[lewsterr]

You hit the nail on the head with this thread, Deus. The questions coming from those 'thinking' they are diabetic are getting old. Maybe the moderator(s) can put this in a more prominent place on the web page so everyone, especially first-time visitors, can see it immediately. Maybe above the heading for Introductions? In a more eye-catching color? I can see that, leaving it where it is, it may be overlooked by many.

[princesslinda]

Great thread Deus...very nicely done. I haven't seen this thread before today. I think fear of diagnosis is a very powerful thing, and people are looking for reassurance that everything will be okay. We can give that reassurance, AFTER we know what they are dealing with, no before. If we reassure too well, someone might not seek the help they need.

Again, great job!

[jerryn]

If a person is in denial they should go buy a cheapo meter that come with strips and test! The A1C test got me out of denial, there's no denying that! Now I test 6 times/day

[Goldrun]

I get everyone's point on the folks who ask questions here before they are diagnosed...but a website like this one really saved my butt just before I was diagnosed.

My situation was that I was caretaker to my mom who was in the last stages of cancer...I took a leave of absence during her last two months. In that time period, I wasn't eating as much as I normally would...nor was I eating out in restaurants. As a result, I lost weight. NOt a big concern at the time.

After I lost my mom, I picked up my exercise regimen again, and threw myself into work. Continued to lose weight, but figured that was due to stress. I traveled to Europe and while there finally began to put the pieces together....lost 25 pounds, but was eating two desserts a day (insatiable hunger)...and 'finally' realized that my thirst was just a wee bit abnormal (2 liters of water in a night along with about 4 during the day suddenly struck me as odd)....

I logged onto a website and exchanged some great notes with some folks that helped me limp back to the States, where I was diagnosed with an a1c of >13. (I'm guessing the only thing that kept me from keeling over was the fact that I was exercising every day). Honestly, I was scared, alone and had no idea what to eat or how to go about checking my blood sugar myself (the things we are so accustomed to, the average non-diabetic has NOOOOOO clue about)...having someone respond to my post telling me to reduce my carbohydrate intake and drink lots more water to avoid dehydration was pretty darn comforting.

While the list of symptoms is a great thing to have as a sticky, you can't underestimate the impact of hearing someone who has been there...and come out the other side. It surely helped me out!

I agree that not everyone who asks is actually diagnosed...and that it can get tiresome, but as a community this one has been pretty nurturing! (so I suppose this can be taken as a lame thanks to everyone whose ever replied to any of my learning curve questions!)

[ZhaoZiJi]

I'm glad i saw this thread first thing after joining here.
I have all the symtoms except for weightloss At least i haven't noticed any weightloss... Started feeling something was wrong 2 days ago. Came like lightning from clear sky. Started to feel extremely thirsty- had 2 liters of water in about 1 hour and went to toilet every 15 minutes or so. Probably had close to 5 liters of water in total in one afternoon and evening and went to toilet maybe 20 times Yesterday was about the same... My vision is slightly blurry, my whole body feels worn out, have a headache almost all the time. Not long after lunch yesterday i felt hungry again. and 1h after dinner i was so hungry again i had to have a sandwich, and then i went to sleep. woke up before 6am this morning, went to toilet, had some water, and couldn't go back to sleep again until i have had breakfast and now i feel a bit nauseaus. I know i know, i should go see a doctor, and i'm going to. But i have one question... If it is diabetes, can it the symtoms really come so fast

[Harold]

Not usually. However it was 2 days ago you started noticing. There were probably signs before then you attributed to something else. Then many times we compensate automatically with out thinking. Like frequent urination we may drink less water. Eventually we get dehydrated and then the abnormal thirst, sometimes attributed to heat, followed by even more urination when we drink more. Eyesight degradation is a gradual thing and our eyes compensate until they no longer can, then we notice. Then there is the fact that this disease affects everyone in different ways, combinations, and rates. So yes, it is feasible to notice the extreme symptoms over a short time frame. The symptoms are also shared with other diseases which makes it imperative to see a doctor to get definative test done.

[ZhaoZiJi]

Originally Posted by Harold

Not usually. However it was 2 days ago you started noticing. There were probably signs before then you attributed to something else. Then many times we compensate automatically with out thinking. Like frequent urination we may drink less water. Eventually we get dehydrated and then the abnormal thirst, sometimes attributed to heat, followed by even more urination when we drink more. Eyesight degradation is a gradual thing and our eyes compensate until they no longer can, then we notice. Then there is the fact that this disease affects everyone in different ways, combinations, and rates. So yes, it is feasible to notice the extreme symptoms over a short time frame. The symptoms are also shared with other diseases which makes it imperative to see a doctor to get definative test done.

