 |  |
 |  |  | |||||||
|
--- possible diabetic? (a little long)
Jean, You have a number of obvious red flags like thirst, frequent urination, symptoms of metabolic syndrome (blood pressure), age and weight factors, and a possible genetic link, but then again, you may not have diabetes. Tell your doctor about your concerns and get tested ASAP. You didn't mention how you were feeling otherwise. By the way, when I was having symptoms like yours (long before I was diagnosed) I regret not buying a blood glucose meter and learning more about how my body responded to various foods like carbs. Many diabetics will have the disease and suffer high blood sugar levels many years before they are diagnosed. I believe I was running high post meal blood sugar readings that didn't show up on blood glucose screening tests taken in my doctor's office, typically in the a.m. before breakfast. So, call your doctor and see if you can get an earlier appointment. "Jean S. Barto" news:hrn4e.54511$Az.15008@lakeread02... > Hi folks-- > > I'm new to these newsgroups, and I'm here because I'm having symptoms that > could be diabetes related--excessive thirst and urination, especially at > night. For example, last night I woke up twice and needed to drink a medium > (1 cup or a bit more) of water to relieve my thirst--and usually I wake up > once or twice in the middle of the night to urinate. When I woke up for > good this morning, I was slightly less thirsty, but still had to urinate. I > should add that I also take the Ditropan generic for overactive bladder, and > that medication can also have the side effect of dry mouth. However, the > thirst/dehydration feeling I had last nite was acute, and much more severe > than I ever had before > > I'm female, in my late 40's and depending on the weight chart, am 10 to 20 > lbs overweight (I weigh high 140's now). Ideally, I would *like* to weigh 25 > or more lbs less than that, 125 lbs at the most. In my younger years, until > my mid-30's, I weighed between 105 to 110, and started gaining more weight > around age 33. BP is borderline, 144 to 150/90, and has been that way for > the last 4 years or so. No BP meds yet. Neither of my parents had > diabetes, but it's possible my paternal grandfather had it--he died before I > was born, and supposedly was diabetic, but I don't know what type he had. > > My diet is pretty good, probably a little too much carbohydrate, but > otherwise I eat very little junk food--only 1 candy bar a week, during my > nite class. Very little (pinch) of sugar in my coffee (3 mugs/day). I > should eat more fruits and vegetables, and have been doing so, but I'm far > from the recommended amounts now. Very little red meat, mostly poultry. > > I also run/walk averaging 15 miles/week, but last week ran 29 miles in > preparation for a 10K race this weekend. My mileage this week will be > closer to 15 miles, including the 10K race on Saturday. I drink water > before and after my runs, and sometimes also drink one 12 oz can of V8 juice > (good source of salt and potassium) after my run, especially when it's warm > outside. > > I'm having some *routine* blood work this week at the VA--already scheduled > in anticipation of an already scheduled appointment the end of April (BP > related)--but what other tests should I ask for/have ordered, especially if > the screening glucose test comes up abnormal? I plan to address the > thirst/urination symptoms at this late April appointment, unless you all > here think I should *sound the alarm* sooner. > > Thanks for reading this, and I hope someone here on the newsgroups can > advise me! > > Jean in VA > >
On Mon, 4 Apr 2005 23:16:18 -0400, "Jean S. Barto" wrote: |I'm having some *routine* blood work this week at the VA--already scheduled |in anticipation of an already scheduled appointment the end of April (BP |related)--but what other tests should I ask for/have ordered, especially if |the screening glucose test comes up abnormal? Hi Jean You may, or may not, be one of us. It's good that you're seeing the doc. I'm sure all of these tests would be automatically included, but ask just in case: HbA1c. Fasting blood glucose. Cholesterol, including seperate details for HDL, triglycerides and LDL. Blood Pressure. Advise the doctors of all your concerns. They may also add extra tests for your kidney, liver, heart etc - but at least those above. If it does turn out that you are joining us, make sure that you check whether you need a prescription to get a blood glucose test meter (a necessity when it comes to control if you are diagnosed as a diabetic). Let us know how you go. Good luck, Cheers Alan, T2, Australia. -- I have no medical qualifications beyond my own experience. Choose your advisers carefully, because experience can be an expensive teacher. Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
