Question:
I've been thinking about the gap between my own early signs of blood sugar abnormality--26 years ago--and my diagnosis 20 years later, and how many warning signs I got that were ignored, and wondering how many other people here got the same kind of warning signs that weren't put into use. So if you have a minute, consider filling out this survey. I'll post a blank one, and then, underneath it, I'll show you how I filled it in. Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? ==================== Here are my answers 6. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were on the way to developing diabetes? Hypoglycemia bad enough that I used to not eat until 5 PM so that I could stay awake all day at grad school. A GTT test confirmed hypoglycemia and that I was very close to what the doctor called "pre-diabetes" but another doctor at the university health center told me to ignore it because it was just "a fad" to diagnose hypoglycemia and said the first doctor was a bit of a crank on the subject. 7. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 20 years. 8. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too and how long before diagnosis did they appear Gestational diabetes, 15 years earlier. I was told six months after giving birth that it had resolved and "not to worry." Constant yeast infections that always came back. 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. I suspect this was a sign I was spilling sugar. Urinary tract infections that kept coming back, 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. Feeling exhausted for the rest of the day after gym exercise session, 8 years before diagnosis. Always feeling like I needed new glasses because my vision kept changing 1 year before diagnosis. 9. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? I was never overweight until about a year before my diagnosis when I developed terrifying, overwhelming hunger and packed on 20 lbs. The doctor told me it was normal to gain weight like that because I was entering menopause. I ate 1200 calories of low fat food for a month and lost only 1 lb. Before that I could lose weight very easily just by cutting calories. 10. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? If I had known carbohydrates caused blood sugar spiking I would have cut way down on things like regular soda and boring carbs that I didn't like that much like potatoes or cheap bread--stuff I ate without thinking. I also would have gone much easier on rice and starchy fruits. --Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes, hba1c 5.2. Cut the carbs to respond to my email address! Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes, strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/ Looking for help controlling your blood sugar? Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly%20Diagnosed.htm
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Jenny: 1) More frequent need to urinate after breakfast. 2) Several weeks as I thought it might be a prostate problem. 3) Realized that i had lost 15 lbs for no apparent reason. Also a recent slight change in vision. 4) In previous 5+ yrs gradually gained 15-20 lbs...Thought to be related to "getting older", beer, sedentary work. At the time 190 lbs didn't seem too abnormal (now 160 lbs ). 5) Cut out bread, candy, pie, beer, rice, dessert in general. NOTE: You didn't mention "signs" just "symptoms". Irt is also important to note elevated triglycerides and LDL which I had for many years and all the doctors said was "no problem" but cut down on wine and carbs" in a very generic way never even suggesting possible pre-diabetes. This was California medicine speaking. Larry
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In article <4046784b$0$3081$61fed72c~news.rcn.com, "Jenny" <lottadatacarbs~hotmail.com wrote: I've been thinking about the gap between my own early signs of blood sugar abnormality--26 years ago--and my diagnosis 20 years later, and how many warning signs I got that were ignored, and wondering how many other people here got the same kind of warning signs that weren't put into use. So if you have a minute, consider filling out this survey. I'll post a blank one, and then, underneath it, I'll show you how I filled it in. Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? When I stopped *having* to eat lunch by 12:30 or 1. I used to *always* have to eat meals on a regular schedule, but didn't have the kind of reactive hypoglycemia that a lot of folks here had to contend with. However, I did have a few migraines that I associated with not having eaten; those stopped around the same time my hunger patterns changed. 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? Three or four years from when I *noticed* it. 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? Thirst, at the beginning of central heating season. The endo I was seeing for thyroid issues didn't follow up on this. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? I was skinny in college, with a bit of a belly. Weight gain was gradual, with age, decrease in exercise (in 1988 I moved north, and stopped doing my daily 2 3/4 mile walk home from work), buying a car. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? I might have tried to eat differently, but, without a meter, I wouldn't have been able to figure out what foods were bad for me and which better. -- AF "Non Sequitur U has a really, really lousy debate team." --artyw raises the bar on rec.sport.baseball
