These symptoms started a little over a year ago, but I have no insurance and cannot go to the doctor. What should I do?
I Think I Have Diabetes Because I Am Constantly Thirsty And I Have To Pee All The Time. (continued Below)?
May 30th, 2010 § Tags: Because, Below, Constantly, continued, Diabetes, Thirsty, Time Posted in Diabetes § § 4 comments
Call you primary care provider and request having a fasting glucose done. You will need to fast for 10-12 hours. if the results are borderline a more sophisticated test called a 2 hr GTT can be done for a definitive dx.
As for as having no insurance I think a regular fasting glucose test would not be more than a few $. The 2hr GTT would cost more but do not have that done unless you fasting glucose is over say 125-150. if it is over that you do have diabetes and would only waste your money.
Yes, Hannah those are both symptoms of diabetes. Other symptoms are blurred vision, feeling tired, more hungry than usual, losing weight without trying, feeling cranky, cuts that are slow to heal, tingling in hands and feet. However, don’t expect to have all of the symptoms.
A doctor can determine if you have diabetes by doing a blood test. No other testing is necessary so it won’t be terribly expensive. You really need to see about it soon because you have already put it off a year, and diabetes, left untreated, can cause blindness, loss of limbs or death. You may be able to get it under control with a proper diet alone or with pills, and not need insulin shots. Borrow the money to go to the doctor or go to a free clinic. But go, and soon please.
You can always order a free glucose meter online (most come with a sample of test strips, as well as lancets for pricking your finger) or ask for one at your local pharmacy. Companies like to give the meters away and then charge quite a bit for the test strips. You also have the option of purchasing a very cheap meter at a store. Walgreens sells the TrueTrack for under $20 and I believe the box comes with a sample of 10 strips – more than enough to test yourself for a few days. Wal-Mart sells the ReliOn meter for under $15, I think around $10, but there’s no test strip samples in the box. Fortunately, its test strips are some of the cheapest test strips on the market.
In my source links section, I am including a very popular diabetes test you can run on a home meter. Just follow the instructions and track your results. If you are testing in diabetic range, you’ll need to see a doctor immediately, even if you don’t have insurance. If you qualify based on income, community clinics could be an option for you. Best of luck.
Okay… they are signs of diabetes but it doesn’t necessarily mean you are a diabetic because many other things can cause thirst (and because you drink more you obviously pee.) However unless you experience a lot of symptoms and are noticeably sick, there is no way of determining you have diabetes without a blood test.
Go to a local pharmacy, and they do blood tests.
Good luck, take care.