[ShanB]

Hi, I'm 21 and I have relatives on both sides of my family who are diabetic. With the fact that this disease runs in my family, and some worries and possible symptoms, I am going to be tested next week to make sure everything is okay. I've never been the most energetic person, but I have noticed that when I go a little longer without eating, or sometimes even when I wake up, I feel extremely faint and light-headed, and sometimes I develop a headache. I have heard that this is low blood sugar. Then, sometimes when I eat too much sugar, I get one of those "sugar headaches." Lately, say in the past month, I have had an increase in thirst and urination. I also somehow developed what seems like acid reflux (excessive belching, but not really much acid) and also sometimes I feel like I have a few inflamed taste buds that stick out from my tongue and burn and are irritated or sometimes have no feeling at all. I'm thinking this could all be diabetes-related. I just want to make sure. Has anyone else had any type of symptoms like these or similar? I'm not overweight, but have gained weight in the past year. Also, I haven't been exercising like I used to. Let me know what you guys think. Also, any tips for preparing for a diabetes test?

[jdstein11]

Originally Posted by ShanB

Hi, I'm 21 and I have relatives on both sides of my family who are diabetic. With the fact that this disease runs in my family, and some worries and possible symptoms, I am going to be tested next week to make sure everything is okay. I've never been the most energetic person, but I have noticed that when I go a little longer without eating, or sometimes even when I wake up, I feel extremely faint and light-headed, and sometimes I develop a headache. I have heard that this is low blood sugar. Then, sometimes when I eat too much sugar, I get one of those "sugar headaches." Lately, say in the past month, I have had an increase in thirst and urination. I also somehow developed what seems like acid reflux (excessive belching, but not really much acid) and also sometimes I feel like I have a few inflamed taste buds that stick out from my tongue and burn and are irritated or sometimes have no feeling at all. I'm thinking this could all be diabetes-related. I just want to make sure. Has anyone else had any type of symptoms like these or similar? I'm not overweight, but have gained weight in the past year. Also, I haven't been exercising like I used to. Let me know what you guys think. Also, any tips for preparing for a diabetes test?

Well, ShanB, from someone who was diagnosed just one week ago today, my increase in thirst and urination were the reasons I scheduled a physical w/my doctor, who suspected diabetes immediately when he tested my urine and its glucose level was high. He sent me to an endocrinologyst the next morning who confirmed that I have Type 1 diabetes and started me on an insulin regimen that morning.

I lost 25 pounds (203 - 178), was always thirsty and urinated all the time (I thought it was b/c I was drinking so much dealing with the thirst) from Feb '05 until last week, and have always been healthy. Although 203 was a bit overweight for me (I'm 6' 1/2" and somewhat muscular), I've always been energetic, playing sports outside with my kids, football and softball with my friends.

I'm now on an insulin regimen and am coming to terms with the fact that, as a T1, will be taking insulin until there's a cure, so from someone who just learned about this, I urge you to see your doctor right away. Putting it off is just reckless; if you do have diabetes, I have to tell you that this site is filled with knowledgable people who have been extremely helpful to me already, and also that it's not the end of the world.

Good luck.

[DeusXM]

Given your age, if you do indeed have diabetes then you will almost definitely have T1. Therefore a decline in your exercise regime can be discounted as a factor - T1 is genetic and is not influenced by your general physical fitness. You can be the healthiest, fittest individual in the world and still develop T1.

Basically, you should be looking out for the following symptoms:

*Increased thirst - not just 'oh, I'm a bit thirsty', more like 'I feel like I've been in the Sahara for three years without water'. Trust me, you will be psychotically thirsty, such as contemplating drinking an entire bath, or drinking straight from the tap because you simply cannot wait to put the liquid in a glass.

*Frequent urination - we're talking every half hour or so here, and your urine will almost definitely be very clear because of the sheer water volume you'll need to clear the sugar from your blood.

*Fatigue - you'll feel far more tired than you usually do, perhaps to the extent that you've altered your sleeping pattern, such as napping in the afternoon when previously you did not.

*Weight loss - this was my major symptom. In the space of 3 months I lost two stone, no matter what I ate. To be blunt and possibly highly offensive, when I was diagnosed I bore more than just a passing resemblence to a Holocaust victim.

If you have had any of these symptoms I would suggest seeing a doctor anyway because there may be something wrong with you, regardless of whether it is diabetes related. If you've had 3 or 4 of these then see a doctor right away because that would make you a classic candidate for T1. Frequently initial diagnosis is made through blood sugar and urine tests - they will test your urine for ketones, which is a byproduct of ketoacedocis, which is the technical term for the metabolism occuring in someone with untreated diabetes. They will also want to do a fasting blood sugar test, which, as the name suggests, is a test of your blood sugar carried out after having not eaten for 12 hours or so.

These tests are the major ones for discovering diabetes and then there are other tests which are more complicated but are generally used to confirm such diagnoses, such as antibody tests.

If you are concerned, then see a doctor and inform them of your family history and your symptoms. They will do the rest.

It may be that you do not in fact have diabetes but trust me, this is not a condition you can just ignore and so it is far better to be safe than sorry. I wish you the best of luck and hope that you do not have to end up joining our little club!

[am1977]

Hey Shan,

I certainly hope that you don't have this disease...it can be a difficult one to deal with and, frankly, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. However, I am a strong believer that if you sense that something is wrong, there probably is something going on. The best way to handle this would be to go and get checked out...which it sounds like you are doing. That way you can either put your worries aside (hopefully) or, in the worst case scenario, come to terms with whatever it is and then take it from there.

I do hope that things turn out ok, let us know