Newly Diagnosed - Feeling sick all the time.

[angelsbridges]

Hey all,

I was just diagnosed as pre-diabetic a couple weeks ago. All the research I've done says that pre-diabetes doesn't have symptoms, but I've been having the symptoms associated with Type II. Constant thirst, frequent urination (usually every hour), hunger, extreme fatigue for no reason, and I feel sick ALL of the time. I just feel like ****.

I've cut majority of carbs and sugars from my diet. I've felt generally sick for a long time though, and I've been having those symptoms for over a year.

I guess I'm confused. Here are the main reasons: I'm 5'3" and 108lbs. I'm in shape (no, I can't run marathons, but I'm not out of shape). Type II runs on both sides of my family (through both grandparents on both sides). I'm confused as to why I have this diagnosis, and why I have symptoms if it's just pre diabetes.

Any thoughts?

[art]

find somebody with a Blood Glucose test meter.
Then you'll know.
That or head for the Doc.
The fact you're in shape means nothing.

We have marathon runners here.

Art

[angelsbridges]

The only thing my doctor told me was to cut sugars and carbs and to exercise. All the websites I've found say to lose weight and get in shape. I really don't know anything about this, other than it's genetic or weight related or both.

I see a nutritionist today. I guess I'm not sure who to talk to, since my primary doctor seems to have no information for me other than to change my diet and see a nutritionist.

Where would I be able to get a blood glucose test meter?

[princesslinda]

Welcome Angel! For a free meter, go to the OneTouch website and there's a form you can fill out requesting one. Or you could buy a generic one at your local Walmart or pharmacy--the strips are cheaper for this one.

Did you have an oral glucose tolerance test diagnosing you as pre-D? How were you diagnosed?

[angelsbridges]

I had a 12 hour fasting glucose test. The doctor didn't do anything more than that. I almost wouldn't believe that I'm pre, but for the fact I've had all the symptoms of Type II. So now I'm just left very confused. I also have high cholesterol.

[jillrapp]

Hey angel,

Please ask your doctor to give you a slip for your lab for an HbA1c. This tests your average blood sugar over the last 90 or so days. This is a big 'tell' if you're pre-diabetic or diabetic. You may also ask for a c-peptide test depending on the results to see if you are actually type 1 or type 2. They cannot tell just by looking at you! :) Good Luck!

[angelsbridges]

Aren't you born with Type I? I suppose I don't really know the difference. I haven't had a problem with my glucose up until recently. I assumed that it was possible Type II diabetes since it runs in my family. I will have to ask for the blood tests,thank you so much for your help. I've been really confused and had no one to help me.

[ShottleBop]

Type 1 is generally considered to be due to an autoimmune response that destroys the body's beta cells; Type 2 is related to insulin resistance that requires the beta cells to produce more and more insulin and ultimately leads to burnout of beta cells.

Prediabetes is really a label placed on folks whose blood glucose levels are clearly above the level considered to be "normal", but below a somewhat arbitrarily chosen threshold considered to be "diabetic". I, for example, am prediabetic, based on two fasting blood tests, one of which came out 127 (just above the threshold of 126), and the other of which came out 123. As a prediabetic, you should expect to exhibit pretty much the same kinds of symptoms as do diabetics--at least, if you're not doing anything to control your blood sugar levels, such as watching your carbs (which, for me, means adhering pretty closely to Dr. Bernstein's 6-12-12 regime) and exercising.

[angelsbridges]

The dietitian thought the best thing was to do the glucose test (I forgot the name, but it's where you drink a high glucose drink and they test you after an hour, and again after two hours). She said it was very curious how my numbers are reading since my diet and exercising is pretty normal and not "bad", and I'm not overweight, and I'm young.

She helped clarify a lot with the food though, which I am very thankful for. I've been nervous about eating because I didn't know how much of what was good for me.

