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Advice please

Posted , 4 users are following.

lornamcp
lornamcp

I have a doctors app for tomorrow.  I'm very nervous. I'm 31 and would say in good health, however over the past year my hair is thinning, I've had a rash on my lower legs that won't go away and itchs like mad.  The past month I wake up with my arm numb in the same place and feel my fingers want to turn in. My thigh also has a dull numbness. I dipped my urine In work the other day and the glocouse reading was off the scale.  My father was diabetic, though passed away at the age of 39.  Any thoughts and advice would be much appreciated.

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • lornamcp
    lornamcp

    Posted

    May I add I'm female.
  • micksmixxx
    micksmixxx lornamcp

    Posted

    lornamcp,

    I think you've answered your own question there, my friend.  If your urine glucose level was "off the scale" it MOST LIKELY indicates that you are diabetic.  (There are other medical conditions that can cause glucose to be present in urine, but the first thing a doctor will think when s/he sees this is s/he will suspect diabetes.  They will then carry out a blood glucose test to confirm, or refute, that this is what the 'problem' is.)

    Your father being diabetic DOES put you at increased risk of developing it yourself.

    I can certainly appreciate your anxiety, my friend, but diabetes is NOT sosmething you want to be messing around with.  There are many complications that can ensue if your blood glucose level is out of control for a prolonged period of time, so the sooner you find out whether this is, in fact, what's ailing you, and begin treatment for it, the better.

    Let me reassure you, lornamcp, that the sooner you begin treatment the better you will be overall.  Your blood glucose levels will go back down to either a 'normal' range or a near 'normal' range.  This will either prevent, or at least delay, the onset of diabetic complications.  I won't go into detail as I'm sure you're already worried enough, but I will say that some of the complications can be a real pain ... literally; some can prove embarrassing; and some can prove fatal.

    Do yourself the biggest favour of all, my friend, and make sure you keep your appointment tomorrow.  Don't be afraid to ask your doctor questions.

    I wish you well, lornamcp, and I truly do hope that you'll come back on here and let us know what your doctor said, and how you're feeling about things.

    Lots of Love and Light.

     Mick

    x x x x

     x x x

    P.S. Please don't be offended or alarmed at the "x's".  It's simply a logo, of sorts, that I've used for some 30-odd years now.

  • james04405
    james04405 lornamcp

    Posted

    Hi, sorry to hear about your issues. I can only reinforce what has already been said and hope that you keep your appointment with your doctor. If it does prove that you are diabetic, then medication will hopefully bring your levels under control and then it will be down to you to manage the health issue. It is an unfair disease that  can affect those who are not typical sufferers, but with your family history, then you will be in the high risk category ( probably ) but your Doc will confirm everything. Good luck and ve positive about taking control of your issue. Better that way than having the disease run riot as it may be currently doing.

     

  • lornamcp
    lornamcp

    Posted

    Well I'm just back from the doctors, blood samples took.  Should know the results Monday or Tuesday next week.  She  tested my blood sugar level on a small machine which came up 6.8, I got told from her this was just about normal.  She also mentioned Thyroid problems could cause some of the symptoms I'm experiencing.  Still feeling anxious thought trying my best to stay calm.
    • james04405
      james04405 lornamcp

      Posted

      All that you can do now is wait for the blood results. At least you have started the ball rolling and hopefully you and yor Doctor can get you stabilised and the health problems under control.
    • micksmixxx
      micksmixxx lornamcp

      Posted

      Thank you for coming back to us, lornamcp.  I'm glad you did.

      Now, my new found friend, if your blood sugar (glucose) level was tested before you'd had anything to eat, 6.8 mmol/l (millimoles per litre) is a little higher than it should be for a non-diabetic.  If, however, you weren't instructed to fast (not eat overnight) the test would be called a Random blood glucose test, so would be considered in the 'normal' range.

      The blood test that she took and is sending away to a pathology laboratory will PROBABLY include a HbA1c test.  This gives a measurement of the amount of glucose (sugar) that's attached to your red blood cells over the previous 3 months or so ... with a slight bias towards the last 3 or 4 weeks.  This will tell if your blood sugar (glucose) levels have been higher than they really should be over this period of time.

