My daughter came home from ball practice complaining of severe leg cramps. She is 13 and we have never had this problem before so I remembered that was a symptom I had before I was diagnosed. Checked her blood sugar and it was 251. I am so very upset, she goes to the doctor in the morning to have blood work done and maybe get some answers. Could anything else cause you to have elevated blood sugars? I have only been diagnosed 10 months.
I dont know, but I would drink lots of water and put an ice pack on her leg and move it around and stretch it. Best of luck!
Thanks so much!!
Good luck, Tonya. I had severe leg cramps before diagnosis, too. Be strong and be a great advocate for your daughter. We’re with you!
What were the circumstances? Severe leg cramps could mean she has a vitamin D deficiency, and if she was drinking something like a sports drink, it might have elevated her bloodsugar. I hope everything turns out ok!
When people exercise they produce a lot of adrenilin. Adrenilin causes the blood sugar levels to rise and that will stay up until the adrenilin goes down.
The aching calves is probably just from running around.
Check it again a bit later and you should find that her blood sugars have gone down.
The adrenilin is the most likely answer since she was running around. Keep her drinking plenty of water.
That would scare me also. Obviously most of these would not apply to your Daughter. I truly hope that she just ate/drank way too much with the gang after the game. Good wishes!
Please let us know how the test goes.
Some of the other diseases and conditions that can result in elevated glucose levels include:
• Acromegaly
• Acute stress (response to trauma, heart attack, and stroke for instance)
• Chronic renal failure
• Cushing syndrome
• Drugs, including: corticosteroids, tricyclic antidepressants, diuretics, epinephrine, estrogens (birth control pills and hormone replacement), lithium, phenytoin (Dilantin), salicylates,
• Excessive food intake
• Hyperthyroidism
• Pancreatic cancer
• Pancreatitis
Moderately increased blood levels may be seen with pre-diabetes. This condition, if left un-addressed, often leads to type 2 diabetes.
http://labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/glucose/tab/test
I think Jackie is right on target. When you have high blood sugars, dehydration and stress, they all of can combine to make a powerful disturbance and they feed on each other. It is common for someone experiencing high blood sugars to have electrolyte imbalances and suffer leg cramps. By the same token, becoming dehydrated and having an electrolyte imbalance can result in poor glucose regulation (sodium plays a key role in glucose uptake).
Make sure your daughter hydrates properly during activities (with a drink that contains electrolytes). And do see if the doctor can help.
Guys thank you so much! We go to the doc. At 10 this morning…I will let you what happens.
Thinking of you and your daughter. Hopefully the high blood sugar was just a fluke.
Amen!
saw the her doctor today. Her A1C is 8.1. We will be traveling 100 miles in the morning to see the closest ped. endo. I am feeling so overwhelmed and shocked. All I can do is pray that the Lord will put good people and doctors in our path.
Wow! You are such a good mother! Now you can teach her all you know ad guide her in the right direction. Hope everything goes well and it is a great thing that you caught it early!
Hi Tonya: I know it is so stressful right now, but you are doing all the right things, and it is very good that your daughter was diagnosed early, without a crisis (DKA is really ugly). So much credit to you for being such a good advocate for your daughter, not being in denial. We are here for you!
Ok now you have to do what Julia said. I also have a Type 1 daughter. You are so new to diabetes and so is she. GOOD JOB TONYA!!! I caught it in my daughter too b/c being a Type 1 I knew the symptoms. I tried and deny it was happening to her for about a week then we went to the ER and I told them to test this child (who wa 11 at the time She’s 23 now with 3 kids of her own) for Type 1 diabetes seeing that I had it I knew where to go. Not like my mom did years ago when it was more or less new to us and we didn’t know the symptoms til I had already lost around 30 pounds (She didn’t want anything to be “wrong” with me but I never really looked at it as anything “wrong” just that I was different that’s what I told my daughter when she took Type 1 too she was different like her mom) Had the leg cramps, server thirst, diareeah, etc…
True that! It is a good thing she didnt reach DKA. I remember I did and had to stay in the ICU. Pretty scary, now that I look back. I am 14 and if you have any questions, you can always come to me, but you probably know a lot. I was diagnosed almost one year ago. BTW, get her signed up for diabetes camp. She will have so much fun. Not trying to rush you, but I just got back a couple of weeks ago. I thought I was going to hate it, but I am definitely going back next year. If you need anything, you know where to go. We are all here for ya!
Tonya, I am so sorry to hear this. Your mother’s intuition allowed you to catch this early! I’m glad you found out before she went into DKA as others said. My 14 year old daughter is T1 (I am not). There are lots of challenges as you already know, but she will get through it with your support.
You are both in my thoughts and prayers!
Now guys I tried to forget the DKA. (NOT A GOOD WAY TO GO) but as other’s have said really good you caught it b/f she went DKA!
I’m so sorry for you and your daughter. My son was diagnosed 9 months ago, and it’s heart-breaking news. If there’s any bright side to this, it’s that you’ve traveled a few steps down this road already and you’ll be very prepared to care for your daughter and to help her learn to care for herself. God bless.
Sadly, that is not the result that we were hoping for but as mentioned, that was important that you caught it before the scary I.C.U experience. Wonderful Mom! It’s a hard journey for a Kid also but hopefully she will accept it sooner than later and it may become easier through the years for her. I know that it has for me. I’m Glad that she has you to encourage and praise her. To teach her about so many tricks of the trade of Diabetes and to share your experiences along the way…and to Laugh together. You will. 
Take Good Care Tonya and be sure to ask anything that you need to.