Concerned I have diabetes

[MrsDaisy2]

Ok, I'll try and be as succinct as possible. I have Sjögren's syndrome and have recently developed neuropathy. I've had it for 6 months now. Tingling in limbs, but also other areas too. It's pretty much constant.

Been told it'll be related to the autoimmune disease. I believe this is a symptom of diabetes though. Did anyone else have this as an early symptom? I also drink a lot but Sjögren's is notorious for causing dryness. I've had several fungal infections recently. I pass water a lot and had a really strange shaky episode last week with dizziness.

For context, I'm late 30's obese, have PCOS, my dad is diabetic as were both my grandmothers.

I hate wasting medical professionals time, I'm really reserved and it wears me out. Do I need to get this checked. Do I just ask for a diabetes test? Thank you.

You are not wasting a GP’s time - you have sufficient cause for concern, and should simply phone the practice to discuss it with your doctor.
You could also ask your dad to let you check a fasting glucose level on his home glucometer - that would be the quickest way to see if you are right. It’s just a finger prick sample, and you do it before breakfast after fasting overnight.

You should be able to ring the surgery and arrange a phone consultation with a doctor. They'll then decide if they think you need a blood test (I think you probably do) and arrange a time for you to go in and have that.

I was diagnosed at 40, so not much older than you. I also have PCOS and a family history of diabetes (both parents, a sister and both grandmas). My symptoms were drinking a lot, urinating frequently, eating tons but not putting any weight on (not normally something I would complain about!) And general fatigue (with a full time job and 2 kids, who would recognise that as a symptom? But once I got a bit of control over the diabetes I noticed the lack of tiredness). When you have your blood test, it tests for your cumulative blood sugars for the past 3 months ish. The normal range is below 43(I think), pre-diabetic is 43-48 (again, I think), and diabetic is over 48. I've never managed to get low enough to really worry about those cut offs though, as I was diagnosed with a result of 89!!!!( Very, very high, no wonder I had symptoms) and over the year since I was diagnosed I've brought it down but it's still in the 60s (still far too high).

Thank you both. That's a great idea to use my dad's glucometre.

Thank you for the detailed reply, MsAwesomeDragon.

I will follow your advice and make an appointment.

Lloyds Chemist also do the test for a tenner.