Am I experiencing Diabetes symptoms???

@Dugsmom (279)
United States
April 5, 2009 8:55pm CST
For the past 2 years, I've been urinating frequently. I lived up north so I thought it was because I was always so cold. I never got checked and it keeps getting worse. We have moved to Texas and I thought I'd stop urinating as much but it seems to have gotten worse. Here are a list of symptoms I have been experiencing: Frequent Urination- Daytime: Up to 18 times a day but on average I'd say I urinate about 10X a day. Nightime: It's gone up to 15times at night but on average it's 6X Feeling really thirsty Waking up feeling sick (dehydrated and sometimes nausea because I am so thirsty) Dry throat because I peed all night Very hungry: I eat all the time mostly because if I don't I feel faint and feel awful but I haven't gained a lb. As a matter of fact, I have lost weight and am down to 98lbs. Sugar craving: don't know if this has anything to do with anything but I've never had much of a sweet tooth and now that's all I think about and eat. Hubby used to make a cake every 2 days for me (and I'd eat it myself and still didn't gain weight) but I got 4 cavities so I had to give that up. I still eat sweets just not as much as I'd like. Been getting scars on my legs and face because my cuts aren't healing fast enough. I scratched my legs up 3-4 months ago and the cuts are barely healing. I started having problems with zits last year and they have started to scar because it takes at months and months for them to heal. Never had that problem before tingling feeling in my feet but that's only when I've been sitting down for a while but about a 2 years ago I'd wake up with NO feeling in my lower arm and hand. I couldn't even move my hand or fingers. It was as stiff as a rock and super painful. My mom said it was arthritis. That went on for about a year and then one day it disappeared. It has come back maybe twice this past year. My dad and Grandfather had diabetes so it run in the family. I drink one cup of tea a day but last week I went to see a dr. and he wanted me to write down the number of times I urinate for I think it was 1 week. I gave up tea for a few days but that didn't stop my pee...it just kept coming and coming so I'm back on tea. Also I peed more when I was off the tea. Dr. did a urine test and it came out clear (I guess that means they didn't find anything in it) and had a bladder and renal ultrasound done. I haven't gotten the results yet. Also, I was supposed to go in for a blood test. They couldn't do it because I had eaten or something and I suppose I have to fast. I never went back though...been kinda nervous and don't know if I want to find out what's wrong. Maybe it's all in my head, right???
2 people like this
11 responses
@emilie2300 (1882)
• United States
6 Apr 09
Well my mom told me that frequent urination especially at nite is a sign of diabetes. You could also have a URI a bladder infection. I 'd check with your doctor they will have you fast and have your suger checked. My mom was just diagonsed with Diabetes last year.
@Dugsmom (279)
• United States
6 Apr 09
It's pretty bad at night...I get up between 6-15 times a night to urinate. It's exhausting. I think that's why I have lost so much weight...all the walking back and forth to the bathroom!
@Dugsmom (279)
• United States
9 Apr 09
I think he is testing me for diabetes. He asked me to fast for 8 hours and then go in for a blood test. I think they are testing my glucose levels. I also had to submit another urine sample...I find out the results on Monday.
• United States
6 Apr 09
Have you talked to your doctor about being tested for diabetes? I can ask my friend at work what are some of the other symptoms of Diabetes when I go to work tomorrow. I post them on my lunch break.
• United States
6 Apr 09
Since you have family with diabetes I would suggest that you test your blood sugar. If they are not near then get to a wal mart and buy the cheapest tester they have. It is worth it. Do it first thing in the morning before you eat and then an hour after you eat. We found out that my husband was diabetic because he went to the emergency room with sevire foot pain. They tested his blood sugar and it was at 400, we didn't even notice the symptoms. I would also make an apointment with your doctor again for a morning apointment, do not eat anything before you go. Do not leave until they have ran their blood test. Until then no more regular soda. Do not be scared of the diagnosis, not knowing is far more dangerous, it is deadly to not know. What you have writen is not in your head. The changes that you will need to make are not as horrible as you might think. I have done most of it with my husband and it is not bad at all. By the way, welcome to Texas, it is where I call home too.
