Anyone with diabetes out there?!


Question: I think I have diabetes, I have all the symptoms and a family history. I think I might have had it for a while now. When I go get tested, will they put me on medicine or just tell me to diet and exercise? and if they will put me on medicine, what is it and how often do I take it and what does it help with?


Answers: I think I have diabetes, I have all the symptoms and a family history. I think I might have had it for a while now. When I go get tested, will they put me on medicine or just tell me to diet and exercise? and if they will put me on medicine, what is it and how often do I take it and what does it help with?

First of all, if you know anyone who has diabetes he will have a glucometer, a gizmo that measures your blood sugar. He would probably be happy to test you. It's a painless test, just requires a tiny speck of blood from your forearm. Get tested first thing in the morning (before you eat) or 1 hr after eating something sugary l like a piece of cake. This won't tell you you have diabetes but it can rule it out.

Well, then you go to a doctor and he will test for several things, because there are several different conditions that can cause the same symptoms.

If you do have diabetes, you will get your own glucometer and you'll test your blood first thing in the morning and 1 or 2 hrs after eating. You'll change your diet, and hopefully get some exercise--diet and exercise are really the only way to treat it.

The trick is to keep your blood sugar below certain limits, but different doctors use different limits. You'll probably get a class to teach you how to eat, what things to avoid (sugar and starches). It helps to keep track of your measurements to see how well you're doing over time.

You'll probably start out on a drug that will help. There are several drugs these days but metformin is the most popular and the safest. Some people have stomach trouble with metformin, so there is a time-release version that can help, or you can go on other drugs. Metformin helps you keep your blood sugar in control, but you still have to do most of the work yourself with diet and exercise.

I was never really an exercising person but my Dr. talked me into at least trying it. He suggested I just go for a walk, say 3 times a week for about half an hour. I started doing it and found I really liked it. I'm up to about 3 miles now, about 5 times a week. I have an MP3 player and listen to audiobooks, and in fact most days I can't wait to get out there and hear the next part of the story.

Diabetes is not a disease, really, it's a -condition-. Because if you do it right, it doesn't disable you. It isn't painful or anything. Untreated it can lead to some nasty complications, but the problems are caused by high blood sugar over weeks and months and years, not by diabetes itself. If you take care of yourself you can live your whole life with it and never actually be -sick-.

It depends on how bad is your condition. A minor case can be treated with diet and exercise, losing weight is the fastest way to cure Type II diabetes. If your blood test is worse, then medication is a good idea. Any drug store has blood test meters, and the usually have test strips for 10 tests in the kit, and many of the meters are very cheap (they are trying to sell the test strips). Walgreens normally have some for free with rebate. If you buy one, look for a resting glucose of less than 140. See your doctor if it higher than that.

it depends which type you have. i have type 1 where i need to injects hormones, but type 2 can be controlled by hormone tablets or just by diet

It depends on your age, if you are young (type 1) you'll probably start of straight away with insulin. However if its type 2 then they'll advise you on healthy eating, recommend you lose weight and do excerise etc (if needed), before they consider putting you on medication.

Family history for diabetes is a factor contributing to the possibility of being diabetic. It seems that you are afraid of what the outcome of a test for diabetes. You have to overcome your fears and go to have a test made for your well being and health. You can go to a diabetic relative or friend who has a glucometer, a very common instrument used by diabetics and in no time you will know your blood sugar level
otherwise you will have to go to an endocrinologist, which is the best thing you can do. The criteria used to diagnose a diabetic is if it is above 120 . Also two hours after lunch it should be below 180. Exercise and a diet low in sugar will help to lower the blood sugar levels. Being overweight increases the risk to be diabetic
If your problem is not too bad, you may be treated with pills and the above mentioned corrective measures, otherwise you will be prescribed daily injections of insulin. Continuous high sugar levels will affect your kidneys and eyesight. It also will also complicate other diseases you may have. Those are the reasons you should make a decision as soon as possible Some the symptoms are the urge to urinate frequently, thirst and the feeling of a rash in your skin.

The only way to find out if you have it is to be tested. If you are diabetic, treatment will depend on the type of diabetes you have (either type 1 or type 2). Type 1 usually needs daily insulin injections but type 2 is usually controlled by diet, tablets and exercise.
Speculation wont do you any good, if you are worried then you should see a doctor and get tested ASAP.





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