Concerned and confused

[mummylouise]

Hi.

I hope you don't mind me joining (hopefully temporarily)

I have been requested by the gp to go for a blood test to check for diabetes, although he did say id be extremely unlucky for it to be that considering i am an active 8 stone 32 year old.

over the last 2/3 months I've felt
exhausted
emotional
mood swings
hungry
going from one cold to another
blurry vision
terrible leg cramps and pins and needles

this weekend that has progressed rapidly to feeling
thirsty
so hungry i feel sick, then feel sick after i eat
light headed
and all the symptoms above have intensified.

To give back ground i have 3 children, i work 50 hours a week, and one of my children is being assessed for autism so I've been from appointment to appointment and generally I'm exhausted anyway.

My family think this is just my body saying I'm run down, but I've read that a lot of my symptoms are linked to diabetes?

I know the only answer will come from the blood test but wondered what others who know how it feels could shed some light on whether its a likelihood.....i don't want to worry over nothing but equally want to be prepared

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hello Louise and welcome to the forum.
Not knowing is always the worst isn't it?
If you do have diabetes then it sounds as if you would have type1 diabetes which makes you insulin dependant. If the test comes back that yes you have diabetes do not allow your GP to fob you off with tablets because he has assumed you are type 2 due to your age.

Any new diagnoses is scary and overwhelming so you will go through a lot of emotions which is quite normal so don't worry in that dept.
Some people adapt/accept the diagnoses and just move on with life and others do struggle again this is normal don't be afraid to tell people you are struggling and ask for help when needed.
If you are diagnoses take one day at a time, people live with the condition for 70 + years and die of old age.

Looking on the bright side you do have free prescriptions once you apply for your exemption certificate 🙂

 

[Pine Marten]

Hi mummylouise, welcome (if temporarily!) to the forum. Your symptoms could well be related to diabetes, or equally to stress and exhaustion, so the blood test will confirm diagnosis.

If you do find you need to join our merry band you will find loads of support and encouragement, as well as valuable information. Whatever the result, we wish you well - come back when you have got it and let us know 🙂

With best wishes to you and your family.

 

[mummylouise]

Thank you for your replies.

How long does a diagnosis take? will it be straight forwards look at the blood test? or will they have to do more? I have absolutely no idea!!!

I am a childminder and looked after a little girl who was type 1 and so have experience with the testing and insulin etc buit no knowledge of diagnosis and symptoms.


do you know my biggest fear?........giving up chocolate 😱😡 I know thats really silly, but theres all sorts racing around my head.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Firstly have no fear you can still eat chocolate, that's what insulin is for 🙂
If you had the test yesterday then the result will be back at your GP today or tomorrow.

Unless there's a dispute regarding your type then that's it. If a dispute then more tests will be done (bloods) but treatment needs to be started asp regardless of type.

 

[Wirrallass]

Hello mummylouise and a warm welcome to our friendly & supportive forum - I'm sorry I cannot advise you if you are to be diagnosed as having Type 1 but I can see you have already been given very good advice above. There is a wealth of knowledge within this forum so if you have any more questions do feel free to ask. I truly hope your bloods prove to be non diabetic. Take care x
WL

Dx Type 2 April 2016
Diet control & exercise only

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.

 

[Copepod]

If finding time for a GP appointment is difficult, many pharmacies offer drop in finger prick tests for people who are concerned about diabetes symptoms and / or family history. Depending on the reading, you would need a GP appointment, but that might be easier to get with a result from chemist.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Hello Mummylouise and welcome 🙂 - hopefully for your sake temporarily!

Exhaustion, blurry vision, thirst, and feeling as if you're starving hungry in particular are all symptoms you might well get with type 1 diabetes, so it's definitely sensible to get blood tests to make sure. As Sue says, if the result does come back in the diabetic range, don't let the doctor assume that just because you're an adult it's type 2 - they do sometimes, and you don't sound as though you're likely to be type 2 at all. They would need to do more tests to be sure, but quite a few of us here have been diagnosed type 1 as an adult, it's not as rare as doctors seem to think.

You will not have to give up chocolate whatever happens - very dark chocolate in particular is very low in carbs so a good snack for diabetics! But if you are type 1 you can eat (more or less) what you want and just adjust your insulin to match your food.

Do let us know when you get your result, and - if it is in the diabetic range - if there are any questions you have then.

 

[mummylouise]

Thank you Juliet🙂

I have to wait till Monday as that's the soonest the dr could give me a blood test so I won't get results till probably next Wednesday

Meanwhile, I was awake last night bursting for a wee and incredibly thirsty, and when I got up this morning I felt light headed and sick with a headache until I ate my breakfast.

Again this afternoon walking to school made me starving and I had to get a sandwich from the shop as I felt so unwell suddenly - as soon as I've eaten I feel fine again.

Does all this sound like diabetes? My husband is just insisting that I'm tired and run down but my brain is whirring with the possibilities.