I've been experiencing hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia pretty regularly for the last year, so I really hope this test does some explaining! Thank you for the input :)

[cherokee_psh]

The only thing my doctor told me was to cut sugars and carbs and to exercise. All the websites I've found say to lose weight and get in shape. I really don't know anything about this, other than it's genetic or weight related or both.

I see a nutritionist today. I guess I'm not sure who to talk to, since my primary doctor seems to have no information for me other than to change my diet and see a nutritionist.

Where would I be able to get a blood glucose test meter?

If you need more explaination most of the hospitals have a diabetes education class. This cost is usually covered by your insurance. At these classes they have meters that they hand out to anyone that want or need one for free. They go over in detail have to use your meter. Also an explaination of diabetes and the possible treatments.

I, personally, started seeing an endocrinologist when I was still in the pre-diabetic phase.

Welcome to the site.

[Ronin]

Hi Angelsbridges!

Welcome to DF. As a fellow Pre-D I'm going to give you some background on the diagnosis as well as some recommendations.

Background: This diagnosis is new, and still controversial. The intended purpose was to identify young people who were developing Type-2 diabetes before the actual onset. The purpose is to provide a wake-up-call to get the person to change their diet and exercise patterns. Like all diagnosis, some MD's get it, others don't. The criteria is a FBG reading above 100 mg/dL. It should be followed with other testing to confirm that the high reading was not the result of the Dawn Phenomenon (DP).

Testing: The contributors already recommened getting a meter as well as the HbA1c test that measures your average BG level over the past 90 days (weighted to the most recent four to six weeks). I also recommend an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) with C-Peptide Readings. Your dietician is already recommending the test make sure you get the C-Peptide done as this is critical to assuring you are on the right path.

Growing Problem: I've noted more than a few mis-diagnosis being given. This is based on the assumption that all adult-onset diabetes is Type-2 and caused by insulin resistance (IR). Considering your age, weight, and activity level I have a hard time with the concept that you are IR. You may well be a latent Type-1.5 or LADA and the C-Peptide test will tell. The problem with not geting the C-Peptides measured along with the OGTT is that the presumption of Type-2 will persist. I know a few athletic individuals who were mis-diagnosed as Type-2 and got all the Type-2 drugs to no value except the nasty side-effects.

[angelsbridges]

Considering your age, weight, and activity level I have a hard time with the concept that you are IR. You may well be a latent Type-1.5 or LADA and the C-Peptide test will tell.

This is what the nutritionist was thinking as well. I have episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, and I thought that with Type II you don't have both? I'm not sure. I seem to swing quite a bit. If I don't eat for 5/6 hours, I go hypoglycemic. It's been a real pain the rear figuring out how often I need to eat, considering I also swing hyper. It's been really rough as of late trying to figure it all out.

Thank you so much for your help! :)

[angelsbridges]

I really feel like such a newbie, but I found this in the introductions:

Minor wounds, scrapes and scratches, that use to take days to a week to heal and disappear now take weeks to months to disappear.

Colds, not the annoying type of cold that goes away in two weeks. That you can ignore as long as you keep moving and keep your mind off of it. Talking about the cold you would describe as the "Cold From ****." The kind that involves the entire respiratory system. The kind that keeps coming back every month, or will start in the Fall and last well into Winter no matter what you do for it. You will or have called it the flu, a respiratory flu, but antibiotics will not touch it.


Over the last year/two years, I've had issues with cuts and bruises taking a very long time to heal. I recently broke my big toe, and the bone is starting to heal after a month, but I still have exterior marks left from the accident. I also am prone to sinus infections, but they last for MONTHS, and antibiotics don't help.

I'm sorry, but I am just...wow. I don't understand how I can have ALL of the symptoms and be prediabetic. I'm very confused. Is this normal?

