diabetes diagnosis

Lately, I have felt thirsty more than usual, and sometimes feels like I have blood sugar drops where I get weak and hungry.   I am only about 30 lbs overweight, and 30 years old.   Does it sound like I'm developing diabetes to you.   My doctor checked by blood sugar the other day but that was it, is that enough to tell If I'm going to get, or have, diabetes, and does it sound like I do to you?  

[Anita Ramsetty, MD]

Hi,
Your symptoms do sound like they could be compatible with early diabetes BUT they could also be something else--the symptoms of diabetes are not very specific.

The best first test is a morning fasting blood sugar. Totally normal is less than 100mg/dL. If it is slightly over that(or if it is normal and you want to do another test to be sure) you can do a 2 hour glucose tolerance test which will check your fasting glucose as well as after a glucose load. These are the medically accepted ways of screening but if you want to do some investigation on your own, you can buy a simple meter from a drug store and simply check your own blood sugars a few times before breakfast and anytime you have those symptoms. If all is normal, then your doctor should start looking for possible other causes for your symptoms.
Hope this helps, take care.

[imtired10]

I am also concerned that I may need to be tested for type II diabetes.  I come from a history of diabetes in my family in every generation.  I had gestational diabetes in my last pregnancy.  What has me concerned is that everytime I eat something like a candy bar or a piece of cake I feel light headed and a dizzy.  I'm not sure if I should schedule an appt with the doctor.  I don't want to waste anyone's time.

[Anita Ramsetty, MD]

Hi,
Same advice for you, "imtired"--have your sugars checked by your doctor and/or start checking them on your own with a meter you get from a drugstore. That's the only way to find out for sure, and you have several risk factors, so I agree it should be evaluated.
take care