How Long Does It Take To Develop Type 1 Diabetes?
Since I was young, I've had sensitive blood sugar. About once a month I'll suddenly become very hungry, with horrible headaches and dizziness, and have to stop everything and eat and drink slowly until I can sit up again. This is just my norm. I can't skip a meal without getting very sick. (Throwing up, shakiness, fatigue) Do you show symptoms of type 1 diabetes suddenly or gradually? I've had some minor health problems for a few months, and I feel like something is wrong.
Although type 1 diabetes itself develops gradually (months to years), the symptoms usually come on rather quickly (days to weeks) and are usually severe. The main symptoms of type 1 diabetes include:
extreme thirst
frequent urination
fatigue
weight loss
What you describe sounds more like hypoglycemia than diabetes.
I would agree with other respondents that it can develop over many months but when it does so the symptoms are likely to be somewhat dramatic; you’ll be left in no doubt.
However diabetes, either type, tends to produce evidence of high blood sugar. What you are describing is more suggestive of low blood sugar and that you have a high basal metabolic rate, burning up energy far too quickly. That would suggest a thyroid problem (overactive thyroid) rather than diabetes. Either way it needs checking out.
I hope this helps.
it does develop pretty gradually….usually in type 1 it can sit dormant for many years, until something in your environment shoots it off.
thats the theory anyways.
the symptoms usually show up right away. you should reaaally go back to the doctor and get some tests done, specifically a hemoglobin A1C test.
the best of luck to you
It seemed like it happened pretty fast for me. I felt fine then over the course of a couple of months, I started showing all the classic symptoms of IDDM. I was diagnosed at age 24 and I have been on insulin since day one. I use a pump.
My diabetes was traced to a pancreatic injury that occurred in a car accident a few years before. My pancreas more or less failed within a week of the first symptoms. Oh well.
It does sound like that you have hypoglycemia more than it does diabetes. You need to see your doctor. Good luck.
EMT
How do you know you’ve had “sensitive blood sugar” since you were young? Have you been monitoring your glucose? If so, you should be well aware of your values and know if they are abnormal. Only a professional can diagnose you. If you are so concerned, please seek professional help.
You’re probably fine and I agree how do you know you have sensitive blood sugar?