Am I diabetic?

Question

While I do not want to jinx myself into thinking I have something I do not have, I am realistic about some of the symptoms I have.

I am obese. I am 5'5" 285 lbs.
Diabetes runs in my family *all my maternal great-aunts, my maternal grandma and my mom are all diabetics*
I am always hungry and most days of the month I crave sweets
I feel like I have to pee all the time
I have dry skin at times

Could I be diabetic or do I just need to lose weight and pray for the best? I do try to walk an hour a day through my local park and I have been a vegetarian for 2 years. I am trying to make changes.

Let me also add that some of the symptoms are more monthly too. When I am PMS-ing, I cannot eat enough and I CRAVE CRAVE sugar all the time. When I do go on a sugar binge, I am instantly sleepy afterwards/

Any and all insight would be appreciated.

I wanted to add that the last time I had and A1C test done, it was 5.2

I do not know if that is a good thing or not, but it was 3 years ago.

Answer 1

Do You Have Diabetes?
Millions of people have diabetes mellitus, commonly called diabetes. You may be surprised to know that many of these people don’t even know they have it.

Diabetes is a serious disease and should not be ignored. If you have it, correct treatment can help you live a long and healthy life.

What Is Diabetes?
If you have diabetes, your body can’t make or use insulin. Insulin helps change sugar into energy to keep you alive.

There are different kinds of diabetes. The main ones are type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 Diabetes
This type of diabetes is mostly found in children and young adults. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin and you must inject insulin daily.

You May:
urinate often
be very thirsty
be very hungry
lose a lot of weight
be very tired
be irritable
have blurred vision
have trouble seeing.
Type 2 Diabetes
Most people with diabetes have this form of the disease. Type 2 is usually found in people over 45, who have diabetes in their family, who are overweight, who don’t exercise, and who have cholesterol problems. It is also common in certain racial and ethnic groups (blacks, American Indians, and Hispanics) and in women who had diabetes when they were pregnant. If you have type 2 diabetes, your body cannot make enough insulin or correctly use it. Treatment is diabetes pills and sometimes insulin injections, as well as diet and exercise.

You May Have:
any of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes
a lot of infections
cuts or bruises that heal slowly
tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
skin, gum, or bladder infections that keep coming back.
Controlling Diabetes
Daily monitoring and careful control of blood sugar levels are the most important steps to take for people with diabetes. If not treated, diabetes can cause:

High blood sugar (which could make you thirsty, tired, lose weight, urinate often, or give you infections that won’t go away)
Many serious health problems (which could hurt your eyes, kidneys, nerves, or heart).
Warning: Low Blood Sugar
People with diabetes may develop low blood sugar because their blood has too much insulin or other blood sugar-lowering medication or from not eating enough food. It is important to follow the eating and medication schedule your doctor has prescribed to avoid low blood sugar.

Low blood sugar could make you shaky, dizzy, sweaty, hungry, have a headache, have pale skin color, have sudden mood or behavior changes, have clumsy or jerky movements, have difficulty paying attention, feel confused, or have tingling sensations around the mouth.

Taking Care of Your Diabetes
The best way to take care of your diabetes is to make sure the levels or amount of sugar in your blood are near the normal range. This will make you feel better and help you stay healthy.

Your doctor will tell you how often to check your blood sugar level. To do this, you will need to take a drop of your blood and place it on a special test strip. Then a device, called a blood glucose meter, reads the strip. This device measures the amount of sugar in your blood.

Writing down this level, along with the time and date, will help you see how well your treatment plan is working.

Remember:
A person’s blood sugar level rises after eating any meal that contains carbohydrates or protein. Table sugar (also called ?sucrose) counts as a carbohydrate. Artificial sweeteners, such as saccharin, aspartame (NutraSweet), and sucralose (Splenda), do not count as carbohydrates or fats. They make food taste sweet. But they do not raise blood sugar levels and have little or no calories.

What Else Can You Do?
Eat well-balanced meals. The right amount of healthy food will keep your weight under control and help manage your diabetes.

Your body needs food from the four main food groups every day:

Fruits and vegetables (oranges, apples, bananas, carrots, and spinach)
Whole grains, cereals, and bread (wheat, rice, oats, bran, and barley)
Dairy products (milk, cheese, and yogurt)
Meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dried beans, and nuts.
Remember:
Too much fat and cholesterol in your diet can be very harmful to people with diabetes. Food that is high in fat includes red meat, dairy products (whole milk, cream, cheese, and ice cream), egg yolks, butter, salad dressings, vegetable oils, and many desserts.

