Mother of a Type 1 Son

by Mother of Diabetic Son-Type 1
(USA)

I am a mother of a child with type 1 diabetes. I would like to tell how he was diagnosed. I am a nurse so I am aware of diabetes. With that knowledge and the fact that diabetes runs in my husbands family, I was very suspicious of my eleven year old son. He seemed to be drinking a large amount of fluids, getting clammy with out reason, and sleeping allot. So I first took him to an endocrinologist approximately six months before he was diagnosed. The doctor told me he was just approaching puberty early. So for awhile I excepted that. Then he started complaining about not being able to see the board at school. I then of course took him to get his eyes tested. He received glasses and for that day he could see better. Then the next day he was complaining he couldn't see. He was continually drinking. My husband happened to have a kidney disorder, so I had test strips to test his urine, so I thought just for the heck of it I would test my sons. Well, he had a large amount of ketones and four plus sugar. So, I called my family practice doctor and took him in that day. The nurse was quite indignant and condescending. She didn't think I knew what I was talking about. However, when she tested his sugar it was above the reading on the meter. It was then they hospitalized my son to get him stable. As a mother I felt guilty, wanting to make it go away. I felt like I had let him down in someway. He is now twenty six years old and is trying very hard to keep his sugars under control. For the parents that might read this, I just want to say, trust your judgement. If you suspect your child has diabetes then stick to it until they can give you a medical reason your child is doing what they are doing. Diabetes is a serious illness and must be taken care of the earlier the better.