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thirst and peeing my brains out. many years blurred vision and leg pain. also failed the "praying hands" test. wasn't overweight by more than 15 lbs on a 6'5" frame that's a no brainer; of COURSE I would have gotten treatment! I went on insulin the day after the diagnosis. dave Jenny wrote: I've been thinking about the gap between my own early signs of blood sugar abnormality--26 years ago--and my diagnosis 20 years later, and how many warning signs I got that were ignored, and wondering how many other people here got the same kind of warning signs that weren't put into use. So if you have a minute, consider filling out this survey. I'll post a blank one, and then, underneath it, I'll show you how I filled it in. Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? ==================== Here are my answers 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were on the way to developing diabetes? Hypoglycemia bad enough that I used to not eat until 5 PM so that I could stay awake all day at grad school. A GTT test confirmed hypoglycemia and that I was very close to what the doctor called "pre-diabetes" but another doctor at the university health center told me to ignore it because it was just "a fad" to diagnose hypoglycemia and said the first doctor was a bit of a crank on the subject. 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 20 years. 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too and how long before diagnosis did they appear Gestational diabetes, 15 years earlier. I was told six months after giving birth that it had resolved and "not to worry." Constant yeast infections that always came back. 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. I suspect this was a sign I was spilling sugar. Urinary tract infections that kept coming back, 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. Feeling exhausted for the rest of the day after gym exercise session, 8 years before diagnosis. Always feeling like I needed new glasses because my vision kept changing 1 year before diagnosis. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? I was never overweight until about a year before my diagnosis when I developed terrifying, overwhelming hunger and packed on 20 lbs. The doctor told me it was normal to gain weight like that because I was entering menopause. I ate 1200 calories of low fat food for a month and lost only 1 lb. Before that I could lose weight very easily just by cutting calories. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? If I had known carbohydrates caused blood sugar spiking I would have cut way down on things like regular soda and boring carbs that I didn't like that much like potatoes or cheap bread--stuff I ate without thinking. I also would have gone much easier on rice and starchy fruits. --Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes, hba1c 5.2. Cut the carbs to respond to my email address! Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes, strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/ Looking for help controlling your blood sugar? Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly%20Diagnosed.htm
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one more early symptom. Unbelievable hunger. I'd buy huge lunches, wolf them down and wish I could spend more money on another giant sandwich (meatball on French bread, or triple burger at A&W). That hunger lasted over 4 years before diagnosis, at age 31. dave Jenny wrote: I've been thinking about the gap between my own early signs of blood sugar abnormality--26 years ago--and my diagnosis 20 years later, and how many warning signs I got that were ignored, and wondering how many other people here got the same kind of warning signs that weren't put into use. So if you have a minute, consider filling out this survey. I'll post a blank one, and then, underneath it, I'll show you how I filled it in. Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? ==================== Here are my answers 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were on the way to developing diabetes? Hypoglycemia bad enough that I used to not eat until 5 PM so that I could stay awake all day at grad school. A GTT test confirmed hypoglycemia and that I was very close to what the doctor called "pre-diabetes" but another doctor at the university health center told me to ignore it because it was just "a fad" to diagnose hypoglycemia and said the first doctor was a bit of a crank on the subject. 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 20 years. 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too and how long before diagnosis did they appear Gestational diabetes, 15 years earlier. I was told six months after giving birth that it had resolved and "not to worry." Constant yeast infections that always came back. 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. I suspect this was a sign I was spilling sugar. Urinary tract infections that kept coming back, 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. Feeling exhausted for the rest of the day after gym exercise session, 8 years before diagnosis. Always feeling like I needed new glasses because my vision kept changing 1 year before diagnosis. