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polydipsia and polyuria at relatively low bs levels

R

rogerskd

Newbie
Messages
3
Location
Minnesota, USA
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
I have been lurking for a while. I had Gestational Diabetes 20 years ago. Knowing this predisposes me to diabetes I have been monitoring my blood sugars and seen them slowly worsen.

Now at age 57, I would consider myself prediabetic. My fasting blood sugar is around 6.0. My postprandial peaks, after eating a “normal” meal, above 11. At worst my HbA1c (home test) has been 6.3% (7.5 mmol/l) though now after a strict LCHF diet, has gone down to 5.8% (6.7mmol/l). I am 5’6’’, very active, and weigh 14 stone.


My question is this -- I often suffer from polydipsia and polyuria. I drink at least 5 liters of water a day and sometimes up to 7 liters. I usually get quite thirsty when my blood sugars get to just 6.7.

Do others of you have this issue? 6.7 is a normal post prandial blood sugar so I am worried that there might be something else at play.

I have my first diabetes consult in August so have to wait to ask this question to my doctor.

Thanks,

Kathy
 
What happens if you try restricting your fluids to 1.5 litres for a day (assuming no excessive sweating)? If your urine output drops commensurately it means that your kidneys are functioning as they should and the problem is probably that you are feeling thirsty when you are not dehydrated. This can occur with mouth-breathing, for example. If your urine output remains high even when you restrict fluids and your blood glucose is below 10 mmol/l, then your kidneys are not concentrating urine as they should. This requires investigation by your GP but go back to drinking enough water to stop you from feeling thirsty until it has been investigated.
 
I was in a circumstance on vacation last year when I didn't have much control of what I was eating and therefore was eating too many carbs and wasn't drinking my "normal" amount of water. I was dizzy and had a bad headache until I realized what was up and got myself a water bottle.

I will test this as you suggest and see what comes of it. Thanks!
 
Yes, I experience polydypsia and polyuria as well as other "classic" diabetes symptoms (hand/foot swelling, mood changes, blurry vision, fatigue, etc.) at relatively low (i.e. prediabetic) blood sugar levels. You're not the only one! At 6.7 I would be drinking gallons of water a day--the thirst was my first symptom. I am okay up to about 5.6 mmol/l and then I start feeling it (or my family notices I'm super irritable and tells me to test). No one has been able to explain this, and I am just told that I seem to experience these things at 6 mmol/l that most people don't feel until 11. I've also had possibly-related conditions like frozen shoulder that have been a bit surprising given my relatively good sugars. I have just had to be really carb restrictive and take metformin and hope it doesn't get worse.
 
If you are hoping to avoid a diagnosis of Diabetes, then your best bet is to lose as much weight as you can before the test in August. The gestational Diabetes from 20 years ago will be much less 'relevant' as a possible cause than your current BMI. I'm overweight myself, so I know how hard it can be to change long-established habits - but you really do need to do so - and I think you mentioned it because you know that yourself.
Good luck!
 
Me too, and thank goodness you mention it, because i was beginning to think i was crazy. Also have increased tingling in ears, tingling in feet and hands and tingling tongue. Im ok until 5.4. But 5.7 sets this off bad. And NAUSEA after eating sugar. Have stopped dairy, sugar, pasta, bread etc! Starting to feel better


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The docs where i am say tis impossible, Well until They find another reason, i ll stick with it. glink : is metiform necessary for pre diabetes


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I got metformin after 6 mos of strict very low carbs didn't fix my sugars; at first they got better but then gradually started getting worse. I don't know if it's the right answer, but it seems to be helping for now, at least. I don't think it's the answer for everyone, and obviously it would have been better if diet & exercise alone had been enough. (The idea that I may be in the very early stages of LADA has been raised, given my age/BMI/lack of risk factors.)
 
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