Our son is almost 2 (end of the month) and the last week or two he has been crazily thirsty! He is literally asking us for a drink every 10-20min. At first I thought I was just over thinking it. Then my husband had a day off work on the weekend and he mentioned to me how much extra our guy was drinking. So then I was like oh ok, it’s not just me but I didn’t think too much of it. The Sunday night little started vomiting for absolutely no reason. He vomited 6 times in an hour then passed out and woke up the next morning as good as gold. Then today, when I collected him from daycare, his daycare teacher mentioned to me how much he was drinking. She said every time she’d turn around he’s be over at the drink station reaching up and saying “drink, drink”. She said that he was guzzling it down too.
We only give him milk or water, no juice or cordial so it’s not dehydration that’s the issue at all. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? I’m not quite sure if it’s an issue for the dr or if I’m being a crazy over protective Mum haha.
23 Replies
Take him to the drs excessive thirst can be a sign of diabetes.
Go to the doctor
Go to the doctor as soon as possible - it sounds like potential diabetes.
Oh goodness... 😬. Well I have a blood glucose monitor from the days of gestational diabetes so I will check his level now and make a dr appt first thing! Thanks a lot ladies :)
Make sure your strips haven't expired!
I bought new strips the other day due to needing to check my older sons blood sugar (not related to any suspicion of diabetes though). But they were all well and truly expired! And those things are expensive after the NDSS membership has lapsed 😅
His sugar was 6.9. I don’t know if that would be classed as good or bad as he refused dinner tonight however he did drink water and a tiny bit of milk this afternoon and tonight. So I’m assuming it wouldn’t be classed as fasting due to the small amount of milk and so would therefore be normal? I will take a fasting level in the morning too though :)
Your best bet is to talk to the GP and get a glucose tolerance test done, it does seem quite high if he has only had a small amount of milk since this afternoon, but definitely check with the GP. I would try and get in tomorrow. All the best for your little boy xx
Diabetes 1 has very solar Symtoms please take him to a gp as soon as you can, that unsuitable thirst is a red flag and no one here can really ease your mind , it is most likely nothing but get him checked asap good luck
Dr asap. Could be kidney infection or UTI. We are not qualified to be "Dr IM" so please get him to the Dr.
Yes we will be going to the Dr today. His sugar levels seem pretty good (4.3 fasting level this morning) however I did some reading last night and apparently type 1 diabetes can start out like that. So definitely worth a trip to the Dr to be sure. Thanks again ladies 😁
Could be an ear infection. My son drinks like a fish right before an infection... usually vomiting as well.
The doctor is checking a whole range of things, including a fasting glucose test. But he doesn’t think it’s type 1 diabetes as my sons blood sugar was ok (4.3) when tested at around lunch time. He said he has a suspicion it could be Diabetes Insipidus but needs to do some tests to rule anything in or out.
How stressful for you! I hope you get answers soon. Good on you for getting it checked out so quickly. I hope all the tests are clear xx
Thank you, me too! I was tracking his intake this morning and he had drank 1.1L of water by 11:30am. So off to the drs we went! 🤣. Thankfully the Dr is fairly confident that it’s not glucose related diabetes which is great news! But I do hope all the tests come back clear too and it turns out it’s just a growth spurt or something!
Both my kids fill up there 1l water bottles a few times each day and drink one overnight too. It's great that your GP is looking into things, especially if it's a sudden change, but it might just be him too. I think that's the age my kids started to really enjoy water. Fingers crossed that's all it is for you too
UPDATE- for anyone on Facebook who has asked for one. My son had a range of blood and urine tests done last week. We return for the results tomorrow so I’ll let you guys know when I know more. But he seems ok. He’s still drinking quite a bit. Hasn’t had any more vomiting but I’d very up and down with his emotions and has been having bouts of looking very unwell (like skin is mottled and grey). Nothing as concerning as the vomiting episode last week though.
The doctor did seem very convinced that his sugar level of 4.3 when tested at the surgery last week was an almost certain indicator that it’s not type 1 diabetes.
Please take him to the ED if he appears grey and mottled. As an ED nurse I find this quite concerning in a young child. I hope all goes well for you.
Please take him to the ED if he appears grey and mottled. As an ED nurse I find this quite concerning in a young child. I hope all goes well for you.
My stepdaughters GP was convinced her fasting level of 4.6 was a clear indication that it wasn’t type 1 diabetes.
3 weeks later she was in a coma in the ICU. She also had grey mottled skin as her body was literally dying.
I’d be going to the Emergency room if it was my child. Mood swings, excessive thirst, and nausea (with or without vomiting) is a major concern.
Please update when you get results! I’m hoping it’s nothing serious. I can imagine this situation is extremely stressful. Sending good vibes and love xoxox
Ok, outcome of tests was a normal fasting glucose level. His urine was quite diluted and he is extremely iron deficient (again 😳). The dr says type 1 diabetes is definitely not the cause. But he hasn’t ruled diabetes insipidus in or out. Off to our paediatrician next week.
Where r u located? U should be getting an iron infusion asap since his extremely iron deficient! That really makes them moody and can make them thirsty. Prob couldn't hurt to give him a course of worming tablets and get his stool tested for blood/ parasites. Get him checked for caeliac a swell, they need to find what's making him so iron deficient!
Also try not to give more than a cup of milk a day as it hinders iron absorption