Dear Phoebe

Thank you for your question – we hope this answer helps you and your Mum.

Drinking a lot, and skin infections that don’t heal are symptoms of diabetes. Other symptoms are tiredness, going to the toilet to pass urine frequently and loss of weight.

Type 1 diabetes is the more common type of diabetes in children, teenagers and young people, however, we are seeing type 2 diabetes in children nowadays when previously it was found only in people over age 40 years.

 As you have a family history of diabetes we would advise your Mum to take you to your General Practitioner (GP) and ask him to perform a random blood glucose level (BGL), which entails a fingerprick to obtain a drop of blood.  The drop of blood is placed on a special strip and inserted into a blood glucose meter, which will record the result. Normal BGL should be between 3.5 – 7.5 mmol/L depending on when you last ate.  Your GP may also test your urine for ketones.

If your doctor is concerned about a possible diagnosis of type 1diabetes he/she will then refer you to a Paediatric Diabetes team.  If type 1 diabetes is suspected, it is very important for you to be seen immediately as children can become very sick very quickly.

It is important that your GP checks you out thoroughly to discover exactly what is wrong even if he/she doesn’t think you have type 1 diabetes.

See the link below for further information about the signs and symptoms of type 1 diabetes.

diabeteskidsandteens -  Signs & Symptoms

http://www.diabeteskidsandteens.com.au/about.asp#signsand