diabetes symptoms

[threadhead25]

I have numb toes and cold hands,feet and nose almost constantly. I don't drink very much although I do get thirsty.The reason being that as soon as i have one cup of liquid i need the toilet.I also went through a period of having shooting pains up my legs during the night.I've recently been having to get out of bed as soonas I wake up to go to the toilet. I am always pretty tired but I am on medication for epilepsy which can make u drowsy.I have however been given the ok to drive so it shouldn't be that. Does anyone have any ideas what it might be if anyone has had the same symptoms?

[mimififi]

I do remember that diabetes does make you thirsty, and thirsty like heck. You wouldn't be able to 'choose' not to drink, you would have to drink pints and then still not feel quenched. Also, the urination would not be improved by not drinking, you would still need to go all the time even with regular fluids and you would even have to go several times in the night. You would probably be losing lots of weight and also be very hungry and so so so so so so so so so so tired that you would fall asleep driving, talking, sitting at your pc, sleep hours and hours and hours at night and never feel properly awake. maybe at the beginning the symptoms are less, but certainly will fullblown mismanaged diabetes, the symptoms don't make you 'wander' they make you believe you might actually be dying. Don't remember the cold hands and feet thing, or the pain in legs...

Best thing to do would be go to the doctors and ask him to do a urine test. he will probably want a fasting one (not food for 12 hours). If it is inconclusive, you will have to have a blood test done at fasting and then immediatlely after some sugars etc etc and then at intervals after that. It's quite simple to diagnose and not normally missed if the doc is looking for it.

With your history of Epilepsy, I'd defo get checked out by the docca!

Good luck, hope this has been of help.

[Buenchico]

Obviously you should consult your doctor but your symptoms don't necessarily mean that you've got diabetes. The numb & cold extremities bit of your information suggests some sort of circulatory problem. (This can be associated with diabetes but is not necessarily the case). Muscle cramps, leading to shooting pains in your legs, could also be associated with insufficient oxygen getting to your leg muscles and if your blood is poorly oxygenated this would account for your tiredness. Your problem could simply be that you're slightly anaemic in which case increasing the iron in your diet might help - but please don't rush off to buy some iron tablets (too much iron can be far more harmful than too little) - consult your doctor.

Chris

[CheekyChops]

Lloyds Chemist will do a quick and simple test to see if you have diabetes or not. they just prick your finger and then put a drop of blood onto a thing that measures the sugar level in your blood. it takes about 30 seconds.

[cliffsdoll]

hi threadhead, i have type 2 diabetes and i dont have cold numb toes, feet, or nose, what i do notice is that i constanly drink tea and coffee all day and in between anything i can find like water or low sugar juice, i am constantly tired. i am on tablets called metformin, ask your doctor to do a sugar level test, that will confirm or dismiss diabetes, good luck :o)

[Ouisch]

Symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst, a sore that won't heal, blurred vision, frequent urination, sudden unexplained weight loss, and increased fatigue. If you suspect you have a problem, you should definitely see your doctor ASAP and be tested.

That said, numbness in the extremities can be caused by many other factors, just one of which is Raynaud's Syndrome, which causes the blood vessels to constrict when you get chilled.