@Dugsmom (279)
• United States
6 Apr 09
Thanks so much for your reply. Actually the doctor told me to go in anytime during the week (that was last week) as a walk in. I was planning on going in the morning but was afraid I'd have to wait a long time before the got me in since I would be a walk in. And I didn't want to sit there waiting with no food in my body. I have to eat or else I get very faint and my throat closes (at least that's what it feels like) so I am afraid that. I actually went to Wal-Mart on Friday and looked for something to test myself. I didn't know there was a test to test for diabetes but I decided to take a look and I didn't find anything. What was the name of the testers??? I know I was in the right aisle because there were books on diabetes in that section but I didn't see a test to test my blood sugar. Maybe they were out.. Oh and what blood sugar number should I be looking for? What's the bad number??? What number should my blood sugar be at to be considered non diabetic? Thanks again for your help!
@Dugsmom (279)
• United States
6 Apr 09
I went in this morning and they drew blood. Then they told me they needed another urine sample but their bathroom lights weren't working so I couldn't do it there. I brought home the cup and will be taking it back in an hour. I am so glad to have gotten this done. Thanks so much!
• United States
6 Apr 09
I am proud for you. Remember even if it is diabetes, you can work with that. The changes are not that bad no matter how overwhelming they might seem. Have a great day!!
• United States
6 Apr 09
Don't be real afraid of Diabetes. I have been Diabetic for 14 years now. It does not necessarily mean insulin right away. I have been back and forth between just diet and some pills several times. It is overwhelming at first when you hear the news and it does need to be taken seriously but when you get over the news at first it really can be controlled with diet and medication for a long time. Good luck and go to that doctor.
@Dugsmom (279)
• United States
6 Apr 09
Do all diabetics have to take pills or insulin. My dad had it but I don't remember much...when you're young you don't pain attention to things like that. I think he took medication but I don't remember if he had to take insulin. A few years before he passed away, his legs started turning purple and he got really skinny. But like I said, when you're young, you don't think much of those things. Now that I am older, that is all I think about...the bad stuff.
• Greece
6 Apr 09
Have you tried diaberlink
@wahmivy (776)
• Philippines
6 Apr 09
I think you won't get any peace of mind until you finally get results from a blood test. Even if a doctor gives his or her opinion here, you still won't be certain about your condition because you know that he or she was not able to actually examine you. You owe it to yourself and your family to get that blood test done. Hope the results will be normal though. Blessings. :)
@Dugsmom (279)
• United States
9 Apr 09
The blood test has already been done...I went after reading everybody's comments! I had to submit another urine sample too...I find out the results on monday. Wish me luck! I hope it's something that can be cured with antibiotics.
@chatta (15)
• Canada
6 Apr 09
Cure: get off all false surgars and replace it with Agave Nectar or Stevia. Get rid of starches which convert to sugar in body. I am a naturopathic Doctor. I helped a man get off diabetes after 6 years of medication. Had him cured in 4 months on a raw food/ fruit diet. Eat more fruits (organic) .. all this talk about diabetes, cancer, do not exist in my book ..they are the immune system at work which only needs to be cleansed. Its not that difficult its quite simple actually.
@Dugsmom (279)
• United States
9 Apr 09
I thought diabetes wasn't curable? I will make some changes in my diet and see if that helps. Thanks!
@chatta (15)
• Canada
9 Apr 09
You see in Western Medicine, when they "don't know" about a cure they say there is no cure. EVERYTHING has a cure. GO to youtube and you may find some testimonials. I don't know type in something like "raw food diet diabetes".
