OMG. I appreciate you thinking that the moms of mamapedia would give you good advice, but after reading through the responses I have to say, you have some conflicting, and wrong advice here. I am a nurse, and my husband has had Diabetes since he was a child, so please let me give you some accurate information. First I'd like to say that you can always call the Dr.'s office and ask the nurse to answer your questions about diet. Don't rely on the internet or your husband, or any preconceived notions you have about diabetes.
1. Childhood Diabetes is almost always Type 1 Diabetes (it used to be called Juvenile Diabetes), so if you must look it up online, look up Type 1 Diabetes. In recent decades Type 2 Diabetes has become a problem with children. Try not to get too hung up on the different types. THe pediatrician will let you know which one it is (if in fact the child has it).
2. The 3 main symptoms are, without question, nearly every single time, the following: a. Increased Thirst (Polydipsia)
b. Increased Hunger (Polyphagia)
c. Increased Urination (Polyuria)
3. Testing for Diabetes includes checking the blood sugar levels on an empty stomach, again after drinking a solution with sugar in it, urine test, and checking a Hemoglobin A1C, which is a blood test that gives information about the average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months.
Diabetics have fluctuations in their blood sugar levels. People without Diabetes maintain blood sugar levels within a pretty tight range. Diabetics can fluctuate wildly; from extremely low blood sugar, called Hypoglycemia, and extremely high blood sugar, called hyperglycemia. Both Hyper- and Hypoglycemia are potentially serious, and must be treated.
Don't rely on your husband or the internet to tell you whether or not your son should be consuming sugar and carbs. It totally depends on his blood sugar readings, how well his body is producing Insulin, whether or not his body is utilizing his own insulin, and whether or not he is being treated with injected Insulin. The only person who can tell you what to feed your son right now is the doctor or nurse at the office.
Symptoms of Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) include: Increased thirst, Increased hunger, Increased urination, eventually lethargy. Hyperglycemia is treated with Insulin, and occasionally other medications and IV fluids are needed if the blood sugar is dangerously high. If your child has these symptoms at home before the next doctor's visit, make sure he is getting plenty of water, and CALL THE DOCTOR.
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) include: Shakiness (trembling), Sweating, Confusion, Dizziness, Pale skin, Nausea, Tingling/numbness of the lips or fingertips, passing out. If your child has these symptoms at home between now and the next doctor's visit, give him a glass of juice and CALL THE DOCTOR.
I have never seen blue lips mentioned as a symptom of either hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia but perhaps if he's pale from being hypoglycemic his lips might appear to be purple or blue. Then again your child might have something else going on which is causing both the blue lips and the abnormal blood sugar readings.
Stay in steady contact with the doctors office. Report any new symptoms. It might help to keep a journal of the time of day when symptoms occur, what the symptoms are, and what did or did not help to resolve the symptoms, so you can share the information with the pediatrician.
PS you shouldn't necessarily alter your son's diet right now, before you have a diagnosis. Many Type 1 Diabetics actually can eat the whole range of carbs, including the occasional sugary snack, as long as they calculate the proper amount of insulin to take with the snack/meal, so don't get hung up on dietary changes just yet. Keep your son safe by reporting the above symptoms. In addition, take the respiratory therapists advice and bring him to the ER if his lips or fingertips are turning blue.
No matter what is going on with your son you guys will get through this!
