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20 years old. Am I type 2 diabetic?!?!

G

georgieloise

Member
Messages
7
Hi everyone, I am new to this group and seeking some advice.
I am worried that I may be type 2 diabetic, but I am young and look fit so worried what to do.

A bit of background, older people in my family suffer with type 2 diabetes. I’ve been struggling with persistent water infections for 11 months now too which antibiotics do not shift and a lot of the time show no infections when tests have been done and sometimes they show as E. coli infections. More lately, Im tired irritable and depressed. Very depressed, although I do have a history of mental health. And I am extremely thirsty, no matter how much I drink I am not satisfied and my mouth is so dry. I’m not hungry lately and have lost a bit of weight as a result, I’ve also been getting ocular migraines more recently where my vision is affected, I searched these symptoms and it’s directing to being type 2 diabetic. The problem is, I am young and I am generally fit. I have a slim build. I eat a lot of **** I admit but I’m not massive and as much salt/fat I eat I’m not that big on sugar, so it doesn’t make sense.

With people in my family suffering with it and losing their eyesight as a result I’m really worried but don’t want to go the doctors and be made to look silly. I’ve been multiple times this year over water infections and the they have been useless.

Some advise would really be appreciated, thank you.
 
There's nothing silly about going to the doctors my friend. You are displaying a few symptoms of diabetes, so any doctor would be happy to arrange a blood test. Give them a call today. Best of luck x
 
In your shoes I'd be at the docs pretty **** quick. Get yourself checked out and write down all your symptoms so you don't forget any. High blood sugars can lead to all kinds of infections and other things so get checked out. Ask for an HbA1c and try and get your blood sugar measured with a finger prick test (ideally don't eat before the appointment from the previous evening). The results of that will give your HCP's an idea.
 
I know you don't want to hear this, but you really should go to the doc's. Request a full check-up, including HbA1c, kidney and liver function plus cholesterol. You don't have to be obese to be a T2, (10% aren't), and yes, you are young, but if you're concerned, you should get a full panel done. Could be anything, after all, not just T2 (or T1 for that matter), so better safe than sorry. They may have been useless so far, but without their requesting tests, you're not going to get any answers. Any chance of borrowing a glucometer from a relative? Maybe get a kit for this purpose? If you test, check right before a meal and 2 hours after first bite, and if possible a fasting glucose in the morning, before breakfast. Those numbers could tell you a whole lot.

There's nothing silly about going to the doc's when you feel something's really off. Better to go and get an all-clear, (insist on tests!!!) than not go and have something serious develop.

Take care of yourself eh!
Jo
 
A agree with the comments above.
I would add what you describe are also symptoms of type 1 diabetes.
Many think of type 1 being a condition diagnosed in childhood. More than half the people with type 1 diabetes are diagnosed as adults.
 
LeftPeg said:
There's nothing silly about going to the doctors my friend. You are displaying a few symptoms of diabetes, so any doctor would be happy to arrange a blood test. Give them a call today. Best of luck x
Click to expand...
I will do thank you just so worried I’m going to get turned away and they think I, silly especially if it comes back with nothing xx
 
georgieloise said:
I will do thank you just so worried I’m going to get turned away and they think I, silly especially if it comes back with nothing xx
Click to expand...
If it comes back with nothing then you at least have knocked one possibility off your list.. look at it as a positive.
 
ThAnk you so much for replying. I think I’m going to give them a call. Just want to know what’s going on. They have been useless and every time I say to myself I’m going to request for further tests for the water infections I always get too shy and back out. My most recent water infection took three lots of antibiotics to clear and they said if it still showed as an infection they will refer me to a urologist and it did show but they didn’t refer me. Because of the multiple times I’ve been for these I feel like a pest. And if it isn’t diabetes it makes me worry what else could possibly going on to feel like this. I will hopefully get some answers. X
 
You're not a pest, you have a genuine problem. (3 rounds of antobiotics?! Sheesh!) Now you know what specific tests to ask for, you might as well ask for a urologist referral in one go. I know that my doc is a lovely woman, and I'd never want another gp in my life, but she is a bit scatterbrained. (She's insanely busy). I know I'd have to remind her of a referral-promise, and the same might go for your doc.
 

