Question from Wilmington, Delaware, USA:

I’m 14 years old, and I’ve noticed that for a little while now I have to use the bathroom a lot more. At night, usually get up to use the bathroom three or four times, and I used to just go when got up in the morning. I’m thirsty a lot, but from what I can remember, I’ve always generally wanted a lot to drink. I sometimes take a glass of water with me to bed. I haven’t noticed any extreme weight loss, but I just haven’t gained any in a while or I’ll lose three pounds but then gain it back right away. I’m not sure if this means anything, but at my last physical they found protein in my urine so I had to come back two weeks later for another test which was normal.

I know since the test came back normal, nothing’s wrong, but I just read that diabetes can sometimes affect the kidneys. Also, I heard that dehydration can be a symptom of diabetes. Whenever I run or play some sports that involves lots of exercise, I have to stop and sit down — if I don’t, I will throw up. (I’ve done that many times). My doctor said it’s because I’m dehydrated. So then I would drink even more water, but it never seemed to help. I still had to stop.

Also, I always get light headaches, and I guess often get cramps in my ribs, chest, and back. I’m get hungry a lot, but some days I don’t really notice it as much as usual. I think I’ve always eaten a lot or at least enough. I’m not overweight; I guess I’ve always been underweight but not by too much or anything.

I am always cold! When my family is in shorts and short sleeves I’m in pants and a sweatshirt. My feet and hands go numb a lot (feet are usually cold). If I sit Indian style, my foot and sometimes the lower side of my leg will go numb, or if my elbow is bent too long, my hand will go numb. If I hang my arm off the side of the bed, it gets all tingly. I guess that’s normal, but if I do that, it does it all the time. When I wake up to go to the bathroom, sometimes my whole leg or arm will be completely numb. I don’t have bad hair loss, but after I do my hair, it will be all over my shirt or on the bathroom floor, and sometimes I wake up with it on my pillow.

I guess this is sort of weird, but it never hurts to ask. When I had pneumonia, obviously I wouldn’t eat a lot because I was sick, So I thought maybe it was because I had low blood sugar or I was dehydrated or something. I would wake up in the middle of the night and I’d be sweating, all clammy, and all shaky and I was just confused I guess. I just felt really weird and did it for a whole week while I was sick and a little bit afterwards. My mom just thought it was a nightmare. I guess it could have been, but I don’t usually have nightmares.

Just recently, I woke up from a nap (sometimes I get tired during the day), and when I went to the bathroom (of course!), I started feeling weird again. I i could feel my heart beating in my chest (before I took the nap I was hungry). I walked downstairs. laid down, and in a couple of minutes, I stopped feeling weird like that. The weird thing is that I was awake from my nap when it happened, and I didn’t wake up right away feeling like that.

I recently have been having trouble with my teeth. The last time i went to the dentist, I had six cavities! the weird thing was that they were all between my teeth. I’ve always brushed twice a day and know because of my problem, I floss twice a day. (They chip really easily too.)

I only have blurry vision if stand up after laying down. I’ll feel lightheaded and dizzy and have to sit down again. My vision will be really blurry only for two or three seconds. Is that normal? Is fainting a symptom of diabetes? I’ve done it a few times in church and on roller coasters (maybe because i went up side down). I feel real weird, and my muscles feel week, the sound fades, and then I pass out, but it’ s easy to wake me up. Maybe its because I’m excited! If i skip a meal or have a late dinner, I might get another headache and feel shaky and lightheaded. That’s normal though right?

Sorry for making this so long, but I would greatly appreciate it if you could tell me your thoughts on whether or not I might have diabetes. I’m kind of afraid to ask my mom unless I really think I have it. My grandfather has it, but he has type 2. I know I’ve probably talked about lots of things that don’t go together but I thought I’d just mention them just in case they did. Please help me.