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Possibly Diabetic

S

SamStew123

Member
Messages
18
Type of diabetes
Don't have diabetes
Hi there,
I have been having a lot of different symptoms for the past 2-3 months that haven't got better, in fact they have got more frequent and worse.
They include headaches, occasional migraines (which run in my family anyway), more frequent urination (and always urinating at night, it wakes me up) increased fluid intake, really dry mouth, excessive tiredness and fatigue and general aches and pains.
So I took this list to the GP this morning who suspects diabetes. She did a urine test but didn't expand on what it said, but I have to go in for a fasting blood test on Monday morning. If the urine test was clear, would this blood test be necessary?
Just wondering about the stages of diagnosis. I know my symptoms point to diabetes but surely I would have been seriously ill by now if I was diabetic?
I'm just done with feeling awful everyday but worried about being diagnosed.
Thank you :)
 
Hi @SamStew123 :)

Sorry you've not been feeling well.

There are different types of diabetes. With some you do get quite ill very quickly, but others come on more slowly (sometimes over years).

You did the right thing going to the doctors. Let us know how you get on with the fasting blood test :)
 
Better be informed so you can do something about it than be in the dark.. at least that's my approach. Good luck with the tests and hope you are ok. We're a friendly helpful bunch so come and ask any questions you like after you get your results and someone will be along to help.
All the best
Mark
 
azure said:
Hi @SamStew123 :)

Sorry you've not been feeling well.

There are different types of diabetes. With some you do get quite ill very quickly, but others come on more slowly (sometimes over years).

You did the right thing going to the doctors. Let us know how you get on with the fasting blood test :)
Click to expand...
Thank you :) have suspected myself for a while now ( I'm a health are worker so have cared for many diabetics) but not been able to get a GP appointment due to work etc but had enough of feeling continuously awful! I was just thinking that although a urine test is not a clear indicator, if that had been clear I wouldn't need any further tests? Wish I had asked now what it showed now! :)
 
Thank
bulkbiker said:
Better be informed so you can do something about it than be in the dark.. at least that's my approach. Good luck with the tests and hope you are ok. We're a friendly helpful bunch so come and ask any questions you like after you get your results and someone will be along to help.
All the best
Mark
Click to expand...
you for your kind words, fingers crossed but what will be will be...at least I will have a reason as to why I've been feeling so awful for so long! :)
 
Many people have no symptoms when diagnosed, whilst others do. I had none at all.

To correctly diagnose diabetes we normally have a test called an HbA1c plus a fasting blood glucose test. This may be followed a few weeks later by a second HbA1c test to confirm matters. The fasting test will just show what your level was at the time of the test, and is often very unreliable for several reasons. The HbA1c test is a sort of average of your blood sugar levels over the previous 2 to 3 months, and is a much better indicator. The urine test is to see if there is glucose in your urine. and is usually part of the diagnosis regime. Your GP can't give you a diagnosis until these results are known. It is like a jigsaw puzzle, You need all the pieces.

I have a piece of advice for you. When you have had your blood tests, do ask for a print out of the results. These are invaluable and useful for comparisons down the line because if you are diagnosed diabetic you will have a lot of blood tests in the future. Not just blood glucose, but also cholesterol, liver and kidney functions, full blood counts and so forth.

Do keep in touch and keep posting.
 
SamStew123 said:
Thank you :) have suspected myself for a while now ( I'm a health are worker so have cared for many diabetics) but not been able to get a GP appointment due to work etc but had enough of feeling continuously awful! I was just thinking that although a urine test is not a clear indicator, if that had been clear I wouldn't need any further tests? Wish I had asked now what it showed now! :)
Click to expand...

I can only say that I have never had any glucose in my urine, even at diagnosis, but I am diabetic.
 
SamStew123 said:
Thank you :) have suspected myself for a while now ( I'm a health are worker so have cared for many diabetics) but not been able to get a GP appointment due to work etc but had enough of feeling continuously awful! I was just thinking that although a urine test is not a clear indicator, if that had been clear I wouldn't need any further tests? Wish I had asked now what it showed now! :)
Click to expand...

I guess a urine test is quicker and easier, so may be first choice to see if it shows up anything obvious. But a blood test is more accurate.

I second the advice to get a printout of your results. It's good to know exactly what they are.
 
T
Bluetit1802 said:
Many people have no symptoms when diagnosed, whilst others do. I had none at all.

To correctly diagnose diabetes we normally have a test called an HbA1c plus a fasting blood glucose test. This may be followed a few weeks later by a second HbA1c test to confirm matters. The fasting test will just show what your level was at the time of the test, and is often very unreliable for several reasons. The HbA1c test is a sort of average of your blood sugar levels over the previous 2 to 3 months, and is a much better indicator. The urine test is to see if there is glucose in your urine. and is usually part of the diagnosis regime. Your GP can't give you a diagnosis until these results are known. It is like a jigsaw puzzle, You need all the pieces.

I have a piece of advice for you. When you have had your blood tests, do ask for a print out of the results. These are invaluable and useful for comparisons down the line because if you are diagnosed diabetic you will have a lot of blood tests in the future. Not just blood glucose, but also cholesterol, liver and kidney functions, full blood counts and so forth.

Do keep in touch and keep posting.
Click to expand...
Thank you for that, I feel that if I was diagnosed I'd at least have an answer as to why I've been feeling so awful for so long, but at the same time worried how I would deal with the changes. I have suspected this for a while but I'm trying not to wind myself up about it in case it's not diabetes. But then I worry about what it could be instead. Glad I found this website and forum as its been very valuable info wise :) will let you all know for sure either way :)
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I can only say that I have never had any glucose in my urine, even at diagnosis, but I am diabetic.
Click to expand...
Thanks for all your info, I will make sure I'm prepared for the tests...I have a double appointment with the GP a few days after the test so hopefully get to the bottom of what's going on...goes to show you can't rely on a dip test for everything! :)
 
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