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? I was never overweight until about a year before my diagnosis when I developed terrifying, overwhelming hunger and packed on 20 lbs. The doctor told me it was normal to gain weight like that because I was entering menopause. I ate 1200 calories of low fat food for a month and lost only 1 lb. Before that I could lose weight very easily just by cutting calories. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? If I had known carbohydrates caused blood sugar spiking I would have cut way down on things like regular soda and boring carbs that I didn't like that much like potatoes or cheap bread--stuff I ate without thinking. I also would have gone much easier on rice and starchy fruits. --Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes, hba1c 5.2. Cut the carbs to respond to my email address! Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes, strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/ Looking for help controlling your blood sugar? Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly%20Diagnosed.htm
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On Wed, 3 Mar 2004 19:27:39 -0500, "Jenny" <lottadatacarbs~hotmail.com wrote: Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? Irregular heartbeat 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? About a month 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? None - that's the frightening part. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? My personal opinion is that the weight gain was a combination of slow weight gain as an adult (in college, I weighed 120 lbs at 5'9", although I was also running about 120 miles a week) combined with the absolutely friggingly stupid decision on my part that I was too old to run. Sometimes, I can be a complete moron. Given the family Hx of diabetes, I actually tested myself prior to becoming a diabetic. I was a diabetic three months at most prior to being Dxed. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? Y'know, for the life of me, I don't understand why I didn't do more. I've got a book from 1980. It's a book about running and medicine. The book states that there was good reason to believe that aerobic exercise could delay the onset of Type II diabetes - or possibly prevent it. I knew my family history. Not all of it, but I knew enough. I knew better and I screwed up royally. I wish I could remember why. The only answer I can come up with is "It seemed like a good idea at the time." Zooty
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Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? Not real thirsty, that I was aware of, but I was drinking a couple quarts of orange juice a day and eating a lot of other fruits. If I had to give it a name I would call it, "Immense desire for fruit and fruit juice." 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? During 1 above, I had a regularly scheduled annual physical, and bgs were out of sight, so it was quick. 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? Maybe, but only maybe, foot neuropathy. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? Always overweight. Chronic 'dieter'. Never ever used a 'fad' diet. Tried to eat balanced. Knew more about nutrition and eating than any of my health providers, at the time (40 years ago). And all that has changed now, plus it is much more difficult for me to learn anything new because of permanent cognitive deficits. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? I've always been into exercise, until obstructional sleep apnea. I would have tried to make more and better changes in the way I eat.
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Jenny wrote: I've been thinking about the gap between my own early signs of blood sugar abnormality--26 years ago--and my diagnosis 20 years later, and how many warning signs I got that were ignored, and wondering how many other people here got the same kind of warning signs that weren't put into use. So if you have a minute, consider filling out this survey. I'll post a blank one, and then, underneath it, I'll show you how I filled it in. Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? None. 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? No. I was underweight until age 41. My diabetes came on between January 1996 and September 1996. I know because in January of that year I was in the hospital for surgery and there was no sign of diabetes. In September I went into the podiatrist to have surgery on ingrown toenails and did have high abnormally high blood glucose. They sent me to my primary physician and come back a month later to have the toenail surgery. Those ingrown toenails were a blessing. They allowed me to find out before there were any outward symptoms. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? I did find out in the very early stages and after finding this newsgroup and learning to eat to my meter I have done very well IMHO. On the other hand my weight has been very stable for at least 12 years. I am hoping to get it below 200 pounds this spring and summer when we can get outside every day. ==================== Here are my answers 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were on the way to developing diabetes? Hypoglycemia bad enough that I used to not eat until 5 PM so that I could stay awake all day at grad school. A GTT test confirmed hypoglycemia and that I was very close to what the doctor called "pre-diabetes" but another doctor at the university health center told me to ignore it because it was just "a fad" to diagnose hypoglycemia and said the first doctor was a bit of a crank on the subject. 