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Another worried undiagnosed

E

Edwardian Gentleman

Active Member
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Hi all - new here - forgive my ramblings.

Was worried about diabetes in the new year (peeing at night, some ankle tingling) - had an AC1 and Random test - 5.2% 33mmol/l for the AC1 and 4.8mmol/l for the random. All good.

Symptoms remaining - worsening, repeated the random a month later at the GP (lab tested) - 4.7mmol/l. Plus a urine strip test - all clear.

Another month on and I am still worried - so bought a my own tester.

What I am confused about are the massive finger prick variations... For example, 2 hours after a very carb and sugar laden breakfast (large bowl of mini shredded wheat + granola with raisons, large apple, coffee ) I was, nevertheless, shocked to see 8.9mmol/l - I admit I hadn't washed my hands before the test.... so I washed my hands and repeated it immediately on another finger - straight down to 7.1 mmol/l. So fine, I guess, but that is massive variation. How is this even possible?

Anyway, GP is still not concerned about diabetes - I am not the profile for either type, he says, and happy with the official tests - but I was concerned I could be a type 1 with symptoms just starting in the new year, now progressing, so thinking about getting a second opinion privately... but perhaps I am just worrying way too much here and shouldn't be finger prick testing at all?

Guess I am not the first to be worried this way?
 
Given those numbers look normal to me (obviously I'm not medically qualified) if there is no other reason for the peeing at night and you are worried you should ask your doctor about that and what could cause that (and don't mention diabetes unless the doctor mentions it)
 
Thanks for the replies. Yes, I have done that - ruling out a few other things so far.

It's all such a nightmare when you feel really ill but can't get an answer. The Type 1 seemed to fit with much of what I am feeling (inc weight loss but good appetite)- that plus the occasional high finger prick tests.... so still on my mind.

Gosh, you don't value your health enough until it is AWOL do you?
 
Just out of interest too... In an untreated Type 1 experiencing symptoms such as hunger, what happens to blood sugar levels.

Do they just rise and rise? For example, given a typical day of carb laden breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks, would you expect the BG levels to just go out of control over a short time (mmol/l into the teens and beyond?).... When would they return to normal without treatment (or could they) ?

Also, at what point do additional symptoms start to show up? In other words is there a threshold BG level were the patient starts to become shaky and risk DKA and so on?

Sorry for all the questions. I can see my tests do not indicate an issue - but my body is telling me something (maybe something completely different) but I think the more I know about it the better as feeling incredibly rubbish these days...
 
Hi @Edwardian Gentleman I reached the right old level of 129.5 on my HbA1c and although I had increased peeing and thirst for 4-5months before being tested, and I was losing weight, but pleased about it, there were no 'bad' symptoms; I was being investigated for a persistent back ache when I mentioned the thirst etc and had my blood tested for all sorts.

My ketones were still <2, in fact only tested over 1 once in the first week after diagnosis. So don't bank on feeling bad, although hindsight now tells me that some blurry vision wasn't my varifocals, and maybe all the vague things I put down to peri-menopause were diabetes, or both, still not sure.

I am still waiting on a full diagnosis, my insulin is high but I have GAD and other antibodies. We are all different, and some just more different than others!

I assume you've had your PSA checked; I'm sure you'll get answers soon. Good luck.
 
Thanks Mrs HJG.

Really interesting to read. I keep reading about massively high BG levels when Type 1s are finally diagnosed... which gives me some hope that I am not there.... but it is hard when your body is telling you so many mixed messages.
 
Edwardian Gentleman said:
Thanks Mrs HJG.

Really interesting to read. I keep reading about massively high BG levels when Type 1s are finally diagnosed... which gives me some hope that I am not there.... but it is hard when your body is telling you so many mixed messages.
Click to expand...

You seem fixated on having diabetes.
You should step away from that because all the tests that you have had so far have indicated that you have no sign of diabetes, either T1 or T2.
Your symptoms could be cause by any number of other conditions.
Or none.

If you keep fixating on having diabetes, when you don't, it could prevent diagnosis of some other condition.

Accept your diagnosis and work with your health care team to track down what is troubling you.

Going for a private test for a second opinion?
What do you expect the result to be?
They will use the same test that you have already had, with the same result.
Although no doubt they will be grateful for the money.
 
LittleGreyCat:
Thanks for the reply. I can see how it looks and I do take that on board.
I truly understand that it is all too easy to become fixated on something like this - I am working my way through other things, too, with my GP, and I guess I just needed to seek some further information as this has been on my mind a lot recently as a many of then unpleasant symptoms I am suffering from seem to match up - despite the tests.
I hope I haven’t offended anyone with my posts.
 
I found that I needed to wake for more night time wees when I was consuming artifical sweeteners, but like others have said there could be any number of reasons for your symptoms.
 
@Edwardian Gentleman I don't think you have offended anyone.
Personally I am mainly concerned that you may be distracting yourself from other options by struggling to accept a clear diagnosis that you are not diabetic
 
Normally, blood glucose levels are less than 7.8 mmol/l 2 hours after eating and a random blood glucose can be up to 11.0 mmol/l so a random blood glucose of 4.7 mmol/l and a 2-hour post-prandial glucose level of 7.1 mmol/l is perfectly normal and not 'a massive variation'. https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

The urinary symptoms associated with diabetes are caused by polyuria, the production of large volumes of urine. They only occur when the blood glucose levels are persistently above the level at which the kidney is able to reabsorb all the glucose back into the bloodstream after filtration (typically above 11 mmol/litre). What happens is that the glucose that the kidney cannot reabsorb 'spills over' into the urine and takes water with it by osmosis, thereby resulting in large volumes of urine being produced (more than 3 litres per day).

If someone does not have glucose in their urine (which can be measured with a dipstick) then their urinary symptoms are not due to diabetes mellitus.

It is important to distinguish between urinary frquency and polyuria. If someone pees frequently but only produces normal amounts of urine, this not a symptom of diabetes. If someone produces large volumes of urine but that urine contains no glucose, that is not a symptom of diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes) but could possibly be due to another, unrelated disease, diabetes insipidus.

Info about urinary frequency:- https://www.msdmanuals.com/en-gb/pr... frequency is distinguished from,of > 3 L/day.

Info about diabetes insipidus:- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases...nsipidus (die-uh-,you have something to drink.
 
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