Toilet Flushes and Sunny Delight Bottles

The new suspicion is that I have type 2 Diabetes, and while it really wouldn't surprise me, I kind of don't want to find out if I do or not. (Stupid if I don't relent, but it's me. I'll procrastinate as long as I can.) But because Aaron said please, and Jennifer threatened me, I called a medical professional and while they agree it sounds like diabetes, I have to schedule a blood test to prove it. Joy.

 I hate needles.

How this suspicion was put on the table?

Tuesday evening:
"Go pee again?"

"Yes, where did you think I went?"

"Jess, I think you need to be tested for diabetes."

"Where on earth did that come from?"

"You pee a lot."

"What does that have to do with Diabetes?"

"It's one of the symptoms."

I am already hypoglycemic/anemic . I always knew becoming a diabetic was a possibility, but I have this thing called a superwoman complex... So, when my hypoglycemia suddenly seemed to be on steroids, I started to wonder, but pushed those thoughts away. Until my lovingly observant boyfriend decided to point out I pee a lot... Thanks Aaron. He's mentioned before he felt I might be leaning more towards being a diabetic a few times, but when I ignored that idea he let it drop... until now. Now that the signs are neon colored, and sound a lot like a constant flushing toilet.

What are the symptoms you ask, well:

• Fatigue: In diabetes, the body is inefficient and sometimes unable to use glucose for fuel. The body switches over to metabolizing fat, partially or completely, as a fuel source. This process requires the body to use more energy. The end result is feeling fatigued or constantly tired. (This one is funny for me. I'll fall asleep everywhere, and not realize I've fallen asleep until I wake up... Bad news... I have slept through more alarms in these past few months than I have in my 22 years... Lame. Oh, and I can sleep for a full 10 hours, take a nap halfway through the day, and still be exhausted by 10 pm. I used to function beautifully on 4-6 hours.)
• Unexplained weight loss: People with diabetes are unable to process many of the calories in the foods they eat. Thus, they may lose weight even though they eat an apparently appropriate or even excessive amount of food. Losing sugar and water in the urine and the accompanying dehydration also contributes to weight loss. (My pants have never really fit me very well, because I don't believe 0 is a size, but apparently it's my size now. Yeah... thank you karma...)
  
• Excessive thirst (polydipsia): A person with diabetes develops high blood sugar levels, which overwhelms the kidney's ability to reabsorb the sugar as the blood is filtered to make urine. Excessive urine is made as the kidney spills the excess sugar. The body tries to counteract this by sending a signal to the brain to dilute the blood, which translates into thirst. The body encourages more water consumption to dilute the high blood sugar back to normal levels and to compensate for the water lost by excessive urination. (The only thing that even gives me some sort of relief from the constant thirst is orange juice/Sunny Delight. Random? Yeah, I think so too. At any rate I have downed 2 gallons of Sunny D in 4 days, I fill a glass of water, and a water bottle every night, who knows how many drinks Aaron has bought for me... Yeah, I thought I had to pee all the time because I was constantly thirsty... It would make sense right!?)
  
• Excessive urination (polyuria): Another way the body tries to get rid of the extra sugar in the blood is to excrete it in the urine. This can also lead to dehydration because excreting the sugar carries a large amount of water out of the body along with it. (This, This is the one that annoys the dickens out of me!!! I counted how many times I peed yesterday -- 15 times in the 12 hours that I was awake. Pathetic!)
  
• Excessive eating (polyphagia): If the body is able, it will secrete more insulin in order to try to deal with the excessive blood sugar levels. Moreover, the body is resistant to the action of insulin in type 2 diabetes. One of the functions of insulin is to stimulate hunger. Therefore, higher insulin levels lead to increased hunger and eating. Despite increased caloric intake, the person may gain very little weight and may even lose weight. (I actually kind of like this one. I've experienced so many more foods now, because I'm usually dizzy enough [meaning I need food asap] to eat just about anything! It's been kind of fun... Hahaha!)
  
• Poor wound healing: High blood sugar levels prevent white blood cells, which are important in defending the body against bacteria and also in cleaning up dead tissue and cells, from functioning normally. When these cells do not function properly, wounds take much longer to heal and become infected more frequently. Also, long-standing diabetes is associated with thickening of blood vessels, which prevents good circulation including the delivery of enough oxygen and other nutrients to body tissues. (Bruises have appeared out of no where. I don't bruise easily, but suddenly I have these massive bruises all over my legs. I've had a sick looking bruise just above my left knee for 2 months now. It is slowly getting lighter, it's a little wicked. This was the first thing I really noticed truth be told. I had a cut on my finger that took about 3 weeks to heal, when normally something like that took maybe a few days. Not Kosher!)
  
• Infections: Certain infection syndromes, such as frequent yeast infections of the genitals, skin infections, and frequent urinary tract infections, may result from suppression of the immune system by diabetes and by the presence of glucose in the tissues, which allows bacteria to grow well. They can also be an indicator of poor blood sugar control in a person known to have diabetes. (This is a little gross, but -- I had my first UTI in January of 2009. I've had at least 5 since then. Not sure if that is normal or not, but it was a point of interest for medical personnel.)
  
• Altered mental status: Agitation, unexplained irritability, inattention, extreme lethargy, or confusion can all be signs of very high blood sugar, ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemia nonketotic syndrome, or hypoglycemia (low sugar). Thus, any of these merit the immediate attention of a medical professional. Call your health care provider. (I am already hypoglycemic... Ta da! Oh yeah, and I've been wicked ornery lately. Tasha, Aaron, Jennifer, are all witness to it. OH! And I've become paranoid about a few things that are completely illogical... Cool right? Bonus? I am now more stubborn than ever!)
  
• Blurry vision: Blurry vision is not specific for diabetes but is frequently present with high blood sugar levels. (And I thought I just needed to have my glasses prescription adjusted! I can't see worth crap at night. It gets a little scary sometimes. Though this is the symptom that has really caught my attention. I've been noticing I can't see as far as I was able to even just a few months ago, and I can't see the lines on the road at night. This one seemed to happen all at once for me. It's been the only thing that really worries me. I simply associated the rest with my failure to keep up with my dietary needs of late coming back to bite me in the ass.) 

We will just have to see where this goes, but as for right now... I'm pretending I am still just the normal Jess, with the exception of needing to be near a toilet at all times. I'll let you know what happens when I go in for the blood test next week, or the week following... whenever I get around to getting it done... :)