May 14, 2002
Diagnosis and Symptoms
Question from Richmond, British Columbia, Canada:
I am a 19 years old female, Chinese, 5 feet 7 inches tall, and weigh about 137 pounds. About a week ago I had extreme fatigue and realized that I was going to washroom a lot (three to four times in an hour). If I was hungry, I became pale, shaky, and very irritable. If I am full my body aches like if I had a flu. My vision would be blurry. My skin was very itchy. If I starve myself, I felt nauseous and want to throw up when I get to eat. I had some stomachache, and had softer-than-usual (but not watery) stools. I got my period a few days ago, and my symptoms decreased greatly. Now I feel that I am almost normal. During the two days my symptoms were most severe I did not seek for medical help.
Diabetes does not run in my family. Could I have diabetes? If so, why did I feel better after my period came? I read about honeymoon periods, but can it happen to a person who is not diagnosed?
Answer:
I am glad you feel better. At this point, I cannot tell what caused your symptoms. However, several symptoms (including the frequent urination and visual symptoms) are associated with diabetes. You need to speak with a physician so that you can be checked for diabetes or other problems.
JTL
