Signs of Diabetes??

Diabetes is a lifelong disease for which there is not yet a cure. There are several forms of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is often called juvenile or insulin-dependent diabetes. In this type of diabetes, cells of the pancreas produce little or no insulin, the hormone that allows glucose to enter body cells.

Without enough insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells. The body is unable to use this glucose for energy despite high levels in the bloodstream. This leads to increased hunger.

In addition, the high levels of glucose in the blood cause the patient to urinate more, which in turn causes excessive thirst. Within 5 to 10 years, the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas are completely destroyed and the body can not longer produce insulin.

Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but it usually starts in people younger than 30. Symptoms are usually severe and occur rapidly.

The exact cause is unknown.

Symptoms
Increased thirst
Increased urination
Weight loss despite increased appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Abdominal pain
Fatigue
Absence of menstruation
Signs and tests
The following tests can be used to diagnose diabetes:

Urinalysis shows glucose and ketone bodies in the urine, but a blood test is required for diagnosis
Fasting blood glucose is 126 mg/dL or higher
Random (nonfasting) blood glucose exceeds 200 mg/dL (this must be confirmed with a fasting test)
Insulin test (low or undetectable level of insulin)
C-peptide test (low or undetectable level of the protein C-peptide, a by-product of insulin production)
Treatment
The immediate goals of treatment are to treat diabetic ketoacidosis and high blood glucose levels. Because of the sudden onset and severity of symptoms in type 1 diabetes, treatment for newly diagnosed people may involve hospitalization.

The long-term goals of treatment are to prolong life, reduce symptoms, and prevent diabetes-related complications such as blindness, kidney failure, and amputation of limbs.

These goals are accomplished through education, insulin use, meal planning and weight control, exercise, foot care, and careful self-testing of blood glucose levels.

INSULIN

Insulin lowers blood sugar by allowing it to leave the blood stream and enter cells. Everyone needs insulin. People with type 1 diabetes can't make their own insulin, and they must take insulin every day.

Insulin is injected under the skin or inhaled. In some cases, a pump delivers the insulin continuously. Insulin does not come in pill form.

Insulin preparations differ in how fast they start to work and how long they last. The health care professional reviews blood glucose levels to determine the appropriate type of insulin the person should use. More than one type of insulin may be mixed together in an injection to achieve the best control of blood glucose
I'm diabetic and have been since I was about 20 but didnt need insulin until I was pregnate then went to 3 shots a day and you really need to have a 5 hr glucose tolerance test done that will tell if shes diabetic or not or borderline.if she is watch her feet, I have nureopothy its a very painful nerve damage in your feet.dont let her go barefoot eather becouse dibetics take longer to heal and if your sugar is to high sometimes you dont heal.not to scare you just want you to be informed.

K.,

Hi there. I have diabetes and its no fun. Yes you need to go and talk to your Daughters Dr. about this. Diabetes is nothing to play around with. There are a lot of good snacks that you can give her that is sugar free. I give my 3 year old Sugar free pudding and sugar free Popsicles. Also there is some good Sugar free Ice cream. Also you have to look at the Carbs that she is eating. Is she tired all the time. I know you said that she was wetting on herself. Does she drink alot more then she use to. But the only way that your going to know for sure is if you take her to see her Dr. They can do some blood work and you will know for sure. I will pray for you and your Daughter. I hope that this will help you in some way. God Bless your family.

K. K.

As a nurse I can tell you that she has CLASSIC signs and symptoms of diabetes. Get her to her pediatrician ASAP. In the meantime, lay off the juice! The more she drinks, the higher her blood sugar goes, the more damage is done, and the thirstier she gets, starting the cycle over. Avoid sugar in any form.

K.,
The 3 classic signs of diabetes are:
-Polyuria (increased urination)
-Polydipsia (increased thirst)
-Polyphagia (increased hunger)
It sounds as though your daughter has all three. I would definately get her to her doctor and have her checked. The testing requires simple blood work, so it's nothing too traumatic, and it's definately worth finding out for sure. Better to rule it out now than to continue wondering while complications could arise. Good luck to you.

I would say you need to get her checked asap. My 5 yr nephew started to do that same thing and before my sister could get him checked out, he went into a diabetic type coma. Im not trying to scare you, just that you really need to get it checked just in case thats what it is. Good luck and let us know if shes ok.

hi i was diagnoised sp? at the age of 9 with type 1 diabetes the signs i had was peeing alot including wetting the bed always thirsty and lost alot of weight..you could ask the dr to check her its a simple blood test..or you can see if you can use someones blood sugar machine and test her blood sugar yourself if its above 140 i would take her to the dr..hope this helps let me know if you have anymore questions

Hi K.. This definitely sounds like it could be diabetes. It also sounds like it could be kidney reflux. Either way, both need to be treated so going to a doctor is definitely a necessity. I have had some experience with both disorders. My daughters both had the kidney reflux. If left untreated it will damage the kidney. Praise God the reflux can be reversed though. Not to be confused with esophagael reflux. My neighbor girl also was diagnosed with diabetes. It started out with her drinking all the time and getting up in the middle of the night and peeing in the dishwasher and other weird places. She had no idea she was doing it. She went to the doc and her blood sugar levels were sky high. I hope you find your answers soon.

i think you might've hit the nail on the head... i would absolutely take her to the doctor to be checked out. rather that's what it is or not, it's always a sign that something's up when previously potty trained kids start having accidents. good luck and let us know what happens!

TAKE YOUR DAUGHTER TO THE DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY!!!

