Mum urges people to know the 4Ts of diabetes

When Micki Grant's baby boy Jaxon Pearce was 20 months old, she became increasingly worried about his excessive thirst and the number of nappies and cot sheets she was changing every day.

Six weeks later Jaxon was rushed critically unwell to Townsville University Hospital's emergency department where he was diagnosed with DKA - diabetic ketoacidosis - a severe complication of undiagnosed type 1 diabetes which can be fatal.

“I had taken him to two GPs and explained that Jaxon was peeing through his nappy onto his sheets and that he was constantly wanting to drink; they both assured me that this was what babies do,” Micki said.

“After six weeks, he was lethargic, he went off his food, and had lost heaps of weight.

“I knew there was something wrong; he had gone from running around playing like a normal, energetic toddler to sleeping all the time, not walking, and not talking.”

Jaxon then developed constipation prompting another GP visit where Micki was told to give it nine days and then try a suppository.

“Nothing had happened after nine days; he was skin and bone, so my mum and I took him to the emergency department where they did a finger-prick test which showed he had diabetes.”

By this time, Jaxon was critically unwell with DKA; his blood sugar levels had surged and acidic substances called ketones had built up to dangerous levels in his body.

“They told me to call my family,” Micki said.

“They said he wasn’t doing well.”

Today, Jaxon is an active, healthy almost four-year-old who runs around happily.

For Micki, the DKA experience was traumatic and something she doesn’t want any other family to go through.

“Because Jaxon went into DKA, he lost his ability to speak and it took a long time for him to recover those toddler milestones,” she said.

“Thankfully, he’s great now; he’s really come back.”

Micki said recognising the symptoms of type 1 diabetes in children and having a simple finger-prick test was all it took to diagnose Jaxon’s condition.

“All it takes is to recognise the symptoms and have the finger-prick blood glucose test to save a child’s life,” she said.

Paediatric endocrinologist and Chair Statewide Diabetes Clinical Network of the Dr Jason Yates encouraged parents, teachers, childcare workers, and others working with children to know the 4T signs of diabetes – toilet, thirsty, tired, thinner.

“If your child is urinating excessively, constantly thirsty, tired, and losing weight, make an appointment with your GP to check if they have diabetes,” he said.

“If left untreated, diabetes can lead to DKA.

“Children in DKA look really sick, they’re pale, lethargic, have abnormally smelling breath, are vomiting and breathing quickly.

“DKA is a medical emergency and must treated immediately with insulin; any delay can have catastrophic consequences,” he said.

Dr Yates said Jaxon was a very lucky boy.

“Jaxon was a very sick baby; Micki, acting on her instincts, knowing something was seriously wrong and bringing him into ED saved his life.”

Would you like to learn more about DKA?

Watch
Meet Jaxon and learn more about his story below

Read more
View the dedicated Children's Health DKA webpage here