Wondering how likely is it for a second whild to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes too. HELP!!

[lildragonfly923]

I am pregnant with my second child and i am concerned about this child having type 1 diabetes, too.  My daughter was diagnosed when she was four and is now 7 it has been about 3 years and she has been pumping for 2 of them.  I just dont know how likely it is for a second child to have it.  Does anyone have any idea how likely it could be? 

[08mpayne]

I think it depends on who you ask:)

My oldest was dx a year before my youngest...and there are several moms on here who have multiple t1's.  

[lildragonfly923]

Did you have your youngest checked regularly or did he/she get sick like the oldest?

[08mpayne]

Well....its kinda  a long story but I will try to make it short.

We have 4 children-3 girls, 1 boy.  Katie was dx at age 10 (five years ago).  At the time I asked about the other kids and was told that it was extremely rare for siblings to be dx with T1.  I honestly never thought about it again.  

Fast forward a year- my youngest 3 years old at the time started peeing the bed again.  She was whiny and clingy to me which was completely out of character for her.  My oldest kept telling me to check her sugar and I ignored her requests because the dr had said it was very rare.  One day in October we went to see a movie and Gracie went through 3 water bottles.  In my head I was like holy crap I have done this before.  We went home and checked her sugar-338.  (Funny how we remember those numbers isn't it?!)  Anyway-called the dr and off we went to the ER and were admitted.  She started pumping 6 months later.

My other two kids have shown no signs at all.  We participate in TrialNet screenings each year and I do get VERY nervous until I receive the envelope that says they are fine.  So far they have none of the antibodies or proteins that they look for as indicators that T1 is a possibility.

You can find TrialNet studies in your area either by googling it or ask your endo.  The blood work is done annually and it is totally free.

Good luck-I think the likelihood is probably somewhat dependent on your risk factors. We have no family history that we know of but we do have other auto immune diseases.

[lildragonfly923]

Thank you. I've never heard about that test so I will definitely ask my daughter's endo about it.

[mamabrandie]

you should all be enrolled in TrialNet - the T1 child's parents and siblings (as soon as they are old enough).  please don't live in fear, though, a child with any type of health issue is still worth it all! 

[lildragonfly923]

Dont i know it. I wouldn't trade my daughter for the healthiest child in the world.  I just worry like all mothers do.

[kksmommy23]

what is TrialNet?  MY sister and I both have type 1 diabetes, is this something I should look into for my girls?

Quoting mamabrandie:

you should all be enrolled in TrialNet - the T1 child's parents and siblings (as soon as they are old enough).  please don't live in fear, though, a child with any type of health issue is still worth it all! 

[BensKickAssMom]

trial net is a group that tests immediate family memebers for the potential onset of diabetes.

it is a simple blood test, that i believe they cover (cost wise).

it is worth the worry....

Quoting kksmommy23:

what is TrialNet?  MY sister and I both have type 1 diabetes, is this something I should look into for my girls?

Quoting mamabrandie:

you should all be enrolled in TrialNet - the T1 child's parents and siblings (as soon as they are old enough).  please don't live in fear, though, a child with any type of health issue is still worth it all! 

[mamabrandie]

http://www.diabetestrialnet.org/index.htm

if your endo practice is sizeable at all, they should have info about this and be able to help you get enrolled.  not only does it provide peace of mind, but it helps the greater good of discovering what triggers the chain of events that lead to diabetes AND can open doors for trial drugs in an early subsequent diagnosis. 

who do they test?  parents and sibs under age 45 and any cousins under age 18.  sibs are tested yearly until 18 (i think).  parents, if negative, are only tested the one time.  what are they testing for?  antibodies against the beta cells.  there are several known ones and they look to see if there are any and what the levels are.  the body may attack these cells for a long time before you see any significant symptoms, so this is truly the key to very early diagnosis.  they may also do an A1c to find out what the blood sugars have been running.