• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

I think I have Diabetes

A

AC243

Newbie
Messages
2
Hi,

I went to my doctor last week because of some problems maintaining a strong erection. He said at my age (23) it would most likely be a psychological problem but ordered up some blood tests anyway.

The blood tests showed my hormone levels to be normal but that my blood sugar was "slightly high" (in their words). I went back today for the fasting blood glucose test and will get the result mid-week next week. I had a fizzy drink and a sandwich shortly before taking the original test so figured that was the cause of the high sugar level. I'm healthy, I exercise, I'm thin and I don't eat lots of sweets or junk food.

So, on the bus home I experienced a metallic taste in my mouth. Not unfamiliar, but not something I've kept any tabs on. I used my phone to google it and it turns out it's a symptom of diabetes. The same page also mentioned that up to 75% of men with diabetes suffered from erectile dysfunction - symptom number 2. Now that I think about it, my Dad used to always say "are you going to the toilet AGAIN?" when we'd be watching TV - symptom 3. And recently I've sometimes noticed a strong odour from my urine - symptom 4. Add in the high blood sugar test and I feel confident that I will be diagnosed with diabetes.

I'm not in any of the risk groups - no family history, not overweight, not 40+, not in a vulnerable ethnic group...

I can't help but feel, though, that the symptoms match up too perfectly. It even explains my initial complaint. This afternoon I was in a fit of rage and depression and self-pity, having convinced myself that I definitely had it. Now I'm trying to tell myself that it's statistically unlikely and that maybe there's some hypochondriasis at work and that I'm over-analysing my symptoms or they are partly psychosomatic...

I've been dithering between the positive and negative approach all night. It seems like perfect occasion to crack open a case of lager to alleviate my worries but I'm afraid if I do have diabetes my leg will fall off or something. :/

I don't want to sound petulent by coming here and complaining that I maybe have diabetes when so many people are already struggling with the aftermath of a confirmed diagnosis, but some guidance or advice or numbers or opinions or reassurance certainly wouldn't go a miss...

Thanks,

AC.
 
Hmmm.... Unfortunately, you will have to wait for the test results for confirmation or not, but...

the much publicised 'high risk group' stuff (overweight, underactive etc) only applies to type 2 diabetes, and at your age, it is more likely to be type 1, which grabs people regardless of weight, diet, lifestyle or anything. People can get it from babyhood to adulthood and it is NOT YOUR FAULT.

I hope your symptoms turn out to be harmless and easily explained, but if it does turn out to be diabetes it is not the end of the world. It will be a huge change to the way you handle eating, exercising etc because they all become a bit annoyingly scientific. When your body makes its own insulin, it does all the sums for you and knows how much insulin you need when you eat: it gets it right whether you eat salad or cream cakes and whether you laze in front of the telly or run a marathon. Clever things, bodies. But when we have to work it all out with our less knowledgeable brains, you just have to learn a few sums about how much carbohydrates are in the food you eat and therefore how much insulin you need. There is more to it and it takes a while to get a handle on it all, but once you've cracked how the system works you'll be fine.

It can be a d**m nuisance at times, but you learn to live with it and it needn't be life limiting at all. People with diabetes compete in the Olympics, do endurance riding (and believe me, riding a horse 100 miles in a day round diabetes is possible - not that I've done it, but others have) and all sorts of other things. In fact, the fitter you stay the better your control will be and the less risk of complications there will be. Your leg won't drop off. I promise. You have to go a long time without looking after your diabetes before you get symptoms that can make that kind of thing happen - and I mean years. I've had diabetes for 36 years and have no serious complications at all, just the odd twinge in my toes now and then. I look after it, and if you do, you will be fine.

Keeping my fingers crossed for you. Good luck. If that diagnosis comes back positive we are all here to help and if it says all is fine, perhaps you could let us know so we can cheer with you. :)
 
Hi AC

Welcome to the forum. The fizzy drink and the sandwich may well have affected the first blood glucose test. Please do not worry about that test as, given the circumstances of it, it cannot be diagnostic in relation to diabetes. You have now had the test that will let you know your situation and hopefully you will be OK. Should it be positive, then this forum has a lot of people in it with varying experience of living with diabetes and it is a fountain of knowledge. Let us know how you get on and we are here to help should you need us.

Take care

Doug
 
Thank you both for taking the time to respond, and it is of some comfort to know that there is a welcoming community here to help should my worst fears be realised.

Margi - thanks for the information, but would I be right in assuming that Type 1 is more serious than Type 2? And if it has no risk factors then that kind of blows most of my "against it being diabetes" column out of the window. It was my understanding that Type 1 would be diagnosed earlier than age 23, but that was probably based entirely on it being referred to as "Juvenile Diabetes"

I'm so scared :(
 
'Hugs' (I can't find a hug smiley)

Don't be frightened, you'll be fine. Loads of people to help, both in the real world of medics and the cyber world in here.

Type one used to be called 'juvenile onset', but it is not that unusual for it to strike someone of your age. I was 17 and was considered old for it back then. In fact there was no support for someone my age at the time. Loads from the BDA (now Diabetes UK, the charity that helps us all) for under 16s and loads for older people with type 2, but nothing at all for a newly diagnosed 17 year old. Happily that's not the case nowadays.

Neither type is more serious than the other, they are simply different and have slightly different treatments.

Type 1 is when there is a complete breakdown of the Islets of Langerhan which are the insulin producing bits in the pancreas, so you have no insulin of your own at all and have to replace it entirely artificially. It has to be done by injection because the digestion breaks down the insulin before it can get into the blood if you tried to eat the stuff, so needles are all there are. One day, they'll get one of those Star Trek sprays to work instead, but if they are around already - and I think they might be - they are not universally available.

Type 2 is when you do not produce enough of your own insulin, and/or your body is what they call 'insulin resistant', and you'll have to ask a type 2 to define that properly for you, because I'm too ignorant. Type 2 can be controlled by diet alone, diet and tablets, or insulin and combinations of all three depending on the severity of the condition. I can't help feeling that type 1 must be easier to work out control for than type 2, but I've never come into proper contact with anyone dealing with type 2, so I can't say for sure.

Yes, if you have diabetes life gets a bit more complicated, but its length and health is up to you and the effort you put in to control it as well as you can. Education is key, but lets wait and see what the tests say before we start sweating the detail. You may just sit back with a Malibu and celebrate good health instead. (Why did a Malibu just come into my head? Maybe it was an advert on TV babbling away in the background. :wink: ) :)
 
Hi,Welcome to us all here.
Please try not to worry too much, keep yourself busy and active till the next week.
Some great points from margi to mull over.
You are with the best people to steer and guide through at this early stage your HCP [healthcare professionals] Next week will soon be here and you will know more then.
Do let us all know how you go on too...
As we are here to help and suppport you along, ask any questions you feel/need to.
Hope this helps? Anna.x :D
 
Just some comments on Erictile Disfunction.

If you do have diabetes of whatever sort as your blood sugars come under control the ED will become less of a problem.

If you still have ED and are diabetic then you are entitled to the appropriate treatment on the NHS.

Modern treatments are very effective, and your doctor will help you decide on what is best for you.

H
 
Back
Top