Can You Do Anything Else?
Exercise is important for good diabetes control. It usually lowers blood sugar and may help insulin work better. Exercise and a healthy diet can also help you take off extra pounds if you are overweight.

Warning:
Check with your doctor before starting any exercise program. You may need a snack before or during the activity to avoid having low blood sugar while you exercise.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

I am writing to tell you what an incredible impact these methods had on my life! I have had type 2 diabetes for 27 years. For me, the worst part of this horrible disease is the severe pain I constantly get in my feet. The pain is so bad that I avoid standing and walking as much as possible. I've got to tell you that within the first month, my feet stopped hurting altogether and I can now walk totally pain free.

Believe it or not, I even danced at my niece's wedding last month, something I have not done in a many years. I've been following the book for six months now and my blood sugar is well within normal range. I feel great!

I recommend you use the Type 2 Diabetes Destroyer to naturally reverse your diabetes.

Answer 5

Others have answered this question well, but to sum it up: You are at risk of type 2 diabetes and should be getting checked for it at least once a year. You may not be diabetic yet (although it is possible with your symptoms). If you aren't, then you could do well to learn about carbohydrates and look after yourself. It is possible to put diabetes off for many many years!

Losing weight would certainly be good for you. Being vegetarian is great for the animals, but doesn't help people with diabetes at all. It's carbs you need to be careful of.

Also note that sugar cravings are normal, and avoidable. Because carbs give you 'easy access' energy, and are used up quite fast, the more carb you eat the more you'll need. Try avoiding heavy carb foods (bread, pasta, most junk food & sweets, potatoes etc) and balancing a meal with a good amount of protein and tons of vegetables. The energy is released slower, so no high peaks and then drops, which means you can go longer without eating and your energy levels should stay at a flatter level too.

Most importantly: Please see your doctor! A quick blood test will answer your questions. You might want to put it off, but trust me, it's always better to know what you're dealing with. Knowledge is power :)

Answer 6

5.2 is normal blood sugar count. It was 3 years ago though. I could have changed by now. Go have it taken again and if you are Diabetic the Doctor will put you on the right Medication and will help steer you in the right direction. Meanwhile look up everything you can about Diabetes and read all you can. One in every 3 people have Diabetes of some form now. This is nothing to fool around with !! If your are Diabetic you need to learn how to control it or you could lose your limbs and sight among all kinds of other problems !!! This is a start ! You done good !! :)

Answer 7

You certainly MAY be diabetic. You show enough symptoms to be concerned. The only way to be sure is to be tested again. The A1C test only shows levels reached during the last 3 months, or so, so regular testing is needed to see what one's status is.

With your family history and clear obesity, you should get tested ASAP, and often. Losing weight may help, but, if you ARE currently diabetic, medications can keep your blood sugar under control, and prevent the more serious effects of diabetes from doing you more damage.

It is not always the diabetes that can kill you. It is the ignorance of your condition that can.

Answer 8

An HbA1C test is usually done quarterly. It is natural to crave sweets, but you need to tone it down considerably! Remember carbohydrates are also sugars, and those are the ones you need to watch most! You should have a urinalysis as well to check for micro-albumin or proteins in your urine, because this is associated with kidney damage as a result of diabetes. You have three of the symptoms of a list of symptoms for diabetes. EAT PROPORTIONATELY, means eating the right serving size! Over time your stomach will shrink, because it is currently distented from over eating. As it shrinks, you will feel less hungry. DRINK WATER. You can lose 10 pounds in one month with NO exercise, just by not drinking cola drinks! The beginning will be tough, but you want to live to be old right!?

Answer 9

It is not appropriate for people to say "I do not think that you have diabetes". Your A1C was normal 3 years ago but that says nothing about what your glucose and A1C are today. You should have a fasting glucose test done. This is easily accomplished in the physician's office but if you know someone who is a diabetic they will have a glucometer and you will be able to check yourself. A fasting glucose above 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) would indicate that you should have an A1C done. The 'normal' glucose values fasting and after meals continue to be redefined and refined with the tendency towards lower goals. Do not be misled by those who quote 'older' normal values. Based upon your height and weight your body mass index is 47 kg/m2. This is a very high number. Individuals with a body mass index above 40 should be referred for consultation with a bariatric surgeon. Your physician will be able to arrange this for you. I hope that you are not a diabetic and wish you the best of health and may God bless.

Answer 10

i have diabetes to im type 1 ive had this since i was 10 but to tell you im real sorry those are most of the symptoms i realy think you should go to the doctor this is real serious dont hurt yourself get up and go you shouldnt wait for the last minute