1. < About Kids & Teens

Excessive drinking by 2 1/2 yr old -all tests r negative for diabetes

Posted by csherman66 @csherman66, Aug 25, 2023

Our 30 month old grandson has been drinking water excessively for 5 months. He is very active and amazingly very adept at playing basketball although mainly in the house when it is hot out. Obviously not suffering from fatigue, another possible symptom for diabetes.

His mom, my daughter is concerned. Thinking it might be diabetes, blood was drawn from a vein but showed no ketones in urine and fasting glucose was normal at 77 indicating it is NOT diabetes. At my urging, she had tests done again last week. Random nonfasting glucose was normal at 100, no ketones and A1c was normal.
The highest I have been able to find for amount he should be drinking per day is 40 oz or 5 glasses. She says he sometimes drinks 60 oz.

One doctor told her to distract him when he wants water - very hard to do when he is crying for water. He drinks from a cup that has a nipple on it like on a bottle. She is now trying to transition him to a sippy cup, thinking that the nipple might be a way of his self-comforting. He gets one bottle at night in his crib, drinks and goes to sleep. Usually does not urinate thru his diaper and clothes altho that happened once recently.

ANY SUGGESTION WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED! THANK YOU - Carole

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the About Kids & Teens Support Group.

Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Aug 26, 2023

Hi @csherman66, I can see that you and your daughter are very concerned about your grandson. He sounds like an active and smart boy who is very loved. Ruling out diabetes is the first important testing that you've done. That's what any online advice from children's hospitals advise.

Your daughter may be onto something with the nipple of the cup being a source of comfort rather than an actual need to quench a thirst. That was also mentioned in this article. In fact, she may even want to skip the sippy cup if possible and encourage his to drink from a regular cup.
- How Much Water Should Your Child Drink? https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/how-much-water-should-a-toddler-drink

I'm tagging fellow members like @patrassi @astaingegerdm who may have some additional thoughts.

Carole, does your grandson have a good appetite? Changing behavior or routines are tough with toddlers. How is the transition going from nipple to a sippy cup or regular cup?

REPLY
1 reply
Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Aug 26, 2023

@csherman66
Does your grandson carry his water cup with him all day? If he does, you can try to have it in one place in the kitchen so he has to ask for water each time. Also, changing to a regular cup usually cuts down on the volume.
Years ago it was common to give toddlers bottles or sippy cups with apple juice- often diluted.
I was guilty of that! They became dependent on sweet liquids and would cry for more and more. This bad habit stopped when it was found that many children were nutritionally deficient.
Excessive thirst is also connected to another form of diabetes called diabetes insipidus. It is a very rare condition and stems from hormonal problem in the pituitary gland. Your daughter could ask the pediatrician to test for that as well as testing kidney function.
I hope you will post again !

REPLY
1 reply
csherman66 | @csherman66 | Aug 26, 2023
In reply to @astaingegerdm "@csherman66 Does your grandson carry his water cup with him all day? If he does, you..." + (show)
@astaingegerdm

@csherman66
Does your grandson carry his water cup with him all day? If he does, you can try to have it in one place in the kitchen so he has to ask for water each time. Also, changing to a regular cup usually cuts down on the volume.
Years ago it was common to give toddlers bottles or sippy cups with apple juice- often diluted.
I was guilty of that! They became dependent on sweet liquids and would cry for more and more. This bad habit stopped when it was found that many children were nutritionally deficient.
Excessive thirst is also connected to another form of diabetes called diabetes insipidus. It is a very rare condition and stems from hormonal problem in the pituitary gland. Your daughter could ask the pediatrician to test for that as well as testing kidney function.
I hope you will post again !

Jump to this post

Thank you for your great suggestions - we will try your suggestions. He doesnt carry his water cup w/ him and is never given sweetened drinks. I had read about diabetes insipidus and will suggest that to my daughter. So nice of you to reply- really appreciate it. If we find out what is causing the thirst, I will definitely post so others who may have the same problem will know too

REPLY
csherman66 | @csherman66 | Aug 26, 2023
In reply to @colleenyoung "Hi @csherman66, I can see that you and your daughter are very concerned about your grandson...." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Hi @csherman66, I can see that you and your daughter are very concerned about your grandson. He sounds like an active and smart boy who is very loved. Ruling out diabetes is the first important testing that you've done. That's what any online advice from children's hospitals advise.

Your daughter may be onto something with the nipple of the cup being a source of comfort rather than an actual need to quench a thirst. That was also mentioned in this article. In fact, she may even want to skip the sippy cup if possible and encourage his to drink from a regular cup.
- How Much Water Should Your Child Drink? https://www.healthline.com/health/childrens-health/how-much-water-should-a-toddler-drink

I'm tagging fellow members like @patrassi @astaingegerdm who may have some additional thoughts.

Carole, does your grandson have a good appetite? Changing behavior or routines are tough with toddlers. How is the transition going from nipple to a sippy cup or regular cup?

Jump to this post

I will see my daughter and grandson for dinner tomorrow and see how the transition to sippy cup is going.
His appetite is great and no change in behavior or routine. He is a great eater. When he was about 1 1/2 yrs old he weighed 30 lbs - 90+ percentile. Now that he is 2 1/2 and walking and running got a growth spurt in height , he still weighs 30 lbs. He looks like the perfect weight now for his height. He is very active - everyone says he is always "so busy" reading books, playing w/ toys and basketball, painting, chalk drawing, etc.
Thank you for the healthline link - I previously read that and have probably read EVERY article about diabetes in young children. Including some that, like the comment from Ingegerd below, mentioned diabetes insipidus - rare condition that stems from hormonal problem in the pituitary gland.
She has an appt w/ an endocrinologist in October which is first appt she could get. We really appreciate all suggestions.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.