<p>One of my kids lost a lot of weight this semester, his first in college (over 20 pounds). His dad has diabetes; he was first diagnosed with Type 2 and then the doctor changed it to Type 1 which I understand has a genetic component. Ds claims he just isn’t hungry (that’s unusual) and doesn’t like cafeteria school (he’s never been picky). He also denies any other symptoms (thirst, etc). But I’m concerned. We cannot get him in to his primary care physician. Would an urgent care facility do testing or screening? Could I go directly to a lab? Is there an at-home test and, if so, how accurate is it? Thank you!</p>
<p>The best test is called HbA1c. There is no home kit for this. It tells you how your sugar levels have been for the last 3 months. Ranges from under 5 to upper 10s. For confirmed diabetics anything < 6 is considered good. For diabetics on medication anything <7 is considered under good control. I would take your son to the dr if the score is anything over 5.7. All home kits measure sugar at a specific time (when the test is done) which are useful to develop patters. All the very best to your son. Hopefully he is free of Diabetes</p>
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<p>What about this (although soon to be discontinued)?
[Bayer</a> CONTOUR - A1CNOW®](<a href=“http://www.bayercontour.com/Blood-Glucose-Monitoring/ClassicMeters/A1CNow?WT.mc_id=&WT.srch=1]Bayer”>http://www.bayercontour.com/Blood-Glucose-Monitoring/ClassicMeters/A1CNow?WT.mc_id=&WT.srch=1)</p>
<p>There are also cheaper mail-to-get-results home test kits.</p>
<p>Can he ask his primary care physician to just order a lab test for blood sugar and/or HbA1C, if the physician is unavailable for a regular visit (already booked full, etc.)?</p>
<p>Similar experience with my son. He went to the student health center the day he returned to school and was diagnosed and hospitalized that day. It would have been less complicated if the diagnosis happened earlier but because we were at the very end of break when we had the light bulb moment, it seemed to be the best option. How about using your husbands test strips to do a quick test yourself?</p>
<p>UCB - my dr has alwAys said that there is no reliable home kit for A1c. I have always had it done in a lab. Will ask him again in the next visit. They use a1c as a standard these days - so I would get one done prior to seeing the dr - so that the discussion can be more meaningful (assuming he will call it in)</p>
<p>OP, we had no history of diabetes in the family so when my son came home at Christmas break with a weight loss I just assumed it was the combination of cafeteria food and walking to/from his dorm (he was on the other side of campus so he walked at least 3 miles a day, something he did NOT do in hs). When he came home for spring break and took off his shirt, he looked like a cancer patient. The ER weighed him in at 115, when his normal was 150. Since diabetes is in your family, use your husband’s test kit and see what it is when he wakes up and in the middle of the day. If its above normal (your husband know the numbersr) take him in to a doctor right away. My son has some nerve damage already in his feet, and more alarming, in his stomach functions. Better be safe than sorry.</p>
<p>He doesn’t need an A1c as an initial test. If he is symptomatic from type 1 diabetes (and usually they aren’t symptomatic for long before they become very sick), then a urine dip for sugar will tell you if his sugars are high. A fingerstick blood sugar level would also do the job. An A1c is more useful for monitoring control of diabetes (though it is also used in diagnosis, mainly of type 2 diabetes which is more subtle at onset).</p>
<p>Type 2 is generally diet related but there is still function of the pancreas. Type 1 means the pancreas has stopped working. Type 1 is very serious and your son can become very sick. Not trying to scare you but please get him medical help immediatley. My D was diagnosed at age 7. It is difficult at times but overall manageable. I wish your son well.</p>
<p>Agree with knitkneelionmom, kjcphmom and CIEE83.</p>
<p>If diabetes is causing 20 lbs of weight loss, there should be symptoms (increased hunger, thirst and urination since it is the loss of sugar in the urine that causes the weight loss) and a simple fingerstick blood sugar or urine test for sugar should show a significant abnormality.</p>
