotten a "high" reading....I would have taken them straight in.

You are not being paranoid.......you are just being a good parent.

Take the little one in and get some peace of mind.........just like everyone else said here. And do keep us posted.

[soremom]

Thanks everyone for you support. I am getting ready to call to see when my appt is, either the 6th or 13th, and if I can take him with me. Even if they say no he needs his own appt, I probably will take him. If he had other symptoms or change in behavior I would have taken him straight to the er, so far there are no other symptoms.

Kim

[Belinda]

Kim like everyone has said...your not being paranoid ...your just being a GREAT mom. Here is keeping fingers cross that it is nothing and that he just ate too many holiday goodies.

[rzrbks]

Since my father-in-law is T1, I even test my wife occasionally :)

[soremom]

I have decided I will just take him with me, I am not going to wait to another appt with him. He has been running in the 130's tonight, he likes to pick at his dinner during the evening, won't eat it all at once. He is my live wire. I am going to keep testing him till we go to the drs, luckily he is letting me without a fight.

Kim

[am1977]

Hey Kim,

I don't blame you for being concerned, I think most parents would be. I would take him in to see a doctor and get him checked out. If it turns out that he is fine, great! Then at least you can ease your mind and not worry so much. Hopefully, that will be the case. If not and does turn out to be something, then you know and can deal with it from there. And I know it's hard not to worry, but if he your worries are confirmed, I still think he will be in good hands having you around and having you to educate and help him along the way.

I wish you both the best ;) Let us know how everything turns out. +

[duck]

I wouldn't worry at all about it; There are many factors that are screened for pre-diabetes (isn't there a thread around here on C-Peptides?), and blood sugar level is just one. Even in "normal" people, after-meal blood sugars can be higher (the phrase "sugar high" is not meant to describe a diabetic, after all). And "normal" people can have hypoglycemic episodes, so if you can have one extreme, you can have the other and still be "normal". Plus, we're talking about a child, so all bets are off as to what is "normal". :1eye:

[soremom]

I was going to just take Tyler to the drs with me, but decided I better make him his own appt. Since mine is just a check up, they wouldn't have enough time to spend with him. The did get him in on the 20th, which I was glad I have to take the day off as the babysitter can't watch him that day. It will also give me a chance to get a few more bgs on him.

If there is any change or they spike higher I will take him to the er, right now they seem to want to stay in the 130's except for mornings.

He is actually taking the testing well, we do it together. If he hadn't asked me to do it, I may not have realized something could be wrong. He is a tough little guy, though all the stress is giving me a nice headache.

I will let you know how the appt goes or if there is a change. I am trying to keep good thoughts, but he is my baby. This is one disease I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.

Kim

[duck]

I am in the "you are being paranoid" camp, but having a kid of my own I could see myself reacting like you--SO: Is it possible that the doctors can switch your appointment with his so you can get him in sooner (your is sooner, right)?

[soremom]

I asked if I could give him my appt, but it is not possible. Since mine is just a 3 month check up and his will be an intial appt it will take longer. I plan on talking with them about him today. I am also checking his bgs throughout the day and keeping track of those. Like I said, if they seem to start spiking, I will get him to the er. He hasn't lost his energy though. He is hardly even sleeping.

Kim

[Clint]

I often wonder what the chances of my kids developing diabetes... My mom has always told me that my cousins and I are at risk while my mom and her sister were not (my moms parents were both Type1 and both died from complications)...

hmmm.... maybe i will ask my dr next time I am in there....

[soremom]

I just had to pass this on. My son will be 4 March 1, in the few weeks that I have been testing him, really just this past week, he has learned how to insert the test strip properly, how to work the autopen and put the blood on the test strip. The only problem is he likes to pull the strip out fast, atleast I have been faster.

I guess I am just feeling proud at how quickly he picking this up, and if everything turns out alright (which is the way I plan it will) he will know how to test me. Now just need to teach him what the numbers mean, that could take a little longer. But he does know when I am low and what to do and that I need it now, not later. My oldest is wonderful on that part and has helped me more than any child should have to help a parent (putting them in a hard position of having to go through that is what I mean) but that is another story for another time.

Sorry for the rambling, my nerves are shot, I am sick and just need to do something positive about this and bragging about my kids makes me the happiest. :thumbsup:

Kim

[soremom]

I got Tyler's appt changed to this Thurs. I picked him up at the babysitters today and we when got home I tested him. It was 207, he had just woken up from a nap and did have a little juice to drink, but for all the more it took me to get home and all he had to drink, that seems a bit drastic. So I called the drs office to see at what numbers I should really worry about with the weekend up and they said high 200s. To watch how many carbs he eats till he goes in next week and call if things change.

This is going to sound stupid since I have had this stupid disease for almost 13 yrs, but what tests do they do to determine if he has it or not? Since I had gestational diabetes and it came back 8 mths after he was born, they really didn't run any tests on me. I had my log book with my numbers, which I am doing for him. I am not sure what to expect next week, forgot to ask at my appt, never came to mind with all the other questions I was asking. Besides this is taking a toll on my nerves. I can usually handle things pretty well and keep calm, but with one of my babies, everything changes. With the time of the appt my husband will probably not be able to go with me.

Any ideas with what to expect would be appreciated.

Kim

[Clint]

well... my son has seemed to be more thirsty lately and seems to sleep more for a 3yr old than he normally does... so I decided to test him after he went to sleep and his BS was 140... so I tested the wife - 100 and my daughter -101... I am going to check him again in an hour or so and see...

