Signs of Diabetes

when you were diagnosed with diabetes how high was your blood glucose level? 15

i was 36.6

That is pretty high (659 to non-Europeans).
Mine was 325 (18.0).

Does good control of diabetes prevent the onset of eye complications? 8

My aunt controlled her diabetes with insulin injections for many years, but then one day she smashed her thumb with a hammer, foolishly took aspirin for the pain, which thins the blood, got a hemmorhage in her eye, and lost the eye. Please have a long discussion with your doctor related to what you need to avoid. If you take extra good care of yourself and know what to avoid, you’ll save yourself a LOT of heartache.

What tests are used to diagnose diabetes? What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes? 8

Diagnosis and treatment

Many people are unaware that they have diabetes. In the late 20th century, for example, it was estimated that more than 5 million of the 15.7 million American cases were undiagnosed. The disease is usually discovered when there are typical symptoms and a clearly high blood sugar level, as defined by a daytime level greater than 200 milligrams perdecilitre or a fasting level greater than 140 milligrams per decilitre. Occasionally a moredetailed oral glucose tolerance test is required for accurate diagnosis.

Before the isolation of insulin in the 1920s, most patients diedwithin a short time after onset. Untreated diabetes leads to ketoacidosis, the accumulation of ketones (products of fat breakdown) and acid in the blood. Continued buildup of the toxic products of disordered carbohydrate and fat metabolism result in nausea and vomiting, and eventually thepatient goes into a diabetic coma.

Treatment aimed at controlling diabetes is highly successful. All patients are put on restrictive diets designed to help them reach and maintain normal body weight and to limit their intake of sugars and fats. Frequently they are encouraged to exercise regularly, which enhances the movement of glucose into muscle cells and blunts the rise in blood glucose that follows carbohydrate ingestion. Diabetics who are unable to produce insulin in their bodies receive regular injections of the hormone, often customized according to their individual and variable requirements. In addition to conventional beef-pork insulin—which is the pancreatic extract of pigs and cattle—human insulin, based on recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technology, became available for use in the 1980s.

Research into other areas of insulin delivery include pancreas transplantation and implantable mechanical insulin infusion systems. Medications in the form of oral hypoglycemic (blood-sugar-lowering) agents are also available.

The objective of all forms of treatment of diabetes is to keep the level of blood sugar within normal limits and thus reduce the complications, primarily cardiovascular, that account for most diabetes-related deaths. Other serious complications include a condition known as diabetic retinopathy (retinal changes that can lead to blindness), kidney disease, and frequent infection.

symptoms:
Insulin is a hormone secreted by beta cells, which are located within clusters of cells in the pancreas called the islets of Langerhans. Insulin’s role in thebody is to trigger cells to take up the carbohydrate glucose sothat the cells can use this energy-yielding sugar. Persons with diabetes are impaired in the ability to metabolize glucose, and as a result the levels of glucose in the blood increase (a condition called hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar). As glucose accumulates in the blood, excess levels of this sugar are excreted in the urine. Because of greater amounts of glucose in the urine, more water is excreted with it, causing an increase in urinary volume and frequency of urination as well as thirst. (The name diabetes mellitus refers to these symptoms: diabetes, from the Greek diabainein, meaning “to pass through,” describes the copious urination, and mellitus, from the Latin meaning “sweetened with honey,” refers to sugar in the urine.) Other symptoms of diabetes include itching, hunger, weight loss, and weakness.

Is there someone that could answer some questions about diabetes? 9

The strangest thing happened. Two weeks ago, my younger sister (28) started having blurred vision. She went to the doctor and was diagnosed with diabetes. This past weekend my younger brother (29) was having dizzy spells. He also went to the doctor and was also diagnosed with diabetes. That seems extremely strange that within a two week period they were both diagnosed diabetes and I was wondering if there maybe more to this, or if they were miss diagnosed. It does run in my family but still it seems weird.

Well, if they do have diabetes then yes it does (now) run in your family. I agree it’s quite a coincidence, but usually a diagnosis of diabetes is done based on monitoring blood sugar readings over a period of time, assuming they are type-2 diabetics and not type 1 (type 1′s don’t produce insulin and need shots to live, while type 2 can’t properly use the insulin they do produce). The usual symptoms are blurred vision, excessive thirst, and frequent urination. You can also be very tired all the time. So I would be very careful and get checked myself. It’s nothing to play with.

Can gestational diabetes appear in the last 3 weeks? 6

I’ve had normal tests all the way through this pregnancy, but lately I get these dizzy/weak spells accompanied by a cold sweat. Both of my parents are diabetic and I know that signs like that can either mean blood sugar is too low or too high.
I tested my blood sugar the other day when I felt like this and it was 120, which from what I understand is normal in someone who does not have diabetes. Well I felt like that again earlier and I tested it and it was 97, which my mother said was kinda low and that I needed to eat soon.
Can gestational diabetes just suddenly appear at the last second? Or hypoglycemia which is lower-than-normal blood sugar?

no
they pick it up early around 28 weeks so they time to get your diet and shots under control

What is frequent urination? 5

How often is considered frequent urination for diabetes?

