Seeking Help for Granddaughters Drinking and Peeing!!!!!!!

She should not be waking up at night to drink. She'll make up for it during the day. It sounds like the sippy cup at night is a comfort item.

She should be drinking regularly. If she's not ready to potty train, then keep her in diapers or pull ups. No other choice. Yes, you have to check kids before you go out, change them if they aren't trained, put them on the potty if they are trained.

I would knock off the juice - it's just sugar and virtually no nutrients.

Why are you checking her blood sugar level? I know excessive thirst is a sign of diabetes, but if you are concerned about this, she should be evaluated by a physician. How is it that you have a blood sugar testing kit for her?

Also, there is a great children's supplement that will nourish her and there is a hydrator which will get the necessary nutrients into her cells instead of being peed out all the time. She's not absorbing all that water - she's peeing it out. If you want more info on better hydration/absorption, I can help you with that.

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She should see a doctor today for a proper diabetes test. You said you tested her blood sugar -- I'm assuming that unless you're a doctor, you used someone's home testing strips that an adult diabetic uses? Those are not intended to diagnose diabetes! Please get her to a professional ASAP. I'm sure that any pediatrician, if you described the fact she wants a drink every 30 minutes and even wakes up at night repeatedly wanting to drink, would tell you to bring her in today for testing. She probably should have a "fasting blood sugar" test that looks at her levels when she has had nothing to eat or drink for a certain period (usually overnight). Please don't hesitate -- as someone with Type 1 ("juvenile") diabetes in our family, I can tell you, the longer it takes to get it diagnosed, the more long-term damage it does.

If they rule out diabetes, then look at whether she might just be bored. Kids do indeed drink and eat out of pure boredom. You do not have to give her a drink whenever she requests one and you certainly don't need to allow her "a sippy cup all day long" as you describe it -- that's a habit that teaches her she can have drink or food on demand, which can lead to obesity and comfort eating. If there is no physical issue involved, take charge of her drinking and just say no except at meals and a limited amount between meals -- get rid of the constantly available sippy cup! Ask the doctor what amount of ounces of fluids she should have daily. And I'd get rid of the watered-down juice - give mostly plain water, some milk and a little watered, calcium-fortified orange juice only once a day. (Apple juice, our doctor says, is just sweet water and has little nutritional value, really. She may just be liking the sweetness, if that's what she gets.) And figure out what to do with the boredom issue -- distract her with something to do when she starts begging for a drink and has had one recently.

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While checking if there is a medical issue that has gone missed I think it is time to ditch the sippy cup and get regular cups going. On outings get a bottle with a sport top so she can still drink on the go if needed. Go out and get dixie cups and start the transition, I bet you she will drink less because it is not "transportable" there are two places my son can drink 1. the kitchen (standing) 2. the table (sitting). Now at 4 we have the water on the fridge and he can help himself as he likes.

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It's probably just a habit... I don't think you can drink too much water, but you might have the Dr. check her out. Not familiar with sugar levels either - is 90 ok? Finally, if it's just a habit, you can help her break it. Only give her something to drink a few times a day... not when she asks everytime. She'll protest, but hold your ground and she'll learn to change her habits. I'd make sure there isn't a medical reason for it first.

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sounds like a bladder or kidney infection

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Has she been checked for diabetes ? That is a sign, excessive thurst.

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Why not just tell her no? Why keep giving her milk and watered down juice all day? Give her a cup with WATER in it. Tell her she can have that amount of WATER until x time. When it's gone, it's gone. After x time, she gets another cup of WATER. When it's gone it's gone. She's 3. She's going to do what YOU let her. I'm guessing she isn't pouring her own drinks all day long. So, be the adult and put your foot down.

There is an illness called diabetes insipidus - IT IS NOT the same as regular diabetes. It causes excessive thirst and peeing in children - I know about it because when I worked as a podiatrist I had a couple of kids with the condition - it is not all that uncommon - It doesn't cause any blood sugar level problems, so it doesn't show up on a glucose meter. you should really get your Daughter to get her checked out for this.

Please take her to see a doctor. A few people recommended putting your foot down and restricting her fluid intake. Do NOT do this until you have ruled out medical problems with the pediatrician first. One blood sugar reading is not diagnostic, and as others have pointed out there are other types of diabetes that can only be ruled out by a doctor.

Excellent response, Leigh!

Take your granddaughter to the doctor to be checked for any blood sugar issues, kidney and bladder. Do not allow her to have her sippy cup after a certain time at night and never during the night. Even if she pees alot she can still be potty trained. Do not give her juice all day long as it spikes blood sugars and will cause cavities. 45 lbs for a 3 year old is a bit much--talk to the doctor about that too. Good luck.

First of all, if your granddaughter had type 1 diabetes and you tested her on a home monitor, her blood sugar would be through the roof. Both of my kids have type 1 and we tested them on my husband's meter (he also has type 1) and their blood sugars were in the 500's, and we made calls to the doctor immediately. Don't feel bad for testing her on your home monitor and thinking everything is fine.

I would, however, recommend taking her to the doc for a full check up. There is a condition called Diabetes Insipidus that basically mimics diabetes symptoms without losing pancreatic function.

Good luck to you. I hope you find answers from your doctor very soon!

Edit* For the first poster who asked, a normal blood glucose reading should be between 70-110 or 80-120 based on the individual.

Definitely get her to the doctor for proper diabetes testing.

And start offering her WATER in the cup! Milk at meals. Water all other times! Our kids have unlimited access to water.

And at 3 years old, she should NO LONGER be having a sippy. Give her a regular cup. Take a WATER bottle (we got stainless steel insulated ones from Target for our kids) on outings.

What goes in must come out. Is she drinking out of thirst or out of habit? Many times I tell my daughter "no" to milk/juice if I know she's recently had something to drink and it's not a thirst issue. Milk and juice also equal calories. My daughter also used to wake me for water, and I finally just told her "no water", and she stopped it. Once you have ruled out a medical condition, I think it's time for you to decide when/how much she drinks. You are in charge, not her.