I am a 49 year old juvenile diabetic - I became a diabetic at the age of 11. The constant urination and thirst are two of the strongest symptoms of juvenile onset diabetes. If this is diabetes it will NOT go away or get better and the longer this lingers, the more life-threatening it can become!!!!!!!!!

K.,

You should have her checked, but you didn't mention one of the tale tale signs, weight loss. Children of her age develop type 1 Diabetes, and this is an autoimmune response in which the body stops making insulin. As a result, our bodies can't process sugar normally resulting in high blood sugar levels and weigh loss. The sugar isn't getting into our bodies so our bodies begin burining fat for nutrition. This is alos known as ketoacidosis. Also, her energy levels would drop dramatically, since her body isn't getting the necessary energy from her food intake.

Yes, drinking all the time and going to the bathroom very frequently are two signs of this disease, but they are also signs of many others. Diabetes is very easy to diagnose, so I would suggest you see a doctor quickly. Also, the nephew on your dad's side of the family is very far removed in statistical terms, so I wouldn't say that you have a strong statistical signifigance, but that doesn't mean that it can't happen.

She could be sleep walking. I did that at her age. My dad found me once in our spare bedroom about to pee in a drawer lol. I was asleep.

The thing that struck me is you said she acts confused. Speak with your doctor, of course, but to me it sounds more like sonambulism than diabetes.

To set your mind at easy, I would talk it over with the dr but from the sounds of it, it's just like any 4 yr old they burn energy off and seem to be able to eat and drink but sometimes they haven't mastered the knack of being able to hold it in so to speak. Is it only at night this happens or maybe during the day when maybe she far away from the bathroom as it sounds like she's trying to master it but can only master it for a certain distance. You do have your work cut out for you I mean being a mom and a school teacher must be interesting.
It does sound like it will sort itself out given time, patience and a little gentle or not so gentle persuasion. Good Luck

I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but I used to do the same thing when I was little: sleepwalk at night and pee in weird places, and I even remember doing it once when I was a teenager; sometimes I would wake up while I was walking to the bathroom but didn't know how or why I was there. I was also hungry and thirsty a lot; I could (and still can) eat a ton at one time, however I never lost weight. Turns out I'm hypoglycemic, which isn't as bad as diabetes, but can be if not controlled and can turn into diabetes later on in life. I would definitely take her to a pediatrician, though, because I didn't find out about my hypoglycemia until I was 20, and knowing sooner could've spared me a lot of trouble and illness as a child. So I hope everything turns out okay for your daughter!

I agree with the other responses. It could be any that have been mentioned: diabetes, UTI or sleep walking. My daughter used to sleep walk and she actually pooped on her sisters floor once. Our poor dog got them blame until we actually caught her doing it once!

The diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition caused by the body's inability to break down glucose or sugars and store them properly. The symptoms of juvenile diabetes, also known as Type 1 diabetes, and Type 2 diabetes are extremely similar, but the two are caused by very different bodily malfunctions. Urinating often, being very thirsty, feeling very hungry or tired, losing weight without trying, having sores that heal slowly and having dry and itchy skin are few signs of it.
http://www.biblehealth.com/juvenile-diabetes/juvenile-dia...

You definitely need to get her to a pediatrician immediately! Or perhaps a pediatric endocrinologist is in order. If it isn't diabetes, it's something else. This isn't normal, and it doesn't sound like any fun for her or the rest of you. Get medical help so your lives can calm down. And try to take good care of yourself in the midst of the madness.

Hi K.,
I can tell you that a test is as simple as urine done right in the peds office. My 16 month old drinks alot!!! I give her a 7oz cup of watered down juice and it is done in min. sometimes and i would say she has about 6-7 a day and her appetite is amazing as well. I was concered that she may have diabetes so when I went to her 15 month check up they did the blood test and thank god she does not have it. So the call the dr and have a urine test done to ease your mind and check your little princess just to be sure.
GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!
M.

This very well could be a sign of Diabetes. But it also can be a sign of a urinary tract infection, which is very comon on young girls. Kids grow very fast and have growth spurts, which maybe why she is eatin gso much. I would defantly take her to the MD and see what is going on. With kids its always hard to tell. Good Luck and let us know what they say!

She needs to be seen by her pediatrician as soon as possible. L.

I suppose it could be signs of diabetes but also could just be the age. 4 year olds tend to eat alot and drink aot too. My four year old is always thirsty. Groth spurts I guess make them always willign to eat. And sleepwalking is really not uncommon.

Definitely go get her checked out with her doctor, sounds concerning for diabetes.

Both of my parents have diabetes. My father has is actually borderline. The always thirsty part I can understand, but they don't go to the bathroom a lot. I would suggest making an appointment with her peds doc and then you won't have to wonder anymore.

Sounds as if it is a good possibility. There are also other diseases which might be like those symptoms. I might have said bladder or kidney infection, but the fact that she is so thirty and peeing so frequently makes me think diabetes too. We found my husbands on a vacation, all he did was pee. When we got back, we went in and he was dx in 5 min.

yes - definitely call the doctor and tell him/her what is going on. I have type 2 but excessive thirst and appetite with either weight loss or increased eating with no weight gain are signs for both type 1 and type 2. If it's nothing, then you're just a concerned Mom and perhaps the doctor could tell you what is going on with the excessive urination. The increased appetite could also be a growth spurt coming on. But if it is diabetes, you need to know as soon as possible to get her blood sugar under control. Good luck!