Possible diabetes in kids?

[mandco]

Ds hasn’t been himself lately he’s looking really pale he’s tired all the time -he mostly just wants to lay on the sofa constantly says he’s thirsty and has been getting headaches, leg pains/pins & needles
We saw a gp today(2 wk wait) and she said it could be diabetes or maybe anemia she’s ordered a load of blood tests but his appointment for those is nearly 3 weeks away( earliest they had available for go referrals)
Is there anything I should be doing or watching out for in the meantime? She never said but I don’t think she realised the wait time for bloodtests would be so long as she said they should be back by the end of next week.

[Rac20]

I would ring the doctors back and ask if she can do anything to speed up the process. I’m sure there must be something she can do - especially as she is under the impression that the results will be back by next week.

[ely3857]

If you suspect type1 diabetes then take him to A&E. If diabetes was even on the table the GP should (& I mean should) have done a finger prick on him there and then.

My DD is type1, I suspected at around 10:00 and took her to A&E at 14:00 as I was now convinced (not today I should add!)

[All-smiles]

Does your GP surgery offer blood tests? I didnt know that mine has been offering them for years and I can usually get them done much quicker directly through the doctors.

[Princess Ariel]

Originally Posted by ely3857

If you suspect type1 diabetes then take him to A&E. If diabetes was even on the table the GP should (& I mean should) have done a finger prick on him there and then.

My DD is type1, I suspected at around 10:00 and took her to A&E at 14:00 as I was now convinced (not today I should add!)

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This! The GP should be able to do a finger prick test to see if blood sugars are high if diabetes is suspected, if it is type 1 diabetes and it’s left untreated it leads to a medical emergency! I’d get him to A&E or at least an out of hours GP if you can.

[lexie32]

Did your GP do a urine dip test or a blood glucose finger prick test ? If not and you are really worried I would take a urine sample with you to a & e , my son was diagnosed 12 years ago aged 5, his symptoms were on and off for weeks and I couldn’t quite put my finger on what was wrong but then he went down hill fast and was very ill by the time he was diagnosed.
Now he’s 17 doing great at school, learning to drive with a lovely girlfriend at times his Diabeties has been a challenge but he doesn’t let it stop him doing anything!

[mandco]

The doctors are closed now till Monday I will check with them then

The gp we saw is new and didn’t really seem that concerned? It was very much with his symptoms there a chance is could be diabetes or anemia so we’ll do some blood tests and go from there. Here’s the form bye she didn’t even examine him.

The surgery’s here don’t do kids bloodtests Under 16’s have to have to have them done at a special unit at the hospital. Pre COVID they offered walk ins but now it’s appointment only.

I don’t think he’s lots weight but he’s very slim anyway so hard to tell and he says no blurry vision

[Princess Ariel]

Originally Posted by mandco

The doctors are closed now till Monday I will check with them then

The gp we saw is new and didn’t really seem that concerned? It was very much with his symptoms there a chance is could be diabetes or anemia so we’ll do some blood tests and go from there. Here’s the form bye she didn’t even examine him.

The surgery’s here don’t do kids bloodtests Under 16’s have to have to have them done at a special unit at the hospital. Pre COVID they offered walk ins but now it’s appointment only.

I don’t think he’s lots weight but he’s very slim anyway so hard to tell and he says no blurry vision

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He wouldn’t necessarily need a blood test to check for diabetes though, just a finger prick test or urine dip would indicate diabetes & I'm very surprised she mentioned diabetes as a possibility but didn’t do a urine dip or finger prick test if only to rule it out.

[Anne]

GD has type 1 and she had leg pains. We put that down to growing pains but the consultant said that was another sympton. Take him to A and E.

[ely3857]

Originally Posted by mandco

The doctors are closed now till Monday I will check with them then

The gp we saw is new and didn’t really seem that concerned?

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It is extremely common, shockingly so, for GP’s not take type1 diabetes in children seriously. However the fact it flagged up in the remit of possibilities for the GP your son saw meant they should have acted on that and done a finger prick (& probably a urine test as well). Both take moments to do in the GP’s office. The blood test they are likely to have requested is one that will show the average blood sugar levels for the last three months, his average blood sugar could be current well within normal range leading to a further delay in diagnoses and treatment.

I’m not saying your child has type1 diabetes, I’m stressing annoyance that another GP is dismissing a child that could have type1 diabetes for ‘dealing with later’ and that’s not right.