Most people go every 4-6 hours on average, depending on how much you drink. Frequent urination associated with diabetes is every 2-3 hours or more. It feels like you are constantly in the bathroom, and like you have to go every 15 minutes or so. It does not stop at night, either. It’s a sign your kidneys are trying to flush themselves out because you have high levels of sugar in the blood stream and the only place for it to go is out. It is also the source of the constant thirst associated with diabetes. You drink more, therefore you pee more. Hope this helps!!

What is a better gauge in diagnosing diabetes, fasting/random blood glucose or A1C? 3

My mother has had three glucose tests in recent months. The first was fasting and her blood glucose was 118, second was random and it was 128, and the last was fasting and came back today a much lower 104.

Here’s the scary part that pressed me to inquiry: When her GP called her today, she said although her blood sugar was 104, the A1C was 6.9, and therefore indicates definite diabetes.

My mother then called her endocrinologist regarding the same results (who she already sees for thyroid), and he was about to hang up not even making mention of the A1C. When she brought it to his attention, and how her GP said it indicated diabetes, he didn’t seem to find it very concerning and told her not to worry.

I know an endo will be more expert when it comes to diabetes, but her GP telling her she has the disease was pretty stunning and is leaving us with a lot of questions. She made an appt with the endo, but in the meantime I am in need of input on this. IS the A1C of 6.9 enough to diagnose as diabetic, despite the glucose tests not being that high? Thank you so much!
Other than being 20lbs overweight, she has not had any symptoms, the glucose tests were just added on to her regular thyroid tests as an added measure.

an A1c of 6.9 shows that her average blood sugar over the last 90 days has been nearly 150 mg/dL. A finger test only tells you what your level is at the time of the test, and since it was fasting, it doesn’t tell you how high the numbers are two hours after a meal.

The endo may not be as concerned as the GP if a slight rise in blood sugar was expected as a side effect of other hormone treatments. 6.9 is very manageable with better diet and exercise.

diabetes complications….? 3

i have heard lots of bad stories
about people that diabetes complications.

my question is…
is it possible to get complications
even if you blood sugar is in good control???

sorry if this is a dumb question
i just want to know

thanks in advance for the answers

It’s possible, but not likely that you will have severe complications as long as you keep you blood sugar under control. However, if you smoke or drink or do drugs, you will be more at risk than other smokers, drinkers and drug users. You should also try to exercise and eat healthy to help avoid complications

what are the symptoms of diabetes and what are the warning signs you should be ready to spot? 2

plus if i eat regular takeouts, am i increasing my risk of getting diabetes?

Eating greasy foods does not cause diabetes. You cannot give yourself diabetes by eating too much sugar or eating junk foods. These foods are not good for you because they are empty calories and will cause weight gain and increase your cholesterol.

Symptoms of diabetes include thirst, frequent urination with frothy, fruity smelling urine, blurry vision, fatigue, sometimes weight loss. You may have bouts of low blood sugar, where you feel ravenously hungry.

If you suspect diabetes, have a fasting blood test done. The sooner you get on medication, the better. You will also feel better and have more energy with your sugars under control.

question about diabetes? 12

I know all the symptoms for diabetes, I get tired all the time, I get plenty of rest everyday. Now my question is I eat a lot, I am 115 lbs and don’t seem to gain weight, it’s been like this since my freshman year in high school. I get up every day between 12am-3am to get something to drink because I’m thirsty then drink a lot of fluids at work. I know the symptoms for diabetes is blurred vision (which I have and I wear glasses, plus have astigmatism), extreme thirst, frequent urination (I don’t usually go throughout the day, I just usually hold it–i know that’s not good), I don’t exercise–haven’t since my freshman year in high school (for gym) since I have most of these symptoms and don’t exercise could I be at risk? Also could me eating so much and not gaining weight be a symptom for diabetes?

I wouldn’t worry too much – although it’s worth having a doctor check these things out.

If you can hold urine all day, you don’t fit the "frequent urination" requirement. If you can’t help but go every two hours, 24/7, that is the usual symptom. You other questions reference being a single(?) mother, so you are under a great deal of stress, which could easily explain the tiredness.

Do you have blurred vision with your glasses on? With diabetes, eye trouble isn’t affected with glasses.

As far as not gaining weight, you may not really be aware of how much or how little you eat (it’s common – it’s just something people often aren’t really aware of) or you may simply have a good metabolism, or are naturally active. And, especially if you are under 30, all that can change, and suddenly you gain weight with the same amount of eating.

But you should visit a doctor, and have a urine test and a fasting blood test to check for diabetes and other such things – just to be on the safe side.