Symptoms of Diabetes?

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2004
Symptoms of Diabetes?
8
Tue, 06-01-2004 - 2:00am
Hello!

I was wondering if you could help me out with some advice. I haven't been feeling quite myself for about a year now, and I am wondering if it might possibly be diabetes. I went to the doctor about 8 months ago and after telling him my symptoms he told me it sounds like anemia or stress, but after taking iron pills for months I feel no better, and I doubt it is stress as I have it pretty easy! Some days are "good" days for me, where I feel fine throughout the day, but other days I feel uncoordinated and have difficulty thinking clear, concentrating, and sometimes even talking. My whole body feels "unbalanced" and I know that something is not right. It seems to be worse if I consume sugar, I have noticed that if I am having a "good" day and then I drink a can of coke it throws everything off. Also, if I don't eat properly my body does not function properly or feel good. I have also been thinking it might be a vitamin B12 deficiency, but I am now taking a daily multi vitamin and I see no improvement. I am tempted to see my doctor again, but if it is just anemia or stress (or something else minor) I will feel like a nuisance and I don't want to waste the doctors time. What I am asking of you is to tell me how you felt before you were diagnosed with diabetes (what made you decide to see your doctor?)and how you feel when your sugar level is too high. I have looked it up on the internet but found very little on the symptoms, only that it damages your eyes, and you feel excessive thirst (yes!) and hunger.

Any advise would be greatly appreciated!

~Jolene

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-21-2004
Tue, 06-01-2004 - 11:40am

Hi Jolene!

Avatar for cl_d_minnick
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 06-02-2004 - 12:47am

Welcome to the board Jolene. I suggest that if you are not feeling good to see your doctor to request having both a diabetes and hypoglycemic test run since what you have been feeling can be either of those causing it. Besides your not being a bother to your doctor at all especially if he is getting paid for seeing you.


My apologies for not being able to tell you how I felt before I was diagnosed, but I was only 6 years old when i was diagnosed as being diabetic in which now I have been for over 29 years now. I really hope that you get in to be tested since it is so much better to be safe than sorry. Do let us know what you find out after being tested since we will be thinking of you. Take care and do have a super day!

Lilypie Baby Days
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2004
Wed, 06-02-2004 - 8:54pm
If I were you I would also ask for a thyroid panel. I was tested for everything under the sun due to the fact that the symptoms of diabetes can be similar to other diseases. For me..it was rapid weight gain, excessive hunger and sugar cravings, fatigue,brain fog,skin rashes and joint pain (which has yet to be explained). For some people though there are no symptoms at all and they find out by accident. Your best bet is to go back to the dr and ask for a complete work up.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-06-2004
Thu, 06-03-2004 - 12:10am
I have never thought about it maybe being my thyroid. I will look into that as well. I like how you used the phrase "brain fog", that describes it perfectly! That is probably the worst symptom of all, somedays I find it so difficult to do even the easiest things, like work or drive. I haven't put on any extra weight which surprises me since I have been eating so much. I am always very hungry and thirsty. (Especially in the middle of the night it seems). If I am hungry and don't eat, or eat something that isn't nutritious, that is where it all goes downhill. I know my problem is something related to my diet, I just have to find out what I am missing or getting too much of. I hope it is not diabetes, I just thought it might be because my body goes way out of whack when I eat or drink something with too much sugar. I have made a doctor appointment, but it is a week away. Thanks for taking the time to reply, though. I am going to look up information on thyroids now.

