OpenHealth Q&A

Get answered by medical professionals

Concerns About Potential Diabetes

8/17/2025, 4:10:53 PMMale25-34

I am a 13-year-old girl, standing at 5'3" and weighing 117 pounds. I have a history of ADHD, and I suspect I may have bipolar disorder as well. Additionally, I deal with a tic disorder, gluten intolerance, depression, asthma, and anxiety. Recently, I've been experiencing some alarming symptoms, including: - Swelling in my hands - Intense thirst - Extreme fatigue - Frequent watery stools - An almost nonexistent menstrual period - Minimal growth in height - Eating significantly more than usual - Urinating often If anyone has insights or advice, I would truly appreciate your help. Thank you!

DiabetesAsthmaCrohn's Disease

Answers (1)

Cony

8/17/2025, 4:11:13 PM

OpenHealth AI

It sounds like you’re experiencing some troubling symptoms that could suggest an underlying health issue, possibly related to diabetes or another condition. It's important to address these concerns seriously.

Understanding Your Symptoms

The symptoms you describe, such as increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, and changes in your menstrual cycle, can be indicators of diabetes, particularly Type 1 diabetes. It's also crucial to consider how your other health conditions may be interacting with these symptoms.

Next Steps for You

  1. Monitor and Document Symptoms:

    • Keep a detailed record of your symptoms, including when they occur and how severe they are. This will help in understanding any patterns and will be very useful if you decide to seek further evaluations.
  2. Stay Hydrated:

    • Ensure you are drinking plenty of water to manage thirst. Dehydration can worsen many symptoms.
  3. Balanced Diet:

    • Focus on a well-balanced diet that accommodates your gluten intolerance. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains if tolerated. Monitor your portion sizes to help manage increased appetite.
  4. Limit Sugary Foods:

    • Try reducing foods high in sugar, especially sweets and sugary drinks, as these can impact blood sugar levels.
  5. Schedule Routine Monitoring:

    • Although I can provide advice, it's essential to follow up with a healthcare provider who can conduct necessary tests, such as fasting blood glucose or A1C levels, to check for diabetes and any other conditions.
  6. Growth and Menstrual Health:

    • Given the minimal growth in height and menstrual irregularities, it's crucial to discuss these with a healthcare provider as they can assess for potential hormonal issues or other related conditions.

Final Thoughts

Addressing your health concerns is essential, so I encourage you to reach out to a healthcare provider soon. They can help determine the cause of your symptoms and develop a plan tailored to your needs. You’re not alone in this, and seeking help is a strong step toward feeling better. If you need support or more information, keep asking questions!

Related Questions

Persistent Upper Right Quadrant and Back Discomfort Six Weeks Post-ERCP for SOD Type II

Greetings, I am a 45-year-old female, measuring 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing 118 pounds. I do not smoke and am not currently taking any medications aside from occasional Tylenol. My medical history includes gallbladder removal in August 2024 and a diagnosis of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction confirmed in July 2025, which led to an ERCP with sphincterotomy on July 8, 2025. Following the procedure, I experienced mild to moderate acute pancreatitis, with a recorded lipase level of 540, necessitating a three-day hospital stay. Now, approximately six weeks have passed, and I continue to experience the following symptoms: - Upper right quadrant pain most mornings prior to meals. - A burning sensation and aching in the mid to upper back after eating, occasionally radiating towards the flank. - The pain often intensifies, reaching a peak of 5 to 6 out of 10, before gradually subsiding later in the evening. - Aside from this, my digestion seems normal. I am awaiting a follow-up appointment with my gastroenterologist, but I am curious if lingering pain after an ERCP and pancreatitis is a common occurrence, or whether this could indicate potential ongoing complications. I appreciate any insights you may provide.

