Could This Be Diabetes?

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I've been having some strange symptoms over the past few weeks that I'm beginning to wonder might mean I'm finally going over the edge.......I've been "borderline" since my early 20s, have had periods throughout my adult life when I've experienced frequent episodes of hypoglycemia, and three of my kids were well over 9 pounds. Now, I've noticed that I'm hungry almost all the time and have gained back about 20# of the weight I lost earlier this year; sometimes I also feel 'funny' after eating, kind of shaky and hungry and headachy. I pee all the time whether I take my Lasix or not---of course, that may be due to the fact that I always feel dry and therefore am drinking several liters of fluids per day.

Here's the rub: whenever I do an FSBS at work, it's always low-normal, running in the 80s to low 90s no matter when I check it. I did get a reading of 145 the other morning after eating a breakfast of 2 pieces of dry toast and 3 slices of bacon, which is definitely unusual for me, given the fact that I never had numbers like that even when I was eating a huge amount of carbohydrates. But I feel strange, and that's what worries me.......like right now: I just ate two bowls of cereal and feel shaky & irritable, and I'm still hungry!! What's up with THAT?? I did so well for so long, and even though I've never gone back to eating candy or other concentrated sweets like I used to, I'm eating huge amounts of bread and potatoes and cereals, and I feel like crap.

So.......could this be diabetes after all? I almost wish I had a glucometer so I could check my blood sugars when I feel like this. I did have some blood drawn the other day and have a doctor's appointment next Thursday, so I'm not going to just ignore this like I've done with some things in the past.......but my fasting blood sugars are ALWAYS normal, and I've no reason to think it won't be this time. You'd think a nurse who deals with diabetics every day would know all this stuff, but I don't get how I can have all these symptoms and still have normal blood sugars.

Any thoughts??

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Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho.

So why not have the doctor do a HgbA1C and find out? If you are diabetic that should give you a good indicator of your status. The doctor would have to direct you to any follow up with diatician or medication.

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Specializes in NICU.

I think I replied to you on another thread about an endocrinologist. Rememeber when I said my labs were all within normal limits, but put together, they suggested a massive imbalance? Well, my blood sugar is always normal, completely normal. But my insulin level was through the roof, which makes me pre-diabetic. Get thee to that endo soon, because after a full work-up, you're going to have a whole lot of questions answered.

Take care!!!

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Your family health history?

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Specializes in Specializes in L/D, newborn, GYN, LTC, Dialysis.

It sure sounds possible Marla. Go to a doctor at your earliest chance to find out! I don't need to lecture you on the consequences of untreated diabetes!

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I have an appointment this week. I'm going to talk to my doctor about this, in addition to the fact that I've been researching obesity surgery, and want a referral to an endocrinologist as well. I've got to find out why I can't lose weight and why all this other garbage is going on. :o

I should add that I have no family history of DM.....my sister has been

hypoglycemic in the past, as have I, but that's it. If there had been any family history, I probably would have had the disease a long time ago.

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
It sure sounds possible Marla. Go to a doctor at your earliest chance to find out! I don't need to lecture you on the consequences of untreated diabetes!

uh...... yeh. Me neither. I see the results every day, and it's not pretty. :o

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Which is why I'm not waiting to get checked out........I've seen way too many people go blind, get feet and legs amputated, and have to go on dialysis because of diabetes. Heck, I've had numbness in my right foot for over a year even with normal blood sugars........something isn't right, that's for sure. :o

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Specializes in Hemodialysis, Home Health.
Which is why I'm not waiting to get checked out........I've seen way too many people go blind, get feet and legs amputated, and have to go on dialysis because of diabetes. Heck, I've had numbness in my right foot for over a year even with normal blood sugars........something isn't right, that's for sure. :o

Then get on it, Marla... time's -a- wastin' !

Keep us posted, and get a THOUROUGH check-up !!! Wish you only the best.

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Specializes in LTC.

well I'm just a lowly student and correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't all those carbs just as bad as candy, sweets, etc.?

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
well I'm just a lowly student and correct me if I'm wrong but aren't all those carbs just as bad as candy, sweets, etc.?[/quote']

Apparently they are, at least for me......my body responds about as well to white bread and potatoes as it does to a Butterfingers bar :o

Oh, and BTW, never refer to yourself as a 'lowly student'---you are a future nurse! :)

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Yeah, carbs are merely the second worst food group of the lot. But eating too many carbs (real easy to do if you're a meat and potatoes type, as I am) can spike your BG for quite a bit longer than, say, a really small piece of sugar (eg, hard candy), and that can't be good.

I'd say that you should certainly investigate your symptoms and get to the bottom of things. Just because your blood sugars always test 'normal' doesn't mean you don't have something going on - diabetes isn't just considered consistently high blood sugar (though that's usually the case), but more an inability to properly regulate blood glucose levels, which in turn cause various symptoms, damage, etc, etc. Whatever happens, good luck!

Tom

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