Monday, July 27, 2020

DKA Awareness & Type 1 Diabetes Misdiagnosis



Let’s talk about Type 1 Diabetes warning signs.


Every time I hear of a child or adult who is in the hospital fighting for their life, or worse- having lost their life after a Diabetes misdiagnosis, it breaks my heart. These posters should be in every pediatrician’s office and every family doctor’s office, because with one simple blood sugar test, lives could be saved.

As a parent, please be aware of what doctors often mistake T1D for. I’ve heard far too many stories that go like this: A kid gets sick, and they think it’s a normal bug. They take their kid to the doctor because it doesn’t seem to be going away. The doctor tells them it’s the flu and to let it run its course. So they listen, but their kid keeps on deteriorating and their *mom/dad alarms* are going off. They take them back to the doctor and the doctor prescribes them some antibiotics. They take their kid home and watch as they seem to fade away. They decide it’s enough, that this can’t be the flu, and it’s time to go to the hospital. By the time they arrive at the hospital, their kid is completely lethargic and practically unconscious. They’re taken back right away and are quickly told that their kid has Type 1 Diabetes and that they’re lucky they brought them in now, because a few more hours and they would have died. Their kid is in severe DKA and needs to go to the ICU.

!T1D CAN HAPPEN IN ADULTS AND CHILDREN ALIKE! So as an adult, please be aware of the signs yourself. And if you feel concerned at all, ask your doctor to test your blood sugar, or if it could be Type 1.

The more these warning signs are shared, the more cases of DKA can be prevented.
Look out for:
Excessive thirst
Weight loss
Frequent urination/Bed wetting
Blurry vision & headaches
Fruity breath odour
Stomach pain, nausea, vomiting
Extreme fatigue & weakness

Ask your doctor’s office if they could put up a poster.