Could he be diabetic?

Question

My ten year old son drinks a lot of fluid (though he does't pee anymore than normal). I don't give him food with much salt and him and his sister who is seventeen, eat more or less the same food.

Answer 1

If you have ANY concerns about the health of a child, you should ALWAYS go your GP.

Answer 2

Don't panic - he's probably just thirsty. You've probably heard about type 2 diabetes - this is the kind that's been on the news etc. a lot cos it is getting heaps more common and is linked to poor diet and lifestyle. This is very rare in children (though worryingly increasing) - it is very unlikely that he has this. Type 1 diabetes is a v different condition that is usually developed during childhood. It is not linked at all to diet so your sons salt intake will not affect it at all. I don't know how to explain to you how extreeme the thirst that you feel with this is - before I was diagnosed I was sitting on the toilet drinking water n it was like it was going straight through me! You can feel so despirate for a drink you will do anything for it - I've got a friend whos son took juice off the shelf in the suppermarket and drank it cos he was so despirate for a drink - you really know something's wrong, and also with type 1 diabetes it develops quite quickly so you will notice a serious change in his thurst over a few weeks, along with possible skin conditions, being tiard, etc. etc.. So unless this has started very suddenly, I doubt he has diabetes, but it is always better to check these things out if you're worried - it's possible that it could be a symptom of something else - your dr could do more conclusive blood tests. Lets hope he's just a typical boy needing to drink heaps cos he's out running about! Hope that helps. xx

Answer 3

"Symptoms of diabetes are increased thirst, increased urination, weight loss, and sometimes increased appetite. These symptoms usually develop over a few days to weeks. Occasionally, some people notice symptoms after an illness, such as the flu. They may think the diabetes symptoms are related to the flu and not seek medical care early.

Sometimes, a person may develop symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis before seeking medical care. Symptoms include:

Flushed, hot, dry skin.
Loss of appetite, abdominal pain, and vomiting.
A strong, fruity breath odor (similar to nail polish remover or acetone).
Fast and shallow breathing.
Restlessness, drowsiness, difficulty waking up, confusion, or coma."

http://www.jdf.org/

Answer 4

You know, it's not worth the risk of waiting - he may be dehydrated which is also not good for the body. You probably need to get him checked ASAP. If he is Type I he may also be feeling weak, nauseated (flu like symptoms) and like you said constant urination. My blood sugar was over 700 when I was admitted at age 12. Get a jump on it early it will be to everyone's benefit and if it's not diabetes, you can see if it's something else.

Answer 5

thirst is only one symptom.
if he was diabetic he would probably be very tired, need the toilet a lot and just seem generally a bit under the weather. it can also cause a lot of weight loss in a short space of time.
it's still worth getting it checked out though.

Answer 6

the symptoms of type 1 diabetes are so severe you would notice something else going on.

Answer 7

I doubt it, though if you are concerned consult your GP. Thrist can be a sign of the disease however it is often with increased urination. So don't worry about it, some people just have larger apepites (especially sum of my fam members).

Answer 8

Is he having to drink during the night? is he very tired all the time? Is he losing weight without doing anymore exercise than normal? If not then it seems unlikely

Answer 9

There are many more symptoms. Check out the link below from the NHS direct site.

Answer 10

go 2 the doctor and get a test done.sum pharmacies do them