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Diabetes? (Aqui)AquiModerator Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 316 Location: my desk, Londonish Posted: 25 Apr 2006 12:57 pm Post subject: Diabetes? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- My head feels funny again. It's now four hours since breakfast, so I'm going to have to eat again. Had this last night too. Seems like this blood sugar thing is getting worse recently - I seem to have to eat much more regularly than I used to - and I'm always thirsty, even though I drink loads of water (about 3litres a day). Especially after riding I feel really zapped (I usually have half a litre of water on the way home, eat fruit and nuts and also have half litre of fruit juice and water). My hypercondriac mind leaps to diabetes. My uncle and two cousins on each side have it, although no direct relatives as far as I know. I'm not sure if I should get tested. I'm confused about diabetes and blood sugar, have been reading websites, but am even more confused! help. _________________ The quiet power of growing things is truly magical Back to top Becki Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1106 Location: Over here and not there. Posted: 25 Apr 2006 01:04 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I think Lloyds pharmacies do the test there, that one who has the T.V woman Phillipa somebody or other advertising it. I would go and get tested. If it isn't then it would put your mind at rest and if it is I believe it's much easier to control these days. I know a couple of people that have it and they seem to be o.k _________________ www.thecardbee.com Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 25 Apr 2006 01:18 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aqui my 4 yr old daughter was diagnosed last year in October. The symptoms for her were extreme thirst, going to the toilet often, no energy, fatigue, not eating, weight loss, generally feeling unwell and disorientated. J was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes which is dependent on insulin i.e. she has to have insulin injections originally twice but now three times a day. Type 2 diabetes you can control by diet rather than by insulin injections and people who get this type are generally older, type 1 you tend to get from young. If you have family members with diabetes you quite likely may also have it, but you can get it without any family history, J doesn't have any family history of diabetes apart from a distant great uncle. Pharmacies do tests or visit your GP, a simple finger prick test will give you immediate results (within 5 seconds) and the prick test is not sore. It could be any number of things though so I would see your GP, if it's not diabetes they may be able to diagnose something different. Back to top Aqui Moderator Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 316 Location: my desk, Londonish Posted: 25 Apr 2006 02:05 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- thanks both. well feeling somewhat better after eating now. I've just managed to get through to the doctor and have to go tomorrow to pick up a form to get a blood test. I'm not sure if they do the test there and then or I have to make another appointment. I tried Lloyds, but there isn't one near me (at home or work). I'll keep you informed. _________________ The quiet power of growing things is truly magical Back to top chickens1968 Moderator Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 315 Location: Gloucestershire Posted: 25 Apr 2006 02:13 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I thought I had it too and got tested and it was clear (phew its on both sides of my family) after many tests etc I was diagnosed as Sad! which i took great offence at lol, I am on treatment for SAD now and much better but next year am gonna get a light box. Go get tested Aqui better safe than sorry!!! and thats an order!! _________________ http://www.freewebs.com/chickens1968/ Back to top Cabbagepatch Perennial Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 478 Posted: 25 Apr 2006 02:26 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chickens, thats interesting because I had to have time off work this winter with depression and all that old malarkey. Am loads better now so have been wondering if it was SAD. I've had a look at the light boxes in Boots, and seriously thinking about getting one for next winter, even tho' they are expensive. What other treatment is there...if you don't mind me asking? Back to top chickens1968 Moderator Joined: 20 Mar 2006 Posts: 315 Location: Gloucestershire Posted: 25 Apr 2006 03:34 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am afraid its light boxes, emigrating or anti depressants albeit mild ones Now I have been diagnosed it seems to make a lot of sense when I look back over the years, I have seen the light boxes on ebay and some areas NHS have a loan service (not mine though!) _________________ http://www.freewebs.com/chickens1968/ Back to top Cabbagepatch Perennial Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 478 Posted: 25 Apr 2006 03:36 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- emigrating sounds the best option, and of course Monty Don is a fellow sufferer so perhaps he should come to Back to top Paula Seedling Joined: 04 Mar 2006 Posts: 137 Location: norfolk Posted: 25 Apr 2006 04:10 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAD is much more common than people think, ive had it for years, suffer with depresion anyway, but autumn through winter is terrible for me, just want to hide away, and then as soon as the clocks change its like a switch has gone of in my head and OH says iam normal again. then i run my self ragged trying to catch up with all the things i could not do, due to sad !!! _________________ Living life to the full. http://www.freewebs.com/farmandcountrychildren/ www.norfolkrarebreedscentre.com Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 25 Apr 2006 04:11 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- when my Dad moved here a year and a half ago he was worried he'd suffer with SAD or something along those lines, it's quite a shock this climate change from SA to here. His pharmacist friend advised him to take vitamin D suppliments which he has done and he hasn't felt down at all, we're all surprised how well he's coped with the change in climate/light, it may have nothing to do with the vit D tablets but he says he's not stopping taking them through the winter months just incase. So might be worth a try. I also think osteopoprosis (sp?) has something to do with the lack of sunlight in this country, it seems a lot more people have it here than in SA, calcium needs vit D to be absorbed, lack of sunshine throughout the year perhaps means less calcium absorbtion....that's just my guess of course it's not based on any appropriate knowledge whatsoever! Back to top Haize Perennial Joined: 13 Apr 2006 Posts: 389 Posted: 25 Apr 2006 07:05 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hmm, I'd decide whether I had problems with SAD or not if my life would generally stop being traumatic! Just in case