New here and need advice please

[babyblu64]

Hi
I am new and would really appreciate some advice please. I am wondering if I should tackle my GP about possible Diabetes.
I had gestational diabetes in all 3 of my pregnancies and there is a family history of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes in my family. Every blood test I have had in the last 5 years has shown me to be "borderline", (my GPs words) for diabetes. I always seem to be thirsty and drink lots of water and consequently seem to be rushing to empty my bladder constantly, this includes getting up between 1 and 4 times a night. I also get "hypo" episodes regularly.
Should my GP be taking this more seriously and offering me treatment/medication? I don't know what to do for the best. I already have a lot of other health problems and am registered disabled and I am having trouble coping with the mobility aspect of rushing to the loo all the time and constant tiredness because of getting up in the night and the hypos scare me. Please help.
Thank you in advance for any advice 🙂

 

[Northerner]

Hi babyblu64, welcome to the forum 🙂 You do certainly sound like you have the symptoms and your history of GD might suggest that you are at much higher risk of Type 2 diabetes. Do you know what readings your GP has based his/her 'borderline' assessment on?

It might be worth asking for an Oral Glucose Tolerance test, as this is another method by which you could be diagnosed. I would certainly press this with your GP, as there is a possibility that what was once borderline has progressed to diabetes. I would say that you are unlikely to be suffering hypos, as these are low blood sugar levels usually caused by medications such as insulin, but you may be suffering 'false' hypos where your levels drop lower than you are used to.

You should definitely book an appointment because the symptoms you are experiencing are having a very detrimental effect on your quality of life. It may be that you don't need any medication - you may be able to bring your levels under control by adaptations to your diet. I understand that increasing exercise may be difficult for you, but your doctor may be able to refer you to a physiotherapist who can suggest appropriate exercises.

Probably the best thing you can do, even if a diagnosis is not forthcoming, is to regard yourself as a person with diabetes and follow the diet that will have the least impact on your blood sugar levels. This would mean looking carefully at your carbohydrate intake and trying to lower it where possible - all carbs convert to glucose and raise blood glucose levels, prompting the symptoms you are experiencing if these levels go above a certain point.

Book that appointment, and let us know how things go! If you have any other questions, please ask and we will try our best to help 🙂

 

[Lizzzie]

Hi Babyblue. Welcome!

Northerner's said everything already: definitely if you are worried go back to your GP.

How long is it since your last 'borderline' result? Its possible things might have changed since then. also, drinking and weeing a lot can have other causes than diabetes, so even if they think you're not diabetic, they might want to do more tests.

The other question is, what has made you worry about it now, today? Is it getting worse? If so that's worth mentioning too.

It might help if you can take a urine sample with you, but make sure the container's clean! - they might want a fresh one in a pot anyway.

Good luck: let us know!

 

[Mark T]

Welcome to the forum babyblu64 🙂

You might need your Dr to possible send you off to see a consultant. Some of the rarer forms of diabetes (MODY!) can appear as a borderline case and if you are getting the symptoms they ought to really look into it a bit more that just "oh, your borderline".

 

[babyblu64]

Thank you

Thank you for your replies. 🙂
My last blood test was over 6 months ago. I think my levels were 5.9, but I do not know what they are supposed to be and if that is good or bad. The reason I have become more worried is that things have got worse, increasing thirst, etc.
I have never heard of MODY, so I will have to look it up.
I have to see my GP soon anyway as I have just been told by my OSA consultant that I have COPD. I will mention the worsening symptoms of thirst, dizzy spells etc.
In the meantime I will try adjusting my diet to see if that helps.
Thank you again for all the advice.🙂

 

[Caroline]

Hello and welcome to the forum. Be persistent with your doctor, sometimes you have to keep pestering them, or perhaps if you are in a group practice see another docotor. It's your health and you're worth it.

Normal range is between 4 & 7 although this can vary a little depending on your circumstances. My father was told that 8 was OK for him, but that came from the specialist.

I hope you are feeling better and get some answers soon.

 

[Mark T]

...My last blood test was over 6 months ago. I think my levels were 5.9...

As Caroline say's, if that's a "spot" Blood Glucose check then the normal range is between 4 and 7.

But if that is an HbA1c (which I would suspect it could be), then anything over 6% is usually considered diabetic. But a non-diabetic is actually going to be something more like 5% and the body in a non-diabetic tightly regulates levels.

 

[pippaandben]

Locally Boots the Chemist is doing diabetes screening - free. If this is a national initiative it might be quicker to go there. If your Dr is like mine got an appt for week Friday when I phoned yesterday cos I did not want to go to the walk in clinic a week before holiday and run the risk of catching something!