Now when thinking about it, i have probably been drinking a bit more than usual for a while But we have been going through a heatwave so maybe that's why i haven't noticed Going to give in and swallow my pride tomorrow and endure all stares in the pharmacy. Going to buy a bloodglucose meter... Then i'll at least be able to tell the doctor that i'm high as a kite if i'm high as a kite and it might also make it easier to get an appointment or i'll just to the ER... Decided it's time to take action now... Today i have been hungry almost all the time since lunch- had snacks twice and now i'm very hungry again, had 4 liters of water since lunch, and my face feels a bit hot and looks red when i look in the mirror i'm sick of drinking water all the time and go to toilet several times every hour Part of me even hope i'll be diagnosed... Then i'd know why i feel like this, and will be able to do something about it. I'm not afraid of Diabetes, and won't let it stop me from doing what i want so... Right now i just want answers But i don't feel like going to the ER 20km away today But tomorrow... point of no return

[ade234uk]

On a scale of 1-10 I am probably a 3.
This site sent me to the doctors and on Tuesday I have a blood test.

In the mornings I am around 6 - 6.5 which is a little high for a non diabetic.

My grandfather and father both had diabetes and my father died from it because he did not look after himself.

I had all the signs of Diabetes, one of them is constant Thrush that never shifts.

I can understand some people come on here, and think they have Diabetes because they are getting thirsty etc... and it must drive some of you people mad.

[verseaurainbows]

Thanx for this thread


So sorry i just posted in another without seeing this first. Im not diagnosed and had questions because my symptoms are many

But im off to the doctor every few weeks. My problem is they wont listen. But im persistent. Hopefully ill know by tonight and be back to you with news

Thanx again

[jiga20001]

Originally Posted by cheryl

oh the anger of some people, wow, I never get annoyed if people are asking advice that are not quote on quote diabetic yet. Might not know there situation, no insurance or as broke as I can be and are singling out some fear so they don't have to spend there food money.......darn i guess I know what it is like to be in denial or so broke I can't make ends meet. wow, wow wow,

cheryl

Thats my situation.
I have had all of the above symptoms for a very long time now (years). And really did not think a whole lot of it. But now that they are getting worse I have concern. Well the fact that I do not have insurance and cash is low at the moment prevents me from going to the doctor no matter how bad I want or need to go.
So that being said.
When I buy my meter, Are there directions that come with it as far as telling you what is high or low?
If not a link to a web page with that type of info would be great.
Also what would be a cheap but usable meter to use?
Thanks in advance.
JIGA

[patricia52]

Also maybe the person is just not getting a straight answer from their Dr. My fasting bg was117. The Dr. placed the lab results in the folder and never called me. I had had a high fasting bg at a health screening a few weeks before requesting the bg test and finally called the Dr. office and asked what the results were. When the nurse told me I ask, do you not think 117 is a little high? No, was her reply. anything under 126 is not diabetic. Duh. It is pre-diabetic and I needed help. I did not need a diagnosis just advice on how to find the help I needed and a little assurance that I was not being unreasonable.

Most of the time when people come to this web site they have figured out the answer and just want assurance that they are not crazy. They don't need someone insulting them. They need encouragement to go seek the medical attention they feel they need. It does not hurt me to show a little compassion.

[DeusXM]

Most of the time when people come to this web site they have figured out the answer and just want assurance that they are not crazy. They don't need someone insulting them. They need encouragement to go seek the medical attention they feel they need.

Precisely, which is why the advice is 'if you're not sure, see a doctor'.

We can help people who think they have a problem. We can help people who know they have a problem. What we can't do is look at a list of symptoms someone lists in a post and then confirm whether or not they have diabetes. That's the whole point of this thread - it's telling people to seek assurance from a source that can give them a guaranteed answer.

This protects us all from the worst case scenarios of telling someone with diabetes that they don't have the condition and don't need treatment, and telling someone without diabetes that they do have the condition.

[Tropo]

Originally Posted by tmef

Oh I'm so glad someone else has the chronic chest infection thing going on. I've had it all last year and no antibiotic on the planet has helped. Going to the doc again next week. What have you done when you have it?

Most of these infections are viral and antibiotics can make you weaker. You'd probably be better off without them.

[Tropo]

Originally Posted by DeusXM

Precisely, which is why the advice is 'if you're not sure, see a doctor'.

You've definitely got a lot of faith in doctors. Good for you.

I don't share your faith. The important thing is to hunt for the right doctor and that's a job in itself (difficult where I live). I think "see a specialist" is a better idea.

2 years ago when my doctor ordered some liver tests he threw in a BG test. My FBG was in the mid-200's. After I went over the results at home, I had to go back to the doctor to ask him what was up with the high BG. He didn't even mention it when I was in his clinic, and most would consider FBG in the 200's as fairly significant.

When someone tells me "see a doctor", it reminds me of the waivers you sign when you join a gym...see your doctor first before you partake in an exercise program.

[DeusXM]

You've definitely got a lot of faith in doctors. Good for you.

I don't share your faith. The important thing is to hunt for the right doctor and that's a job in itself (difficult where I live). I think "see a specialist" is a better idea.

Hardly 'a lot' of faith.

I just think that a doctor who is able to actually see you, test your blood sugar, administer A1Cs and c-peptide tests is probably in a far better position to give you an accurate diagnosis than someone who's read a couple of sentences you've written on an internet message board.