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  • Think you might have diabetes?

    by
    DeusXM
    Published on 08-10-2010 12:07 PM
    8 Comments Comments
    Do you think you might have diabetes?

    First, see if you suffer from some of the following symptoms:

    *Raging thirst
    *Frequent need to urinate
    *Rapid weight loss
    *Blurry vision
    *Fatigue

    One of these on their own doesn't really mean anything. Several all at the same time might.

    I have all the symptoms! Does that mean I have diabetes?

    No-one here on this forum can answer this question for you. As a group we might know a thing or two about diabetes but there is only ONE group of people on the whole planet that can tell you whether you have diabetes or not - doctors.

    If you think you have diabetes, don't umm and ahh about it. Don't bother getting some blood or urine testing kit from a pharmacy - at the most they'll point you in the right direction but they're by no means definitive. Don't kid yourself that you don't like doctors or hospitals. No-one does. But they're here to help.

    IF YOU THINK YOU HAVE DIABETES BUT AREN'T SURE, GO AND SEE A DOCTOR.

    Then we'll be able to help you with all the rest.
    Terrilmk, emilyboo and maureen725 like this.
    This article was originally published in forum thread: Think you might have diabetes? started by DeusXM View original post
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    Comments 8 Comments
    1. Zolar's Avatar
      I would like to point out that you can determine if you have diabetes easily, and without seeing a doctor. Go to walmart and buy a Bayer A1C checker. It comes with 2 tests. Do one test. If the A1C is above 7.0 then you ARE diabetic. Test again in 3 months. If it is still above 6.5 (AACE standards) then are ARE diabetic. The higher the number the more likely you will have to see a doctor. I knew I had diabetes weeks before seeing a doctor. I went to a friend's house and got my finger pricked and tested on his tester (not an A1C tester, just a One Touch device). My BS was in the 160's several hours after eating. So I went and got it confirmed. An OGTT came back at 294 and my A1C was 6.8. Rule of thumb: if at any time your A1C is above 5.7 or a spot check is above 125, assume you ARE diabetic and get it confirmed. Also, in most places you can buy regular insulin over the counter without a prescription, syringes too. Depends on where you live as to the rules. eyeletsofhope dot com has a list. Test strips are cheap at wal mart.
      Reply
    1. TeddySue's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by Zolar View Post
      Test strips are cheap at wal mart.
      In order to do justice with my diabetes, I'm going to have to resort to a cheap (hopefully) meter and test strips from WM. Thanks for reminding me. Two insurances and I can only get a 30 day supply of 3 per day. UGH!
      TS
      Reply
    1. Need A Nap's Avatar
      If you are looking at symptoms for a child, I would make an immediate appointment with the pediatrician. Type 1 diabetes can be very serious very quickly.For an adult, I would follow some of the recommendations above - buy a blood sugar (glucose) meter (also called a glucometer) and the test strips that go with it to begin checking your blood sugar. If you're not sure how to do it properly then make an appointment with your doctor to test where you're at now and that way you can test at home from time-to-time to see how you're doing if you don't have increased levels now.I messed up the first A1c Bayer test I took so it is more complicated than it seems. (Yes, my husband and I both watched the video and I still had an issue.)
      Reply
    1. elkabong's Avatar
      If you think you have diabetes, BEWARE of insurance problems. You will be hard pressed to get Health Insurance if your doctor diagnoses you with diabetes. You might be better off visiting Mexico to get a diagnosis and prescription, then return tot he US and manage it. Buy insurance and DON'T tell any Doctor for a year. It sucks, but in life we have to prepare. I know this sucks but being a self employed diabetic, its practically impossible for me to get coverage.
      Reply
    1. Diana_CT's Avatar
      I had... *Raging thirst *Frequent need to urinate *Rapid weight loss *Fatigue But I didn't know the symptoms and now I'm paying the price.
      Reply
    1. jacval60's Avatar
      Know this I had diabetes when I was young and pregnant, only during one pregnancy though. My last son I did not have diabetes, but he weighted 9pounds and all my children were allergic to milk and had to use soy protein formulas. So when my last son was born the hospital insisted on putting him on a milk based formula so when he got sick because of the formula He had to go to hospital. The Doctor in emergency took one look at him and asked me how many children I had that weighted 9 pounds or over I told him 5 he told me you are going to become a diabetic when you get older and sure enough I did get diabetes. So if you had children who weighted 9 LBs or over that is a sure sign you will be diabetic when you are older. Now the problem is I have been a few months without medication it was crazy cause after I took Janumet for a month I seen a commercial on TV that a lawyer was sueing because it had caused pancreas cancer on people who took it. Now I went back to the doctor after a few months cause they kept getting my appointment dates wrong. Now I finally told the doctor about the medication and now they gave me another one that there is a lawsuit against. How come the doctors do not keep up with medications that are not good for people? I have heard that Doctors get paid vacations, cars, etc for prescribing certain medications. What happened to the oath doctors took do no harm?
      Reply
    1. jacval60's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by Zolar View Post
      I would like to point out that you can determine if you have diabetes easily, and without seeing a doctor. Go to walmart and buy a Bayer A1C checker. It comes with 2 tests. Do one test. If the A1C is above 7.0 then you ARE diabetic. Test again in 3 months. If it is still above 6.5 (AACE standards) then are ARE diabetic. The higher the number the more likely you will have to see a doctor. I knew I had diabetes weeks before seeing a doctor. I went to a friend's house and got my finger pricked and tested on his tester (not an A1C tester, just a One Touch device). My BS was in the 160's several hours after eating. So I went and got it confirmed. An OGTT came back at 294 and my A1C was 6.8. Rule of thumb: if at any time your A1C is above 5.7 or a spot check is above 125, assume you ARE diabetic and get it confirmed. Also, in most places you can buy regular insulin over the counter without a prescription, syringes too. Depends on where you live as to the rules. eyeletsofhope dot com has a list. Test strips are cheap at wal mart.
      I was told by the doctors that if it is above 80 on the meter than that is high, does that meter read it differently or did the doctor lie to me?
      Reply
    1. Moose408's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by jacval60 View Post
      I was told by the doctors that if it is above 80 on the meter than that is high, does that meter read it differently or did the doctor lie to me?
      A person who does NOT have diabetes will have a BC reading of <85 when fasting and/or 2 hrs after a meal. So 80 is not high.
      Reply