My Dad is 63 and was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes about 12 years ago - he controls it with what seems like copious amounts of medication and exercise. I'm now 26, and I am wondering what the risk is to me given the fact that I'm also overweight etc.
What prompts me to consider this is that recently, I haven't felt very well - a combination of things which aren't very specific which so far no one seems to be able to quantify.
Namely, I have been having constipation troubles over the past two weeks, which have improved slightly, plus I've been urinating much more frequently (but I've also been drinking a lot more too). I've been very hungry too. I've also had headaches on and off, and aches and paints mainly in my legs. My hands and feet seem to get cold easily too and I've been very tired and completely lacking in energy.
This morning I experienced the most alarming set of symptoms yet - I suddenly felt very faint - I was sweating and my heart was racing; I was short of breath, and my hands and legs were shaking. My mouth was really dry and I just didn't know what was happening - I was so thirsty, I drank nearly six glasses of water straight off! I felt very disorientated and my vision was rather 'foggy'. I was lucky enough to see the out-of-hours doctor very promptly at the hospital, and although my pulse was a little high, they couldn't find anything else wrong - blood pressure normal, lungs and heart normal, ears normal, eyes normal etc. She prescribed some pills to help with vertigo. A few hours on, I feel a bit better, but still feel wobbly and am still getting a tingling sensation occasionally in my feet and hands. It has luckily not affected my appetite - in fact I was so hungry, I gobbled down two helpings of lunch and pudding - I certainly don't normally feel this hungry!
Anyway, it might just be a virus, or a combination of things; I have mentioned the family history of diabetes twice now, but neither doctor seemed particularly concerned about it. Does the family connection not really increase my risk then? I am concerned about the diabetes as my Dad had it quite bad (not dissimilar symptoms to this morning) when he first had it until they got it under control.
Any suggestions?
David
What prompts me to consider this is that recently, I haven't felt very well - a combination of things which aren't very specific which so far no one seems to be able to quantify.
Namely, I have been having constipation troubles over the past two weeks, which have improved slightly, plus I've been urinating much more frequently (but I've also been drinking a lot more too). I've been very hungry too. I've also had headaches on and off, and aches and paints mainly in my legs. My hands and feet seem to get cold easily too and I've been very tired and completely lacking in energy.
This morning I experienced the most alarming set of symptoms yet - I suddenly felt very faint - I was sweating and my heart was racing; I was short of breath, and my hands and legs were shaking. My mouth was really dry and I just didn't know what was happening - I was so thirsty, I drank nearly six glasses of water straight off! I felt very disorientated and my vision was rather 'foggy'. I was lucky enough to see the out-of-hours doctor very promptly at the hospital, and although my pulse was a little high, they couldn't find anything else wrong - blood pressure normal, lungs and heart normal, ears normal, eyes normal etc. She prescribed some pills to help with vertigo. A few hours on, I feel a bit better, but still feel wobbly and am still getting a tingling sensation occasionally in my feet and hands. It has luckily not affected my appetite - in fact I was so hungry, I gobbled down two helpings of lunch and pudding - I certainly don't normally feel this hungry!
Anyway, it might just be a virus, or a combination of things; I have mentioned the family history of diabetes twice now, but neither doctor seemed particularly concerned about it. Does the family connection not really increase my risk then? I am concerned about the diabetes as my Dad had it quite bad (not dissimilar symptoms to this morning) when he first had it until they got it under control.
Any suggestions?
David
