In case you need a reason to watch it, here are a few.
"We went in [to the pediatrician's office] and I told him that I thought my son had diabetes, and they told me that he did not - that children that young don't get diabetes. They checked him for strep and flu and both came back negative. They tried to send me home, telling me that he had just a virus and that the drainage was making him thirsty, but I knew there was something wrong."
"The doctor did a urine test [at her one year Well Child appointment] because she had a history of UTIs. Fortunately there wasn't any bacteria in her urine, but they did find sugar. The doctor thought this was an error, so they did a repeat test and again found sugar. There were really no symptoms."
"He had started breathing kind of funny, so my husband and I took him to the emergency room. We were told he had Bronchitis and he would get better. By Thursday of that week he was not able to stand on his own anymore, and he really could not stay awake. We took him to a children's hospital and he was finally correctly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. His blood sugar was around 500."
You'll hear from five parents whose children were diagnosed with type 1 diabetes before they turned two years old. My hope is that if you are already a parent of a young child with diabetes, you'll find some comfort in knowing you aren't alone. I hope the road seems less bumpy over time as your fellow travelers point you to the less turbulent parts of it. I hope that feeling of "me, too" relieves even the slightest bit of the anxiety, fear, and discouragement you may know.
My other hope is that conversations like this one help spread the word on what the symptoms of type 1 diabetes are. As these parents explain, babies can't tell you how they're feeling. It becomes very, very important to know the signs - it could save a child's life. If a child you know is experiencing any combination of the list below, please consult with a doctor immediately.
- excessive thirst
- frequent urination; soaked diapers
- drowsiness and lethargy
- increased appetite
- sudden weight loss
- fruity, sweet odor to breath
- heavy, labored breathing from JDRF.org
