Should We Test for Diabetes?

Is there a family history of Type 1 DM? I would test. It seems that you worry about it and often mother's intuition is better than anyone's advice. Better be safe than sorry. Imagine if she is negative - what a relief. Or (hopefully not) - positive... then you caught it early and will treat it appropriately.

I know you're wondering whether to wait and see or take action now. If there is no family history and if she eats a well balanced diet of veggies and all, I'd wait to see. Is she craving sweets? How much is she drinking at a time and how often? Is she drinking water or juice? Water is better.

If there is a family history or you see other symptoms, take her in.

When my daughter was young she went to the bathroom a lot and even in the night at that age. And sometimes I'd wonder, but she was just that kind of kid. She drank a lot of water and went to the bathroom a lot. I'd always say she had a bladder the size of a pea. She still as an adult can't hold it for long.

You absolutely do need to test. Don't go to your pediatrician and ask his advice(I say this because many pediatricians and GPs don't have a clue about Type 1 Diabetes and may brush off testing), go and tell them to test her. They may do a finger stick, but many times a blood draw and a urine sample are also needed. Excessive thirst and frequent urination are the two main indicators of Type 1 Diabetes (juvenile diabetes is no longer used as a term, as people of any age can develope type 1 diabetes).

My daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 1, my son was diagnosed at age 6, and my husband was diagnosed when he was 3. There is NO prior history in our family, so family history is not an indicator.

Don't wait. I really, really hope that your daughter doesn't have T1D. Please let us know what you find out if you are able! I'll be thinking of you today!

edit* I do want to address one comment. Eating a well balanced diet is not a reason to forgo testing. Diet has no bearing on developing Type 1 diabetes.
Don't go to anyone other than a doctor for testing. You need the full test to rule a T1D diagnoses out.

I would test for it asap! If she is negative then I would be asking your ped what else could explain this. Have you been tracking her fluid intake? you might want to track her intake and potty times for at least a weekend but I would insist on a test asap and if it is negative then track this information it could be very helpful to the ped.

My daughter was JUST diagnosed august 4th with type 1 diabetes ,no longer called juvenile diabetes, and she had the frequent thirst and urination for 3 weeks. I'd call the dr and ask for an appointment. It may be a uti as it has the same symptoms. Ask for a urine test and a finger prick to test for blood sugar. They will be able to tell you then if it may be diabetes. With us they sent us to the hospital for a 2 day stay for testing and training. Also we have no history of type 1 on eeither sides of mine or her dad's family.

This is a question you need to ask the pediatrician. I would definitely make an appointment.

You have nothing to loose and everything to gain

My youngest son has Type 1 Diabetes. It was discovered when he was 6. He couldn't hold his urine and was constantly thirsty.

We had just moved, thought it was the different climate. It wasn't.

Please take her to your pediatrician and get her tested. I hope that it's something as simple as a UTI.

What has your pedi recommended?

Why would you choose not to test her? I don't see a question here...

If I were concerned, as your are and should be, I would have her at the Dr. asking a lot of questions and agreeing to any test that was needed to figure out what the problem is.

When she wakes up in the morning, is her breath sweet smelling?

Does diabetes run in either side of your family?

Have you had her checked for a bladder infection? That can cause accidents, even in adults.

Talk to your pediatrician. Tell him/her what you have noticed, if diabetes runs in your family and get tested. Even if diabetes doesn't run in your family, I would test just because stuff happens.

If you have a glucometer at home? Test her BEFORE a meal. If it's over 200? That's not good - for anyone.

I would also ask for an A1C check - it will be a blood draw and calculate her blood sugar over the last 30 days.

Good luck!!

Type 1 diabetes often occurs in families with no history. My husband has type 1 with no family history. If you think she might be diabetic, step one get a finger stick blood glucose level. Today, like right now. They can do this at your pediatrician, urgent care, ER, or you can find a friend with a tester. She could easily have something else going on, or nothing at all. But a single day can make a huge difference in blood sugar levels. My husband spent several days in a coma with sugar levels over 1600 (normal is about 80-120) because his pediatrician misdiagnosed him. Don't sit around thinking about it, do something right now. It is well worth any embarassment you may feel if she is fine to be sure her life is not in immediate danger, especially since the basic test is so simple and nearly painless.

