Mitochondrial Diabetes

(See Blog post on type one diabetes misdiagnosis for backstory)

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"The body’s production of insulin depends on mitochondrial activity. If a mitochondrial disorder affects the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, diabetes can be a feature of the patient’s mitochondrial disorder. Mitochondrial disorders may also cause insulin resistance in multiple body tissues, which increases the amount of insulin needed to control the absorption of glucose from the blood into fat, liver and muscle cells. For example, children with Friedreich’s ataxia, one form of mitochondrial disease, often have insulin deficiency and an increased chance of diabetes. As they grow older, adolescents and adults with Friedreich’s ataxia also develop insulin resistance, and their chance of developing diabetes increases further. Diabetes also occurs commonly in other forms of mitochondrial disease, in particular Kearns-Sayre syndrome and MELAS syndrome." (I have MELAS Syndrome)

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Signs and Symptoms

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• Symptoms of mitochondrial diabetes are similar to those for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These may include:

• Increased and significant thirst

• Increased urination

• Increased appetite, but weight loss instead of gain

• Dehydration

• Blurred vision

• Nausea and vomiting

• Irritability and mood changes

• Children with mitochondrial diabetes may experience variations in blood sugar levels in different patterns than are typical with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. For example, some children with mitochondrial disease may develop high blood sugar levels and require insulin when they are ill or stressed, but not at other times. Some of these same children are also at risk for developing low blood sugar levels.

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From: https://www.chop.edu/conditions-diseases/mitochondrial-diabetes

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(Image description: I am standing in front of a Disneyworld Tomorrland sign wearing a bright blue shirt that says "Diabetes Awareness" in fancy Disney font)

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