Am I Ok?

[wiccanshadows89]

Hi, I went to a clinic and they said I most likely had diabetes and to make a appointment with a doctor. I am always thirsty, go to the restroom way to often, feel dizzy often, eat a lot, and when i feel dizzy i have blurry vision, i have become very week and tired so that i am not up to getting out of bed and am always tired, and have been throwing up a lot lately, at first i thought maybe i had the flu but this has been going on much longer than the flu. I went to the hospital a few times and they tested my bs which was 67 one time, 10 another time and 47 another time and sent me home with no explanation of why i was feeling that way. My mom is diabetic- type 1 and ive taken to testing my bs. It is often in the 300 range bot also very low. i have passed out a few times for whatever reason and woke up having no idea where i was. could this be diabetes, I cant go to the doctor due to no insurance and cant afford it. what could this be?

[JDRF-VOL-SG]

Your glucose levels sound like you may be going from hypoglycemic levels to diabetic levels, for both your low and high levels are out of the usual range for 'normal'. It sounds as if something is going wrong with the ability of your pancreas to maintain stable glucose levels, from what you have written. I would heartily recommend that you go to a doctor except for your comment about not being able to afford it. Can you qualify for medicaid? Can you cut some expenses so you can afford to get a proper diagnosis? If hypoglycemia were all that you were complaining about, I would suggest that you always keep some quick carbohydrates such as juice handy to fix the lows and that you change your diet (info is available on www.hypoglycemia.org). But the high levels sound dangerous, depending on how often you have high levels, in other words, levels above 120 before meals or above about 150 after meals. If this is happening often, then your body could be getting damaged in very serious ways.

You are doing a smart thing in testing -- that may be helpful as you try to maintain your glucose levels. If high, then avoid eating more carbohyrdates until those levels drop. If low, then eat some quick carbs. If your glucose levels are high a lot, you absolutely MUST see a doctor and get the proper medications to lower those levels to protect kidneys, eyes, nerves, and heart.

The symptoms you list could be either low glucose or high glucose, for both have the same effect on the body in the long run -- the body ends up starving for energy from food sugars in either case. If you are overweight, it is critical to lose to your ideal weight. If not, then my opinion is that you need to be tested for autoimmune diabetes (type 1) and maybe for other problems that can cause damage to the pancreas.

As for affording health care, try going to the www.jdrf.org website and clicking on the Online Diabetes Support Team link to send a message to the ODST team, asking to be put in touch with the staff member who handles all cases of people who need financial help with diabetes. He may have some suggestions for you. I do wish you the best.

[wiccanshadows89]

my bs is high mostly. Ive tried to get medacaid but have been denied 5 times. I am still in high school and my mom cant afford to take me to a doctor. i willl contact jdf. thanks for your input

[mstroodles]

It definitely sounds like diabetes.  See if there's a free clinic around or call up jdf and tell them about your insurance situation.  I'm sure someone will help. I'm not a medical doctor, but  I really don't know of any other reason why your bs would fluctuate so much without it being diabetes.

[wiccanshadows89]

thanks for your help