though, I'll make sure I spend plenty of time in the natural light until it gets too hot. About diabetes: the most helpful thing I've ever read on the subject was in "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution" (I wasn't doing the diet, it was on our bookshelf and I was *incredibly* bored...). If you can get hold of a copy, it might be worth reading: it explains things like the symptoms of what leads up to type II diabetes (type I is due to pancreas problems, type II is diet related). A friend of mine had a problem where, if his blood sugar level went low, giving him sugary foods actually only solved the problem temporarily, and he would crash out again a little while later. I don't know what you were having for snacks, but maybe it'd be worth changing it? I think bananas are very slow release, try something like that. If I have cereal for breakfast, I end up starving about 2 hours later. Far hungrier than if I hadn't eaten at all, in fact! Unfortunately, I'm not keen on bananas. _________________ Status of our house: No heating, no bathroom, no kitchen. Washing machine, fridge, and boiler sitting around in boxes. No door on room with toilet! http://www.manicfish.com/myblog.php?bbn=haize Back to top Becki Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1106 Location: Over here and not there. Posted: 25 Apr 2006 07:10 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I feel like that Paula. I'm much happier this time of year. Things tend not to look so bleak. _________________ www.thecardbee.com Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 25 Apr 2006 08:19 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Haize you're absolutely right, sugary snacks give you a quick boost in blood sugar levels followed by a rapid crash, it's the crash that can leave you feeling unwell and apparently with some people irritable and feeling low. With J I've been advised to give her longer lasting carbohydrates (sp?), things like wholemeal bread and bananas, the carbs break down into sugars but over a longer period and therefore you avoid the rapid hike and inevitable crash afterwards. Muesli bars sound healthy but usually they're packed with sugar, a wholemeal sandwich or banana would be a much healthier snack. We do use glucose tablets but only when she's hypoglycemic and it's important to up her blood sugar quickly, but it's always followed by a longer lasting carbohydrate snack. Back to top Aqui Moderator Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 316 Location: my desk, Londonish Posted: 27 Apr 2006 09:43 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- well the woman on the phone at the doctors gave me the wrong info. they wouldn't give me a test there, so now I have to go to the hospital, which I'm doing tomorrow. I'm slightly freaking out about it now and so far today I've drunk about 2litres of water and still feel really thirsty. I'm also worried that I've psychosematically (sp?) brought the thirst on. oh well i shall just have to stop worrying and see what happens tomorrow. I have no idea if they give the results there and then or if i have to wait. ps - I don't eat sugary snacks. I found they made me really irritable after i'd, as you say, crashed. My snacks are things like mixed unsalted nuts, fruit, toast, etc. off to the loo again... _________________ The quiet power of growing things is truly magical Back to top Becki Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1106 Location: Over here and not there. Posted: 27 Apr 2006 09:58 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Well the blood test will reveal all, you can't have that fact in your head (I can't spell it either) Try not to worry too much. Easier said than done, I know. _________________ www.thecardbee.com Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 27 Apr 2006 11:23 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- perhaps they're testing your blood for other things too then aqui, a blood sugar test is very easy and all GP's should have one of the testers as part of their "kit". good luck anyway and try not to worry too much. Back to top Aqui Moderator Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 316 Location: my desk, Londonish Posted: 27 Apr 2006 01:55 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I've looked at the form again and, thanks to a bit of googling, have found they will also be checking my kidney function - my symptoms also seem to be consistent with kidney problems. Feeling somewhat less worried about the diabetes now, although I could quite easily become a hypercondriac after doing all this googling. Hopefully I'll find out tomorrow. _________________ The quiet power of growing things is truly magical Back to top Becki Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1106 Location: Over here and not there. Posted: 02 May 2006 08:11 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Any news Aqui? _________________ www.thecardbee.com Back to top Aqui Moderator Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 316 Location: my desk, Londonish Posted: 02 May 2006 08:14 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Becki - thanks for asking. I had the blood test, but have to wait until friday to call the docs for the results. (i put this in the day's thread). Also I think it's totally psychological because it hadn't rained and I was worrying about the garden and I'm mad! I seem to be back to my normal level of thirst now. _________________ The quiet power of growing things is truly magical Back to top Becki Moderator Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Posts: 1106 Location: Over here and not there. Posted: 02 May 2006 08:26 am Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That's me not reading it properly then _________________ www.thecardbee.com Back to top Aqui Moderator Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 316 Location: my desk, Londonish Posted: 08 May 2006 02:23 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Results - aparently I'm normal. Well my blood sugar and kidney functions are anyway. My brain, however, is otherwise, but fortunately they weren't testing that. _________________ The quiet power of growing things is truly magical Back to top Jesse Site Admin Joined: 02 Feb 2006 Posts: 2188 Location: West Sussex Posted: 08 May 2006 02:53 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- that's good news Aqui. With all this rain we've had last night and today your thirst should be quenched Back to top Cabbagepatch Perennial Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 478 Posted: 08 May 2006 07:55 pm Post subject: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Aqui, I've been tested several times over the years for diabetes and always been found negative. And as you say, they don't test for brain normality, so guess we just have to go with the flow. Accepted years ago that my brain is nowhere anywhere on the normality scale!! Lots of bananas and glasses of water! I'm definitely investing in one of those special daylight box things next winter. Fingers crossed. In the meantime we can all exchange notes and positive vibes here Back to top |