Question from Australia:

I have had the symptoms of type 1 diabetes for a little over a year. I am 19 years old, 5 feet, 8 inches, and approximately 65 kg (143 pounds). Generally, I am pretty healthy and haven’t been to the doctor’s in four years. When I went to donate blood the other day, my blood pressure was too high, 132/117, to give blood (the nurse said it was probably nerves). I found this weird because my pulse rate is 58 and they said my iron level was good at 18.7, which was good (which surprised me as anemia runs in the family and I am vegetarian).

I row quite three times a week and love participating in sports every chance I get. I seem to drink three to five times more water then everyone else and am always urinating. I also seem to get the shakes if I have eaten lots of sugar all at once or if I haven’t eaten for quite a while.

I have not lost any weight, but I have gained muscle mass and my weight has not budged in four years. There are some days where I would drink a lot more then usual and can’t get enough to eat (five days a week approximately) and other days I am fine.

I have an aunt with thyroid problem who was diagnosed around my age (but she had symptoms of feeling really cold). My nan and pop both have type 2 diabetes. Do you think I have diabetes? Is it possible to have symptoms for such a long period of time without passing out and be diabetic?