I have booked a diabetes test with a nearby pharmacy which is free and they can get me in on Sunday. I won’t be able to get an appointment with the docs till next week most likely so will hopefully get some sort of indication and if it does come back as a possibility I will book an appointment with them and ask for those tests
 
Do you know what test the pharmacy will do?
 
bulkbiker said:
Do you know what test the pharmacy will do?
Click to expand...
Taken straight from their website.
A lot of the questions that they will ask me will all suggest that I am low risk. Young, slim low blood pressure etc, so I will have to request that they do the tests due to my symptoms and if not ask for a referral to the doctors.

Today is the lowest I’ve felt in terms of mood, tiredness, headaches etc. I’m really hoping for some answers.

——-
You will be asked a series of questions in order to help determine whether you are at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, including:

  • Your age
  • Your height, weight and waist measurement
  • Your daily activity
  • Your diet, in particular how many fruit and vegetables you eat
  • If you use high blood pressure medication
  • If you have ever had a high blood glucose reading
  • If any family member has diabetes
Diabetes diagnosis
If you are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes, we can advise you on how to slow or even reduce your risk of developing the condition, as well as keep your blood sugar levels healthy. If you are at high risk, we will measure your blood pressure and your blood glucose level, by taking a very small finger-prick sample of blood.

Depending on the results of this test, we may ask you to come back for further assessment. This will include:

  • A fasting blood glucose test, which involves taking a sample of blood when you have an empty stomach (usually first thing in the morning before you have breakfast)
  • Weight, height and waist measurement
  • Additional blood pressure measurements
————
 
Go to your GP and ask for a finger prick test from the nurse, it looks to me that you might have more possibility of type 1 than 2 and they should tell you within a couple of minutes. or just walk into the chemist and ask for the same.

Good luck.
 
Engineer88 said:
Go to your GP and ask for a finger prick test from the nurse, it looks to me that you might have more possibility of type 1 than 2 and they should tell you within a couple of minutes. or just walk into the chemist and ask for the same.

Good luck.
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I’m in the uk will walking into a chemist give me the test? I thought type 1 diabetes can only be passed down in family members. Thanks
 
georgieloise said:
I’m in the uk will walking into a chemist give me the test? I thought type 1 diabetes can only be passed down in family members. Thanks
Click to expand...
Yeah most Boots chemists do the finger prick test.
I was the first diabetic in my family (47 years ago)
 
porl69 said:
I was the first diabetic in my family (47 years ago)
Click to expand...
Me too ... but a little more recently.

Having a family member with type 1 diabetes increases the risk but doesn't mean you can't have type 1 without or that you will have type 1 because a family member has it.
Just like being overweight can increase the risk of type 2 but does not mean you can't have it without or that you will have type 2 because you are overweight.
 
Thanks for all your comments. The doctors fitted me in for an appointment today. They finger pricked me and it was 4.6 which I believe is OK? I had eaten a bit beforehand. But she said its not a true measurement for the past couple of months. I have had bloods taken to test for diabetes the one over the few months period I believe. And also blood tests for my kidneys, liver, thyroid, irons vitamins etc. Hopefully will get to the bottom of this when the results come back.
 
Hope by now, you're getting some answers, but just felt like sharing my experience - diagnosed as Type 2 at 28, with many of your symptoms. Not overweight and have now had diabetes for 43 years with some health problems associated with it. But "if I had known then, what I know now . . ." !! There is so much more information about diabetes, all types, and kit to help you keep good control. For me, at 71, I try to do everything I have enough energy to do but always keep an eye on the numbers and my food intake. I have been on insulin for many years now which has its advantages and disadvantages. I also count carbs and eat a relatively low carb diet, try to keep my weight steady (harder as you get older and are retired!).
Good luck if it proves to be one of the many varieties of diabetes out there (not just 1 and 2). You'll get lots of help from this forum.
 
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