Newly DX–Large Keytones–Vomiting–Over 420–What do I do?

I saw this post recently.

I was astounded reading through the many responses of the people who were trying to help this poor mother.

I get it.  We want to help.

But the only acceptable answer is to get in touch with your medical team ASAP and you need to do it now.   Answers as in: This happened to my child and I…….; What you need to do is give your child……; Get used to this, here is what you need to do….; are just completely unacceptable.

If we are all in agreement that diabetes can be followed minute by minute from one day to the next with completely different results with our own lives; what makes anyone at all sure that the way diabetes impacts your child is the same way diabetes will impact another?

There is no thin line to be walked here.  When it comes to medical advice about how diabetes plays a role in anyone’s life—-it is never a substitute for the only correct answer: Contact your doctor NOW.

It happened again when another parent thought their child without diabetes ‘tested high’.  One person actually wrote that they wouldn’t worry about it as even people without diabetes will spike.  Really?  I’m glad we didn’t listen to that advice or my second child diagnosed may not have been around to tell the story.  In as much as that may be true in MANY cases it is not an absolute.  If someone is concerned about anything regarding their child the only acceptable advice is, “make an appointment and find out.”

Even if it is ‘inconclusive results’, it is still better than someone else’s ‘guess’ from miles away with an online post, don’t you agree?  What if that parent said; “Oh good, I can relax”, and they do not make an appointment and within 24 hours they are in ketoacidosis at a hospital…….do you REALLY want that on your conscience?

I am not talking about good sound advice from experience such as which pump you like and why; or what to do at a party so your child feels included; or any other of the millions of questions we all have pertaining to diabetes;  the experience of others is invaluable.

But anytime there is a medical question we all need to get in the habit of saying/answering online, “…….here is my experience with this and it may differ greatly from yours (state what you know); get your medical professional involved now to be sure because I’m not a Doctor and your child needs a medical opinion with this situation ASAP.”

The best advice is getting people to those who can render a professional opinion…..anything else is Russian Roulette. In most cases, maybe even 99%, given advice may be correct.  If you would not take a 1% chance with your child….do not take the chance with someone else.  Medical professionals should be the only ones giving medical advice.  Period.

I’m a Diabetesdad