Hello, persistent thirst?

[Tamarisk]

My last B/T showed a reading from 42- 44, my BMI is 27, and I am 85.
Over the last 2 months I have developed a persistent thirst , and resulting need for visits to the loo, This is throughout the night as well, every 2-3 hours, which is very wearying. Also a tiny faint rash around my ankles and feet which burn and itch at night. I have neurological problems with my legs but this is different.
My GP can not offer a diagnosis or a solution, he thinks the BT are OK.
I need to sort this myself, but would welcome advice.
Do I drink what I feel I need or do I try an restrict that to limit toilet visits? And should I take other action?

 

[BlueArmy]

Do you have a blood glucose monitor and are you finger pricking?

 

[Jenny105]

I had the same thirst etc but for only 2 days. I lost 1 stone over 6 week. My BMI was ok ish Id shrunk 3inches and didnt know so check your height. BMI is affected by this.
My GP ordered a test despite their being no previous issue. I was found to have very high reading, 96. I am being treated as Type 2 but may be type 1.5 ,LADA
Im only Newbie so I expect others will advise you. I'd say you need a test. Whether cutting back on your carbohydrates would help, i dont know.
Keep badgering your doctor everyday !! and make a list of how many times you need the loo plus how much in litres U R drinking, and the times to show or send him.
Good luck and cheers to U at 85 with your IT skills.
There is a personal advice line on here somewhere praps someone can point U to it

 

[Jenny105]

Do you have a blood glucose monitor and are you finger pricking?

I have Glucomen finger prick . Nurse says prick once a day at various times over 2 weeks and note reading. I do prick more often from time to time .

 

[Tamarisk]

Thank you for replying. I am totally confused by all this. The GP prescribed Betmiga 50mg, which is for bladder irritations I think, but had little effect. I have had the blood test which covers the last 3 months I believe that was 44. The pin prick test was 4 before a meal and 7 after. Done at the hospital during other tests for neurological problems..
I haven't been testing myself becuse I wasn't aware I was pre diabetic. This is just in the last 3 months.

 

[Docb]

Hi @Tamarisk. From those numbers it looks like the loo visits are unlikely to be due to diabetes and so more likely to be to other parts of your system beginning to creak. That's the conclusion I have come to for me - last night it was three visits. Again for me, I have found that what I drink and when I drink it, really makes little difference to the number and timing of the nightly stumbles to the bathroom. By the way it's a good idea to take a seat on those occasions. I have done so since the occasion when I passed out and came to on the bathroom floor. Getting up had simply caused a drop in blood pressure and working to empty the bladder shoved it below fainting level, I'm told. Nothing to panic about, just another system beginning to creak.

Hope the Betmiga helps.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi @Tamarisk. From those numbers it looks like the loo visits are unlikely to be due to diabetes and so more likely to be to other parts of your system beginning to creak. That's the conclusion I have come to for me - last night it was three visits. Again for me, I have found that what I drink and when I drink it, really makes little difference to the number and timing of the nightly stumbles to the bathroom. By the way it's a good idea to take a seat on those occasions. I have done so since the occasion when I passed out and came to on the bathroom floor. Getting up had simply caused a drop in blood pressure and working to empty the bladder shoved it below fainting level, I'm told. Nothing to panic about, just another system beginning to creak.

Hope the Betmiga helps.

From what @Docb has said, I assume you are male, it might be worth having your prostate checked as if that has become enlarged it can cause frequent nightly loo visits. But also do ask for another HbA1C blood test.

 

[Tamarisk]

Do you have a blood glucose monitor and are you finger pricking?

No I dont have a monitor. because my doctor seems to think I dont have diabetes onset. It is myself that is querying this response. My Blood test was 44 on last test - which I believe is borderline, and avaerage for my age.

 

[Tamarisk]

From what @Docb has said, I assume you are male, it might be worth having your prostate checked as if that has become enlarged it can cause frequent nightly loo visits. But also do ask for another HbA1C blood test.

No I am little - well not so little - old lady, so loo seats are not a problem - only that they seem very low these days.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome from me too.

Can you be more precise about when your tests were done.... the blood test and the finger prick tests.... as if they were done before you started with "the thirst" and subsequent frequent toilet visits, then your diabetes may well have tipped over a breaking point. Those of us who are Type 1 will probably remember "the thirst" all too well and it is pretty desperate. I had 2 weeks of the approx. 5 times a night toilet visits and glugging water before I sought medical help and I was like a zombie!