[lorilei]

ronin did a great job outlining the pre-diabetes dx...i'm thinking that you should definately push for more testing...if you are indeed a type1/1.5 you may be in that crazy stage where the pancreas is half off and half on fullblast...i am always surprised by how laid back the doctors can be...my doctor was excellent, and for that i am forever grateful....

as for your sx's..it does sound like so much more...i cannot understand why some form of frequent testing wasn't recommended...on a more personal note..how is your diet in general? your wt is low...but are you a healthy or a cyclic eater?

[angelsbridges]

I've been really great about my diet in the last few months. I was getting really sick eating bad foods. I've always been a carb fiend. French bread, bagels, english muffins, etc. But I've stopped most of those besides the whole grain stuff (which I don't like as much, haha). I eat a lot of veggies, fruit, chicken and lean beef. I occasionally indulge in treats, but have steered clear the last few weeks, and eaten plain graham crackers with natural pb instead.

I outlined a bunch of symptoms and about the times at which they started. The more I read, the more I get nervous. It even mentioned mouth sores...this last year I've gotten numerous canker sores (3 at a time in most cases), and I've NEVER gotten them before. I'm thirsty a lot, and after I eat I go to the bathroom at least every half hour or 20 minutes. My friends are actually getting concerned!

I've had a really good day today, and I didn't eat any sugar, and eaten really healthy food (my mom got a diabetes cook book and is cooking foods for me, which is awesome). I got a blood testing kit at the pharmacy and did 3 test strips which all came normal today. Before dinner I was at 95, an hour after I was at 91, and same with two hours after (91). I know those are normal numbers, but I also read that with LADA, you can have normalish numbers and still be diabetic. I just think with everything else going over the last year that there is something wrong. I'm really hoping my doctor tests, I will be very disappointed if he doesn't believe me.

[genie86333]

I'm sorry, but I am just...wow. I don't understand how I can have ALL of the symptoms and be prediabetic. I'm very confused. Is this normal?

Ok...the "prediabetic" label does cause this confusion. That's why one of the others above called it a controversial diagnosis. To put it plainly: you're diabetic, but they caught it early & if you start to control it now with diet & exercise, you may be able to keep it from getting worse for quite some time.

Now, I'd advise you to follow what others have suggested & get more testing to see exactly what's going on.

[angelsbridges]

I'm in process of doing the 24 hour urine test (which is LOADS of fun, let me tell you!). I know he's checking to see how much glucose and potassium is being expelled (and a couple other things, but I can't remember off the top of my head what they are). Tuesday morning I have the 5 hour oral glucose tolerance test.

I mentioned LADA to him, but he just sort of said, "yeah yeah...let's do this...".

Is it possible that the numbers on those tests could come back just fine? That's what I've been reading with the LADA (that you can have normal numbers but still have it and they need to do an antibody test?).

Thank you for the help, it means A LOT to me!

[genie86333]

Not sure about the test results, perhaps others will have more info on that. Don't remember what you posted - have you already had an A1C test done? That's the one that gives a good idea of what your blood sugar's been doing over the last 3 months.

Just noticed you're from Minneapolis...I grew up there & wanted to say "hi" from a MN native!

[lorilei]

oh i rememebr the 24 hr urine collection...was so grateful i did it in the winter...kept the "samples" in the garage...used the kids portapotty and I was 7 mos pregnant at the time...kind of recall that is was measuring the proteins...but i was delerious at that point...and going to the bathroom every twenty minutes...no kidding..

[angelsbridges]

I feel bad, but I haven't been drinking the normal amount of water I usually do (I usually drink about 50 oz a day), I think I've only had about 20 oz and haven't been eating as much, just to avoid having to go as much as usual. I think they're measuring the protein as well.

I have not had an A1C test, as they have not requested it. The diabetes dietitian I spoke to said she wouldn't advise it because if you have low days and high days, the number can even out and not give a clear picture of what's going on. I think that's why they're doing the oral glucose test.

And I sympathize, Lori, on the normal day I go at least every hour, and after meals it's every 20 minutes. It's such a pain, especially at work and school!

And hello from Minnesota! :)