Brianna's Diagnosis

It was summer time so many of the classic symptoms you see with Type One Diabetes, we brushed off.  Courtney, Brianna's little sister, was born at end of July, 2009. Brianna, who was 5, was having some accidents at night, but we thought it was regression, because of the new baby.  The accidents didn't make sense because she was potty trained when she was 2 and had very few accidents since, but so much was changing in her world, we didn't think much of it.  Water, she was drinking lots of water!  Again, we were not really worried she had just started taking so new seizure medication, more about that later, and she was told to drink lots of water. I always have a cup of water at my bedside so for her to request one was not that odd.   It was really HOT, the temperatures were 90-100 most days.  Looking back something we also found weird was she was actually asking for candy.  This was really unlike her, she is our healthiest eater, she usually ate carrots and ranch for snack.  Maybe her body was feeling low and she needed sugar? 

The rest of the summer went the same way, her drinking lots of water and having an accident here and there. I can say this looking back, I really didn't think much of it when it was happening, remember new baby??  We were just enjoying the new baby and life.  Brianna started Kindergarten at the end of August.  She was so excited, she went in the afternoon, Monday-Friday.  Friday morning's she did gymnastics, as well.


As August went on and into September the accidents were getting more frequent, but only at night.  During the day she would pee more but no accidents.  We tried everything, cut liquids down, made her pee more, NOTHING was working.  I was embarrassed was I doing something wrong?  I could not figure out why she was having them.  I kept thinking I hope she doesn't start having them at school too.  Seriously diabetes did not even come into my mind.  Why would it?  We have no family history of diabetes.  Most kids/adults that are diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes have no family history. 

Finally I called the doctor on September 10, and told them something odd was going on she is peeing more and having accidents.  What do you think could be wrong with her??  They were thinking UTI and wanted me to bring her in the next day.  I was hoping that she would not have an accident that night and I would cancel the appointment in the morning.  But that night she had another accident.

So Friday, September 11, 2009, she got up had pancakes and syrup for breakfast, got ready and went to gymnastics.  She had a great time at gymnastics, but was upset we had to go to the doctor she wanted to go to Skyline and then school.  It was library day and she was so excited to get a new book-  funny some of the details I remember from that day.  I told her we would be in and out a really quick appointment, then off to lunch.


That is not what happened.  We walk back they checked her out, she looked fine.  They ask for a urine sample, not a problem for her.  We are in talking with the Nurse Practitioner when the nurse comes back in with the results from the urine sample.  I will never forget the look on her face, she was in complete shock and almost panic.  She said excuse me I am going to talk with the doctor that is here today.  Okay...  couldn't figure out what the big deal was UTI right?  Give us medication and we will be on our way.  She comes back in WITH the doctor, they said there is a large amount of ketones in her urine.  Tells me they would like to do a finger stick.  Mmm, okay....  The number pops up on the screen 364!  I start crying immediately!!  Normal blood glucose is 80-120.  I ask do they think she has diabetes????  She can't have diabetes can she?!?!?    They say they are unsure but RIGHT NOW you have to go down to Children's Hospital and they will  waiting for you.  They said be prepared to stay a few day.  I asked if I could go home and get a few things first.  They recommend I went right away.  I called hubby, he left work and met us at home and we went down together.  There was no way I could take Brianna and a new baby down there by myself, I was a mess!

When we got there her numbers had come down she was almost back in range.  Really weird.  We sat in the ER for what seemed like forever, with them asking for urine samples, doing blood work and trying to get an IVs- yes two, started.  After a few hours in the ER,  I could not wait to get out of the ER this was when H1N1 was going around like crazy and I had the new baby with me, they took us up to our room.  By this time Brianna was starving she had not eaten since breakfast.  They did a finger stick and let her eat.  They didn't give her insulin, she didn't require anything via IV, they were there just in case.  Her numbers were in the 100-200's, not super high like you think of when you hear of Type 1 diabetes diagnosis stories.  So most of Friday night it was a waiting game.  After food they did go up, but again not extremely high.  They thought that she had Type 1 Diabetes, but wanted to rule everything else out.  The next morning they came back and said all her other blood work came back normal, and yes she did have Type 1 Diabetes.  They said her A1C was 7.9 and we had caught diabetes really early. 


This picture was taken 2-3 weeks before diagnosis.

Brianna loving her baby sister 

This one is just a few days before diagnosis

You would never think anything was wrong with her. 

I do regret not taking any pictures when she was in the hospital but I really was overwhelmed.
What happens when you are first diagnosed?  What is the hospital like? Stay tuned for the next post.  :)

I love reading all the comments!  So please feel free to leave your thoughts.