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 20 years. 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too and how long before diagnosis did they appear Gestational diabetes, 15 years earlier. I was told six months after giving birth that it had resolved and "not to worry." Constant yeast infections that always came back. 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. I suspect this was a sign I was spilling sugar. Urinary tract infections that kept coming back, 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. Feeling exhausted for the rest of the day after gym exercise session, 8 years before diagnosis. Always feeling like I needed new glasses because my vision kept changing 1 year before diagnosis. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? I was never overweight until about a year before my diagnosis when I developed terrifying, overwhelming hunger and packed on 20 lbs. The doctor told me it was normal to gain weight like that because I was entering menopause. I ate 1200 calories of low fat food for a month and lost only 1 lb. Before that I could lose weight very easily just by cutting calories. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? If I had known carbohydrates caused blood sugar spiking I would have cut way down on things like regular soda and boring carbs that I didn't like that much like potatoes or cheap bread--stuff I ate without thinking. I also would have gone much easier on rice and starchy fruits. --Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes, hba1c 5.2. Cut the carbs to respond to my email address! Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes, strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/ Looking for help controlling your blood sugar? Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly%20Diagnosed.htm -- Chuck -ô¿ô- ~
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Myself, I added 50 lbs and sedentary lifestyle after stupid accident and 70 hr weeks up to Y2K over a computer terminal. I did used to get up to urinate a lot, but also drank a lot. Loved pasta! A random blood test showed IGT. It was probably a year since my previous blood test, 3 yrs ago. Must have struck pretty sudden because being hypochondriac I used my medical coverage a whole lot! Yearly physicals and stress tests. My face would feel tight and hot after eating and drinking, like blood pressure was high, but it was 128/80, which had increased.. The toes on my feet feel 'tingly' sometimes, but can't find evidence of neuropathy. So, no real symptoms unless you count overweight, but that was my own fault. Hard to beat yourself up over this, but I sure do wish I knew what I know now. What's hard is seeing an overweight close relative risking this ~#$~# and not come off as a nag. "Jenny" <lottadatacarbs~hotmail.com wrote in message news:4046784b$0$3081$61fed72c~news.rcn.com... I've been thinking about the gap between my own early signs of blood sugar abnormality--26 years ago--and my diagnosis 20 years later, and how many warning signs I got that were ignored, and wondering how many other people here got the same kind of warning signs that weren't put into use. So if you have a minute, consider filling out this survey. I'll post a blank one, and then, underneath it, I'll show you how I filled it in. Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? ==================== Here are my answers 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were on the way to developing diabetes? Hypoglycemia bad enough that I used to not eat until 5 PM so that I could stay awake all day at grad school. A GTT test confirmed hypoglycemia and that I was very close to what the doctor called "pre-diabetes" but another doctor at the university health center told me to ignore it because it was just "a fad" to diagnose hypoglycemia and said the first doctor was a bit of a crank on the subject. 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 20 years. 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too and how long before diagnosis did they appear Gestational diabetes, 15 years earlier. I was told six months after giving birth that it had resolved and "not to worry." Constant yeast infections that always came back. 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. I suspect this was a sign I was spilling sugar. Urinary tract infections that kept coming back, 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. Feeling exhausted for the rest of the day after gym exercise session, 8 years before diagnosis. Always feeling like I needed new glasses because my vision kept changing 1 year before diagnosis. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? I was never overweight until about a year before my diagnosis when I developed terrifying, overwhelming hunger and packed on 20 lbs. The doctor told me it was normal to gain weight like that because I was entering menopause. I ate 1200 calories of low fat food for a month and lost only 1 lb. Before that I could lose weight very easily just by cutting calories. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? If I had known carbohydrates caused blood sugar spiking I would have cut way down on things like regular soda and boring carbs that I didn't like that much like potatoes or cheap bread--stuff I ate without thinking. I also would have gone much easier on rice and starchy fruits. --Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes, hba1c 5.2. Cut the carbs to respond to my email address! Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes, strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/ Looking for help controlling your blood sugar? Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly%20Diagnosed.htm