[soremom]

Clint, mines energy hasn't seemed to dimmed but gotten worse, he doesn't want to sleep and when he does it isn't for long. Which is hard on me. His behavior has changed too. He is more defiant (sorry about spelling). I actually notice this before I tested him and was wondering what had changed. Not sure if diabetes could cause this or not. I was 24 when diagnosed, so very different circumstance.

Hope everything is alright with you little one. I know how you feel, my nerves are completely gone right now. By Thursday, I won't be a very nice person, lol.

Kim

[Clint]

Ya, my son has seemed to have gotten really moody and defiant as well... but this could be due him being a typical 3yr old... but, I will keep an eye for any symptoms that may show...

I hope your nerves hold up.. :)

[KrisinNM]

In answer to the question about how much this runs in familys, this is my personal experiance: maternal grandmother had it (not sure what type as there wasn't much research about types in the 1950s). Younger sister dx'd when she was 14, her daughter was dx'd with MODY (mature onset in the young) when she was 16, her son dx'd with 1 1/2 when he was 20. I was dx'd with TI when 37. So far my 3 sons are all ok, they are in their 30's. The old myth was that it skips generations but really doubt if that is still true.

[soremom]

Finally got Tyler to the dr today, which was a hassle but another story. Since his numbers are not consistantly high but has had some 200's, no diagnoses today. Did some lab work, I know an a1c and another one that for some reason I just can't think of the name of it. It was not a c-petide test but similar, something to do with antibodies. My brain is in such over loading that I am not thinking straight.

He has to fast tonight and have a 2 hour glucose test tomorrow morning, which again I believe is the proper name of it. She said I will get the results right away and will give a good idea where he is at. She hated to say a yes or no as to what she thought, which I can't blame her. Now I just have to wait till 8 tomorrow morning, ugh, I have not patience.

He did great with the blood test. I had mine done first and then him. He cried a little but was great. The fasting is the hard part, he says he is hungry and needs to eat. I feel horrible telling him no, but it will be worth it to get some kind of answer tomorrow.

Just wanted to let you know where things stood right now. Hopefully by this time tomorrow night I will be celebrating, which I think it will be, but have to be ready for the worst.

Kim

[docta-docta]

Hi Kim,

It would be interesting if you are in the process of discovering a Type 1 diagnosis before it actually happens. It's rarely caught until all of the beta cells are gone. It's too bad there aren't many studies going on with the experimental vaccination for Type 1 families right now, or he'd probably be a prime candidate for it.

The doctor is probably looking for antibodies that are responsible for attacking the beta cells. GAD+ might be one of them. There are actually two sets of antibodies he can check. One of them costs quite a bit and that is probably why only one antibody test is being done.

Keep us posted. I'll be definately interested in reading about your son's progress.

Also, what kind of doctor are you seeing for him?

[KrisinNM]

Kim, our thoughts are with you and your son today!

[buzzborne]

Kim, Hope it all goes well today!

[zookeeper671]

Kim and Clint, I really hope all is alright with your little ones. I can't imagine the anxiety you must be going through. Even though there's no history of diabetes in my [future] step-son's family, I can't help but occasionally think "what if?" It's a scary thought, but who the better to handle it than a mom/dad who deals with it every day and knows the ropes. (Speaking about you two. I find I'm still getting all tangled up in the ropes more than I should. lol)

Best wishes,
Angie

[soremom]

I was thinking if I too was catching it in the beginning phases just because my son wanted to be tested. It would be interesting and talking to the dr yesterday something like that could be possible.

Tyler had his 2 hr glucose test today. The dr wasn't at the office and haven't talked to her yet, but his numbers were incouraging. The highest was 134 and that was the first test done right after he drank the orange stuff. The last test was 91 so I feel that it will be a no for a diagnoses. I am assuming the dr will wait until all the tests results are in which will be next week.

I feel like a ton of bricks were lifted off my shoulders though. :thumbsup: She said it is still possible that he could be diagnosed later if the tests all come back good. Just keep doing what I am doing and watching him. Knowing what to look for also helps catching it in the early phases.

I hope things are going better for you Clint. I will let you know the rest of the results when I get them, but I am feeling much more hopeful than I did.
Thanks for all your thoughts, it helped tremedously.

Kim

[gettingby]

Hang in there Kim and Clint. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families.

[docta-docta]

Soremom,

The glucose challenge test sounds encouraging. Unfortunately, I do not rely on those as the determining factor. Patients are asked to fast before these tests. This gives sufficient time for ß-cells to build up an insulin supply which can then be made available for release.

The "immediate" test, which you stated was the highest, was probably taken immediately after swallowing the solution. Absorption of glucose takes at least 5+ minutes (and can be attained through mucus membranes in the mouth); however, I doubt this had time to occur before his first test. Seeing that his highest reading happened to be his near-fasting level, that would make me curious. It seems that a large amount of glucose was needed (the glucose challenge) before his body produced enough insulin.

T1 diabetes can take up to 5 years to develop. I would certainly not say he's out of the clear, but that he can definately benefit from healthy meals (and enjoy childhood as much as he can).

Our prayers will be with your son.

[soremom]

The highest reading he had was actually the second test they did after he drank that orange stuff, which they assumed the first reading should have been the highest then come down. I know there is always a chance for him to develop this and atleast I know what to look for. I will definitely be keeping a good eye on him forever, like I wouldn't anyways.

I will wait till I get the other test results next week before I breathe a little better.

Kim