In children manifesting with type 1 diabetes mellitus there is often a delayed diagnosis. This delay may lead to the development of a diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication. Two boys aged 14 years and one boy aged 15 months presented to general practitioners with polydipsia and polyuria. At that moment the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus was not made and the boys were sent home. Some days later the boys were admitted to the hospital and diabetic ketoacidosis was shown.

In children presenting with polydipsia, polyuria and weight loss, blood testing for hyperglycaemia should always be performed. Since an infection often triggers the manifestation of type 1 diabetes mellitus, in cases of infectious disease one should be especially attentive to the signs of diabetes. When hyperglycaemia is present, the patient should be referred to a paediatrician the same day.

Conflict of interest: none declared. Financial support: none declared.