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"Jenny" <lottadatacarbs~hotmail.com wrote in message news:4046784b$0$3081$61fed72c~news.rcn.com... I've been thinking about the gap between my own early signs of blood sugar abnormality--26 years ago--and my diagnosis 20 years later, and how many warning signs I got that were ignored, and wondering how many other people here got the same kind of warning signs that weren't put into use. So if you have a minute, consider filling out this survey. I'll post a blank one, and then, underneath it, I'll show you how I filled it in. Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? Of course, I didn't see this as a sign at the time, but in looking back, I suspect it may well have been. After spending most of my life with reactive hypoglycemia (but no meter to test my BG) I suddenly noticed that the symptoms had ceased. Suddenly, I could eat donuts without feeling sick! Not that I ate very many of them mind you. And just as suddenly, I could skip or delay a meal if I wanted to. I could also get up and putter around the house without having to eat breakfast right away. Used to be I would faint if I didn't eat carbs right away. Also, during this time, I kept having a recurring thought that I had diabetes. I had no overt signs that I knew of, but this thought just kept going through my mind, almost like a mantra! I didn't mention it to any Dr., for fear that they would think I was nutty. And oddly, I have had this same thought a few times before in meeting certain people. One woman did in fact have diabetes. The other man died the following day. Causes unknown to me. He was a clerk in a store where I shop. Something didn't seem right about him that day and I kept thinking that he had diabetes, but didn't know it and he needed to see his Dr. The next time I went to that store, there was a big wreath of flowers outside and a can to collect money for his family. Not sure about the other times when I've had these thoughts because the people I had these thoughts about were strangers. I would feel funny approaching someone just to ask them if they had diabetes! 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? Was told I "might" have GD probably 4-5 years after this. Was never officially diagnosed and the 5 Ob/Gyns I saw at the time could not agree as to whether or not I really had it. I suspect I really had type 2 since I failed the first GTT (never had the 2nd one needed for diagnosis) in the first trimester. Hard to say (the time frame of symptoms) since I didn't document it. 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? Ear infections that wouldn't go away. Now granted, the infections are related to a skin problem that I have, but I don't think I would have as many infections were I not a diabetic. Weight gain, particularly around the middle is another sign. I was on a very strict diet and exercising like a fiend, both at home at at work. Was working at a golf course at the time, so I could get away with doing certain exercises during the work day. Lost a little weight, but the weight was quickly redistributing itself to my waist. Now I did also get pregnant during this time frame, but after having the baby, the fat around the middle remained. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? Was several pounds underweight up until the age of 15 or 16. Had an illness that caused me terrible stomach distress and developed a food phobia after my illness abated. Refused to take anything by mouth except for Tab or Diet Coke. Was some sort of temporary anorexia. Lost so much additional weight, the Dr. feared for my life. Was given something that he called prescription vitamins to pep up my appetite. Not sure what they were, but they worked like a dream and then some! Within 24 hours of taking that first pill, I ate an entire box of saltine crackers and a jar of peanut butter shortly before dinner. Was then still hungry and couldn't wait to eat dinner. Which I did, and then had seconds! I should say that prior to this illness I always had a huge appetite and was always thinking about food, if not eating it. People used to joke about my having a hollow leg because I ate so much and couldn't gain weight. And I did try to gain because I disliked some of the names I was called for being so thin. I was also very active, taking ballet, tap and jazz lessons as well as helping to teach dance classes. Well, after the crackers and peanut butter incident, I suddenly packed on the pounds faster than I thought humanly possible! I went from 85 pounds up to 140 in what seemed like 3 weeks. It might have been a longer time frame. This was many years ago. But it seemed like the weight went on that quickly. I am 5' 8", so 140 isn't whoppingly overweight, but