It might be worth you visiting a pharmacy today and asking them to do a blood glucose test (finger prick) if you don't have a meter yourself, to get an idea of whether this may be a diabetes issue or not. If it is diabetes then you levels are likely to be well above 10 with those symptoms, so a spot test should indicate something is amiss in that respect, but I think a further trip to the GP is in order regardless to get the matter investigated if the current medication isn't improving things. The reason I suggest a spot test at the pharmacy is that you could get that done today and then have a clearer idea of if it is diabetes related. My worry is that if it is sudden onset Type 1 and you can't get an appointment for several days, you could be in danger of developing Diabetic Ketoacidosis. Many GP's don't realise that Type 1 can develop at any age so they don't look for it and if your blood tests were conducted several weeks ago, before these symptoms they are not specifically relevant to the situation/symptoms you are experiencing now.

 

[mark king]

Hello @Tamarisk your symptoms are pointing at T1 diabetes, have you lost any weight too.
Your Dr is the best person to speak with about your concerns and certainly I'd be asking for some of the simple blood & urine tests to be done.
Do lets know how you get on.

 

[Docb]

No I am little - well not so little - old lady, so loo seats are not a problem - only that they seem very low these days.

Apologies @Tamarisk - multiple nightly loo visits are so common for little old men that I assumed you were one of the crowd. It will teach me not to make assumptions!

Even so I reckon that my thought that it is system creak and not diabetic related is a reasonable shout.

 

[rebrascora]

Apologies @Tamarisk - multiple nightly loo visits are so common for little old men that I assumed you were one of the crowd. It will teach me not to make assumptions!

Even so I reckon that my thought that it is system creak and not diabetic related is a reasonable shout.

I would agree and even for ladies of a certain age, frequent nightly pit stops are a common occurrence, but "the thirst" is something that sticks out for those of us with Type 1 as being a very tell tale issue. That "thirst" in the title is what makes the difference between this being a problem with night time toilet visits due to age or whatever and a potential diabetes issue. Yes the thirst is a result of the frequent weeing but if it is compulsive and unquenchable then that increases the likelihood of this being sudden onset Type 1. The toilet trips are an inconvenience but the thirst can be quite overwhelming, so that is why @mark king and myself are thinking possibly Type 1. It very much depends upon when those blood tests were done compared to the onset of these symptoms. Of course, there are other symptoms (should read "causes") of excessive thirst but the diabetes could be easily ruled out by another finger prick and or urine test for glucose.

My thirst came on one night after a meal out and I spent all night drinking water by the pint and weeing, literally every couple of hours or less and it lasted day and night for weeks. Other people might not be so lucky and could end up DKA.

Edited to add highlighted amendment in brackets.

 

[Leadinglights]

No I am little - well not so little - old lady, so loo seats are not a problem - only that they seem very low these days.

Apologies, just assumed.

 

[NotPink]

My last B/T showed a reading from 42- 44, my BMI is 27, and I am 85.
Over the last 2 months I have developed a persistent thirst , and resulting need for visits to the loo, This is throughout the night as well, every 2-3 hours, which is very wearying. Also a tiny faint rash around my ankles and feet which burn and itch at night. I have neurological problems with my legs but this is different.
My GP can not offer a diagnosis or a solution, he thinks the BT are OK.
I need to sort this myself, but would welcome advice.
Do I drink what I feel I need or do I try an restrict that to limit toilet visits? And should I take other action?

Reading these posts about nightly loo visits highlighted for me how many times I have visit the loo at night and during the day for the past 6 years or more. I assumed it was just me. I go every 2 hours sometimes every 1 hour at night. I find it hard to go out very far during the daytime without knowing where the loos are... sometimes I sometimes feel so sleepy and low when I am supposed to be wide awake. I thought that reduced carbs would help...then I thought about caffeine. I only drink water and half a cup of rooibos tea daily. I don't eat acid producing anything. Its stressful and annoying. I mention it to the docs and they don't take much notice. I tried physio but nothing works...I refuse medication as I have heard it has side effects...so I am where I am. I feel embarrassed but as you mentioned it first It made me think. I don't have massive thirsts though. Just be reassuring to know I am not alone.

