Hello all,
I have a few questions. I am concerned that I may have diabetes. I am 17 years old.

Anyway, do any of you know anything about how long it takes for the pancreas to completely stop producing insulin (assuming that I am a type 1)? Is it possible that it might produce very little one day, and then too much (or at least significantly more) insulin the next? I think that I read this somewhere on the internet, and it's the only thing that makes sense for my symptoms.

I ask this because I have been extremely hungry lately. I feel like my stomach is collapsing on itself and that if I don't eat soon, I'll die (well maybe not die, but it's bad). This happens a number of times all day long. I can't concentrate when it happens. Also, within 10-20 mins. after I eat, and regardless of how much I eat, I am hungry again. This has happened over the last 5 days or so. I hadn't been losing weight, though, but I wasn't gaining weight, that is until today. I checked my weight, and I have lost about 3 pounds in the last 2 or so days. This doesn't really concern me, what concerns me is that I have had a few days where I have the symptoms of hyperglycemia: I feel nauseus and really tired. When I feel hyperglycemic, I seem to become numb all over my body. I can't feel pain too well, it's almost like I am touching someone else when I touch my arms. This is scary. Have any of you experienced this?

My thirst has increased only a little bit, although I have never been a thirsty person. I have been urinating more often.

I know that I should see my doctor if I am concerned, but I am in a state of half denial right now (I can't possibly have diabetes!). I am also really bad at communicating with authority figures like doctors and teachers...I figure that my doctor will just pass this off as something else, and I won't speak up, and I'll get screwed over.

Two more questions:
1. Should I see my regular doctor, or can I just go to an endocrinologist?...Do I have to be referred to one? I would feel better having specialists check me out than a regular doctor.

2. How long does it take for the pancreas to stop working?...weeks?....months?

Any info would be appreciated,
Eddie

P.S.-I have also been experiencing some minor, but bothersome abdominal pain. It is not my stomach, but near it, like where one would expect to find the pancreas. This explains my initial question more.

[This message has been edited by EddieV (edited 05-24-2002).]

Actually, it sounds more like you may have hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. This can sometimes, although not always, be a precursor of diabetes, but many people are hypoglycemic for years and don't ever develop diabetes.

The only way to tell if you're hypoglycemic, as far as I know, is to have a glucose tolerance test. It's very important when you have the GTT that they measure your blood glucose before( or fasting), at2 hours, and at 3 and 4 hours. If you have hypoglycemia, your fasting and 2 hour blood glucoses might be somewhat near normal, but your 3 and 4 hour blood glucoses will be extremely low. The GTT would also show if you are diabetic.

The symptoms you describe, rather than sounding like high blood sugar, sound like symptoms of low blood sugar.

Ruth

[This message has been edited by SamQKitty (edited 06-12-2002).]

to me that description sound very much like hypoglycemia. my suggestion to you would to cut back as much as you can on sugars.. refined ones especially. and increase the amount of protein you are eating.

[This message has been edited by moderator2 (edited 08-22-2002).]