Thread: Sound like diabetes?

Morning all, just a quick question if that's ok. For a while now when I'm lying in bed I'll get a numbness in the right side of my right thigh. Sometimes that'll then turn into a burning sensation. Now, my dad is diabetic and overweight and because I'm overweight, I'm always wondering if that's on the cards for me. I've had a bit of a look and it seems like this is one of the side effects of diabetes. I know numbness or pins and needles can be a sign of diabetes, could this be? I don't seem to have any other symptoms though so I don't know. Just thought I'd ask you guys.

It's never wise to get online diagnosis as no one knows your full background and medical history. I would strongly advise you to see your GP and ask for a HbA1c test. It is a simple blood test and the results are usually back within a week.

I wasn't asking someone to diagnose me, just asking whether it sounds like it could be diabetes if it's the only symptom that I have. At the moment, I don't really have time to go to the doctors and as I'm not in pain, it's not causing a problem, I'm not in a huge rush to. When I get the chance though, I will. But like I said, I wasn't looking for an online diagnosis, just some general advice.

I have worked with several people with diabetes over the years, both types, numbness is associated with the condition. Nerve damage is usually the result of uncontrolled diabetes for several years. If you dad has a blood sugar monitor could you borrow it and check your sugar level? Or I think if you pop into Lloyds chemist they can do a finger prick blood test to check you that way. Which won't give you a diagnosis but will indicate whether further investigation is required.

The numbness could also be caused by you lying on a nerve during sleep or maybe something to do with your exercise routine. If you feel well and aren't getting any typical diabetes symptoms, like running to the loo and drinking loads, I would just ask to be tested next time you go to the doctors.

I know you do loads of exercise and that is said to be one of the best things to keep blood sugar controlled and diabetes away.

I was actually thinking about doing a sugar level test this morning to have a look. What is normal and what's high though?

I think that was the thing that mad me unsure, this is the only symptom that I have. I get tired but that's because I have an underactive thyroid and if I take my meds for it, I feel perfectly fine. I will have a word with the doctor about it when I next go though, just to be sure. Hopefully the healthier, more active lifestyle that I now have and losing weight will help keep it away like you said.

Just done my blood sugar level, took 4 flippin tries to get it right as I wasn't getting enough blood on the strip! I hate the little pricker machine so it wasn't fun lol It came out at 3.9, which from what I know is completely normal. I think. So I'm not hugely worried about diabetes now, though I'll still have a chat to my doctor about it when I next get the chance to go because I know this isn't an official test and diagnosis, just an indicator.

Normal fasting bloods I believe they class normal as 4 - 5.5, Over 5.5 they usually get you to do a glucose tolerance test just to check you're not pre-diabetes, over 7 is diabetic.

Sorry Caroline, I didn't mean to upset you. As a diabetic I know it is a serious condition, and as such feel anyone who thinks they may be diabetic have it checked properly. My apologies.

Katherine.

No it's fine, you didn't. I was just trying to explain that I definitely wasn't looking for a diagnosis, I understood why you recommended I went to the doctors and appreciated it

Honestly, even though you should get checked if you're worried, I wouldn't be concerned based on a single symptom. My general rule of thumb for any illness* is that I don't worry about a diagnosis until I've got at least two symptoms that match with whatever thing I'm worried about. Especially since the numbness could be you laying weird in bed.

*The exception here is anything that affects your breathing or heart. That's always something to get checked out.

Originally Posted by kathyd

Honestly, even though you should get checked if you're worried, I wouldn't be concerned based on a single symptom. My general rule of thumb for any illness* is that I don't worry about a diagnosis until I've got at least two symptoms that match with whatever thing I'm worried about. Especially since the numbness could be you laying weird in bed.

*The exception here is anything that affects your breathing or heart. That's always something to get checked out.

In the main I absolutely agree with you. I think it's because I now know just what diabetes can do, and it's so scary, that I would tell anyone who suspected they may have it to be checked, better safe than sorry. :-)