In the fall of 2000, Jeff began vomiting for no apparent reason after eating- and then be okay. FFWD to Feb 2001, a double ear infection was treated and soon after the out-of-nowhere bed wetting began. Unable to go 30 minutes without a bathroom, I took him to the dr and we narrowly and surprisingly avoided DKA with a BG topping 850. He's 21 and finally out of the horrific puberty trials T1D parents share.
In July, my boyfriend's 10 year old was admitted in DKA because an urgent care clinic doctor failed to grant a request to check her BG two weeks prior (at my urging to her parents), and sent her home with a yeast infection that he seemed to find unremarkable.
Now- my youngest is showing extremely early signs. I've been fortunate to have access to BG meters and have caught BG's that bounce in and out of range and I took him to his doc. His A1C is approaching out of range. It's nearly a forgone conclusion he will develop T1D in a couple of years. It was a whim that made me catch him with a BG near 50. One of 28, and one in 150's.
My point is this: well child checks should include a harmless and quick A1C. Parents can know the symptoms but typically only do when a family member has suffered. Doctors, on the other hand, have access to means of checking at all routine appointments and physicals. Further, if a pharmacy can give a flu shot, maybe they can offer a finger stick too. This disease is quite easy to catch. There is no need for a misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis to land a kid into critical care.
God Bless them. God bless all of ya.
SLC, UT