 

[Tamarisk]

Thank you all for your comments. I have phoned our local pharmacy and they dont do diabetic tests. My own tests were in hospital a month ago, but after the onset of the thirst, becuse I was in for some time I asked about lavatory locations. They did a blood test which came back later that day 43, and a prick test twice, once when I went in when it was 4 and later after a sandwich and ice cream (I was there 6 hours) it was 7. The thirst is not as pressing this last couple of days, but the Pharmacist says the tests for Diabetes 1 and 2 is the same, so would show either. I have a full blood test scheduled for late next week , so maybe that will help?
Thanks again, it has been helpful discussing this problem.

 

[Tamarisk]

Reading these posts about nightly loo visits highlighted for me how many times I have visit the loo at night and during the day for the past 6 years or more. I assumed it was just me. I go every 2 hours sometimes every 1 hour at night. I find it hard to go out very far during the daytime without knowing where the loos are... sometimes I sometimes feel so sleepy and low when I am supposed to be wide awake. I thought that reduced carbs would help...then I thought about caffeine. I only drink water and half a cup of rooibos tea daily. I don't eat acid producing anything. Its stressful and annoying. I mention it to the docs and they don't take much notice. I tried physio but nothing works...I refuse medication as I have heard it has side effects...so I am where I am. I feel embarrassed but as you mentioned it first It made me think. I don't have massive thirsts though. Just be reassuring to know I am not alone.

I suppose this can depend on age and sex. In females it can be collapse of pelvic floor, infection of urinary tract, pressure on the bladder, from other conditions, in males I suppose its mostly enlarged prostrate glands pressing on the bladder. Anything that changes needs investigation, and if it alters your life style more so. I hope you get it sorted.

 

[rebrascora]

Reading these posts about nightly loo visits highlighted for me how many times I have visit the loo at night and during the day for the past 6 years or more. I assumed it was just me. I go every 2 hours sometimes every 1 hour at night. I find it hard to go out very far during the daytime without knowing where the loos are... sometimes I sometimes feel so sleepy and low when I am supposed to be wide awake. I thought that reduced carbs would help...then I thought about caffeine. I only drink water and half a cup of rooibos tea daily. I don't eat acid producing anything. Its stressful and annoying. I mention it to the docs and they don't take much notice. I tried physio but nothing works...I refuse medication as I have heard it has side effects...so I am where I am. I feel embarrassed but as you mentioned it first It made me think. I don't have massive thirsts though. Just be reassuring to know I am not alone.

Not sure what age and sex you are but what made a big difference to my bladder holding capacity (under normal fluid intake, as oppose to the gallons of water I was consuming as a result of Type 1 diabetes) particularly through the night, was HRT. Almost from the first day of using the patches, I slept right through without a pit stop and it has continued for almost 2 years now and it makes an incredible difference to the rest that I get, not needing to visit the loo through the night.
I asked to try for HRT because I was struggling to differentiate between hypos and hot flushes. So wish I had asked to try it sooner as I had battled really bad hot flushes for 5 years prior to that. The cessation of nightly pit stops was a huge and unexpected bonus. I believe the patches are very low risk and I manage on just a half dose most of the time... I cut the patch in half.... and that little bit of clear plastic revolutionizes my life! None of that may be helpful to you, but just thought I would mention it. You definitely need to make your GP aware of the impact your disturbed sleep is having on your everyday life and if that GP is not interested, get a second opinion because the disturbed sleep will also negatively impact your diabetes. For me it was usually just 1 or 2 visits to the loo through the night but it stopped just like that when I started using the patches. I assumed it was just my age and something to put up with but sleeping all night without needing "to go" now is heavenly! Mind you, I make up for it on a morning and have to "go" multiple times, but then I drink quite a lot of fluids first thing too, but after 10am I am usually fine and maybe just 2 or 3 visits for the rest of the day/night.
Really hope you find something to help, but please don't suffer in silence or accept that it is normal. Push for more support to tackle the problem.

 

[ColinUK]

Most chain pharmacies will offer blood glucose tests so maybe cast your net a little wider and look at the likes of Boots and Lloyds etc.

 

[rebrascora]

All you need is a finger prick test not an HbA1c. I appreciate that a finger prick will not indicate Type 1 or Type 2 but the kidney's don't kick in to remove glucose until your levels get above 10 usually mid teens, so if your levels were up above 10 on a finger prick and you were suffering extreme thirst and frequent toilet trips then that would make sudden onset Type 1 more likely considering your recent relatively normal results. But since you say that the hospital finger prick tests were after the onset of these symptoms then it is much less likely that diabetes is the cause, unless it is diabetes insipidus which is totally different to the diabetes we all "know and hate". But there could be plenty of other reasons for your thirst and weeing so do go back to your GP if the current medication is not working.