hypoglycemia or diabetes?

[Lolu]

Our 24-year-old daughter is exhibiting what seem to be some signs of "sugar problems."  She is fatigued all the time, urinates frequently (to the point that she suspects she has a bladder infection but often does not, has had a black-out experience three times in the last few years, has frequent headaches, anxiety, depression and flu-like aching.  She is in med school and stays "stressed out" with her workload, but we believe there is more going on here than just stress.  Her grandfather and paternal grandmother both had adult onset diabetes, and we are just in the dark about this whole potential concern.  She has indicated that she doesn't eat balance meals but DOES eat off and on during the day.  She says she craves carbs on a continuing basis.  Last evening she was actually nearly asleep on our couch until I gave her Cream of Wheat, and she nearly instantly bounced back with this surge of renewed energy.  (This seems so bizarre, though her sister and I have both recognized that we get irritable and low on energy if we don't eat frequently--i.e. every 2 hours or so.  Neither of us have had unusual sugar levels in physicals.) We have encouraged our ill daughter to get an appointment for a routine but very thorough physical.  Do you have any suggestions for her/us?  What are our best sources of information on this, and what sort of support/aid can we give her?  We value any suggestions you might have to help us in approaching this problem.  Thank you.

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

Hello Lolu,
We are volunteers and not medical professionals, so your first instinct for your daughter to see a physician is a *must.*

The symptoms you describe are often reported around diagnosis of diabetes; however, a blood test is needed for diagnosis as there are many things (such as the stress of med school) that can lead to many symptoms you reported.

The rigors of medical school lead many students to not eat well, not get enough rest, not get enough physical activity, and not have enough outlets to dissipate the stress.  

If I were her mother, I'd urge her to see the school physician, report her symptoms, and ask for the necessary blood work.  There is little else that can be done until a physician identifies the root cause(s) for her symptoms.

I hope she listens to you.  If she does have diabetes, reach out right away to JDRF "Online Diabetes Support Team" (ODST) a sister-initiative from JDRF.  They have extraordinary volunteers (some of whom "work" here, too) who are so helpful for newly diagnosed individuals adn their families.

YOu can reach them at www.jdrf.org and volunteers there will be able to help you 1:1, usually with help being offered by someone in your local area who has been in a similar situation -- and has come thru it.  Do mention that we referred you, since we try to coordinate our activities.

If she is diagnosed with something else, I wish you similar success in finding peer-support.