I took my youngest son (age 10) to see the doctor on Monday. He had what could be symptoms of diabetes, like frequent thirst, dry skin and craving sugar. Before I made the appt, I borrowed my neighbor's blood sugar tester, and my son's number was 210. If accurate, that seemed pretty high, so I made an appointment. Anyway, I brought him in, and they tested his urine, and doctor said that he definitely is not diabetic. (I'm still going to monitor him though)
I asked the doctor quite a few questions about diabetes in children, and he said that it is not inherited, and that it is a virus. Virus? I have never heard this before. Those of you that have personal knowledge about childhood diabetes, have you ever heard anything like this?

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A friend's daughter developed Diabetes when she was 7 yo. She is an adult today and still has full blown diabetes. She was put on insulin immediately when she was diagnosed and has had to be on it all through the years.
I have never heard of diabetes being called a virus. That sounds absured to me. I would definitely go immediately for a second opinion.
I have type 2 diabetes and have been told I will have it the rest of my life. Mine is so far treated by medication but it's possible that at some I may have to go on insulin.
Type 1 diabetes is when it is contracted early in life and as far as I know is always treated with insulin. Type 2 is when it's contracted later in life.
I sure hope he doesn't have it because there are some serious problems that can come from diabetes. Loss of eye sight and/or kidney failure to name a couple. So it is extremely important to get a correct diagnosis ASAP.
That 210 blood check you got with your friend's glucose meter is extremely high and would be MUCH more accurate than a urine test.
PLEASE get a second opinion ASAP.

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I've never heard of diabetes being called a virus either but to me that's only a small part of the big picture and not something that I'd fret about.
The accuracy of the home check number would depend on when the check was made.
I've never heard of craving sugar being a symptom of diabetes. Frequent urination would go along with the excessive thirst. The excessive water drinking is the body trying to rid itself of the surplus of sugar because the bodies insulin output is not functioning. I know when a child's sugar is high they are to drink water to lower it.
A Type 2 diabetic can change to a Type 1 later in life if/when the body quits producing insulin altogether.

Our family has a lot of diabetes in it and we have some close friends whose son also has type 1 diabetes. They have mentioned the virus thing. That has not been proven, though, it is still a theory as to the cause of type 1 diabetes. It's possible that the child catches a virus that attacks the pancreas causing to to stop producing insulin. Type 1 diabetes is in children when their pancreas stops producing insulin.

Type 1 diabetes: Causes - MayoClinic.com

Type 2 is typically in adults (can be in children) typically due to being overweight and when your body cannot properly use the insulin that it makes.

There is a new condition that doctors are beginning to see in children called Double Diabetes, due to the childhood obesity problem. It is when they have both types of diabetes at the same time.

Both types of diabetes can be hereditary, but isn't always. Diabetes is prevelant in our familly, but our friends whose son has it, don't have it.

Lisa

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Are you sure he said diabetes is a virus? Maybe he was saying that he thinks that whatever you son has is a virus??

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Time for a second opinion. Diabetes can be genetic and hasn't been proven to be a virus.

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I just googled diabetes and virus and a number of hits came up. Here's one:
Researchers link virus, diabetes - UPI.com

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Diabetes runs in my family. Someone from each generation has it. My Great Uncle died from it, my aunt is on permanent disability from it (even the hospital can't regulate her sugars) and my brother has it. So far (knock on wood), my kids don't have it and my brother doesn't have kids yet. I get low blood sugars (but the doc says "nothing is wrong"...whatever, I know my body). Anyway, we discovered my brother had diabetes when he was 15. He had the same symptoms as your child. An average/good blood sugar varies. 75-150 is average I believe. I am around 120. 210 is HIGH. My brother would have to take insulin if his were that high.

I would get a second opinion...seriously

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Yes, 210 is high. However, there are more factors that have to be taken into consideration. What had the child had to eat and when? Everyone's sugar level can be high depending on what they ate and when. A fasting blood sugar would be most accurate.
The most common symptom that I've seen in children is drastic weight loss. I've seen children that have lost 15-25 lbs in less than a month. Although, I can't imagine why a parent wouldn't take a child to the doctor when they're losing weight that rapidly.

I also would get a 2nd opinion and have them do a A1c test on your son. That will tell the Doctor your son's blood sugar average for the last 3 months.

That's how I found out my ex had diabetes. I found out I had it, got a blood testing kit, checked my ex "for fun" and saw his was in the 200s. He went to the dr a few days later and they checked it, well at that time it was down at normal range. So ex told him about me checking it and it being 200+ the dr then sent him to get a A1c and found out he was indeed diabetic.

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diabetes can be hereditary.
A urinalysis is not the best method for determining diabetes. Blood work needs to be done! A fasting blood sugar, probably a glucose tolerance test is in order.
I would also suggest having his thyroid checked. What you describe could also be symptoms of HYPOthyroidism.

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