Jean S. Barto wrote in message ... >Hi folks-- > >I'm new to these newsgroups, and I'm here because I'm having symptoms that >could be diabetes related--excessive thirst and urination, especially at >night. For example, last night I woke up twice and needed to drink a medium >(1 cup or a bit more) of water to relieve my thirst--and usually I wake up >once or twice in the middle of the night to urinate. When I woke up for >good this morning, I was slightly less thirsty, but still had to urinate. I >should add that I also take the Ditropan generic for overactive bladder, and >that medication can also have the side effect of dry mouth. However, the >thirst/dehydration feeling I had last nite was acute, and much more severe >than I ever had before > >I'm female, in my late 40's and depending on the weight chart, am 10 to 20 >lbs overweight (I weigh high 140's now). Ideally, I would *like* to weigh 25 >or more lbs less than that, 125 lbs at the most. In my younger years, until >my mid-30's, I weighed between 105 to 110, and started gaining more weight >around age 33. BP is borderline, 144 to 150/90, and has been that way for >the last 4 years or so. No BP meds yet. Neither of my parents had >diabetes, but it's possible my paternal grandfather had it--he died before I >was born, and supposedly was diabetic, but I don't know what type he had. > >My diet is pretty good, probably a little too much carbohydrate, but >otherwise I eat very little junk food--only 1 candy bar a week, during my >nite class. Very little (pinch) of sugar in my coffee (3 mugs/day). I >should eat more fruits and vegetables, and have been doing so, but I'm far >from the recommended amounts now. Very little red meat, mostly poultry. > > I also run/walk averaging 15 miles/week, but last week ran 29 miles in >preparation for a 10K race this weekend. My mileage this week will be >closer to 15 miles, including the 10K race on Saturday. I drink water >before and after my runs, and sometimes also drink one 12 oz can of V8 juice >(good source of salt and potassium) after my run, especially when it's warm >outside. > >I'm having some *routine* blood work this week at the VA--already scheduled >in anticipation of an already scheduled appointment the end of April (BP >related)--but what other tests should I ask for/have ordered, especially if >the screening glucose test comes up abnormal? I plan to address the >thirst/urination symptoms at this late April appointment, unless you all >here think I should *sound the alarm* sooner. > >Thanks for reading this, and I hope someone here on the newsgroups can >advise me! > >Jean in VA > > I self-diagnosed by buying some cheap glucose-in-urine test strips. Normal folks just don't have glucose in their urine. Any positive result means that you're probably in a Progression towards diabetes. You could spend a bit more and buy a home blood glucose monitor. The Wal-Mart house brand (Relion) is the cheapest around but is reliable and accurate. Non-diabetics tend to be around 100 or lower when they test fasting blood sugar (immediately upon awakening in the morning) or their sugar at 2-hours-after-eating. A triglycerides to HDL ratio of 3.0 (if measured in the U.S. in mg/dL, 1.3 if measured in mmol/L in other countries) is indicative of diabetes-on-the-way. A value that high is also a sign of danger to your arteries. Good that you're concerned. A potful of folks have been ambushed by this disease and really regret having it sneak up on them and cause some serious, life-shortening damage to their bodies. Regards Old Al