it seemed like it was to me after being so thin for so long. I managed to maintain close to this weight, maybe fluctuating by 10 pounds either way for my young adulthood, and then suddenly the pounds began packing on again. During this time period, I had to watch every bite I ate and exercise like mad just to lose any weight at all. When I hit my then all time high (don't want to say what it was), I managed to lose 26 pounds by almost starving myself. I was miserable, felt weak and simply couldn't continue to do what was required to keep that weight off. I put all that weight back on and then some. Got pregnant, lost or maintained weight throughout the pregnancy up until the last week when I packed on 14 pounds, presumably all water weight from my swollen feet and ankles. Then after the pregnancy, I continued to pack on the pounds, despite my careful attempts at diet. Was not able to continue with exercise as I knew it following the pregnancy, because the symptoms that I now know as neuropathy and the venous insufficiency had kicked in, making it progressively harder and harder to walk or do much of anything. And the thyroid problem that began during pregnancy complicated things, causing me to overheat easily, have a pounding heart, and also be in constant pain. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? Certainly! My problem was the uncertainty of my Drs. Two of my Ob/Gyns (neither of them board certified) told me they thought I "might" have GD, and the other three told me I certainly did "not" have it! The Endo. I saw for the thyroid problem failed to address the issue of diabetes, although my BG was checked at each visit and he said that my numbers were about the same as a woman with GD would have. I was never told what these numbers were, and wouldn't have known what they should have been. But he acted like it was no big deal. The highest number that I know of during my pregnancy was 110 fasting. I did not have a meter at home because nobody stressed the importance of having one. It was mentioned to me that I should probably do this, but when I said I had a needle phobia, they said I could simply come in to the lab weekly for a blood draw. I had no idea that this was not the proper procedure. But I do remember hounding the Drs. repeatedly for a diagnosis. Had any one of them officially diagnosed me, I would have taken it more seriously. I did watch what I ate. I did exercise. And I did find this NG, but I don't think I posted much back then because I don't remember any other people with GD and because I had no official diagnosis. Things got more murky after having the baby. I moved to another state and could not find good medical care. The Dr. I was seeing at the time refused to recommend an Endo. for me. Said I didn't need one. My insurance is such that I don't need a referral for a specialist, but there were no local Endos., so that meant having to find one elsewhere who took my insurance. Then when I finally did find one, there was a long waiting list to see him. In the meantime, my Dr. kept telling me that the reason I kept getting so many infections was either that I had poor hygeine, too much bacteria on my skin, or that it wasn't infections at all, but cysts! I disputed this, telling her that cysts don't go away when you take antibiotics. I then saw one of her colleauges, thinking that I might get better medical care from him. He immediately diagnosed diabetes based on a random finger stick. I think my numbers at that time were something like 127. He sent me on my merry way with a vague paper about diabetes and told me nothing else except to follow the Exchange Plan diet. He told me to follow this diet for 30 days and come back for more tests. Luckily, I was familiar with the diet because he didn't give me any information on it. I was breastfeeding at the time though and fearful to make changes in my diet because I was already having trouble with vitamin B deficiencies, anemia and decreased milk production. I found a dieitican to help me with the diet. Meanwhile, my husband called this Dr. back to find out why I had been given such vague and shoddy treatment. Suddenly, this Dr. said "I never told her she had diabetes! I said she might have it!" So I followed the diet for 30 days, went back for the test. This included nothing more than a finger stick for fasting BG and a 24 hour urine collection. My followup appointment was with my normal GP who looked at the test results and said that I did not have diabetes, but should probably have a followup in 6 months, merely because I might have had GD. Meanwhile, I resumed my old eating habits and got worse to the point where I could not walk at all. This is how I wound up in the hospital and this is when I was told beyond a shadow of a doubt that I had diabetes. ==================== Here are my answers 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were on the way to developing diabetes? Hypoglycemia bad enough that I used to not eat until 5 PM so that I could stay awake all day at grad school. A GTT test confirmed hypoglycemia and that I was very close to what the doctor called "pre-diabetes" but another doctor at the university health center told me to ignore it because it was just "a fad" to diagnose hypoglycemia and said the first doctor was a bit of a crank on the subject. 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 20 years. 