[PurgedReality]

After having all the telltale symptoms I borrowed a friends glucose meter and tested myself over the past few days with the number being an average 370... my brother and girlfriend test too and they average 70-100 something first thing in the morning. I made an appointment with the doctor but it's not until Feb 17th... I was thinking about getting a mail order a1c test and taking it with me, would that be helpful?

I think I can wait until my appointment, the constant urination is annoying but the main thing is my Tongue.... it's extremely sensitive to salt and anything spicy... it's also staying painfully dry regardless of how much water and crystal light I drink. (A lot!) It's like my tongue is chapped and even moving it around feels discomfort.

I tried biotine gum and it helps for about 30 seconds, and for the next three minutes I look like a rabid dog with the foaming white.

Does anyone have any coping methods for my poor tongue?

Also, any idea about approx costs for a "diabetes testing appointment" and if it's at all possible to manage this disease without doctors intervention?

Thanks so much... I've still got quite a few pages in my diabetes for dummies book.

-Lee

[princesslinda]

Hi Lee, welcome!

With an average of over 300, I don't think you should wait a month to be seen by your doctor. Did you tell them when you made the appointment that your #s were in the 300 range? If you didn't, call them back and tell them you need to be seen ASAP, that you feel bad, you're urinating and are constantly thirsty, and your blood sugars are over 300. If they won't see you sooner, find another doctor who will.

When I was diagnosed, I had an A1C of 9.6....which is an average blood sugar of 264...and I felt like C RAP!!! You won't believe how much better you will feel when your numbers normalize.

IMHO, I don't see any point in doing a mail order A1C, they can draw on in-office and have results in just a short while.

I don't know what to tell you about your tongue...I have read that sometimes a vitamin deficiency can cause it to feel all "prickly."

As for managing your diabetes without medical intervention, It is possible for some to manage without medication, using diet and exercise only, but the main thing is to get those numbers normalized, WHATEVER it takes, as having numbers that high for very long can cause complications.

As for cost, I don't really know how much it costs...generally you're looking at a complete physical and blood tests. If insurance is a problem, perhaps you could check with a local health department in your area.

Look around, ask lots of questions and learn all you can about diabetes....and get in to see a doctor soon!

[JediSkipdogg]

I can't add much more than Linda added but I will second the making a sooner appointment. You will feel alot better, drink less, urinate less, and your tongue won't feel odd. And those changes may happen within 72 hours of the doc and starting some treatment if you are diabetic (which it sounds like you are.)

[Alice]

Have you seen your regular doctor yet? If you can't see a doctor until February, I'd go to the ER...(contrary to what I just posted on another thread...)...because they can get you into an endo faster...normally.

Geez, it's very difficult for many of our forum members to get to their doctors...we definitely need more endo's in this country!

Also, keep in mind that a single glucose test won't determine whether you are producing insulin or not...it just sounds like you don't feel well.

If you do the mail order kit, make sure you put the results in a "priority" envelope at the post office. Not just send in the little plastic envelope they provide. I had to wait almost 3 weeks for one company to receive...once they received it, they mailed response back asap.

It was the first time I had ever done a mail-order test...I normally get them at the endo but had just moved into a new state and wanted to stay "on schedule" until I could see a new endo. (Yes, I'm waiting too...but I'm pretty much on auto-pilot at this point)

I'm almost wondering if we need to start a referral service between members...and the different parts of cities they live...maybe we can help each other get into see docs faster.

[JediSurfer]

GET YOURSELF TO A DOCTOR AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!

peace

Rich

[Scratch]

Unless you're fingers are sticky with some sugar, based upon what you say about the thirst and those numbers, you should see a doctor now.

Now as in like yesterday kind of now. Seriously, you should not try to hold out another month. You need to be seen now.

[Jan B]

What scares me is the apparently awful health care in some places.

Unless it's impossible, see a doctor right away. If you don't, someone else might be taking you to the ER.

