10 yr old Daughter recently started Period

[Warren1981]

Hi,

So my 10 year old had her first period around a month back and could possibly be due on this week. She has said she has tummy pains today and we tested her ketones and they said 0.1, since leaving hospital they have always say “low”.

Shes gone back to sleep but my question is does being due on affect ketones? I know it can play havoc with blood sugars and she has been riding a little on the higher side this past week but does come down.

Shes also looking slightly skinnier but she is getting taller quite considerably in fact so is going through a growth spurt.

Just trying to see if this is what she might have to go through each month or is she coming down ill again - she just got over tonsillitis a couple of weeks ago.

Many thanks!

 

[Sally71]

A reading of 0.1 or even 0.0 for ketones is perfectly normal and should not be affected by hormone fluctuations. Blood sugars may be though. I don’t have anything to do with my daughter’s diabetes any more, but when she was going through puberty, quite often she would unexpectedly go low for 2-3 days before/at the start of her period, followed by going sky high for about 3 days afterwards. This didn’t happen every month though. Growing will also mess up blood sugars, my daughter’s insulin requirements at least doubled during her early teens.

 

[Warren1981]

A reading of 0.1 or even 0.0 for ketones is perfectly normal and should not be affected by hormone fluctuations. Blood sugars may be though. I don’t have anything to do with my daughter’s diabetes any more, but when she was going through puberty, quite often she would unexpectedly go low for 2-3 days before/at the start of her period, followed by going sky high for about 3 days afterwards. This didn’t happen every month though. Growing will also mess up blood sugars, my daughter’s insulin requirements at least doubled during her early teens.

Thank you ever so much for your reply, I guess im still in the slightly on edge mode phase, she got diagnosed end of Jan this year and although we have done amazing and thats primarily due to my wife and and my daughter really being amazing themselves with it, the only thing that threw me a bit was the 0.1 ketones this morning, where whenever we have done a reading its just said “lo”. I think its the whole fear of runaway ketones and DKA as well as the day to day management. Like I said if she is regular with her period she will be due on this week so I wondered if that had any effect, but it would seem it doesnt really and like you say 0.1 is normal. Thank you ever so much for your reply!

 

[Sally71]

Oh you’re still quite early in the journey then, it takes a good few months before you really get used to it and settle down. It does get easier though! Anything below 0.6 for ketones is perfectly fine and nothing to worry about. You’re doing great 🙂

 

[Thebearcametoo]

Don’t worry about ketones unless she’s obviously ill or very high (for no obvious reason like badly guessing carbs). Anything under 1.0 is basically fine. You should have a treatment sheet for if her ketones are above 1 about how much insulin to give. Treated ketones are not the same as untreated diabetes and you have the support of your team who should be your first call if you have ketones that you don’t feel able to treat at home.

Periods do mess with BG and for some people that means highs followed by lows and for others it means lows followed by highs. The insulin needs tend to much higher in puberty so you may end up having to change basal and ratios but your team should be able to guide you on that.

My kid got very grumpy with periods and mental health was a big issue as was refusing insulin and things like that. He is trans and that may well have been a big part of it but it’s worth being aware of the mental health rollercoaster of puberty along with the BG rollercoaster. In the end he went on the pill so his hormones are more stable and thankfully his mental health has improved.

 

[Warren1981]

Oh you’re still quite early in the journey then, it takes a good few months before you really get used to it and settle down. It does get easier though! Anything below 0.6 for ketones is perfectly fine and nothing to worry about. You’re doing great 🙂

Thank you ever so much!!

 

[Warren1981]

Don’t worry about ketones unless she’s obviously ill or very high (for no obvious reason like badly guessing carbs). Anything under 1.0 is basically fine. You should have a treatment sheet for if her ketones are above 1 about how much insulin to give. Treated ketones are not the same as untreated diabetes and you have the support of your team who should be your first call if you have ketones that you don’t feel able to treat at home.

Periods do mess with BG and for some people that means highs followed by lows and for others it means lows followed by highs. The insulin needs tend to much higher in puberty so you may end up having to change basal and ratios but your team should be able to guide you on that.

My kid got very grumpy with periods and mental health was a big issue as was refusing insulin and things like that. He is trans and that may well have been a big part of it but it’s worth being aware of the mental health rollercoaster of puberty along with the BG rollercoaster. In the end he went on the pill so his hormones are more stable and thankfully his mental health has improved.

Thank you!!!

Yes we have a treatment sheet, I printed out and laminated and stuck on the wall at home. I think where we are still relatively in our infancy of the journey that Im still a bit spooked by things still but getting better. My wife is brilliant she handles it like a pro. Her sugars are coming down this morning, not sure on ketone levels just yet I think her tummy ache has subsided and seems generally ok in herself. All a learning a curve and yes the teenage years are a huge concern for my wife and I but we just take one day at a time and try and carry as much of the burden while giving her the independence she needs is a real balancing act.

Thank you ever so much for your reply!!

 

[Sally71]

I wouldn’t bother to test the ketone levels again, the test strips for ketones cost 10x as much as glucose ones and I never find them particularly helpful, every time we get a high reading we know exactly why and they come straight back down again as soon as the problem is resolved, so are basically stating the obvious for me! You had a normal reading this morning, the tummy ache and blood sugars are improving so no need to check ketones again. As @Thebearcametoo said, you only need to test for ketones if your daughter is either obviously ill, or her blood sugars are really high and not coming down after corrections. And then once you get a reading back in the normal range you don’t need to keep checking unless there are further problems.

 

[PhoebeC]

You've already been advised on the ketones, can't add other than agree with what others have said.

I would also like to add that it took me a while to work out my periods, and if she's only a few periods in again its all new hormones and will be different while she's still going through puberty. Poor poppet. You and she will get there though, it is a case of looking out for the trends and then next month seeing if you can improve things.

I noticed for me its ovulation and mensuration that have an impact on glucose levels. There's loads of free apps you can use to track cycles or even better the paid ones, they can help you work out when ovulation is, and learn about her cycle. My daughters took a few years to settle into a pattern, she moves about with her friend groups too.

Keep your chin up, you are doing great. And she will be fine.