@jackee (138)
• United States
6 Apr 09
Run, don't walk to a Doctor! I have been diabetic for over 15 years now. Your symptoms of frequent urination, excessive thirst, and a family history of diabetese seems as thou you may have it. However, with that said go to a doctor who will do a full blood workup on you. If you are diabetic, it is a manageable disease. With the food that is available to us diabetics, and the information that is available (WEB MD) especially on the internet it is pretty close to a normal life. (whatever normal is :-)) Your symptoms, as many as you have could be other things too, so that is why I first said "Run, don't walk to your doctor" Good luck to you, and please get back to us after your diagnosis
@Dugsmom (279)
• United States
6 Apr 09
I just had lab work done today and I had to give them another urine sample. I find out what's wrong (hopefully) next Monday. I'll definitely keep you all updated. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply to my question!
• United States
6 Apr 09
You are only going to be sure if you go for the blood test. It is very important to go. Make sure that you definitely fast first or the results will not be accurate. This is not something to ignore. Yes you do have some of the symptoms but they could also be symptoms of something else. Please go for the tests.
@Dugsmom (279)
• United States
6 Apr 09
Thanks so much for replying. You are right, I need to go in but I really am afraid. I might go in tomorrow just to get it over with. Like you said, it could be something else and maybe something that isn't so bad.
• Philippines
6 Apr 09
Yes, it's positive. You have diabetes. All of the things that you have mentioned are signs and symptoms of diabetes. You should take a maintenance for that.
@Dugsmom (279)
• United States
6 Apr 09
I went to the doctor and will be meeting with him next Monday to discuss the test results. I am hoping this is not it but everything I've read on both this forum and in books seems to point to diabetes. But like others have said, it could be something else which kinda freaks the heck out of me.
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
6 Apr 09
So what do you want us to do? You were supposed to go and get a proper fasting blood test and you did not even follow the instructions. It may or may not be diabetes but you will never know without a proper diagnosis. You seem to like feeling crappy or you would do something about it with the help of your doctor. There is no excuse. You have most of the symptoms of diabetes, and if you do, it can be controlled and you can live a normal life. If you do and you do not control your blood sugar you can sicken and die, it is your choice. If you do not have diabetes then you can rule out diabetes and find out what is wrong with you. I fear that with your lackadaisical attitude towards your health you will not strictly control your diabetes anyway.
@Dugsmom (279)
• United States
6 Apr 09
I guess I am feeling a little nervous to hear what is wrong with me, if anything. It's nice to be able to come here and be able to "talk" to people who are actually experiencing this. It's always nice to have someone like you kick me in the butt (virtually) and tell me to do something instead of crying about it and doing nothing. I do take good care of myself. I am in good shape, exercise every day to stay healthy (used to jog, do yoga, pilates, lift weights but now only walk uphill for an hour because I am too tired to do anything else), eat healthy except for the fact that I've been craving tons of sugar...strangers come up to me to ask me how I stay in such great shape and I was just asked to lead a Health Blog (funny since I am not taking care of this one problem). I've spent so many hours taking care of my body because I didn't want to get sick and it seems it was all for nothing because here I am feeling awful. And if something is wrong, I will take of it. I am just in denial or maybe I am just angry with myself for doing something wrong. I did go in today and got the lab work done. I need to take back an urine sample (their bathroom is out of order)and I'll be doing that in an hour (after I eat).
• Jamaica
6 Apr 09
i think that the best way to know if u r experiencing such a symptoms is to do a test
@dapperax (27)
• Philippines
6 Apr 09
Diabetes is an abnormality in the blood sugar wherein your sugar is higher than the normal. As what I have known it has Cardinal signs (3P's + Loss of Weight), to name are: excessive urination, being thirsty which is related to excessive urination, excessive eating, and the weight loss. Since your dad and grandfather had diabetes it just meant that you are at risk also to have it. I suggest that you need to have a laboratory test for Blood Sugar level in order to determine if you have it or not. Usually the management is more on the diet, exercise and medication (insulin injection).
@Dugsmom (279)
• United States
6 Apr 09
I just had the lab work done today. I also had to provide another urine sample...now all I have to do is wait till Monday to find out the results. Do all diabetics have to take medication???