[Ness]

Hey there. I've been experiencing a few symptoms which I think may be related to a possible cause of diabetes. I'm really at a loss for what is going on with my body lately, so if you could take a couple of minutes to read about my situation I'd really appreciate it. I'm in dire need for some answers. And just for the record I'm 22 years old, and weight about 160 lbs. while being 5'11''.

So about six days ago I started randomly feeling a little light headed and dizzy. I also started to feel a tad bit numb in my fingers and sometimes in my feet. I thought it was nothing at first, but when it continued on for a few days I started to get worried. I looked around a bit online and found that some of my symptoms may be related to those of a diabetic. I started to get really worried. Because my grandmother was a diabetic and a few other relatives were. And my eating habits over the years have been all over the map...and I have this thing for staying up late as well. As a matter of fact, before the symptoms started happening I was having a real bad week of junk food...and I was staying up really late I remember.

For the past four or five days I've eaten very carefully and have drank only water. Not a drop of anything else. I also stayed away from a lot of sugary snacks. I'm eating a piece of cake right now for the first time in like two days or something.

During these last few days I also saw a doctor. I don't have medical insurance so I was really concerned about being able to see a physician that could properly examine me and perhaps give a diagnosis. Since I live in San Francisco (a pretty liberal city) I was able to see a doctor at a local clinic. Best I could do. In any case, when I first went there I saw a nurse who took my blood sugar and it read 141. And that was an hour after I had a bowl of ice cream. She said I may be a diabetic. But when I saw the doctor later on he did some physical tests and I basically told him what has been happening to me. And after his evaluation he was hard pressed himself to believe I may have diabetes. I also drew blood for lab tests or something, but apparently I have to come back in like three weeks to get those results. I also did some other research about potential other symptoms of diabetes and this is what I am NOT experiencing:

- frequent bathroom use
- change in appetite
- blurred vision
- being thirsty or hungry a lot
- excessive weight loss/gain

Honestly the only things that are bothering me/have experienced are the light headed feeling the numbness in my fingers. Now things have gotten a little better over the last few days. The light headed feeling isn't as apparent as it was most times of the day a few days ago, and the numbness in my hands has reduced to a "fuzzy" feeling. But things haven't gotten so much better than I think I'll be normal again. I think the rest and better eating habits over the last few days have helped though. I think. I just wish I knew what it is that is happening to me. I really didn't feel like I got a good answer from my doctor. I was even considering getting a blood sugar device because I'm so impatient and I really want some help.

Maybe this is a case of something else like not enough rest, anxiety, or some other condition like Anemia. If you guys have any information that can help me, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[kas77]

Hey there. I've been experiencing a few symptoms which I think may be related to a possible cause of diabetes. I'm really at a loss for what is going on with my body lately, so if you could take a couple of minutes to read about my situation I'd really appreciate it. I'm in dire need for some answers. And just for the record I'm 22 years old, and weight about 160 lbs. while being 5'11''.

So about six days ago I started randomly feeling a little light headed and dizzy. I also started to feel a tad bit numb in my fingers and sometimes in my feet. I thought it was nothing at first, but when it continued on for a few days I started to get worried. I looked around a bit online and found that some of my symptoms may be related to those of a diabetic. I started to get really worried. Because my grandmother was a diabetic and a few other relatives were. And my eating habits over the years have been all over the map...and I have this thing for staying up late as well. As a matter of fact, before the symptoms started happening I was having a real bad week of junk food...and I was staying up really late I remember.

For the past four or five days I've eaten very carefully and have drank only water. Not a drop of anything else. I also stayed away from a lot of sugary snacks. I'm eating a piece of cake right now for the first time in like two days or something.

