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What is excessive thirst?

J

Jonnymcc

Newbie
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Hi Everyone,
I heard a program on the radio the other day about diabetes and just wondered what is meant by excessive thirst? Ive noticed over the past couple of years that i have to take a large glass of water to bed, as i wake up almost every night really uncomfortably thirsty. Im also thirsty when i wake up in mornings, and i generally drink 2 litres of water at work every day. The house i live in has no heating, so i dont think i should be so thirsty, especially in winter! I dont believe i have any other symptoms, although there is a little family history, not my direct parents though. I really detest going to the doctors, especially if theres nothing wrong, but just wondered if anyone else had experienced similar? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks

Jonny
 
Jonny, it would be wise to ask your Dr for a diabetes test. Its much better to know, & begin control than to allow other symptoms to develop.
 
Hello Jonnymcc, welcome to the forum.

Excessive thirst(polydipsia) isn't always caused by diabetes.
Are you having any other symptoms besides thirst?

Ultimately, if you want to find out one way or the other, it's going to need a
trip to the doctors I'm afraid.

Good luck,
timo.
 
You can consider thirst to be excessive if you now get thirstier than you used to - what you described is definitely excessive thirst. This is a classic symptom of diabetes, but it could also be lots of other things (one of my trusty sources lists 114 possible causes of thirst - ranging from the utterly trivial to very serious). Therefore get yourself to a doctor as soon as possible. In all probability the first thing that he or she will do will be test you for diabetes, and that is nothing to worry about (just a few blood samples). If you do have diabetes - then you do need to know about it. It is perfectly manageable, but if you ignore it then it will gradually get worse until you have really serious problems.
 
Hi everyone, and thanks for the replies/advice! It seems that i should go see the doctor then :( No other real symptoms i dont think, would urinate quite often, but surely this would be expected when you drink so much water! I also notice i get really tired if i skip meals, which i didnt used too, sometimes to a point when i just have no energy and want to lie down. I often think these things are just part of getting older, havent much experience in that lol. im 26 and otherwise fairly fit and healthy.

Thanks again for all your help and advice

Jonny
 
Tiredness is another classic symptom of diabetes. Before I was diagnosed, what I noticed was tiredness and thirst. However, like I said, it could also be many other things.

If it is diabetes, the good news is that once you get it under control these symptoms should disappear. I have got my blood glucose levels way down in the last few weeks, and I feel hugely better for it. In fact I didn't realize quite how lousy I was feeling before - it is as though a fog has lifted.
 
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