Diabetes?

[foursixand2]

I am an American without Health Insurance, right now i cant really go to a doctor. so i'm hoping someone around here may have some knowledge on the subject.

 

It runs in my family, and i have some, but not all of the symptoms. Excessive thirst and urination. Occasionally blurry vision. I dont really have excessive hunger, in fact i really dont have a big appetite in general ever. I dont really know how to measure excessive fatigue, sometimes im tired when it seems i shouldnt be, but i wouldnt call it excessive.

 

The primary thing for me is the excessive drinking and thus urination. If i dont drink enough i start to feel nauseous. In everything ive read about diabetes i havent seen nausea mentioned, which might be important because this, more than thirst is why i drink so much. The water goes through me pretty fast too. Everyone around me notices that i always have a drink with me, and i visit the restroom probably every half hour to hour, and occasionally more often than that.

 

I pretty much remember when this began, not in one day, but in early 2006 i realized that my habit of excessive drinking was a bit out of the ordinary. And lots of people around me have been noticing recently.

 

So please give me whatever knowledge you have. What are the chances its diabetes if i only have some two of the symptoms (one very noticably), or are there other disorders this might be a sign of?

[gonelli]

If you want to know if it's diabetes, you could maybe find a friend who has one of those machines that tests blood sugar levels or maybe even buying one and testing yourself.

[thedarkshade]

Well, I don't know much in the subject but the most common symptoms are:

1.Frequent urination

2.Extreme hunger

3.Unusual weight loss

4.Blurry vision

5.Excessive thirst

6.Increased fatigue etc.

 

I really hope you don't have these symptoms.

 

Cheers,

Shade

 

EDIT: and make you you do this test.

[swansont]

Don't mess around. Go to a doctor.

[zule]

Polydipsia (excessive thirst) can be caused for many reasons. The solely fact of drinking too much stimulates the thirst sensation; other frequent reasons could be the excessive production of chatecolamines in stressful situations or simply having too much salt or smoking.

 

Of course, if you drink too much water, you have to eliminate that liquid, so, you will have polyuria (production of large volume of dilute orine).

 

However, you also could have diabetes and I would hardly recommend you to go to a doctor. I don’t know how much it costs (in my country is free for everybody), but I’m sure that you can do without other much more unimportant things and spend your money in what really is worth: your health.

 

You can carry a normal life if you have diabetes and you are treated for it. But it you wait for more time with this disease your body will be deteriorating.

[thedarkshade]

Of course, if you drink too much water, you have to eliminate that liquid, so, you will have polyuria (production of large volume of dilute orine).

But if he drinks too much water, that's because he has lost in once a considerable amount and need to compensate so the level of water can remain constant. The salt level may also influence!

[iNow]

Get your blood sugar tested immediately. Whether using a friend's glucose meter or going to the doctor.

 

I am a diabetic... I was 10 years old when I was diagnosed, because I went into a coma. I used to wake up all throughout the night to urinate, was always thirsty, and sick a lot.

 

If you are thirsty, and if this is caused by diabetes, then it's because your blood sugar is too high, and you don't have enough insulin to break down the foods you eat. This causes toxins (ketones) to build up in your body, and your kidneys go into over drive to clear the ketones from your body... This is why you are urinating so much (if it's diabetes). Your kidneys are pulling the toxins from your body, and you expel the toxins by urinating. That's also why you are so thirsty (if it's diabetes)... the kidneys are pulling a lot of water out of your cells along with the toxins.

 

When you're thirsty, avoid juice... avoid gatorade... avoid soda... avoid anything with sugar or carbohydrates. Water only... or... DIET soda. Also, avoid eating breads and pizza and rice and pasta... at least until you know what's going on (and potentially begin treatment).

 

You need to check your blood sugar, and your lack of insurance is no reason to wait. It will only get worse if you ignore it, and with diabetes.... worse gets bad in a hurry. Recall my comment above about myself going into a coma.

 

 

Good luck. Take care of yourself. If it's diabetes, it's not too hard to get used to and adjust your lifestyle. I got my black belt despite my diabetes, so it's not debiliating... IF .... you take care of it.

 

Go have your blood sugar checked. If it's high... you need to work with a doctor and start taking proper medications, whether that be insulin or pills of some sort to help your body break down the foods properly. Do it today, and don't walk to the doctor... Run.

[swansont]

One thing I noticed before I was diagnosed was that certain foods, like pizza (exacerbated by eating too much of it), induced the urination/thirst cycle more than others.

[iNow]

I made the mistake of being thirsty and drinking lots of gatorade. In retrospect, I can't help but laugh at how stupid that was.

[foursixand2]

Thanks for everyones input. I took a blood test last night, my sugar was a little high, but not much (111 and i had eaten a small meal two or three hours earlier). My girlfriends mom is a nurse and shes going to steal some diabetic testing stuff (sticks that i pee on and measure sugar in my urine?) so hopefully i will know soon.

