why am i so thirsty?

[nikcola]

for the past weeks or so ive been drinking loads (mainly sugar free squash) last night i went to bed at 12.30 and i got uo 4 times in the night and drank 4 pint glasses of the stuff , i just has 2 more when i got up its really driving me mad because im weeing all the time obviously, but im soo thirsty and i dont no why can anyone help please nikki xxxxxxxxxxxx

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Sorry to disagree with Twiglett, but drinking lots & going to the loo a lot are both definitely symptoms of diabetes (not being difficult, I have diabetes & also used to work for Diabetes UK). Are you very tired too nikcola (I know, stupid question to ask anyone with children, but hey....)? I would defintely go to the GP, very easy for them to check whether or not you do have diabetes. Let us know what happens.

i am tired but i thoyuht that was because of thr opp i had on friday ?

i don't entirely agree with twiglett - i think that excessive thirst can be a sign of diabetes - and because of the thirst you drink more therefore wee more. did you have gestational diabetes with your lo? i think you should go to the docs to get this checked asap - the big superdrugs will also check this sort of thing for free if you have problems getting an appointment - tho you can get a false negative from a one off reading - docs would have to check how your body dealt with glucose over a several hour period to make a definitive diagnosis.

agree with hoxtonchick - drinking and weeing lots is definitely one sign of diabetes - my dads got it and that was how he found out, because he'd get up around 4-6 times a night and drink pints just like you nikki. Not saying you've got diabetes but it's worth a trip to the gp.

oh shit so that means blood tests ok ill make an appoitment today but ill proberlly faint at the though of a blood test when i was pg with dd i was thirsty all the time but mainly for coke and very sugary stuff ,

my doctor allready thinks im wierd so i might see the nurse thank you xxxxx

you shouldn't have to have the full-on needle in the arm job though nikki - most gp's do it through the fingerprick test, if that's at all reassuring!! But drinking so much and still being thirsty does sound like typical diabetes so I would get checked out asap. Its often easily managed but can be dangerous if left unchecked.

yeh that has made me feel better but if i tell her/him my simptoms and they dont do a blood test what shall i say ? shall i ask for one ???

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err, YES! Is he the one you're having a fight with about your dd's jabs??

nikcola, the first test they'll do for diabetes will be a dipstick in your pee, like when you're pregnant. So no needles at first.

twiglett - I'd go back and demand a blood test if you're still unsure. But with diabetes its the amount that sends warning signals. Drinking a couple of glasses extra now and then might be normal thirst but a sign of diabetes is when you have to go and get a drink any time day or night because you're THAT thirsty and you can drink a couple of pints literally at one time and feel thirsty as soon as you put the glass down, not say half an hour later. How much do you drink and how often?

nikki - if you're having to drink so much so frequently you should definitely have a test done so if the gp doesn't offer, insist and if they still say no, most Superdrug or Lloyd pharmacies will do it for you.

twiglet that is what i think my gp will say to me

You should both insist on a diabetes test ASAP imo. If the gp won't do it, go to a pharmacy or another gp. Diabetes is so easy to treat and so easy to live with once its under control, but can be so dangerous if left that its not worth taking any chances.

Agree with WK and hoxtonchick - what you're describing is a classic sign of diabetes so you should definitely insist on a test. It was the first sign with my dh - he was literally drinking a couple of litres during the night.

Are you also losing weight without trying? That can be another sign of diabetes.

god no i wish i was losing weight but i am quite over weight though

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Still I'd have it checked. . .Even if gp thinks you're weird this is a v. valid complaint. Needles are much less bad than you think. I have phobias myself and I assure you that avoidance is the worst thing.

What did you mean when you said you had an "opp" on Friday?

You shouldn't need a needle at all though, Should be the 'pee' test first and/or a tiny little fingerprick for a drop (literally one drop) of blood, and that should be enough.

nickola, my dh had other symptoms apart from the thirst..slightly blurred vision and tingly fingers. He wasn't losing weight though (far from it!) (he has Type II diabetes, I think weight loss is more obvious with Type I but hoxtonchick may correct me on this one). Anyway, the only way you will know for sure is to get a test. If a urine test turns out negative I think you should ask for a blood test as well (sorry, I understand your reluctance as I hate needles too) because urine tests are not as reliable as blood tests (high blood sugar just doesn't always show up in the urine). Is there any diabetes in your family?

twiglett, it is a funny thing thirst...it certainly doesn't always turn out to be diabetes but it does need to be checked...glad you were OK though.

expatkat,
i had an termination on friday so i thought it might be cause of that but i fell ine every where else, but the thirst is worse in the night

Nickola does your wee smell fo sugar puffs - I told my nurse friend this when mine did and she said was a sign of diabetes??

twinkie that really made me laugh, err i dont no ill smell it, ill need to go before i go out anyway

i just weeed and it smells diffrent

You're right gingernut, weight loss is likely to be pronounced in undiagnosed Type 1 than Type 2 diabetes as the blood sugar levels get a lot higher & the onset is much more acute than Type 2 which can rumble along undetected for quite some time.