Crohn's DiseaseThyroid DisordersInternal Medicine
Male25-34
19 minutes ago

Concerns Regarding Colon Cancer and Weight Loss Journey

I am a 39-year-old Caucasian male, weighing 112 kg and standing 173 cm tall. Since February, I've experienced a persistent dull discomfort in my left upper quadrant, akin to cramping that ebbs and flows. Initially, I attributed my intermittent loose stools to a poor diet. After consulting my general practitioner, I was referred to a gastroenterologist and scheduled for a CT scan to evaluate my bowels, kidneys, and spleen. The scan revealed a 3 mm lung nodule but indicated no other significant findings. Soon after, I began using Wegovy to assist in weight loss, starting from 126 kg in February. Over the subsequent weeks, I consistently lost about 1 kg weekly by maintaining a healthier diet and committing to the gym, reaching 118 kg by April. In late June, during my consultation with the gastroenterologist, he suggested that I likely had inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or possibly a mix of irritable bowel syndrome and another gastrointestinal issue. He recommended that I follow a low-FODMAP diet and ordered blood and stool tests, which unfortunately showed no significant issues. By this appointment in June, my weight had dropped to 112 kg, and I discontinued Wegovy around the same time. I have managed to maintain my weight within this range since then. Although I requested a colonoscopy, the gastroenterologist assessed it as non-urgent, and my referral through the public health system is scheduled for sometime between now and the end of September. Recently, I underwent a chest CT scan due to ongoing swelling in lymph nodes in my armpit and neck. This scan indicated that the lung nodule had increased to 4 mm, while the upper abdomen appeared normal. I consulted another gastroenterologist via phone, a friend of a friend, who agrees with my original doctor's assessment, suggesting that there are no immediate red flags that warrant concern at this stage. My main concern is whether waiting another month or two for the colonoscopy could adversely affect my prognosis if colon cancer were present. Unfortunately, the gastroenterologist believes an urgent scope is unnecessary, and even seeking another specialist would likely yield a similar delay due to the public healthcare system's timelines. Meanwhile, I continue to experience that occasional dull ache. While my stool patterns are variable, they have shown slight improvement after altering my diet. I recognize that my weight loss from February to mid-July can be attributed to Wegovy and the low-FODMAP diet; however, I have always found losing weight challenging, and it seems to have come off more easily than expected, even after stopping Wegovy. Although a CT scan isn’t the definitive method for diagnosing colon cancer, if it were causing my symptoms, wouldn't it have likely been detected? Additionally, if cancer had progressed, wouldn’t the scan have revealed something?

ArthritisCrohn's DiseaseInternal Medicine
Male25-34
50 minutes ago

Understanding the Reasons Behind Pre-Sexual Spotting

Age: 26 Sex: Female Height: 5’5" Weight: 270 lbs Duration of issue: Approximately 9 months Relevant health concerns: History of stroke, migraine with aura Medications: Adderall, Zoloft, Omeprazole, Propranolol, Aspirin, Famotidine, Lipitor, Topamax, Magnesium Glycinate, Ubrelvy, Tylenol Concern: Every time I find myself in a situation where intimacy is on the horizon, I begin to experience light spotting. This occurs in over half of those instances. Often, as I’m communicating with someone to finalize plans for that evening, I head to the restroom, only to discover a small amount of blood. This has occurred both before dates scheduled for the next day and even shortly after being invited over. It feels as if my body anticipates the events about to unfold. Background: Previously, while I had a non-hormonal IUD, I experienced cervical bleeding during intercourse; however, after transitioning to a progestin-only IUD, that particular issue has diminished. Nevertheless, the spotting problem persists. It's been at least five months since the insertion of the current IUD, and I haven’t encountered any bleeding post-insertion since the third month. My menstrual cycle is generally regular, spanning 4 to 5 weeks, with a flow that lasts between 7 to 8 days and is typically light to moderate. Notably, the spotting that occurs seems out of place compared to my regular cycles. I last underwent screening for gonorrhea and chlamydia in June and have an upcoming appointment for syphilis and HCV screening, which will be 90 days post my last instance of unprotected intercourse. Could there be any explanation for this pre-sexual spotting? I appreciate any insights you may have!