During these last few days I also saw a doctor. I don't have medical insurance so I was really concerned about being able to see a physician that could properly examine me and perhaps give a diagnosis. Since I live in San Francisco (a pretty liberal city) I was able to see a doctor at a local clinic. Best I could do. In any case, when I first went there I saw a nurse who took my blood sugar and it read 141. And that was an hour after I had a bowl of ice cream. She said I may be a diabetic. But when I saw the doctor later on he did some physical tests and I basically told him what has been happening to me. And after his evaluation he was hard pressed himself to believe I may have diabetes. I also drew blood for lab tests or something, but apparently I have to come back in like three weeks to get those results. I also did some other research about potential other symptoms of diabetes and this is what I am NOT experiencing:

- frequent bathroom use
- change in appetite
- blurred vision
- being thirsty or hungry a lot
- excessive weight loss/gain

Honestly the only things that are bothering me/have experienced are the light headed feeling the numbness in my fingers. Now things have gotten a little better over the last few days. The light headed feeling isn't as apparent as it was most times of the day a few days ago, and the numbness in my hands has reduced to a "fuzzy" feeling. But things haven't gotten so much better than I think I'll be normal again. I think the rest and better eating habits over the last few days have helped though. I think. I just wish I knew what it is that is happening to me. I really didn't feel like I got a good answer from my doctor. I was even considering getting a blood sugar device because I'm so impatient and I really want some help.

Maybe this is a case of something else like not enough rest, anxiety, or some other condition like Anemia. If you guys have any information that can help me, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

Were your symptoms before or after you started drinking nothing but water?

 

[Ness]

Were your symptoms before or after you started drinking nothing but water?

Started happening before.

 

[Shanny]

Welcome to Diabetes Forum, Ness. Good to hear that you got into a clinic - too bad it takes them so long to get lab results back.

It wouldn't hurt a thing if you got your own monitor and took a few fasting readings at least. Places like Walmart, Walgreens, Krogers . . . all offer cheap but reliable meters, and I'd check the prices of the strips when making my choice because that's the expensive part. The best strips price I've found is Walmart at $39 per 100, for their ReliOn meter. I use that meter, and it's as accurate as any other.

Eating carefully for your blood sugar means avoiding starches as well as sugars, so vegetables like potatoes, grains like rice, and even many fruits are apt to raise your levels.

 

[kas77]

Started happening before.

Did your symptoms improve after you increased your water intake?

 

[jsntay]

I agree with Shanny that getting a meter may be a good idea. You also need an A1c test which is most likely going to be a part of the blood work that you are waiting on. If you wanted to get an idea before you go back for the results, Bayer makes an at home A1c kit that usually sells for about 30.00 at your local pharmacy.

 

[breezeonby]

The Bayer A1C home test kit was not accurate for me. After 4 tests, the home test was about 35% lower than a lab A1C test. You might want to try a A1C test kit that you can buy at the pharmacy and mail in the blood test. You can also visit www.flexsite.com, they will send you a kit and you mail in the blood test, the cost is about $25.

 

[jsntay]

I have always wondered about the accuracy. I did one and it was 5.8, thinking it was a little too good to be true, I used the other one the next day and it was 6.2. I am going to get another and use it the morning of my upcoming blood draw and compare. I will let everyone know how that turns out.

 

[breezeonby]

I bought the 10 pack kit and I plan on doing the same thing at my next blood draw at the lab, I am also going to take my meter and check that as well. Nothing like going around with false information.

 

[stripes]

Hi Ness,

Sounds like you're having a bit of a hard time and are very confused.

Your higher than normal glucose reading at the doctors may not actually indicate diabetes: a few years ago my Dad was sick with the flu, and he went to the doctors who gave him a glucose test, and it was something like 13 or 14 (we use a different number system in Aus - 13 or 14 is at least 5 above a good range for a non-diabetic!). They thought he had diabetes, until Dad got home, told me, then a few hours later realised he'd had a lucozade a short time before the test. I was measuring him, and his levels went back to normal.

So basically, your high reading may not indicate diabetes, and as you said you did have some ice cream a short time before. Though don't quote me on it! I'm not a doctor.

Even if you do get diagnosed with diabetes, I know it's not ideal and not what anyone wants, but it's really not the end of the world. You will be able to manage it. Life doesn't give you more than you can handle. At least you have family members who know about it!

Good luck,

stripes

 

[Strider]

Those symptoms could be almost anything, including being dehydrated or not getting enough sleep. You might not be breathing deeply enough, so that oxygen isn't getting to your extremities. You could have bad posture, which also impedes oxygen flow and sometimes puts pressure on nerves causing dizziness or numbness. Yes, it could be something serious like diabetes, but it doesn't have to be.