A co-down mom shared how her daughter was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes just months after seeing an Instagram post about the condition.
Natalie McSpadden’s daughter Sophia, who was diagnosed this week, will now be on insulin for the rest of her life.
Natalie says that if she hadn’t raised the symptoms through the social media post, her child would have become even more unwell.
Two-year-old Sophia from Crossgar had all the symptoms of diabetes, but after a weekend of leaky diapers, her mother decided to contact the doctor.
When Sophia checked her blood sugar levels, which should be in the normal range between 4 and 7, the toddler’s readings were 29 – which caused panic and a trip to the hospital.
Natalie said, “We were told to go to Ulster A&E immediately. We got to the Ulster just after lunchtime and she had her blood sugar and blood drawn again and they confirmed she had type 1 diabetes. I stayed at the Ulster all week and the staff were brilliant.
Sophia in the hospital
“We had to learn a lot – how to measure her blood sugar, give her insulin, count the carbohydrates in her meals and calculate how much insulin she needs. There is a lot to swallow, but we will make it. “
Diabetes UK says too many children and adolescents are not diagnosed with type 1 diabetes until they have diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition that requires urgent medical attention.
It raises awareness of the four most common symptoms of type 1 diabetes (the 4 Ts) to ensure more children are diagnosed early.
The main symptoms are:
Toilet – urinating more often.
Tired – being more tired than usual.
Thirsty – being really thirsty all the time.
Thinner – lose weight or look thinner.
Another sign is increased hunger, and Sophia had all of these symptoms.
Natalie explained, “Her diapers have definitely been fuller than usual for the past few weeks, and before Monday it had leaked into her bed every morning for the few mornings before that.
Sophia and Mama Natalie
“We canceled Sophia’s midday nap around November, but recently she’s been getting tired and a bit grumpy during the day and I had to put her down again for an afternoon nap. She also falls asleep in the car, which she hasn’t done in a long time.
“Sophia always seemed so thirsty, all day, every day. I had noticed that she had lost some weight, even though I had only thought that she was losing her baby fat. Sophia always asked for something to eat, even right after” finishes her breakfast / lunch / dinner. “
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On the subject of matching items
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On the subject of matching items
Natalie says she shares her experience to help raise awareness of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes in young children.
“If I hadn’t seen a post on Instagram a few months ago, I would never have known what to look out for,” she added.
“And I might not have taken Sophia to a test because I might have thought that the symptoms she was having were due to something else or that she was only going through a small phase.
The brave Sophia
“Sophia was a little superstar. She was so good in the hospital, she got all these finger sticks, insulin shots and blood draws. We’re so proud of how brave she was.
“I hope that maybe this helps someone, just like the post I saw helped me summarize everything that was going on and make that call to check out Sophia.
“If it had stayed longer, Sophia could have gotten really sick, so I’m glad I knew the signs to look out for and glad I made that call.
“We’re all still in shock, but we’re just grateful that her condition can be treated and that she can lead a relatively normal life.”
