Comments for Answers: Diabetes

Comment on When you go to a urologist or any sort of doctor and pee in a cup, do they check for diabetes? by minky

minky — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:14:28 +0000

No- Dr’s don’t check for everything each time you have a visit. There are other reasons why sugar would be in urine too (besides diabetes)…like obesity, hypertension and various metabolic syndromes.

Unless you are going for a ‘routine physical’ / ‘wellness exam’; (where there are predetermined tests that are performed) – you need to simply tell the Dr what your concerns are, and she/he will order the proper tests.

If you specifically want to be tested for diabetes, make sure you fast (no food) for 8-12 hrs before getting your blood drawn.

These are some of the screening tests the lab can do to check for diabetes:
-fasting blood glucose
-glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
-urinalysis (checks for glucose/protein/ketones in urine)
-micro-albumin
-Hgb A1c – checks blood sugar over the last 2-3 mos

You can also ask to get a ‘dilated eye exam’ to look for tiny blood vessel damage. (high blood sugar can lead to diabetic retinopathy)

Hope all that helped to answer your question!

Comment on When you go to a urologist or any sort of doctor and pee in a cup, do they check for diabetes? by lynnbodoni

lynnbodoni — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:14:28 +0000

Not usually. They’re generally looking for other things.

Sugar doesn’t spill into the urine until the blood sugar is very high. A simple blood test for sugar is much more accurate.

If you want to be checked for diabetes, ask your doctor if she will have a lab run an HGA1C test on you. This will give the best overall information about how your blood sugar levels have been running over time.

Comment on What happens next with gestational diabetes? by Blakshmipathy

Blakshmipathy — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:03:11 +0000

report shows about your sugar level . over a certain limit it’s easy to control it. but still there are good medicines are available. consult your doctor & have a good recovery(fast).
best of luck

Comment on What happens next with gestational diabetes? by Mellie

Mellie — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:03:11 +0000

some hospitals have a diabetes midwife or clinic.

They should see you, depending on your results (ie is it borderline or full blown gestational diabetes)
you have to do your blood sugar at home and keep a log.

They can give you oral medication if you can’t control your sugar with diet.

If the oral medication don’t work the you can be put on insulin.

You should have more hospital appointment to see the midwife and review the log book of your blood sugar.
You can also get more scan (depends where you are)

*** It is important to remember that different hospital have different policies*****

Comment on What happens next with gestational diabetes? by Gina

Gina — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 06:03:10 +0000

Let me just first say, I feel for you. The entire process sucks between doing the glucose test and everything else but try not to let it get you down- it is OK and you and your baby will be fine.
I was also diagnosed with it in my pregnancy and basically this is what happened.
First, I made an appointment with a Nurse at the local hospital who specialized in diabetes and she went over the testing gadget and instructions on how to test. She also gave me very basic rules on eating to help keep my numbers down (it had to do with counting carbs and NO sugar). The testing isn’t as terrible as you would think, it doesn’t really hurt and you get used to it quickly.
Then, I tested my self 4x day and watched my diet as the nurse instructed for about a week I think. I also got to meet with a nutritionist specializing in diabetes to go over meals and how to eat properly to help keep my blood sugars down. So I had to really focus on what I was eating, limiting any carbs and cut out all sugars.
This unfortunately didn’t take care of the problem so my OB did prescribe me some oral meds that I took twice a day for the rest of my pregnancy. Once I delivered my daughter they monitored my levels in the hospital the first day and I was back to normal. Baby was fine too and no issues since.
I think the worst part for me was feeling like I had done something to cause this and the guilt of not being able to control it. Once I got past this I was fine, but emotionally it really messed with me for awhile.
I hope this helps, and good luck!

Comment on What will happen if you had diabetes and it never got diagnosed? by sandy7970

sandy7970 — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:27:47 +0000

if you were truly diabetic, didn’t get diagnosed, didn’t get treated, and went about life with no concerns, you’d get very, very sick. you would end up in a hospital where the diabetes would be discovered & you’d get treatment. IF you got that sick & did not go to a hospital for treatment, then you would eventually die. blood sugar that goes high & out of control can kill. it messes up your organs, but you can also have seizures from severe readings (both high and low). the seizure itself could be deadly if you happen to be doing something like driving when it happens or using machinery (though not likely, as you’d already be too sick to do that anyway). you’d likely go into a coma before dying, so you wouldn’t feel that. but i have to tell you, you’d most definitely be aware of feeling absolutely crummy before going to the point of coma. when your sugar is high enough to make you sick but not pass out, you can get very nauseous, lots of throwing up, possibly diarrhea, swell up (my husband’s face swells up when he’s too high). you’d be super tired, cranky, headache, you name it, you’d probably feel it all.

Comment on What will happen if you had diabetes and it never got diagnosed? by Gary B

Gary B — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:27:47 +0000

You die. Die rather slowly, and usually very painfully.

Diabetes is a 100% killer when undiagnosed.

Now, diabetes itself doe sn’t actually kill you , it is the SIDE EFFECTS that kill you — heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure are the most common. But diabetes also cause the inability to heal from infections, and infection in the feet and hands can result in gangrene Whig, if untreated, results in sepsis (entire body infection). Diabetes can also lead to Alzheimer’s disease.

ALL of these side effects are fatal.

Comment on What will happen if you had diabetes and it never got diagnosed? by Tiktaalik

Tiktaalik — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:27:47 +0000

You could absolutely die. But it’s likely you’d have some other symptoms before that which would force you to go see a doctor – blurry vision, for example, a precursor to the blindness that plagues diabetics.

Comment on What will happen if you had diabetes and it never got diagnosed? by tim g

tim g — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:27:47 +0000

kidney failure, peripheral neuropathy, fatigue, dizziness, heart palpitations…
http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=undiagnosed+diabetes&fr=ush-ans&ygmasrchbtn=Web+Search

Comment on What are the health determinants for diabetes? by Gary B

Gary B — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:52:16 +0000

Type 1 diabetes is inherited. The "health determinants" are the DNA of your parents and grandparents. If THEY have Type 1 Diabetes, then you might, too.

Type 2 Diabetes is caused by being overweight. The "health determinants" for Type 2 Diabetes are a poor diet, lack of exercise, and weight gain. You can PREVENT Type 2 Diabetes by eating a healthy diet that is low in sugars and carbohydrates, getting LOTS more exercise, and controlling your weight.

Type 1 Diabetes, IF it is going to attack, USUALLy happens in children. It is NOT preventable, and it is not curable. It can be treated ONLY using insulin injections.

Type 2 Diabetes is USUALLY found in adult. But people are eating more and exercising less, so the "minimum age" for Type 2 Diabetes is getting lower and lower. type 2 Diabetes USED to be found in adults over 40. It is now found in adults between 25 and 30. ANd in extremely obese children, Type 2 Diabetes has been diagnoses as young as NINE YEARS OLD.