Normal Glucose Readings in young child

[crazedmom]

I am trying to find out if anyone has any input on normal glucose readings for a 6 year old non diabetic.  I have a 14 year old daughter diagnosed with type I diabetes 2 years ago.  She is doing as well as can be expected for a teenager.  Ever since she was diagnosed I do worry about one of my two boys developing it.  We check them frequently if they are ill or appear to have symptoms.  What worries me is that my 6 year old goes through stages where he will have frequent urination (sometimes up to 6 times in an hour) and then it just stops.  I check him and his glucose always appears to be in the normal range.  A couple of days ago we were having supper and my husband asked my son if he felt ok.  He looked pale and had dark rings under his eyes.  He said he felt ok.  We went shopping and he started complaing that he was having a lot of side pain (left side)and was very thirsty.  We immediately went home because these were the same feelings that my daugher had prior to being diagnosed.  When we got home and checked his reading he was 160.  This was about two and a half hours after eating.  We checked him again and hour later and he was 98.  I know the 98 is normal but was the other.  I could not find a thing in the diabetic books about it for a non diabetic.  Also, would these be symptoms of pre-diabetes.  I just worry constantly about something happening and would appreciate any feedback.
Thanks

[JDRF-Team-wak]

I am not a physician, but a volunteer and the mom of a type 1 diabetic.  I understand your fear for your other children; I have friends that have gone though the same feelings.   There are several things I would suggest.
The first is I would discuss your fears with your daughter's endocrinologist, he can tell you the range that would be appropriate for your 6 yr old. YOu can also ask him about having your son tested to see if he is developing diabetes.  There are several tests that can be done including a genetic test to see if he has the gene that predisposes him to diabetes. It does NOT mean that he will get diabetes.

The other thing that I would suggest is getting involved with a support group. You can contact Juvenile diabetes research foundation by going to www.JDRF.org. Your daughter

[JDRF - Team- SS]

Hello,

I am a crazy mom!  LOL

My son will be 11 in Feb and was dxd at age 3.  He is on an insulin pump that he went on in Aug. of 2004.  We love it!  (I just had to mention that)

I have a 6 yr. old daughter, as well and have had the same experience you have with your boy.

My daughter has had some what I call "out of range" or elevated BG's, as well.  177, 183, etc. and then she will have normal BG's.  We thought about having the antibody test done on her, but decided against it for 3 reasons:
1. we will have to hold her down while she kicks and screams while blood is taken
2. if it is positive, I will be waiting and wondering WHEN "it" (diabetes) will come
3. I WILL see the symptoms

My son's endo said that the insulin production would have to slow down by 80% to really see steady highs and we both agree that I will see the symptoms and I will continue to do what I have been doing...test her when I notice she is peeing a lot, very thirsty or just very cranky or not herself.

Okay, now to the peeing thing.

My daughter went through this phase where she LITERALLY went EVERY 5 minutes and I would test her BG and it would be normal.  I even thought she might have a bladder infection, but she did not.  This may sound mean to some people, but I started ignoring it...Sure, if it had gone on and not stopped, I would have sought additional medical advice, but I stopped commenting on it, while still testing her BG from time to time.  I thought possibly it was a nervous problem OR maybe she had the feeling of not getting it all out.  I stopped making a big deal about it and stopped asking her questions and if she had to go 6 times after putting her to bed, fine (I said, if you have to go pe, get up go and then go back to bed) and you know what?  It stopped.  She no longer goes every 5 minutes.

To add to that, my son went through the same thing.  I am unsure at what age, but I do know that he had already been diagnosed, so I would think "high BG" but then he wouldn't be high when tested, so I had him checked for infection and it was neg. so I ignored it and it subsided.

Believe me, I am not the type of mom to ignore symptoms, nor take them lightly.  I was the one who insisted my son be tested for diabetes when his doc said, "Some kids ask for a lot to drink for attention."  (We changed pediatricians right after that.)

You go with your Mommy gut feeling.  I am not telling you to ignore symptoms...I just wanted to share my story.

When Brianna was going pee every 5 min., I was a basket case!  I kept worrying about what it could be and then I stopped even talking about it and it stopped.

Whew!  I can blab or write...sorry so long-winded!

Take care:)
SS