      The thyroid 'problems' MAY be the cause of some of your symptoms, my friend, but you'll find out on Monday or Tuesday as your doctor has MOST PROBABLY requested various thyroid hormone tests be carried out on your blood sample too.

      Do stay calm, lornamcp.  If there is a 'problem' the sooner you start any medication(s) deemed necessary you'll start to feel better.  Do be aware, however, that some of the medication(s) that MIGHT be prescribed take a little while to build up in your system before you start to feel any benefit.

      Do, please, keep us up-to-date with what's found.  I, for one, am genuinely interested.

      Be well, lornamcp.

      Lots of Love and Light.

       Mick

      x x x x

       x x x

  • lornamcp
    lornamcp

    Posted

    Thanks guys ,

    it's nice to know I'm not alone.  

    Mick i I hadn't had anything to eat since last night. I had called for a general appointment so didn't get told to fast.

    I know I am a worrier but I honestly have such a gut feeling it's diabetes.

    its going to be a long weekend.

    • micksmixxx
      micksmixxx lornamcp

      Posted

      Thank you again, lornamcp, for coming back.

      If you hadn't been specifically requested to fast, my friend, the doctor would have taken it as a random blood glucose.  She would have otherwise requested you to fast.

      We're going to be here over the weekend ... and for way beyond then ... so if you want a bit of support, please don't hesitate to come here again.  (If you really would like someone to talk to, mention it here and I'll send you a personal message with my personal email address included.)

      Be well, lornamcp.

      Lots of Love and Light.

       Mick

      x x x x

       x x x

  • lornamcp
    lornamcp

    Posted

    Thanks again

    im working. Fri sat sun so that will keep me busy, in a dementia unit so never a dull moment, so hopefully won't have too much time to think about myself.

    What will be will be

    • micksmixxx
      micksmixxx lornamcp

      Posted

      That's interesting, lornamcp.  I used to be a specialist social worker for people suffering with dementia ... of whichever type.  Hopefully, you find your job a rewarding one.

      Yes, my friend, I agree with you that working in a dementia unit doesn't really give you much time to think about yourself.  (I started work as a care assistant, but found that what I was doing at work wasn't too far removed from what I was doing at home with my own two sons ... wiping noses and wiping bums. lol.  I had to push and push to be accepted on a social work training as our Training section kept throwing obstacles in my way, continually harping on about my diabetes and how it would make it more difficult.)

      You're right, my friend, that what will be will be.  We have only a certain amount of control over things like our health, though if you are prediabetic you MAY be able to defer, and some would say "reverse", the onset of type 2 diabetes by adhering to a low carbohydrate diet and taking more exercise.  (It's prediabetes or type 2 diabetes that I was suspecting, based on your blood glucose level this morning.)

      Be well, lornamcp.

      Lots of Love and Light.

       Mick

      x x x x

       x x x

    • micksmixxx
      micksmixxx lornamcp

      Posted

      Hi lornamcp,

      Sorry, my friend, I forgot to add to my earlier response that if the HbA1c test result ... assuming your doctor has actually requested one be carried out ... doesn't give a clear indication of whether you're diabetic or not, you MAY be requested to undergo a Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT).  This test means that you'll need to fast (not eat or drink) overnight, have your blood drawn, which will give a 'baseline' on which to compare further blood tests, and then requested to drink a sickly sweet substance.  After an hour you will then have more blood extracted, usually from a vein on the inside of your elbow joint.  (The test MAY last longer, dependent on how long your doctor wishes you to undergo the GTT.)

      A comparison of the test results would indicate whether you have Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), diabetes, or have no problem at all with glucose metabolism.

      patient.info actually do a good summary, which is more comprehensive than my brief attempt at explaining what it is, on the following webpage:

      https://patient.info/health/glucose-tolerance-test

      Lots of Love and Light.

       Mick

      x x x x

       x x x

  • Taajsgpm
    Taajsgpm lornamcp

    Posted

    How did your doctors apointment go I anxious to hear a report?
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