Should I be Worried?

Dunderbolt said:

So, recently for the past two weeks my appetite increased exponentially. Now, to provide some background, I'm 17 years old, and lived a rather sedentary lifestyle until I joined a vocational school to learn welding. 4-5 weeks later, my appetite had increased exponentially

I've been anxious these past few weeks due to my hunger. I could eat a full plate and not feel entirely satisfied, my weight would fluctuate, but not by much before balancing out.

I asked my doctor, and he basically said something along the lines of, "Your weight isn't drastically decreasing or increasing, so there's obviously nothing to worry about."
He proceeded to reference his son's appetite when he was 17

My question is, should I genuinely be worried? I've been scared to death recently by the turn of events and believe something is still wrong. My family keeps assuring me that I'm fine and probably having one last growth spurt, but I don't know still. Anyone have suggestions? If you want me to elaborate more, please do ask.

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Why do you think its diabetes? Is diabetes in your family or a close friend? Or is it the fear of adding weight which is worrying you the most?
I know when I was 17yrs old, weight and image was the most important thing to me and my age mates.
I slimmed 2yrs previously and lost 7stones to look good.
I remember those days.... just. Ha ha
I honestly hear your fear and worries.
I think you still have to have your gp on board for a diabetes blood test. I could be wrong. I'll post @bulkbiker he may know of how to get a blood test to reassure you?

I am really new to this, as only been diagnosed 1 week, but what I can share with you is my experience ref my son. My son is 20 and an apprentice plumber. He is stick thin and 6ft 1" tall. He can eat for England, Wales and the entire Commonwealth, and his weight fluctuates very little. Out of morbid curiosity, he asked to use my test kit to check his BG levels. To my horror they were 10.2, and that was 2 hours after his meal. We were both worried, so I tested him again about 2 hrs later and he was 5.2. The point I am trying to make is at 17 years old, you should be leading a life that burns up more energy than someone older, but maybe air on the side of caution and eat little and often. Athletes eat several times a day, so maybe that would cure your insatiable appetite.

Dunderbolt said:

I'm 17 years old, and lived a rather sedentary lifestyle until I joined a vocational school to learn welding. 4-5 weeks later, my appetite had increased exponentially

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Common sense says that if you have had a change in activity levels, welding sounds pretty physical, followed by an increase in appetite then it's probably the increase in activity causing the increase in appetite.

An increase in appetite can be a symptom of diabetes, but it doesn't happen in isolation, if you don't have any other symptoms then your hunger is nothing to do with diabetes.

Your hunger is because you're burning more calories at college, so you need to take more calories on.

I would join the others and say that you sound like a typical 17 year old with an newly active lifestyle..
Try not to eat junk food and get some freshly cooked meals in you as they make you feel fuller faster and enjoy yourself..
Have you changed what you have been eating at all before this surge in appetite?

At age 17, I was 6-foot-4 and about 50 kilos (8 stone) with a 28-inch waist. I was probably eating about twice as much as the average adult, triggering all sorts of family jokes about the Ravenous Giraffe. These huge quantities of food (and indiscriminate types of food) seemed to have no effect on my weight or waist, it all went in the vertical direction.

In somewhat attenuated fashion, this continued through my 20s and 30s. When I met my future wife, she commented on the sharpness of my hipbones! I did not put on much weight, or inches around my waist, until my mid-40s. I have had regular medical checkups at the doctor's office and it is only within the past year that I developed T2 diabetes.

My mother has exactly the same body type. She is hungry all the time, even at age 92, and woe betide if lunch or dinner is running late!

It is amazing how many different human body types there are. Dunderbolt, if you are worried, I suggest you consult a doctor -- it cannot do any harm. Not being a doctor, I cannot give you any idea what the problem might be, if there is any problem.

Maybe it could be your thyroid gland that has become overactive please have This excamined most will in that situation loose weight But around 2% do get an increased hunger too and do keep on their weight or even gain weight , it was like that in my case ; I dont loose weight when my thyroid hormones levels are too High

Dunderbolt said:

Well, I've been eating more healthily recently, and I've been cutting down sodas a lot out of fear I may have diabetes.

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Well that certainly won't do you any harm.. just enjoy being 17..

My son is now 22 years old. He had a growth spurt at around 17/18 and again around 20/21. He is still as slim as a blade of grass, and eats like a horse. Its normal for men to keep growing until they are around 25 years old. They stop growing in height at around 20, but can bulk out in their muscles and skeleton for a few years more.

Mr Hotpepper is 60 and still can eat like a horse and hardly gains weight.

Hotpepper20000 said:

Mr Hotpepper is 60 and still can eat like a horse and hardly gains weight.

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So does Mr. Blue, and he is 72 in 3 weeks.

Hi. Whether you have diabetes or not, keep the carbs down and have enough protein and fat together with veg and fruit. The carbs can cause spikes and hunger later whereas the protein and fat smooth that.

Bluetit1802 said:

So does Mr. Blue, and he is 72 in 3 weeks.

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I just look at and bread and my BG shoots up.

Oh I remember trying to feed a couple of growing boys - when the eldest hit 16 he was growing so fast, but I was regularly giving him about 1/4rd of a large chicken for dinner - along with all the veges he would eat. (he's 6ft 4 now, I can walk under his outstretched arm)
Chips and soda are not a natural diet, even though they are supplied in whatever amounts possible by those selling ready to eat foods. They are profitable.
If you are feeling unsatisfied, try eating more protein in its natural state, with the fat included Some supermarkets do hot meat counters where a small chicken is a couple of pounds - but some do spare ribs and other delectable items. Maybe there is one close to your college?
It takes a fair bit of meat to grow a boy to a man - sugar is no use at all, just empty calories.