Question from Worth, Illinois, USA:

I am 13 years old, have had hyperglycemia since I was three years old, and I want to know if it is possible or certain that I have diabetes. There is a history of diabetes in my mother’s family, but I am not sure of my father’s family. I would also would like to know if I got hyperglycemia from my mother because she had it as a child and during my birth, but it wasn’t as bad as mine, and she has never been diagnosed or tested.

I know from my own encounters with an attack that I have a mild case of hyperglycemia. I used to throw up/vomit after each attack and was extremely weak, but I stopped vomiting when I ate an apple quickly after an incident which made it go away, and I haven’t vomited ever since. Could that apple be the reason I don’t vomit? Also, as a child and to this day, I have had extremely frightening dreams that are mostly the same as past dreams, I have trouble falling asleep, and I have always felt like an outsider because I am afraid of my own shadow and imagine things are in front of me but aren’t there. Could a low immune system have caused the hyperglycemia? I have found a “cure” or fast working activity that stops my rapid heartbeat by holding my breath until it goes away. I haven’t had any problems doing this so far, but is it dangerous or unsmart to do?

I need to find a way to help me with my symptoms because I become extremely depressed very often. I have never spoken to a doctor about my condition or diabetes and don’t believe my mother or father know how serious hyperglycemia can be. I hope my sending this e-mail can answer questions my parents haven’t been able to help me with.