Hi there! Please help ...

Pob_

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Diet only
Having felt like a zombie every day for the past couple of years, I thought it best to do something to sort myself out ...
I have many symptoms of having diabetes but have several others and would like to know if anybody else here suffers the same, I'm worried I am diabetic and have severe phobia of needles and the thought of insulin injections scares me so much.
I have excessive hunger all day but often find it difficult to eat. However, when I do eat, I can feel 10 times better within 5 minutes.
I feel exhausted all day but find sleeping at night very difficult.
I have a numbness in my left hand and lower legs that is somehow relieved by long walks.
I often have blurry vision and difficulty focusing on what I'm looking at.
I can be incredibly moody and unresponsive to conversation which is really affecting my working life.
I often get an awful headache just behind my right eye which only seems to show when my other symptoms disappear.
I often have a strange dizziness and unusual hand shaking.
My urine often (especially overnight) can be a very dark yellow and have a very strong odour.

Any thoughts from anybody here would be much appreciated. Thank you.
 

Safi

Well-Known Member
Messages
515
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello & Welcome Pob_

Some of your symptoms could be suggestive of blood sugar regulation issues but nobody here can tell you if you have diabetes or not - you really need to see a doctor for that. There are several tests a doctor may perform including a fasting blood glucose test, an hba1c test & an oral gucose tolerance test.

Until you have an answer there is not really much we can do to help but I will tag @daisy1 who should come along soon to provide you with basic information on managing diabetes. If its any help to you, needles are not a 'given' - many type 2 diabetics manage their condition with diet & exercise alone.

Please go & see your doctor soon - if it is diabetes then there is much you can do to improve the way you're feeling.
 
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PatsyB

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,956
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Diabetes
Welcome to the forum ...see your Doctor if at all worried it is far safer to have a check up than carry on worrying.....;) hope you feel better soon
 
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daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@Pob_

Hi Pob and welcome to the forum :)

The first thing you need to do is to go and see your doctor as you may or may not have diabetes and it could be something else. However, since Safi has mentioned the basic information we give to new members, here it is for you as it contains a lot of information which might help you. Come back and tell us what your doctor says.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 150,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 
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kateincornwall

Well-Known Member
Messages
645
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
People who lie , animal cruelty , boredom and pineapple !
Hi and welcome to the forum :) It would be foolhardy of any of us to hazard a guess as to your diagnosis . I know, its scary when you don't feel well , the mind works overtime and Google becomes a best friend . Please see your doctor , if only for your peace of mind , only then can you move forward and deal with whatever the problem is and, should it be diabetes , come back and make the most of all the information, support and help on here , good luck :)
 
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carty

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,379
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I agree that seeing your GP is the best thing to do ,in the meantime try upping your fluid intake especially water,can't do any harm and my help the urine problem also it can help lower your BG s if do have diabetes
CAROL
 
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Enclave

Well-Known Member
Retired Moderator
Messages
2,602
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Off to the Drs and let us know what the diagnoses is ... If you are diabetic, then your in the right place for help.
 
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BooJewels

Well-Known Member
Messages
443
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I would reiterate what everyone else has said, you must take this to a doctor for diagnosis. When I was diagnosed diabetic, when you were still at school, I didn't present with anything like classic symptoms and had seen several doctors before it was considered.

But I do want to allay a couple of your fears before you get a definitive answer. Firstly, statistically, if you are diagnosed diabetic, you're more likely to be a Type 2 and I don't think they're likely to put you on insulin immediately. They're much more likely to try a period of diet modification and medication to see how that goes first. There are many. many posts here of people who were diagnosed with very high BG initially, who got it under control very quickly by changing their eating, with or without meds. So a diagnosis of diabetes in itself does not mean you have to go on insulin. Some will, but I'd guess those would be in a minority.

Secondly, if you do have to have insulin, as @nomistheman said, the injection process is much less daunting than you're currently frightening yourself with. I use an insulin pen, which is a bit like a chunky Sharpie, with a reservoir of insulin and you screw a disposable needle tip onto the end. There's a dial at the other end to select in the dose you want. The needles are very fine and short (mine are 0.25mm x 6mm, most use 4mm long needles) and you just jab it into a fatty part of your body - I do it in the tummy - you just need the insulin to get into the fat layer under the skin. So you don't have to find a vein and prep a syringe etc. It takes seconds to do and really doesn't hurt. It's much easier and more comfortable than pricking your finger to test your blood.

My point for telling you that was that I hope it's not this fear that's preventing you from going to the docs, which is absolutely what you have to do first and foremost.
 
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Pob_

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Diet only
I guess I'm also worried it isn't diabetes.
I also have a major distrust of doctors, having it taken 7 years and 5 unsuccessful operations to find out it was chronic tonsillitis that was causing my hearing problems.
 

Enclave

Well-Known Member
Retired Moderator
Messages
2,602
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
I guess I'm also worried it isn't diabetes.
I also have a major distrust of doctors, having it taken 7 years and 5 unsuccessful operations to find out it was chronic tonsillitis that was causing my hearing problems.
Sorry to hear that ...l but this time you need to see your Dr and get a diagnoses..if it is diabetes then leaving it will just line you up for bigger problems later ..and if it's not diabetes then you really do need to know !
Trust me .. I am NOT a doctor!
 
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SueB743

Well-Known Member
Messages
376
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Welcome to the forum. Your gp will be able to run blood tests to check for a variety of common things including diabetes. I find it helps not to watch what the nurse is doing when she takes my blood so this might help.

Better to get checked out as the sooner you know the better, everything is easier to treat if it is identified early.

Good luck, and if it turns out to be diabetes we will be here
 
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Morgawr2

Member
Messages
6
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
One thought, I have had similar symptoms for years. Numb feet, pins and needles, dizzy spells, sleeplessness, headaches: I'm working my way through the alphabet for conditions. Some of mine are down to Spondylosis, prolapsed discs in my lumbar and cervical spine. This was masking diabetes symptoms and I only found out last December about type 2. My Spondylosis and Diabetes are controlled through medication. It is vital that you get a thorough check, the consequences otherwise are far more severe. I'm lucky that, because of treatment and being careful, I can still walk.