Hatrack River Forum: A question about Diabetes

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Posted by beatnix19 (Member # 5836) on :

I Know next to nothing about it. Just that a guy I work with in the summers has it bad, with a pump that is always in his stomach, and his diet is very strict.

I ask because in the past year or so there have been a number of time where for no reason at all I get really weak and shakey. I feel light headed and, well just like crap. It goes away after I raid the pantry and cram a bunch of food in my mouth.

Also today I mentioned that I have a few "floaters" in my vision to a friend. Little black spots that I have noticed lately. Nothing major, I don't even notice them unless I stop to look for them. He told me that his doctor had told him that it could be a sign of diabetes when he had complained about a similar issue.

So, anyways I've decided to schedule a check up. Better safe than sorry but thought I'd ask around here to see if anyone might enlighten me a bit on some specifics of the disease.

-Josh

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :

Aaah - I just wrote a long reply and my computer ate it.

[Grumble]

Still, I'll bump this and let one of the doctors answer it.

Basically, diabetes is a disease where your body doesn't produce insulin. There are two types - diabetes I (hereditary, more serious) and diabetes II (much more common, lifestyle and diet induced).

Diabetes management can involve regular insulin injections, blood tests, no refined sugar and strict regulation of carbohydrate intake.

My Grandfather has had diabetes I for over 50 years (he got a medal from the diabetes association [Big Grin]

) and has managed a normal, active life. He has had heart troubles (in part related to the diabetes) but he is still relatively hale and hearty.

Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :

How's your iron intake, beatnix?

Posted by Shepherdess (Member # 6115) on :

beatnix,
I'm not an expert by any measurement, but it sounds like you may have some form of hypoglycemia (actually the opposite of diabetes). Your body may produce too much insulin when you intake sugar, and a few hours later your blood sugar goes so low that you start to have those symptoms. Its called "reactive hypoglycemia" because your body over-reacts to sugar. Diabetics who are take insulin injections will get similar symptoms if they have taken too much insulin and not eaten enough to counteract it.

I believe there may be a link between what you have and the eventual development of type II diabetes because your body starts to become resistant to insulin, but it doesn't sound like you have diabetes to me.

Talk to your doctor though--don't take my word for it!!

Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :

^I have that and my symptoms are the same. But I always like to rule out anemia first.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

imogen, you're right that Type I diabetics don't make (sufficient) insulin -- their bodies kill off the cells that produce it, IIRC.

However, that's not the case with Type II diabetics. Their cells are insulin resistant -- which is why diet and certain medications are often enough, and requiring insulin shots is less common. (I have a family history of Type II.)

Symptoms

I agree with Shepherdess -- it does sound more like hypoglycemia (in my layperson opinion); and definitely see a doctor.

Of course, you could just not be eating properly and/or regularly enough. Happens to me more often than I'd like to admit.

Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :

Thanks, Rivka. I only really know about diabetes I.

(And that I only know enough to be eternally grateful I don't have it).

I get funny when I don't eat often enough - and incredibly bad tempered. Sometimes dizzy. But it all clears up when I have something substantial to eat.

Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :

I know enough about Type II to be pretty sure that unless I am very very good, I will end up with it in 20-30 years (and possibly gestational diabetes before then). [Razz]

And sustaining being very very good is very very HARD! [Wall Bash]