FibromyalgiaCrohn's DiseaseInternal Medicine
Male25-34
1 hour ago

Unexplained Swelling and Pain in the Groin

A 46-year-old gentleman reported experiencing unexpected health issues. Yesterday, he awoke with chills and widespread body aches, accompanied by a localized pain in his groin, specifically on the right side near the junction of his upper thigh. By midday, his condition escalated to a noticeable fever, reaching 102°F, along with nausea and tremors. He sought assistance at an urgent care facility, where routine tests for urine, flu, and COVID-19 yielded no conclusive results, leading to his discharge without a diagnosis. Later that evening, he observed pronounced swelling at the base of his penis, notably at the circumcision scar from infancy. Upon waking this morning, he noted an exacerbation of groin pain, which had spread to both sides and across his entire pubic region. Although the penile swelling increased slightly, he experienced no difficulties with urination and noted there was no abnormal discharge, leading him to discount the possibility of sexually transmitted infections as a contributing factor. **Additional Relevant Background:** * Approximately six weeks ago, he began experiencing intense discomfort on the left side of his abdomen, below the rib cage, occasionally radiating towards the center or the lower right part of the abdomen. After consulting a gastroenterologist, routine blood tests and a CT scan indicated no issues, although a colonoscopy was scheduled for September 16, the soonest available date. * A week back, he faced a recurrence of urinary complications characterized by an urgent need to urinate frequently. Even after emptying his bladder, he often felt an immediate urge to urinate again, along with a sensation of incomplete bladder emptying. This urinary problem has manifested several times each year over the last three years, typically lasting between one to two weeks. His primary care physician speculated that it might be a side effect of his lithium medication. **Pre-existing Health Issues:** * Bipolar II Disorder, stable since 2020 * Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (with the first rib removed); ulnar nerve transposition in the right arm; carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands * Mildly elevated blood pressure * Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) * Herniated disc at L-5 * Pre-diabetic status **Current Medications:** * Lamotrigine * Lithium * Propranolol * Amlodipine Besylate * Baclofen * Allergy medications **Supplements:** * Multivitamins; Vitamin D3-5 * Fish oil * Melatonin * L-Lysine * Probiotics Additionally, he is from an area impacted by nuclear fallout from World War II, known as a "downwinders" zone. A history of cancer is prevalent in his family, with his father succumbing to colon cancer, his mother and grandmother to breast cancer, and his sister diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

LupusCrohn's DiseaseCOPD
Male25-34
1 hour ago

Facial Numbness on the Left Side Since Early June

At the age of 29, I experienced a troubling incident in the first week of June when I tripped and collided with a tree limb, striking the left side of my face. The limb made contact diagonally across my face, with the end just grazing my eye; fortunately, I managed to close it in time. Initially, my eye was sore and felt warm, but there were no visible bruises or alarming signs right away. However, a couple of days later, I began to notice a numb sensation that originated from the top of my left face and extended down to my eye. By the end of that day, this numbness had spread down the left side of my face and even into my neck. The following morning, I experienced unusual sensations while swallowing, so I decided to visit the emergency department (ED). Upon my arrival, the medical team conducted standard assessments. The doctor examined my eyes, ears, mouth, and nose, and performed a comparative touch test on both sides of my face and hands—though the numbness did not extend to my hands. He remarked that the situation did not appear serious and ordered a Lyme disease test, even though I had not been bitten by any ticks. By the time I was discharged from the ED, approximately seven hours later, I had started regaining some sensation, though there was still a feeling of tightness. During a follow-up appointment with my primary care physician (PCP), I received the results of the Lyme test, which returned negative. My PCP informed me that if my symptoms persisted by the time of my annual check-up the following month, they would likely refer me to a neurologist. Since the incident, I have also been experiencing occasional eye pain, which feels like pressure behind my eye. Now, more than two months post-incident, the left side of my face continues to feel numb and tight. Additionally, I’ve noticed a change in my peripheral vision; it seems reduced or darker on the left side. My PCP arranged for an MRI without contrast, which showed no significant findings, and subsequently suggested I schedule an appointment with a neurologist and an eye exam. I’ve also been experiencing what may or may not be related issues. Over the past few days, I’ve felt persistent aching in my left cheekbone, and sporadic discomfort in the left eyebrow area. Although probably unrelated, I have been experiencing jaw pain between the tip of my chin and the jawbone, which occasionally radiates upward. I recently consulted with a dentist after a long hiatus, but no issues were discovered on that side. There are alignment concerns with my left jaw; I suspect TMJ problems, as I previously had episodes where my jaw would lock, restricting how wide I could open my mouth. Additionally, I have been experiencing tendinitis in my left arm, which has aggravated recently due to increased repetitive tasks at work. Lastly, my left leg tends to go numb occasionally, particularly after prolonged sitting—usually from distractions while on my phone—though it rarely happens on the right side.

Multiple SclerosisLupusCrohn's Disease
Male25-34
1 hour ago