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too and how long before diagnosis did they appear Gestational diabetes, 15 years earlier. I was told six months after giving birth that it had resolved and "not to worry." Constant yeast infections that always came back. 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. I suspect this was a sign I was spilling sugar. Urinary tract infections that kept coming back, 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. Feeling exhausted for the rest of the day after gym exercise session, 8 years before diagnosis. Always feeling like I needed new glasses because my vision kept changing 1 year before diagnosis. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? I was never overweight until about a year before my diagnosis when I developed terrifying, overwhelming hunger and packed on 20 lbs. The doctor told me it was normal to gain weight like that because I was entering menopause. I ate 1200 calories of low fat food for a month and lost only 1 lb. Before that I could lose weight very easily just by cutting calories. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? If I had known carbohydrates caused blood sugar spiking I would have cut way down on things like regular soda and boring carbs that I didn't like that much like potatoes or cheap bread--stuff I ate without thinking. I also would have gone much easier on rice and starchy fruits. --Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes, hba1c 5.2. Cut the carbs to respond to my email address! Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes, strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/ Looking for help controlling your blood sugar? Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly%20Diagnosed.htm
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On Wed, 3 Mar 2004 19:27:39 -0500, "Jenny" <lottadatacarbs~hotmail.com wrote: I've been thinking about the gap between my own early signs of blood sugar abnormality--26 years ago--and my diagnosis 20 years later, and how many warning signs I got that were ignored, and wondering how many other people here got the same kind of warning signs that weren't put into use. So if you have a minute, consider filling out this survey. I'll post a blank one, and then, underneath it, I'll show you how I filled it in. Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? frequent urination. 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? about 30 days give or take a few days. 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? rapid weight loss, extreme thirst, extreme fatigue. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? I was never over weight. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? probably, if I knew now what my doctors didn't know then. I was 8 years old at the time. Mack© Type 1 since 1975 http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org http://www.insulin-pumpers.org In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and terrorism. "To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public." ...Theodore Roosevelt ==================== Here are my answers 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were on the way to developing diabetes? Hypoglycemia bad enough that I used to not eat until 5 PM so that I could stay awake all day at grad school. A GTT test confirmed hypoglycemia and that I was very close to what the doctor called "pre-diabetes" but another doctor at the university health center told me to ignore it because it was just "a fad" to diagnose hypoglycemia and said the first doctor was a bit of a crank on the subject. 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 20 years. 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too and how long before diagnosis did they appear Gestational diabetes, 15 years earlier. I was told six months after giving birth that it had resolved and "not to worry." Constant yeast infections that always came back. 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. I suspect this was a sign I was spilling sugar. Urinary tract infections that kept coming back, 13 years before diagnosis and until diagnosis. Feeling exhausted for the rest of the day after gym exercise session, 8 years before diagnosis. Always feeling like I needed new glasses because my vision kept changing 1 year before diagnosis. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? I was never overweight until about a year before my diagnosis when I developed terrifying, overwhelming hunger and packed on 20 lbs. The doctor told me it was normal to gain weight like that because I was entering menopause. I ate 1200 calories of low fat food for a month and lost only 1 lb. Before that I could lose weight very easily just by cutting calories. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? If I had known carbohydrates caused blood sugar spiking I would have cut way down on things like regular soda and boring carbs that I didn't like that much like potatoes or cheap bread--stuff I ate without thinking. I also would have gone much easier on rice and starchy fruits. --Jenny - Low Carbing for 4 years. At goal for weight. Type 2 diabetes, hba1c 5.2. Cut the carbs to respond to my email address! Low carb facts and figures, my weight-loss photos, tips, recipes, strategies for dealing with diabetes and more at http://www.geocities.com/jenny_the_bean/ Looking for help controlling your blood sugar? Visit http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/Newly%20Diagnosed.htm