~Jolene

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-04-2004
Fri, 06-04-2004 - 11:40pm
Hi Jolene - your symptoms sound similar to mine a year ago - I was diagnosed with Type 2 last Sept. I was losing weight (enough so others noticed) but still eating well - looking back there were many times I felt in a "fog" and I can trace it to having sodas or sugary snacks - now that I know to balance things between carbs and proteins it's made such a difference that when I have indulged in a soda or snack I can feel the old symptoms right away. I've also had fewer migraine episodes since being diagnosed - before I had a lot of numbness on one side (stroke-like), the pounding headache I'd get on the back of my neck now is my signal that my sugar level is too low or is high and coming down. Other symptoms I had included, lack of sleep, energy near zero, itchy skin and vaginal itch. My sugar level was over 400 when diagnosed it took about a month to get me back into a normal range - I've been very successful with pill medication, diet, and exercise to be keeping w/in range overall with a handfull of 'spikes'. I'm still learning alot but can't emphasize to you how important it is to have your blood glucose tested - if I had gone to the doctor months even a year before I wouldn't have gone through all the illness and worry - you may not have diabetes but if you're not feeling 'right' something needs to be addressed - I'm lucky to have a great report with my doctors and nurses - i urge you to get tested then determine if you have a good relationship w/ your caregivers, if not find one, but by all means go and be tested - it's scary but it will only get worse! keep us posted on how it goes for you.
Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 06-05-2004 - 1:27am

Hi Cinnibuns,


Welcome to the board. There are a cluster of symptoms..about 10 in all that are found in diabetes. You have listed having most of them and so I am glad you saw your physician and were diagnosed appropriately. Howmoften do you get your A1C checked?


I was talking to a woman at the gyn tonight who was diagnosed last September. She was amazed that when she started eating a diabetic eating plan that she was able to lose weight. In all she has lost 30 pounds and gotten her blood sugar under control.


All of us certainly feel so awful when we are diagnosed and when we get our blood sugars under control we are amazed at how much better we feel. So diagnosis of diabetes or not is important to get. It is certainly better than worrying about what it could be that is making us feel so bad.


Congratulations on your success and I hope you will stay around and join our converstaion.


A hardy welcoming cheer,

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40

Co-CL Diabetes Board


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-04-2004
Thu, 06-24-2004 - 11:07pm
Hi MaryFrances sorry I haven't been back on the message board since my first posting - life's been very busy for me (new house, busy job, etc.) I go for my AC1 every 3 months I was exactly on the mark in range in March - I'll be going for my test w/in the next week for June and hope for more of the same. Not that I don't have some spikes from time to time but overall I'm very pleased with keeping my bloodsugar well within the 70-120 range overall. I have been losing weight too - about 36lbs so far! I was off my usual 3-5 mile walking routine for the past 3wks and really could tell I wasn't losing. I'm back on track now and hope to have another 10 off by my next check-up in Sept. I don't weigh myself in between dr. visits - it becomes a headgame w/ me if I do I start bargaining w/ myself by saying "you lost another 4 lbs, you can have that extra scoop or two of icecream!" then it just gets me to revert to old behaviors and habits. I found in the past when I weighed in weekly and people noticed the weight coming off, I'd start to eat, bargaining w/ myself and also trying to get the attention off me - this time although the diabetes has been the catalyst I've been pretty strong and have been able to handle the compliments along the way - sometimes a real health scare is what it takes for some of us to really change our lifestyles! Thank you for the warm welcome, I'll try to be a more frequent visitor - everyone has such great advice and ideas I'm learning alot too.
iVillage Member
Registered: 09-05-2003
Wed, 06-30-2004 - 5:52pm
HI Jolene and welcome to the board.. I am fairly new here as well.. all I know is to tell you the symtoms I have.. I have more of the symptoms then the numbers.. my AIC or what ever that is was only 6.3 normal is 6.0 but in the past six months I have been forced to get glasses.. I have lesions really bad.. kind of like boils I get them and have to get them lanced Have had a total of 14 lanced in a year.. constantly have skin rashes.. I get numbness in my hands and one foot. and on the other leg I have numbness there and a bad bad foot problem by the time I get off from work I can hardly walk.. it hurts so bad to walk after being on them all day at work.. plus always tired.. but anyway I am working on eating better and exercising.. I hope you get to the doctor soon and find out all you need to know about your health.. always know we are here to listen and help anyway we can.. bye for now Melody..