April 11, 2007
Diagnosis and Symptoms, Type 2
Question from Houston, Texas, USA:
My dad was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes a few months ago and his doctor recommended testing my kids and me for diabetes also, but the my kid’s doctor (general pediatrician) did not agree in principle to test them since there were no symptoms.
We took my seven-year-old son to his regular annual check-up three weeks ago and his BMI was high since he was 66 pounds and 4 feet tall. The doctor recommended we reduce his intake of sugar (candies, box juices, sweets) and carbohydrates.
Over the last couple of weeks, he is having changes in mood, sweet cravings, gets hungry frequently, requesting snacks every three or four hours and is getting frequently distracted, like “daydreaming,” and then wants sweets after these episodes.
This week we decided again to request my son’s doctor test for diabetes/glucose and this time he agreed since the BMI was high, my son has had behavioral changes and my dad’s diagnosis. The results came within the normal values, according to the pediatrician. However, it looks to me that the glucose for 14 hours fasting is on the high side and the insulin is on the low side. My son’s fasting blood sugar was 93 mg/dl [5.2 mmol/L] with an insulin level of 7 uIU/mL. Other test results included: AST 25 U/L; ALT 12 U/L; Lipid Panel–45 mg/dL; Cholesterol: Total 149 mg/mL; HDL 59 mg/dL; and LDL 81 mg/dL; and Cholesterol/HDLC Ratio 2.5
Is there anything I should be worry about, any other ratios/correlations that can be inferred from his results? Is there any other test that can provide a more accurate diagnosis?
Answer:
Typically, we start testing children for type 1 or 2 diabetes if they have any symptoms of diabetes, at any age. Children that have a high BMI are clearly at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, especially if they have a strong family history of diabetes, have a racial background that is at stronger risk for diabetes (Alaska Native, American Indian, African American, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American, or Pacific Islander), or are sedentary. We typically screen children starting at age 12 for diabetes when those risk factors are present to a significant degree.
For interpretation of specific laboratory tests, please consult with your pediatrician.
Read more about Type 2 Diabetes and what you can do to prevent it on our web site.
MSB