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On Wed, 3 Mar 2004 19:27:39 -0500, "Jenny" <lottadatacarbs~hotmail.com wrote: I've been thinking about the gap between my own early signs of blood sugar abnormality--26 years ago--and my diagnosis 20 years later, and how many warning signs I got that were ignored, and wondering how many other people here got the same kind of warning signs that weren't put into use. So if you have a minute, consider filling out this survey. I'll post a blank one, and then, underneath it, I'll show you how I filled it in. Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? Actual: phone call from the doctor's recepioniste to ask me to make an appointment to discuss my diabetes. Hindsight: Passing out when passing urine at 5:30 am two years earlier, lab reports of FBG of 9 (160) for a couple of years not commented on by my then doctor. 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 2 years 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? None that I know of. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? Overweight since High School, although not grossly obese while in the military. Packed it on after leaving the service, then became obese after giving up smokes in '01. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? Only if the doctor had got through my thick brain what the complications were. Unlikely. I was going to live forever, fat and happy. The difference in my case was that I had just been diagnosed with leukemia and discovered I couldn't do anything to help it. Just sit under the sword of Damocles and hope. Then I was told I had this beast and found there were ways to fight it. I was already frustrated at the lack of ability to fight the other affliction, so threw it all behind an effort to beat this one. The weird thing is that changing to a sensible diet, following Jennifer's testing advice, losing 28 kg (60 lbs) and dropping A1c and lipids to acceptable levels also improved my leukemia indicators - which isn't supposed to happen :-) Who cares why - if it's a honeymoon, I hope it's a long one. Cheers, Alan, T2, Australia. -- Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter.
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On Wed, 3 Mar 2004 19:27:39 -0500, "Jenny" <lottadatacarbs~hotmail.com wrote: I've been thinking about the gap between my own early signs of blood sugar abnormality--26 years ago--and my diagnosis 20 years later, and how many warning signs I got that were ignored, and wondering how many other people here got the same kind of warning signs that weren't put into use. So if you have a minute, consider filling out this survey. I'll post a blank one, and then, underneath it, I'll show you how I filled it in. Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? None evident at all. 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? Not applicable 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? None - except muscle tissue loss on thighs. noticed Jan 2003 diagnosed in the March. 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? No - not overweight before April 2002, however excess weight developed after this date and up to diagnosis, due to drugs and lack of exercise because of serious injury. 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? There were no early signs. I developed diabetes between June 2002 and March 2003 due to endocrine damage caused by drugs/stress/other. ==================== HTH Pete Diagnosed 20/03/03 Type II D&E + Metformin + Gliclazide + Asprin 210lbs at Dx to BMI 166lbs achieved. To mail: aspen at freeuk.com
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Early Warning Signs Survey 1. What was the first symptom you had that you now know was an early sign that you were developing diabetes? excessive rapid weight loss 2. How long was it between the appearance of this first symptom and your diabetes diagnosis? 6mon - 12 weeks 3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? rapid weight loss, extreme thirst, extreme hunger, going to sleep for 3-5hrs immedately after a meal, improved vision, muscle aches, migraine type headaches 4. Were you always overweight, or do you think the weight problem developed as your blood sugar started to go out of control? only slightly overweight - weight didn't bring mine on 5. If you had known you were in the very early stages of diabetes, do you think you would you have made changes in the way you ate, exercised, etc that you did not make at the time? n/a -- RK - t1 *Disclaimer: i'm not a doctor. I only share personal experience of being a diabetic. I have no textbook learning, only life itself. ---------------------- In tribute to the United States of America and the State of Israel, two bastions of strength in a world filled with strife and terrorism.
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3. What other symptoms did you get before you were diagnosed that you think were early warning signals too, please note when you started developing them? I forgot to mention - I had mild hypertension that, when I was running and controlling my weight, went away, as well as mildly elevated liver enzymes. Had I known about metabolic syndrome, would that have scared me enough? I don't know. Zooty