I'm a 22 year old male, slim build(with a tiny bit of flab I can never get rid of). About 1.5 years ago, I started to develop burning in my feet at night. I ignored it for a long time, until about 8 months ago, I developed an almost constant foggy head. Thick fog, as if my brain is wading through treacle. I struggled through my uni classes, everything taking 3x as long as it should. Over time my burning feet have also progressed to affect me every time I'm walking, and now almost constantly throughout the night. I don't appear to have significant loss of sensation, but my entire lower leg area can feel fuzzy at times.
Anyway, recently, I went to the doctor, because it was all becoming too much and the foggy head had induced an apathy that made my suicidal, and I have stopped being able to get proper erections. Doctor immediately checked thyroid/iron/b12. Everything came back normal. He then checked fasting blood sugar. It came back at 5.4mmol, which he said was normal, but suspicious enough for a 12 hour fast to justify further tests. So I'm due to get another fasting next week.
I, of course, made the mistake of looking up diabetes, and found out my symptoms sound very similar to the complications of high blood sugar. I also knew if I exercise especially vigorously, I would get a lull in the brain fog. So I went out and bought an accu check, to get an idea of whether the 5.4 was anomalous. It wasn't. According to the meter, my blood sugar never goes below 5. That's not entirely true, it very briefly goes below 5 about an hour after eating, and as ill detail below, after very vigorous exercise. For most of the day, and first thing in the morning, it hovers around 5.2-5.8. However, even after a very sugary meal(50+g) it never goes above 6.8. It normally goes 5.2(0 mins), 6(25 mins), 6.8(45 mins), 6(60 mins), 5.2-5.4(2 hours), after almost any meal, with the exception of small ones, or low carb ones where it stays below 6.
I realise those figures arent even prediabetic, but they aren't far off. Importantly, I've noticed relief of the brain fog coincides with dips to 4-4.5 after very vigorous exercise. It only stays there until my next meal, though.
I realise I now sound paranoid. However, my problems are becoming increasingly damaging to my life. So, if this is the root cause, I'd like to get it fixed. I plan on exercising and eating better. I already exercise for 2 hours a week, on top of walking 4 miles to and form uni. But I dont get enough vigorous exercise, the kind where the brain fog is temporarily relieved. I also could definitely eat more fiber and less refined carbs.
However, my real question is not whether my blood glucose isn't normal. From what I've read, readings in my range are neither normal, or good in the long run and I definitely should try to improve them. But realistically, could they have caused enough damage to explain my symptoms? Has anyone experienced these sort of symptoms with pre diabetes, or long before a diabetes diagnosis?
Anyway, recently, I went to the doctor, because it was all becoming too much and the foggy head had induced an apathy that made my suicidal, and I have stopped being able to get proper erections. Doctor immediately checked thyroid/iron/b12. Everything came back normal. He then checked fasting blood sugar. It came back at 5.4mmol, which he said was normal, but suspicious enough for a 12 hour fast to justify further tests. So I'm due to get another fasting next week.
I, of course, made the mistake of looking up diabetes, and found out my symptoms sound very similar to the complications of high blood sugar. I also knew if I exercise especially vigorously, I would get a lull in the brain fog. So I went out and bought an accu check, to get an idea of whether the 5.4 was anomalous. It wasn't. According to the meter, my blood sugar never goes below 5. That's not entirely true, it very briefly goes below 5 about an hour after eating, and as ill detail below, after very vigorous exercise. For most of the day, and first thing in the morning, it hovers around 5.2-5.8. However, even after a very sugary meal(50+g) it never goes above 6.8. It normally goes 5.2(0 mins), 6(25 mins), 6.8(45 mins), 6(60 mins), 5.2-5.4(2 hours), after almost any meal, with the exception of small ones, or low carb ones where it stays below 6.
I realise those figures arent even prediabetic, but they aren't far off. Importantly, I've noticed relief of the brain fog coincides with dips to 4-4.5 after very vigorous exercise. It only stays there until my next meal, though.
I realise I now sound paranoid. However, my problems are becoming increasingly damaging to my life. So, if this is the root cause, I'd like to get it fixed. I plan on exercising and eating better. I already exercise for 2 hours a week, on top of walking 4 miles to and form uni. But I dont get enough vigorous exercise, the kind where the brain fog is temporarily relieved. I also could definitely eat more fiber and less refined carbs.
However, my real question is not whether my blood glucose isn't normal. From what I've read, readings in my range are neither normal, or good in the long run and I definitely should try to improve them. But realistically, could they have caused enough damage to explain my symptoms? Has anyone experienced these sort of symptoms with pre diabetes, or long before a diabetes diagnosis?
