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Could these be signs of diabetes?
by ibchaka, Nov 14, 2003 12:00AM
Hey everyone!
Let me tell you a little about me and my history so hopefully I can have you understand my situation.
I am a 19 year old college sophomore. I have always been a really good student up until college, when my grades dropped. At first I thought it was just the change of starting college, but this year it has become worse and more obvious that it is due to a lack of ability to focus and keep my attention on things. Even when I sit down and try my hardest to read and concentrate, it's like my brain is made of teflon.
For about a year now I have noticed that my limbs fall asleep really easily. I can't sit crosslegged, on my knees, or even on the floor with my legs straight out. When I sit like that, within a few minutes my legs start to tingle, like they are going to fall asleep.
I am always tired. At first I thought it was because I wasn't getting enough sleep, but with an adequate amount of sleep I still fall asleep in my classes and other times throughout the day.
I don't know if this next thing could relate, but it might. I have recently (the past 6 months) recovered from anorexia. I was not the type that got super thin, but I did restrict my eating for a period of almost two years. (I am currently 5'8" and 185lbs.)
I have a family history of diabetes. Both my grandmothers have/had it, and I know at least one uncle that has it. My family also has a history of heart disease.
My spanish told me about a student she had that had the same concentration problem and after being tested, found out she had diabetes.
Thanks for all your help!
ibchaka
Let me tell you a little about me and my history so hopefully I can have you understand my situation.
I am a 19 year old college sophomore. I have always been a really good student up until college, when my grades dropped. At first I thought it was just the change of starting college, but this year it has become worse and more obvious that it is due to a lack of ability to focus and keep my attention on things. Even when I sit down and try my hardest to read and concentrate, it's like my brain is made of teflon.
For about a year now I have noticed that my limbs fall asleep really easily. I can't sit crosslegged, on my knees, or even on the floor with my legs straight out. When I sit like that, within a few minutes my legs start to tingle, like they are going to fall asleep.
I am always tired. At first I thought it was because I wasn't getting enough sleep, but with an adequate amount of sleep I still fall asleep in my classes and other times throughout the day.
I don't know if this next thing could relate, but it might. I have recently (the past 6 months) recovered from anorexia. I was not the type that got super thin, but I did restrict my eating for a period of almost two years. (I am currently 5'8" and 185lbs.)
I have a family history of diabetes. Both my grandmothers have/had it, and I know at least one uncle that has it. My family also has a history of heart disease.
My spanish told me about a student she had that had the same concentration problem and after being tested, found out she had diabetes.
Thanks for all your help!
ibchaka
Doctor's Answer
by JDRF-Team-cd, Nov 14, 2003 12:00AM
Since you have a family history of diabetes, you should have a blood test done. You could have this done at your doctor's office or since November is Diabetes Awareness Month, you may be able to find an organization doing diabetes screenings in your area. Fasting blood sugar over 126 mg/dl would be considered diabetes and fasting blood sugar between 100 and 126 mg/dl would be considered pre-diabetes. Drowsiness and lethargy are symptoms of diabetes but you don't mention having the most common symptoms which are frequent urination, extreme hunger and thirst and sudden weight loss. At any rate, with a history of diabetes, it would probably be a good idea to periodically have your blood sugar checked. If someone in your family has a blood sugar monitor, you could even use that.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Have a wonderful weekend.
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Congrats on recovering from anorexia. YOu've taken a major step to better overall health
I recommend that you talk to your physician about getting a full workup, if you haven't been to a doc in a while.
Low blood sugar can cause inability to concentrate, and yet so can HIGH blood sugar. Feeling tired can also be a marker of both. Our blood sugar levels fluctuate during a normal day based on food, exercise, stress, health, rest. A non-diabetic person's blood sugar is always within a fairly narrow range. A glucose tolerance test, fasting blood sugar, and some quick home blood tests can begin to give you information.
Do work with a doctor. We all need good medical support when trying to figure out new & unpleasant symptoms. I hope you'll check in here again, too.
As far as the most common symptoms mentioned I do find myself thirsty a lot of the time. I have often described my thirst as exponential (I'm an engineering student) but the thing is I don't usually quench my thirst so I don't go to the bathroom "frequently". I don't notice being any more hungry than usual, and I haven't recently lost weight, but then again that could be because of my history.
I know exactly what you mean when you say that you'll read a paragraph over and over, I do it all the time.
I plan on speaking with my pediatrician on Monday and asking him about getting blood work done.
Thanks again for such quick responses. It's comforting to know that there are others that think there might be something more to the "college student that's having trouble".
- ibchaka
"...As far as the most common symptoms mentioned I do find myself thirsty a lot of the time. I have often described my thirst as exponential (I'm an engineering student) but the thing is I don't usually quench my thirst so I don't go to the bathroom "frequently". ..."
It seems to me that when we're thirsty or hungry the cells in our bodies are signalling their need for something real. Unlike a person "wanting something" because of a TV ad, when we feel thirsty, it seems reasonable to attempt to quench that thirst. If your thirst turns out to be a signal of high blood sugar, quenching it will help protect you from building up a blood toxin called ketones.
Hope you'll get some definitive answers from you doc soon and I'm looking forward to reading about your progress.
So I called my doctor and talked to him about my symptoms possibly being diabetes. He really doesn't think that diabetes is the case because of the lack of frequent urination. He said that I would be having to get up in the middle of the night at least once to either drink or go to the bathroom, which I don't.
I believe that he was talking strictly Type 1, because I guess I am too young for Type 2?
He said that he is going to continue working with me to figure out what is going on. (He says that even though I don't have the typical symptoms of depression, that he thinks it might be that.) Thank you guys for all your help!
- ibchaka