Question from Helena, Montana, USA:

Two days ago, I took my four year old daughter to the doctor because I thought she might have a bladder infection. She gave a urine sample. She had had several bites of cereal and approximately a cup and one-half of grape juice within an hour and one-half hours before the sample. She did not appear to have an infection, but the nurse practitioner came in and told me she tested positive for sugar (2+) and ketones. She then told me that my daughter could very possibly have diabetes, and that I would have to be prepared to take her to the hospital. They drew a blood sugar which was 136 mg/dl [7.6 mmol/L]. The nurse told be to bring her back in a week for a fasting blood sugar. My daughter shows no signs of diabetes. If anything she is drinking less than normal, and her urine is very strong. (like ammonia sometimes). I called the nurse back and told her how upset I was, and that I wanted to have the fasting blood sugar done sooner. My 55 year old mother just developed type 2 and her mother was diagnosed at age 31 with type 1. I don’t seem to be able to get a straight answer from the clinic as to what is going on. They suspect her fasting blood sugar will be within normal. However, I am still very concerned about the sugar and ketones. Do you have any suggestions or advice? Does this sound like diabetes? Do we need more information?