Am I diabetic?

[Cari]

Hi I am 14 yrs old and I live in the UK. I have been feeling realy tired and thirsty since a virus a couple of weeks ago. My school nurse did a urine test and it came out positive for glucose. I am having a fastingblood test tomorrow morning, but I just wanted to know if I probably am diabetic or not. I am also confused as would it be type 1 or type2? I am just a bit scared and I want to know. Thank you

Cari

[David]

Hi Cari and welcome. I can understand that you might be scared. I remember being in a similar situation at about your age a few years ago. But look at me now, I've done fine.

To try to answer your question: You might be but I can't say for sure and your doctor can't either yet. That's why they're having you do another test tomorrow. Yes, you have some of the indicators: diabetes is sometimes diagnosed after being ill, being tired, the urine test. However, there's other common symptoms you haven't mentioned having (losing weight, extreme thirst and urination etc). Those urine tests are rarely used by anyone with diabetes because they're so inaccurate and taking things like high doses of Vitamin C can cause false positives. Type one or two? I'd guess T1 because it's a more common diagnosis at your age but T2 is possible too.

Let us know the results of your tests. Most of us here can relate.

David
Type one since 1970 and still doing well

[xMenace]

Welcome Cari.

Maybe, maybe not. Please let us know.

Ya, it's scary to be diagnosed with anything. Please feel comforted to know this disease is not the end of the world by any means. A long productive life is not inhibited in the slightest.

What it will mean is a lifestyle change: better eating, better care of your body, and a holistic approach to life. I am not being facetious ether. The negatives of having to take injections or be hooked to a pump sound much worse than they are. The needles are so fine, most of us really don't notice them. If you're Dxd, you will be amazed at how easy you adjust.

The key to it all is controlling your blood sugar levels. Remember that. Sweets, alcohol, Christmas dinner are all on the menu, at least for us type 1's, which is what almost all kids are. We treat food intake with insulin. As long as the treatment matches the food and exercise, we're fine. Mis-treatments can lead to hypoglycemic (low) reactions which can be very dangerous or hyperglycemia (high) which can lead to long term complications.

If you are Dxed, you'll be enrolled in some sort of diabetes school. Every country seems a bit different, but the UK people here can fill you in more. It's kind of like learning chess: it's easy to learn but difficult to master. That's why we come here. To help each other learn about our disease, to learn to master it. Many do, but it does take work. And as you'll find out sooner than later, our bodies continually change. What works today may not work next year.

Anyway, I hope you are not Dxed, and if that's the case, maybe you'll learn a little about the Bid D anyway. You will end up knowing some in your life, maybe even marry one.

Have a great Sunday!

x

[EasyType2]

Hello Cari,

What David and xM said, repeat it.

It's up to you and your medical team to make a sound diagnosis. The answer may take a while. Diabetes is a clever, diabolical disease, and it seems to me that no two people ever react precisely the same way to food, meds, or conditions.

Take it one step at a time, don't be scared, and best of luck to you.

[lgvincent]

You'll really need a doctor to determine if you have diabetes. I was 10 when I developed it and although I don't remember most of the symptoms, I do remember drinking water all the time. About the only time I wasn't drinking water was when I was in the bathroom getting rid of some. I also remember losing a lot of weight even though it seemed like I was eating quite a bit of food. The day I was diagnosed, I became really sick and couldn't stop vomiting. If you have symptoms similar to that, you may very well have diabetes but you really need to talk with people in the medical field.

[MJM]

Hi I am 14 yrs old and I live in the UK. I have been feeling realy tired and thirsty since a virus a couple of weeks ago. My school nurse did a urine test and it came out positive for glucose. I am having a fastingblood test tomorrow morning, but I just wanted to know if I probably am diabetic or not. I am also confused as would it be type 1 or type2? I am just a bit scared and I want to know. Thank you

Cari

Hi Cari, it's way too early to predict whether you have diabetes or not. I got diabetes about the same age as you are now, so I have it 48 years now and have had few problems. I've played all the sports I wanted to play and was successful enough in everyone of them. I looked after myself a bit, i.e., eat the right foods and exercised a lot. I never let diabetes stand in my way. You may not have it, and I sincerely hope you don't, but if you do, don't have any fear about it. It will just be part of your life. If you do have it, read everything you can about it and familiarise yourself with all the possible complications which may possibly arise. It is of course possible that you don't have it at all, and hopefully that is the case. Whatever the outcome of your tests, have no worries about it.

[Neiler]

Hey Cari,

I've only recently been diagnosed with Diabetes and as such I'm fairly new to this Forum. If you're diagnosed with the Big D as well - be sure to come back here for some advice and support. Everyone here is very helpful - it's a great place to ask questions to others who have gone through the same or similar "adventures"....

Best of luck with the appointment Cari. Be sure to come back and let us know how it goes.

Neiler

[HollyB]

Hi Cari,

We all have our fingers crossed for you... but if it turns out you do have it, and would like to talk to another kid your age, you might want to chat with my son. He's turning 15 in a few weeks and has had diabetes for about a year and a half now. It helps sometimes to talk to someone who's been through the same thing not too long ago.