I would greatly appreciate the perspective of well-informed diabetes sufferers on my scenario.

Over the past few years I have displayed certain symptoms associated with diabetes but have never been tested: increased thirst and hunger (without significant weight change); increased urination; recurring yeast infections; decreased energy levels and lethargy; breath odour (not sensed by everyone, but described as being "dull" or "flat" and having a faint "sweet" edge.

These symptoms have decreased recently. In the same time frame I have improved my diet (less processed, fatty foods) and have been exercising regularly. However, the breath odour still remains. My understanding is that if diabetes is the cause of the odour, it is a result of keto-acidosis. I know the picture I have painted seems to suggest diabetes, but given that I have had this breath odour for years could it realistically be a result of ongoing keto-acidosis? Would my health have deteriorated if this process was happening and allowed to go on unchecked?

Sartor

Sartor, if you were in a state of DKA (usually associated with Type 1 diabetes, though it can form in Type 2 - though not as common) it would not be an on-going thing. DKA is a life threatening condition which requires urgent medical treatment.

It's definitely worth getting checked out, however if you have had these symptoms for a long time, and you do have Diabetes, I'd be tempted to say you're Type 2 - as if you were Type 1 you really couldn't go long without being diagnosed before lapsing into a coma..or worse.

When I was diagnosed with Type 1, I was in a severe stage of DKA and at risk of heart-attack too, so I was hospitalised before starting immediate insulin-therapy. Trust me, it's worth getting checked over - you really don't want to get to that stage, if it even is that.