Could It Be Juvenille Diabetes?

Updated on November 03, 2010
D.P. asks from Minneapolis, MN
15 answers

Has anyone had their child diagnosed and how did you know? I know I might be jumping the gun but last night my almost 3 yr son was very restless and said his foot hurt. He was restless the night before as well. He is also potty trained and had an accident at nap yesterday at daycare and one last night. The nap one is a surprise, the nighttime one is not as much, since we just switched from pull ups to underwear at night. I haven't noticed him drinking more than normal but he does love his juice and eats a lot of fruit, carbs and dairy. I have a doc appt. but not until Friday. He also has had a rash on his butt that we have been treating because his stool is very runny. Some of these could be due to other things (baby #2 due in 3 weeks, was on antibiotics about 2 weeks ago for ear infection) but I still can't stop thinking as I read some of the symptoms that match up. Any thoughts?

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So What Happened?

I think I was overreacting but of course I had checked a website and these symptoms were there. It just so happened they were all there together so I panicked. He still has the rash so we are taking just to the open clinic today. His bedwetting has stopped and he now has a runny nose so I think the restlessness might have been him coming down with a bug. Oh, and we have cut back on the juice.

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A.B.

answers from Lincoln on

I have a daughter with type one and she was dx very early without too many symptoms. No increased thirst at all but she was very crabby. I think until the child has had it for several months the symptoms aren't all that clear.

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R.K.

answers from Boston on

I think you are reading a little too much into what is going on with him. Antibiotics can cause diarrhea which in turn cause rashes and can also cause yeast infections (my oldest got a yeast infection rash every time he was on antibiotics), he probably stepped wrong or stepped on a toy and that is why his foot was bothering him or he was just looking for some mommy attention, accidents are perfectly normal at the age of 3.
Signs of type 1 diabetes are:
increased thirst and urination
extreme hunger
weight loss
fatigue

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Symptoms are fun. Give me any 5 and I can give you 50 things it COULD be. (Any 1 symptom is too broad... it could be one of hundreds, or even thousands).

Don't stress... none of what you mentioned are tell tale for diabetes. COULD he have diabetes? Sure. But none of what you mentioned are tell tales for it.

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M.P.

answers from Portland on

Nothing that you described sounds even remotely related to juvenile diabetes. I sympathize with your concern. I also wonder why you're catastrophizing normal events in a toddler's health. I suggest finding a way to build your confidence in health related issues. Perhaps read up on the usual signs and symptoms in the health of a child.

Feet do hurt from time to time.

Everyone feels restless from time to time.

At 3, he's bound to have accidents in potty issues.

Antibiotics do cause diarrhea and diarrhea causes rashes.

Where are the matching symptoms? Perhaps I'm missing something.

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L.S.

answers from Boston on

I worried about this with my son who is 20 months. Mainly with drinking non stop and would take anyone's drink he could get his hands on.
He was tested and was fine. I also have a 3 year old and he out of the blue will have an accident after being fine for months. I wouldn't worry about that. I know someone who has type 1 and biggest was just wanting to drink water (not juice, not milk, just water) and just wanted to sleep all the time. Rash can be a symptom but only if it persists and doesn't clear up. Is it getting better with treatment? Some say they eat more, some say they eat less and are just tired. It doesn't sound like diabetes to me, but good you are testing. Let us know how it turns out.

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A.F.

answers from St. Cloud on

Hi Danielle. I have two kids with Type 1 diabetes and none of the symptoms you listed sound like clear symptoms to me.
Both of my kids had excessive thirst (and I mean CRYING desperately for water several times per hour and having to pee several times per hour) and it was clear that something was very, very wrong.
Don't worry! You can have the doc test if you want, but I wouldn't worry about diabetes if I were you.

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S.S.

answers from Goldsboro on

I have a friend whose son was diagnosed at 5. He has an identical twin brother and that's really how she noticed it. She noticed he was eating and drinking (drinking, especially) much more than his brother, yet he was much much thinner than his brother.
He also had trouble with his mood. He would get very cranky at the drop of a hat.

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S.B.

answers from Columbus on

My daughter is 2 and a half and was diagnosed in May. Frequent urination is a sign, but what you are telling us about your son doen't set off red flags to me. Let us know how the appoinment goes Friday!

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J.R.

answers from Davenport on

The butt rash, extra peepee accidents and runny stool could all be explained by too much juice. Try substituting water or milk - kids this age should only be drinking 4 -6 oz. of juice a day, total. http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/agesstages/a/three_years.htm
http://video.about.com/babyparenting/About-Parenting-Milk...

I think you may be jumping the gun at juvenile diabetes.

I hope it is as simple as getting him water substituted for juice except for one cup of juice a day.

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D.S.

answers from Lincoln on

You didn't say whether JD is a problem in the child's family medical history. Since you have a dr appt on Friday, why don't you just keep him from eating sweets--like Halloween candy--until then and let the dr test him IF he does have JD in his history.

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S.P.

answers from Los Angeles on

Could it be that he was on antibiotics for an ear infection?
Poor kid.
Potty accidents at almost 3 are not so strange.
Don't worry about juvenile diabetes.
When you go to the doctor on Friday,
be prepared with your (reminder) list:
recent history, recent symptoms.
Do NOT mention juvenile diabetes until everything else
has been discussed thoroughly to your satisfaction.
Then, and only then, ask.
But, by then, you probably will realize it won't be necessary to ask.
Try not to worry so much.
Remember to b-r-e-a-t-h-e.
Also, do you have any plans in place for presenting little sibling
to BIG BROTHER in a ceremonious way, w/emphasis
on how special it is to be a BIG BROTHER?

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K.C.

answers from Wichita on

Don't worry about it & don't google things until you have a diagnosis of some sort b/c the web will freak you out more than you should.

I don't know what the signs of juvenile diabetes are but most of my family (parents, grandparents) are diabetic & I have had gestational diabetes with no symptoms. My mom's symptoms of type 2 diabetes were: she was very tired & even took 'cat naps' at stop lights (dangerous I know), was thristy a lot & peed a lot more than normal. She didn't start having problems with her feet for many years & hers get tingly sharp pin feelings. I can't see the rash being a symptom.
Also as kids grow quickly & their bladders grow more slowly they can have more accidents.
Try to relax. If he is diabetic a few more days will not hurt him.

God bless!

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J.T.

answers from Dallas on

i'm not seeing any of the typical "red flags" for diabetes. that is typically an insatiable thirst, very frequent and large amounts of urination, and weight loss. i don't think a 3yr old having an accident and a rash from diarrhea and being restless has anything to do with diabetes.

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K.S.

answers from Green Bay on

I would try eliminating dairy and simple carbs. If he has been on antibiotics, he probably needs to rebuild his good bacteria in his intestines. Look for a high quality, guaranteed probiotic. I can help, if you'd like.

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D.M.

answers from Detroit on

Hi Danielle---Having a niece diagnosed at age 8, it doesn't sound like type 1 with your son. It took about 2 months for my sister to realize that something was going on.

But do consider researching the link between dairy and type 1 diabetes. Go to www.pcrm.org and put dairy in the search box. Dairy is not the health food that we are led to believe, and I say this as a reformed BIG milk drinker, well into my 40's. Another site is www.notmilk.com.

The antibiotic, fruit and fruit juice could all contribute to rash. It is so hard to tell with little ones as they are learning to talk and how to describe how they feel. I would say it is likely all of the changes that are soon to occur in the house are having the biggest impact on him right now. Give lots of love and reassurance, foot and leg massages, etc. Share how you are counting on him to be the big brother and helper that will be needed once the baby arrives. Good luck! Be well, D.

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