First, let me say that a doctor has not checked to see if I have diabetes yet.
I pretty much already know that I have diabetes, my urine smells sweet; and I'm urinating a lot. I will be going for a urine test in a few days.

I am wondering if medication for Diabetes is expensive. My family is poor, and I don't want my parents spending their few spare dollars on medications for myself.

Secondly, I would like to know if constipation is a side affect of Diabetes.
I have been told that Diabetics urinate more than others, and I'm not sure if your thirst buds become activated more often, or if you become dehydrated; and thus suffer from constipation.

Lastly, will Diabetes eventually kill its victims, or can people go on to live long healthy lives, without going blind, losing fingers, toes, or other body parts? I have been doing Yoga for more blood circulation, and I hope that helps.

Sorry, but I have one other question - how important are the medications? If I eat a healthy diet, but don't take any medications, will the side affects come?

Your questions mostly needs a professional tough, such as a doctor. You need to take the fasting blood test to find out for sure on diabetes and on how sever it might be. There are ways to get medication through social services or insurance. You must be at home with your parent, still in school. Just take it one day at a time. Do what the doctor tells you. Good luck and hang in there. This is not a death sentence illness. Just find out from the doctor and go from there. Try to relax in the meantime. Do not dwell on what might be till you know for sure. And keep your parents in the loop. Take care. Hugs for today.

trekgirl

Some of the drug companies now have programs to assist people of low income who don't have insurance coverage for medications. If it comes to that, you can find a lot of info on the web by looking up whatever company's medication your doctor prescribes.

If you are young and not overweight, then you should be having a fasting blood test that looks both for glucose level and insulin level (C-peptide test) to determine if you're a T1. If so, you will have to take insulin, not oral medications. If you're a T2, you'll need to learn how to better manage your diet, add exercise into your life, and possibly take oral medications.

No, diabetes is definitely no longer a "death sentence." Even complications can be dramatically minimized and/or eliminated now, thanks to better monitoring and managing of the illness. I personally am a diabetic who was diagnosed in 1984 and has been on insulin since 1989, and I have no complications at all so far (knock wood!) I have, however, been very proactive about managing my diabetes and am currently on an insulin pump. I test my blood sugar 6-10 times a day. Additionally, I know of many diabetics like myself who've had no complications thanks to good management of their illness.

I can tell you that it does take commitment to oneself, and at the beginning it may even seem a bit overwhelming. But after a while, it just becomes second nature.

Ruth