On Mon, 4 Apr 2005 23:16:18 -0400, "Jean S. Barto" wrote: >Hi folks-- > >I'm new to these newsgroups, and I'm here because I'm having symptoms that >could be diabetes related--excessive thirst and urination, especially at >night. For example, last night I woke up twice and needed to drink a medium >(1 cup or a bit more) of water to relieve my thirst--and usually I wake up >once or twice in the middle of the night to urinate. When I woke up for >good this morning, I was slightly less thirsty, but still had to urinate. I >should add that I also take the Ditropan generic for overactive bladder, and >that medication can also have the side effect of dry mouth. However, the >thirst/dehydration feeling I had last nite was acute, and much more severe >than I ever had before > >I'm female, in my late 40's and depending on the weight chart, am 10 to 20 >lbs overweight (I weigh high 140's now). Ideally, I would *like* to weigh 25 >or more lbs less than that, 125 lbs at the most. In my younger years, until >my mid-30's, I weighed between 105 to 110, and started gaining more weight >around age 33. BP is borderline, 144 to 150/90, and has been that way for I don't know what criteria you used in determining that 150/90 is borderline. It is not borderline, it is too high. I'm curious why your previous doctor's haven't put on Linospril or a BP med? If you don't have a home BP meter, get one. Walmart has them for about $50. Quite accurate and quite reliable. To record the BP, see Sig. _____________________________________________ http://wave.prohosting.com/ugleeeee/index.html Free Diabetic Software
The probable reason her doctor hasn't put her on meds is that at this stage they aren't necessary. The range of 144-150/90 is considered border-line and the first treatment option is diet/exercise for the first six months. That being said, I would want to look closer at your diet, stress levels, and a couple of other items such as OTC meds. If you are a runner I would expect your BP to be lower so I would want to look at your HDL/LDL and Triglys to see if there might be a contributing factor. Your age, weight, exercise and diet seem to be ok. Polyuria (frequent urination) can be caused by the result of polydipsia (frequent thirst). Polydipsia can be caused by many things especially in runners, i.e. inadaquate rehydration, thyroid problems, etc. Dry mouth AND dyspepsia (thirst dysfunction (usually Polydipsia)) are side effects of your medication. Thus it is possible that your meds are causing the problem. A complete blood work-up including a HA1c would be indicated. A GTT (glucose tolerance test is probably not indicated at this time. Hope this helps Dr. Mike doc@drchaplin.com 4/5/2005 7:01:46 AM Hi_Therre > On Mon, 4 Apr 2005 23:16:18 -0400, "Jean S. Barto" net> > wrote: > > >Hi folks-- > > > >I'm new to these newsgroups, and I'm here because I'm having symptoms that > >could be diabetes related--excessive thirst and urination, especially at > >night. For example, last night I woke up twice and needed to drink a medium > >(1 cup or a bit more) of water to relieve my thirst--and usually I wake up > >once or twice in the middle of the night to urinate. When I woke up for > >good this morning, I was slightly less thirsty, but still had to urinate. I > >should add that I also take the Ditropan generic for overactive bladder, and > >that medication can also have the side effect of dry mouth. However, the > >thirst/dehydration feeling I had last nite was acute, and much more severe > >than I ever had before > > > >I'm female, in my late 40's and depending on the weight chart, am 10 to 20 > >lbs overweight (I weigh high 140's now). Ideally, I would *like* to weigh 25 > >or more lbs less than that, 125 lbs at the most. In my younger years, until > >my mid-30's, I weighed between 105 to 110, and started gaining more weight > >around age 33. BP is borderline, 144 to 150/90, and has been that way for > > I don't know what criteria you used in determining that 150/90 is > borderline. It is not borderline, it is too high. I'm curious why > your previous doctor's haven't put on Linospril or a BP med? If you > don't have a home BP meter, get one. Walmart has them for about $50. > Quite accurate and quite reliable. To record the BP, see Sig. > > _____________________________________________ > http://wave.prohosting.com/ugleeeee/index.html > Free Diabetic Software Related Discussion: Diabetes on the web.. (1 posts) Prescription medicine 10 to 70% discount (2 posts) testing (1 posts) Back Surgery (1 posts) Top Discussions From Our Archives Glutton goes on a diet and is cured of sleep apnea . Will Kate Horton go on a diet? Study Links Heart Risk Factors to Diabetes Arthritis free for life book, snake oil or real deal? Other Discussion Categories Diabetes Symptoms Health Care Policy Health Care Providers HMO Arthritis Symptoms
|
| ||||||||
 |  |
