Am I a Diabetic????

Hi kat
As far as i know alchol lowers blood sugar! I would say that you need to go and get tests done by your gp!
My warning signs were the following,
Drinking alot
weeing alot
hungry
Very tired
I went to my gp and got diagnoised with type 2. The best and only way to be sure is to go and have a blood test! I don't drink alchol! Saw too much when i was kid through it!
I used to have the odd glass of wine, or cider now and again!
I am sure someone will be along soon with more info than me! But i would say go and get checked out that is the only way to be sure!
sandy

This is only something testing can sum up.

Drinking alcohol dehydrates you so you will feel thirsty the next day, and as for craving sweets the next morning, people crave different things the morning after, for instance I crave a big greasy fry up, which some people wouldn't be able to stomach.

I have type 1 so this is what I am relating to, I could be completely wrong if your symptoms are that of type 2.

It's not the alcohol that makes your blood sugars higher, it's the sugars in the drinks, for instance alcopops have high sugar content, some spirits like Southern Comfort, Jack Daniels etc have high sugar content too.

Feeling like eating sweets as far as I know is not a sign of diabetes.

When you are diabetic and have not yet been treated you are tired and thirsty all the time, I used to stand at the tap with a pint glass and could drink literally about 10 pints one after the other, as if I had a hole in my throat and it was all leaking out.

Lloyd's Pharmacy do free diabetes testing with a simple finger prick blood test and they will tell you there and then, or go to your GP and they will ask for a urine sample and send it off.

Be on the safe side and get tested!

I would just like to add that some people, like me, had no symptoms at all.

I was picked up on a routine blood test - the previous one 6 months earlier had been OK. GP says I am borderline - so although not pleased to find I have T2, I am very please that it was a very early diagnosis.

I read some alarming statisitic that said that nearly a quarter of the population may have some kind of glucose intolerance. This makes me think that just about everyone should get tested.

An early diagnosis should mean that little harm has already been done, and you have the opportunity to take measures to control bg from then on.

I am amazed to read what a high proportion of people with T2 ignore all advice and carry on as before.

Romola said:

I am amazed to read what a high proportion of people with T2 ignore all advice and carry on as before.

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That has shocked me too, it is so easy to take control as a Type 2. Will be interesting to chat to T2 diabetic, when I finally meet one that is not on this forum.

Pity that when people give blood they are not tested for high BG levels.

inwales, I know of five other T2 diabetics who don't use this forum.

One is on diet and exercise, and she seems to have good control and is happy. She was diagnosed after she went to the doctor complaining of falling asleep in the afternoon. Despite her being 70, she wasn't fobbed off with it being her age, and so she got an early diagnosis. She eats sensibly without being fanatical about it.

Another was diagnosed in her late 70s, and she take some medication - DK what. She lost a lot of weight, but is now putting in on again. It is none of my business, but I don't think her diet is ideal, but probably not too bad. I did see her tucking into a large slice of highly iced cake at our WI a while back, and I know she makes a "sweet" for pudding each day. Her husband expects it.

Another was diagnosed some time ago and she uses insulin. She says she controls her diet, eg she only allows herself one egg a week (not sure why), but at a lunch out, while I ate only half a small roast potato and had fruit instead of the sponge pudding, she tucked into a heaped plate with several spuds - and had the pud too!

The fourth one is a very nice chap who had a stroke a few years ago and uses a mobility scooter. His diet is good, and he is very active within his capabilities. He does a lot of gardening and keeps on the go.

The final one is the reason I am taking this very seriously. I had a congentital bone deformity, and so have used a prosthetic limb since childhood - I want to keep the other leg! This chap was diagnosed a while back. He was nearly 20 stone. He ignored much of the dietary advice. He and his wife insist that testing should only be before meals. He has gone blind, and recently had a leg amuputated. Toes on his other foot are going black. He takes metformin, and thinks it will ensure that everything will be fine.

He still thinks that a big Mac and fries are fine because there isn't any sugar, and they treat themselves to one on the way home from hospital appointments.


Need I say more. Sorry for the lenght of this posting

Mstoro, to find out if you are diabetic you need to see your GP and ask for a blood tests. Most of us are not medically qualified and only a doctor can diagnose you and that requires a blood test.

Some pharmacies offer a blood test for diabetes, but the results there would simply direct you to go to your GP for further investigation.

If you are carrying extra weight and especially if you have diabetes in the family, it would be in your interests to get checked over. Not all the symptoms you describe are just related to diabetes.

Romola said:

The final one is the reason I am taking this very seriously. I had a congentital bone deformity, and so have used a prosthetic limb since childhood - I want to keep the other leg! This chap was diagnosed a while back. He was nearly 20 stone. He ignored much of the dietary advice. He and his wife insist that testing should only be before meals. He has gone blind, and recently had a leg amuputated. Toes on his other foot are going black. He takes metformin, and thinks it will ensure that everything will be fine.

