Diabetes runs in my family. Almost everyone on my dad’s side of the family has/had it and many of them suffered quite a lot under it. My dad was diagnosed when he was 44 (he’s 75-now and needs insulin shots multiple times a day) and my brother, who is gonna be 40 next year, was diagnosed earlier this year or last year (not sure if he’s insulin dependent or not). I just turned 41 this September and have been riding the “high glucose/pre-diabetic” test results high-wire for the last decade or so. I used to be much more active (pre-COVID) and ate better in the past, but as I get on in my years, I am worried that this is going to become an inevitability even if I were to resume my previous exercise and nutrition regiments.
I think a lot of us can benefit greatly from hindsight and, even if it can’t help you now, what were some warnings/indications you were diabetic before you actually confirmed it? If you’re up for sharing, what was the final event that forced you to seek help and eventually get diagnosed?
Thank you, in advance, for any information you are willing to share!
Edit: Updated the title to specify Type-2 diabetics. Still, T1 that know how they were feeling prior to are more than welcome to comment, as well!
Mine was found completely randomly - I went in for blood work because I was having stomach issues after returning from a trip and my GP wanted to rule out an infection. I was really surprised to learn it, because I wasn’t overweight nor did I have a family history! But it just happens sometimes, I guess. In retrospect - I was always very thirsty and had to pee much more than a normal human.
It’s been controlled for a while but unfortunately I now have some tingles in the feet, which developed a full year after I started medication and got everything under control. My neurologist believes it’s basically the delayed effects of the previously uncontrolled sugars. Fortunately, it’s been stable for several years since and seems to be every so slowly improving slightly.
I imagine I would have much worse neurological issues had I not discovered it until later.
Sounds like you dodged a bullet (to the foot), so to speak! ;) Thanks for the comment.