<p>Right, get urine testing strips at the drugstore. Assuming your husband has a meter and strips, that works too. If the strip turns brown (they come with a color chart) or the meter shows a blood sugar over 126, then he has a problem and the MD should certainly fit him in asap.</p>
<p>2college, use your husband’s test kit to test S blood sugar. You could test yours and another child’s too for comparison. If S number is not in line with the non- diabetics take him to the Dr. right away. When my son was diagnosed with T1 his blood sugar was >500 (a healthy number would be around/under 100 depending on when you test).</p>
<p>Tried to edit my post but missed the deadline. A fasting blood sugar over 125 is considered to be in the diabetic range, or a nonfasting sugar of 200 or more. Someone who has symptoms from diabetes is very unlikely to have sugars of less than 200.</p>
<p>Thank you everyone. I am long divorced and my kids have no contact with their dad so I have no supplies at home. The doctor is booked. (Ds had an annual physical appt but the doctor was unable to change it.) I’ll stop by the 24 hour pharmacy and see what there is or maybe I’ll start with a call to the doctor for guidance. I didn’t know if I sounded overprotective since he is not complaining of thirst/ urination but the weight loss is unusual.</p>
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<p>The normal range is 70-99 after just waking up and before eating anything (fasting).</p>
<p>2college,</p>
<p>Is your son home now for the break? Are you able to observe him? How’s his energy? Will your insurance allow you to go to urgent care? If so, do it. Otherwise, get a blood sugar checker and have him check his blood sugar.</p>
<p>My son was diagnosed at a few months before 11. He had a serious illness a few months before he was diagnosed, but we can see his energy was flagging in the months leading up to his diagnosis. In the days before I took him to his doctor, he was peeing a lot during the night. Also, he hadn’t grown much, though I don’t think he had lost much weight. (He’s a skinny kid) His BG was 525, so not horrible as in 900s-1000, thankfully. I cried-I remember it well.</p>
<p>Wow, I can’t believe that your doctor won’t see your son if you told him/her that you suspect diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is not a trivial disease. When I had the same suspicion with my son, I called the doctor to make an appointment for that afternoon, after school. The doctor said NO, come in immediately. I called the school to tell them that my son needed to meet me to go to the doctor, and within a couple of hours he was in the hospital being treated and educated about type 1 diabetes. This was 10 years ago this month…</p>
<p>My 24 y/o was diagnosed with type 1 last summer. She had a 10 pound weight loss but was also symptomatic (increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue).</p>
<p>How did he adjust to college? In a new college student who says he isn’t hungry I would consider depression and anorexia. </p>
<p>An urgent care center can order the necessary labs…complete blood count to check iron and white blood cell numbers, metabolic panel to check sugar and kidney function etc for starters.</p>
<p>Keep us posted.</p>
<p>Good luck, 2college - just adding my voice to those who say he should just get a quick blood test from a doctor. It doesn’t need to be an A1C, even a non-fasting blood test should give you an answer.</p>
<p>When I was diagnosed as a T1-adult, I had a rapid weight loss, but I wasn’t hungry or thirsty. I just felt “wrong.” Don’t wait for the development of other symptoms; the weight loss is enough to warrant testing. My fasting blood sugar was way above 600 when I was diagnosed…</p>
<p>Yes-a quick urinalysis will be more than sufficient. When my son was diagnosed, that’s all it took.</p>
<p>For less than $20-30, go to a local drug store like CVS or Walgreens and get the cheapest generic test kit than comes with test strips. You do not need a prescription. Do it for your peace of mind. You do not need the full-blown A1C test. That’s not necessary to help answer your basic question. </p>
<p>I had NO symptoms except that I was pregnant. My diabetic brother was living with us and just for curiosity I tested myself. My ob/gyn doctor was expecting to test me at 7 months. The initial result, after I had just had a glass of milk showed my BS at 225. Not awful, but not normal either. My life after that changed forever.</p>