He still thinks that a big Mac and fries are fine because there isn't any sugar, and they treat themselves to one on the way home from hospital appointments.

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That is shocking! You would think the health service would explain to folk that carbs turn into sugar, as simple as that!

inwales - I have no doubt that all was explained loud and clear to him. He is someone who doesn't trust expert knowledge, but always knows better himself. So long as his meter reading was OK before meals, he "knew" he could what he liked.

I should also have mentioned that on his diagnosis of T2, he decided he was an invalid, and spent his days with his feet up being waited on hand and foot. No exercise at all!

During his recent hospital stay, his diet was supervised, and his bg control was improved enormously - within days - and this was with a not particurly low carb diet, but portion sizes made all the difference. He lost weight. He was also "got at" by the physios.

I am certain he had access to the same information and support from the NHS that others have had - just didn't take any notice!

Kat, Craving sweet things CAN be a sign of type-1, but you would probably have other symptoms aswell.
I had a huge craving for sweet things when I was diagnosed type-1 at the age of 19. I would crave cake, sweet drinks, choc bars and binge on them. The cravings were at their worst just before I was diagnosed. I was constantly thirsty, going to the loo,tired, had thrush,very skinny and developed flu-like symptoms at the time I was diagnosed. I did enjoy a drink too, nothing wrong with that .
You're obviously are concerned enough to come on this forum, so get to your doc,a simple urine test will tell. Alternatively go to your local chemist and have your blood sugar tested.
Drinking alcohol does lower your blood sugar next day, and make you thirsty and crave sweet things so don't panic!
Jus

hi kat
i was diagnosed t2 3 months ago at the moment i am on diet only and yes drink lowers b/sugar levels as mine were 10 to 13 after finger prick then after a few drinks i t was down to 6 dont be fooled by urine test as i had one and no sugar found .my average blood sugar level for 3 months is 6.8 i had no symptoms of diabetics i only found out as i was asked to go for tests as i am 52 and before test never went to doctors typical man lol.

Inwales, your story about that guy is shocking.

I'm not preaching, heaven forbid. as everyone is different. But after being diagnosed in Jan 2008 I went into shock!! Along with a (too high as it turned out) dose of Metformin, I lost my appetite, went into a depression, and lost 15 kg in about 6 weeks, which is too much. I've since lost 2 kg more and heaven knows, I am slender enough and cannot afford to lost any more at age 67!!!

BUT, and this is what I really want to say -- as far as my knowledge of diabetes Type 2 goes, and after all I read up on Google, there is only ONE way to stabilise your blood sugar: low,low, low carbs!

I do not think my diet is nearly as healthy as before being diagnosed, but I've cut out fruit -- well, mostly, except for 1/2 apple or 1/2 banana sometimes. I only eat the thin Crackerbread (as it's called here in South Africa). This has 4.3 carbs per slice. I use the sachets of tuna (85 g weight) often, on crackerbread, with tea, as lunch.

BUT ALSO I do NOT cut down on fats. I eat cheese, and I have an eggs-'n-bacon breakfast a couple of times a week. I use cream, cream cheese, eggs, chicken and meats freely without bothering about the fat. Fat fills you up, and slows down glucose absorption.

WINE!!! I do not like hard liquor, but being in the Winelands of South Africa I love my wine. I only ever have it WITH food, usually at night with dinner. Shamelessly, I have a generous glass of dry wine before dinner, 1 with dinner, and 1 afterwards! At the moment my fancy is DRY rosé ...

Yes, it brings down and holds down blood sugar. I've decided it's good for me, that's my story, and I'm staying with it. 8) :lol: :lol:

There is NO need for a Type 2 to miss out on all good things -- except, the Good Things should mostly be savoury! I love food and cooking, and I'm a very good cook, so this whole business knocked me for a loop. But I still make delicious meat dishes, veggie dishes and salads!!

But we can NOT have white breads of any kind, cakes, cookies, puddings, buns ... you know what I mean.

Yes, I miss it, but then, we never had that very often.

Diabetic symptoms, as asked by the first poster:

Over the months before diagnosis I noticed that no matter how well I slept, I woke up with a feeling of fatigue. That was what sent me to my pharmacist for a finger prick test. (That, and intuition!)

I can't relate to the going-to-the-loo-a-lot or drinking a lot of liquids symptoms.

I also woke up then with a thirst and a dry mouth, but even now with diabetes under control, it happens. I think it has to do with both the food we have for dinner, and the mild tranquillizer I take to sleep better.

The best way is: -- go to a good doctor, and have a lab test done for blood glucose over the last 8 - 12 weeks, the HbA1C test. That way you will know. MIne was "only" 6.8% when diagnosed, but that is .8% TOO HIGH to be normal!! Since then I have brought it down to normal -- very few carbs in my diet!! -- but I always worry about the next test!!