[iNow]

Thanks for everyones input. I took a blood test last night, my sugar was a little high, but not much (111 and i had eaten a small meal two or three hours earlier). My girlfriends mom is a nurse and shes going to steal some diabetic testing stuff (sticks that i pee on and measure sugar in my urine?) so hopefully i will know soon.

 

Glad to hear it. It's not definitive, by any means, but one would expect your sugar to be much higher after a meal if you were diabetic. Depending, of course, upon what you've eaten. A bunch of salad isn't going to do much, for example.

 

The sticks your gf's mom is going to get are going to be "keto-stix." They test for ketones (which I referenced in my post above) in your urine, which themselves have been processed by your kidneys.

 

You piss on it, and it turns color. The color it turns informs you how concentrated the ketones are in your system. If you're not diabetic, you really shouldn't have any (or, only trace amounts) in your urine.

 

When I went into my coma, my keto-stick turned black! I was actually in a state called "diabetic ketoacidosis." Not something I'd recommend.

 

 

Check out more below, and I'm glad you've gone and checked. That's the best thing you could have done. Cheers.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ketostix

[DrDNA]

I have seen those glucose meters on sale a Walgreens for free (with instant rebates). You might want to check there and Osco or CVS. That sounds like a heck of an investment.

[iNow]

I have seen those glucose meters on sale a Walgreens for free (with instant rebates). You might want to check there and Osco or CVS. That sounds like a heck of an investment.

 

Based on the response above, that doesn't seem necessary. It appears that last night he got access to a glucose meter.

[JHAQ]

I also have type 2 diabetes & control blood sugar with metformin , glucophage & insulin ( I was also on Avianda before its heart effects became suspected ). I cannot add to what has been said above except you will die in increments if you do not get treatment . Retinipathy ( perhaps ending in blindness ) , general neuropathy , & poor healing of any wounds in extremities eventually leading to perhaps gangrene necessitating amputatiuon(s) .

[doG]

Thanks for everyones input. I took a blood test last night, my sugar was a little high, but not much (111 and i had eaten a small meal two or three hours earlier). My girlfriends mom is a nurse and shes going to steal some diabetic testing stuff (sticks that i pee on and measure sugar in my urine?) so hopefully i will know soon.

 

The only sure test is an A1C at the doctor's office. Your immediate blood sugar as measured with a blood glucose meter is not a good indicator unless you test yourself 3 to 4 times a day before meals and read the same consistently. Self diagnosis is not a good option.

[Revenged]

i doubt you have diabetes... especially because your glucose test was essentially normal...

 

add to this that you far too old to have type I diabetes... [t's typically seen in children before puberty (i.e. 10-12)] and far far far too young to get type 2 diabetes... it is only seen in the overweight, over 50s (or in younger morbidly obese)... add to that the fact that it's impossible to have so near normal glucose levels in a untreated type I diabetic... so don't waste your money doing any more glucose tests... you won't have ketones in your urine if your glucose was essentially normal (so don't waste any money on keto-sticks)...

 

and as for the A1C test, dog... you are talking about doctors testing whether type II diabetics are keeping to their diet - it is nothing to do with diagnosing undiagnosed diabetics...

 

btw original poster... i think trying 'diagnosis online' is a bad move... i can't even decide whether you are really ill or if you are just a hypochondriac making a fuss about nothing... tbh i ask myself - if you were really so ill, why would you care about paying to see a doctor?...

 

all i would say is that you may have diabetes insipidus... diabetes insipidus is due to a lack of a hormone (ADH)... it isn't very common but it would explain why you have all the symptoms of diabetes but have normal blood glucose levels...

[doG]

and as for the A1C test, dog... you are talking about doctors testing whether type II diabetics are keeping to their diet - it is nothing to do with diagnosing undiagnosed diabetics...

 

When my doctor suspected I had adult onset type 2 diabetes he ordered an A1C and a lipid panel. I'm sure there are a number of tests available but those are what my doctor used...

[iNow]

add to this that you far too old to have type I diabetes... [t's typically seen in children before puberty (i.e. 10-12)].

This is a bit of a misnomer. It's traditionally called "Juvenile diabetes" because it's more common in younger folks, but it really has nothing to do with age, and could onset later in life. It's just much less common that it would onset for older people. It's the result of an auto immune reaction, and tends to be where the pancreas completely stops making any insulin.

 

and far far far too young to get type 2 diabetes... it is only seen in the overweight, over 50s (or in younger morbidly obese)...