ETA: Sunshine is absolutely right, only a doctor can give a T1D diagnosis. I watch my kids carefully, because with one parent they have an "enhanced risk" of developing T1D. In the desert, it is easy to get dehydrated, so I get nervous every now and again. My first step is to do the finger stick, because elevated sugar would have me at Phoenix Children's in 15 minutes. We do routine urine tests at their annual visits, and I would take them to the pediatrician if there were any concerning patterns for more than a couple of days. So my suggestion would still be finger stick immediately, then immediately to the hospital for high numbers. Normal numbers, follow up with pediatrician for more complete testing, still ASAP but not straight to the ER.
Keep us posted- keeping my fingers crossed that it is just a little quirk. T1D can absolutely be controlled and people with it live very full, normal lives, but it is still a deeply shitty diagnosis.

i'm trying to think of one single good reason NOT to test.
khairete
S.

Sounds like your gut is telling you to have her tested. I would talk with her doctor and find out if he/she thinks it would be a good idea? Sounds like it is... My feeling is that if YOU think that something is not right, then something's not right. Trust your gut. YOU know your child best.

CVS or Walgreen's does the testing for free.

I would definitely mention what you observe to her pediatrician.
Just to be safe.
Good luck!

Talk to your pediatrician about it.

What does your doctor say?

One can have Type 1 diabetes with almost no visible symptoms. Your child does have one potential symptom. So why would you NOT insist on a test? It's simple and fast and you need to know -- either to rule it out or to get going on managing the condition if she does have it. If you don't push a test, and it turns out she did have Type 1, the disease will be busy damaging her body between now and the time she finally gets a test -- probably when there is an episode that can't be ignored.

My friend's kid had no outward symptoms, none, other than some fatigue. During a routine physical when the girl was 11, the doctor had her blood sugar checked. She has full-blown Type 1 and now wears an insulin pump and has been hospitalized a couple of times. But she didn't even show the thirst/urination symptom -- and no one on either side of her family has diabetes, so there's not necessarily some clear genetic link. It can just turn up.

Please get your daughter checked. AND then get her checked again regularly. She may not have diabetes but wouldn't you rather rule it out than worry and post about it?

If your pediatrician pooh-poohs your idea and dismisses you -- insist anyway, and afterward, find a new pediatrician.

be safe go get her checked out-it could be kidney infection,bladder infection,anything..better safe than sorry later ..

My doctor does a basic stick test every other year. He uses one of those monitors that people with diabetes has to test. If he sees the number higher than acceptable, he orders the blood test with fasting or what have you. He did this with my kids 2 years ago and I asked about it since they never did before. He told me that a lot people are undiagnosed with little or no symptoms so they do this with the kids. If they see the nubmer come in a bit high, then they order the test. I would have it checked, just to be sure. It could of course be just that she is a drinker. One of my girls was--I was when I was about 10. And of course, the more you drink, the more you go.

I am going to respond to this with 2 views, one is as a pediatric nurse, the other as a mother.
First off as a pediatric nurse many parents want their children tested for things all the time. I am not saying that you are like this, but I do want you to understand being tested for diabetes can be difficult on a 3 year old. It would first include lab work. Depending on the results of that they may be required to take a glucose tolerance test, similar to the one you had when you were pregnant. If the only signs she has is thirst and frequent urination I do not think you have anything to worry about. If she is not over weight or loosing weight the thirst could just be that she is thirsty and the urination just that she is drinking more. You cannot compare how much she drinks to how much your other child drinks, every child is different and how much she is drinking could just be her, but if it has recently increased and she is drinking a lot of water and not juice then you might need to be concerned. The accidents may not really be indicative of diabetes, this could just be she is busy playing and doesn't want to stop, or she is acting out. This could also all be because of a UTI, if she complains of burning or if she only goes a little bit when she does go to the bathroom, then I would have her urine checked first. If you are concerned here are some signs you should be watching for: weakness or fatigue, extreme thirst and dehydration, frequent urination, abdominal pain, nausea/vomiting, weight loss, or fruity smelling breath. Of course if you are concerned I would talk to your pediatrician, he or she can give you better advice on if your child is at risk for diabetes.

Now as a mother I say get her tested. I have diabetes on both sides for my daughter. Both my father and and father-in-law are insulin dependent diabetics. I know that the test includes getting lab work done which can be difficult on both mom and child, but if she were showing signs and symptoms I would want to know and not worry. I will not however, just have her tested just to have it done.

The best thing you can do is stay informed and know the signs of diabetes. I hope this helps, and let us know what happens!! Good luck!