I'm supposed to be going to a friends BBQ party at the weekend and now I'm stressing over whether I should have a drink or not :-/

 

[Copepod]

Thank you Juliet🙂

I have to wait till Monday as that's the soonest the dr could give me a blood test so I won't get results till probably next Wednesday

Meanwhile, I was awake last night bursting for a wee and incredibly thirsty, and when I got up this morning I felt light headed and sick with a headache until I ate my breakfast.

Again this afternoon walking to school made me starving and I had to get a sandwich from the shop as I felt so unwell suddenly - as soon as I've eaten I feel fine again.

Does all this sound like diabetes? My husband is just insisting that I'm tired and run down but my brain is whirring with the possibilities.

I'm supposed to be going to a friends BBQ party at the weekend and now I'm stressing over whether I should have a drink or not :-/

Can you get to a chemist that offers blood glucose tests before Monday?
Probably safest to avoid alcohol or high sugar drinks at BBQ - diet soft drinks or a dash of fruit juice in still or fizzy water.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

Yes, it does sound as though it could be diabetes - being thirsty and bursting for a wee all the time are classic signs, and the hunger is definitely something I had before I was diagnosed, presumably because my body wasn't processing my food properly. You might want to try to eat something low in carbs when you feel hungry for now, if you can, just in case - I was craving carbs, even wanting to put sugar in tea (which I don't normally) and they can't have been doing me any good at all. Cheese or nuts are good snacks, meat/fish/eggs and leafy veg good meals. But if you are type 1 you will need insulin before the symptoms will go, even if you eat carefully.

On the other hand your husband could be right and it might not be diabetes at all - but the sooner you can get that blood test and find out, the better. And if you start to feel really ill, don't hang about - go and see a doctor or go to A&E.

 

[Ljc]

Hi Mummylouise. Welcome, hopefully it's only temporary membership.
Though your symptoms could be related to diabetes, some of your symptoms are classic signs.

This is going to be so hard for you to do ok but try not to worry too much if you've have joined our select club.
Lots of us on here have lived with the various types of diabetes for decades, and I do mean lived ! I was diagnosed with T2 in the mid 90s some people here have 50 years under their belt.

Fortunately diabetes is a condition that with the right info , support and a bit of work can be managed well. Though it seems scary at first.
We can help with the info and cyber support. This is also a good place to come when you need to get things off your chest.

TBH if I were you, until I hqd the results of the blood tests I wouldn't touch fruit juice or smoothies with a barge pole
And cut down on the starchy carbs things like potatoes, rice, pasta and white bread and sugar Fill up with veg instead. The starchy carbs turn into glucose very quickly and cutting down on these won't do you any harm if it turns out you haven't joined our happy band.

Ask us as many questions as you need to ok.

 

[mummylouise]

Thank you so much for all your replies.

I'm craving sugar big time (more than usual!) and I'm hungry non stop (if I didn't know better I'd say I was pregnant)

Do I need to be wary of changing my diet and interfering with the blood test or am I being optimistic that changing diet would make that much difference?

 

[New-journey]

Hello MummyLouise
Welcome here and hope you find out soon, waiting for the test whilst you feel so ill is very stressful.
I was 58 when I was diagnosed but the evening of the blood test I had a phone call our of hours from a worried doctor. So I knew on the actual day, there was a problem.
I was asked to go to the surgery in the morning for another blood test and I got up early, walked miles, ate no sugar or carbs to try and get my blood sugar down, it didn't work! I was still 19 which is high.
So changing your diet is more about making you feel better whilst you wait rather affecting the results.
I do hope you feel ok and remember if you feel worse do go straight to hospital.
Jo xx

 

[New-journey]

If finding time for a GP appointment is difficult, many pharmacies offer drop in finger prick tests for people who are concerned about diabetes symptoms and / or family history. Depending on the reading, you would need a GP appointment, but that might be easier to get with a result from chemist.

This could be a good idea, you can find out which pharmacy near you has this service and wouldn't have to wait all weekend.

 

[Ljc]

Thank you so much for all your replies.

I'm craving sugar big time (more than usual!) and I'm hungry non stop (if I didn't know better I'd say I was pregnant)

Do I need to be wary of changing my diet and interfering with the blood test or am I being optimistic that changing diet would make that much difference?

This time it's Probably the Hb1ac test, which give an average of your glucose levels over the past 12 or so weeks, so it won't interfere with the test.
At the mo Don't cut them Dowm drastically, If you are diabetic we don't want to lower your BG (blood glucose) too quickly, as it can cause unpleasant symptoms which are not at all harmful.

 

[TheClockworkDodo]

If it's just a finger prick test to see what your blood sugar is doing that moment, changing your diet might effect it - though as New-journey says, if you have type 1 it probably won't make any difference. But if you get a blood test, they're likely to do a HbA1c, as Lin says, which shows your blood sugar for the last 3 months, and changing your diet certainly won't make any difference to that.

I'm not suggesting big changes at the moment, until you know, just that you don't give in to the temptation to keep eating sugary or starchy stuff! And I'd agree with Lin, avoid fruit juice because that raises your blood sugar very quickly.