You opened with another misnomer, but then corrected yourself somewhat at the end there. Type II has traditionally been called "adult onset diabetes," but with todays children becoming more and more sedentary, exercising less and eating more... hence... more obese, there are very young type II diabetics, and for this reason, it's best referred to as "behavioral onset diabetes." This type can often be managed (and even completely overcome) by various medications, but especially by a change in dietary habits and lifestyle.

 

It's either a) the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin to keep up with the person's lifestyle, b) the body is not sensitive enough to the insulin being produced to keep up with the person's lifestyle, or c) some combination of both of those.

 

 

and as for the A1C test, dog... you are talking about doctors testing whether type II diabetics are keeping to their diet - it is nothing to do with diagnosing undiagnosed diabetics...

That's just wrong. I'm a Type I, and I get an A1C every time I visit my endocrinologist (which is roughly every fiscal quarter). It's a test that shows long term trends, and is used for diabetes of all types to determine level of control and if action is needed to make corrections in the care regimine.

 

If a person who was not yet diagnosed as diabetic had a high A1C on testing, this would be a key indicator that they are diabetic, since the results of an A1C for a non-diabetic would be well within range.

[Revenged]

That's just wrong. I'm a Type I, and I get an A1C every time I visit my endocrinologist (which is roughly every fiscal quarter). It's a test that shows long term trends, and is used for diabetes of all types to determine level of control and if action is needed to make corrections in the care regimine.

 

If a person who was not yet diagnosed as diabetic had a high A1C on testing, this would be a key indicator that they are diabetic, since the results of an A1C for a non-diabetic would be well within range.

 

Yes, A1C it is used for type I diabetics to but it's to test if you are getting the correct insulin dosage and if the blood sugar levels are controlled over time...

 

However, for initial diagnosis, it's Urine dipstick test + (Non-Fasting) or Fasting Blood Glucose Test...

 

You use A1C for after the initial diagnosis as knowing levels of glycosylated haemoglobin is useful to know how much medication to use...

 

However, I suppose you can use it in theory - but it isn't used in practice... A fasting glucose test must be more accurate...

 

As for misnomers... that's how medicine works mate... if you happen to be the 1% of people that present with atypical symptoms (and don't get better on your own soon afterwards) you can be pretty screwed...

[DrDNA]

Based on the response above, that doesn't seem necessary. It appears that last night he got access to a glucose meter.

 

His girlfriend's mom stealing glucose monitoring sticks you pee on at her place of work is sufficient access? I just hope she doesn' t get caught.

[Revenged]

When my doctor suspected I had adult onset type 2 diabetes he ordered an A1C and a lipid panel. I'm sure there are a number of tests available but those are what my doctor used...

 

ok, fair enough... i take back what i said... i can't argue with real experience...

[iNow]

His girlfriend's mom stealing glucose monitoring sticks you pee on at her place of work is sufficient access? I just hope she doesn' t get caught.

 

Well... technically... reviewing this thread... we cannot say with any certainty that the glucose monitor was stolen, only that he obtained access to one the night previous to his post. How that access was obtained is an unknown and irrelevant detail.

 

Per the test strips, all it takes is one, and they come in jars of 50 for a few bucks. I'm pretty sure it's akin to taking an aspirin, and only here in Texas would it be punishable by death.

[DrDNA]

Well, I just hope he gets some access to healthcare and soon. Diabetes is nothing to mess with and nothing to be diagnosed on a science blog.

 

Which brings up another topic.

Is there a good, existing access to healthcare (aka "universal healthcare") thread that could be resurected?

[iNow]

Is there a good, existing access to healthcare (aka "universal healthcare") thread that could be resurected?

 

Search the term "sicko."

[Psyber]

"sicko."

 

Interesting. Overall here in Oz I thnk we had a good compromise, but it now has its problems. The states supply and fund emergency care and free care for the uninsured, while the Federal government subsidises private health insurance by about 30% to cover hospitalisation and ancillary services like Physio, Dental care, and optometry etc. In addition the Federal government pays 85% of private medical fees based on their list of standard medical fees.

 

Problems arise, however, because the states skimp on what they are supposed to supply to varying extents and try to blame it on the feds. Also the feds skimp on adjustments for inflation and so their fee list [the Medical Benefit Schedule] has risen be only 64% of inflation in the last 35 years. So, an increasing percentage of the poorer patients are being given minimal care at state level, and can now barely afford to go private like they used too. 30 years ago doctors would "bulk-bill" the government and accept the 85% the MBS for the poor, but that is no longer viable.

 

The problem is the bureaucracy likes the idea of a UK style NHS, in which they can ration health care to control costs, by maintaining their idea of reasonable waiting time for treatment.

 

Also about 20 years ago a federal socialist ["Labor"] government here decided we had too many doctors who were seeing patients unnecesarily and cut funding for medical training in Universities, to save the running costs of the health scheme. There was never an excess, so now we have a doctor shortage.

 

Details here: http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/