[Alice]

Lee - to answer your question about managing without a doctor...you really can't manage this disease without getting correctly diagnosed in the beginning. Are you Type 1 or Type 2? It will take a little time and testing to figure that out.

Only 1 in 16 diabetics are Type 1...so many get lumped into the Type 2 category accidently at diagnosis...especially if older than teens. So, be aware of this when asking the doctor questions.

Once you get a little knowledge under your belt, you will be self-managing 95% of the time. You must still work with a doctor to fine-tune your meds to stay on top of this game.

Some people have a closer relationship to a CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator) than the actual doctor. I personally would rather deal directly with the doctor for most of my questions. The CDE's are great for training when you are first diagnosed or for extended training on pumps, etc.

But, yes...you need to stick with a doctor.

[PurgedReality]

Thank you all for your time and valuable information, I didn't realize this was so urgent... In the last 48 hours I've drastically reduced my sugar intake and I've gone from feeling like I had one foot in the grave to feeling like I could run a marathon... It's just my tongue that's killing me, feels like I have a few paper cuts on it... I am going to go get some of those vitamins for diabetics and see if it helps.

I called the doc back and they said to wait by my phone because they're going to try an get me in when there is a cancellation. Otherwise they bumped my appointment up to next tuesday..

I'm wondering if the emergency room would be better if they can give me something to regulate my blood sugar?... I'm kind of paycheck to paycheck so I'll have to rework some stuff.

Thank you all again for everything! You guys really make a newbie feel welcome.

[princesslinda]

PR, glad you called your doc again. Hopefully they'll get you an appt in the next day or so. If your numbers continue to stay in the 300's, or you start feeling worse, I wouldn't wait a week to see the doctor, but would go to the ER.

Its good that you've reduced your sugar, but its also important to minimize your carbs at this point as well. Breads, pasta, potatoes, rice...all these can cause your blood sugar to elevated. Eat lots of fresh green veggies and salads and lean proteins. Drink LOTS of water as well (though this is probably easy for you as your blood sugar is so high).

[Alice]

I really wouldn't waste your money on the "diabetic vitamins"...especially if money is tight. They will do nothing for your glucose levels. Sorry...they are on my "diabetic marketing rip-off" list...

[xMenace]

Ya, what they all said. See a Dr. NOW. If not, cut your carbs back by 90% and drink only water. Lose the salt too (for your heart).

Hang in there, and do stick around.

[ladytaz]

Hi Lee, welcome to DF!

No, this disease really can't be dealt with, without the doctors, mostly due to the lab tests and prescriptions that are needed. But there are ways to cut some of the costs. Specifically the prescriptions, if you are indeed put on any.

I don't have insurance, and have learned how and where to find some of the best deals out there. There are some mail order places, as well as places like Walmart, Kmart and Target that have many $4 prescriptions. If insulin becomes an issue, there is one brand [ReliOn/Novolin] you can get at Walmart/Sam's for $21.95 a vial. [these are what I use]. Yes, it's still an expense, but it does help minimize the cost. Unfortunately your highest expense will be your test strips. There isn't any place that I know of that helps out with those. Your best bet for that is probably eBay. Though, many have used the Walgreens and Walmart branded glucose meters and say that they are quite accurate, and their test strips are much cheaper than the "name brand" meters.

For now, get yourself seen by the doc, then make sure you come back here and let us know what he/she says, and we'll help you along your new journey! Don't forget to let the doc know of your financial status/lack of insurance. I have a wonderful doc who does all he can to keep my expenses to a minimum! Some docs even have stockpiles of samples to help you out!! Ask!

[mho357]

Hello PR and welcome to the forum. I see that you have received some very good advice already - get to the doctor.

Mark

[mortis505]

Wow PR, your symptoms sound just like mine before diagnosis. I dan't want to sound alarmist here, but if you still see those high numbers over the next day or so, don't wait, get to the E.R. Once I was diagnosed and under going proper care, my tongue went back to normal in about 12-18 hours. Dehydration was the problem, and with sugars that high, its no wonder.