Hmm. Thanks, Qadgop. I guess I won’t sell my pancreas on eBay after all, then.
Really?
That’s quite interesting. This past January, I was put on a course of prednisone because of my second case of Bell’s Palsy. I was diagnosed diabetic in March. I am very annoyed that my GP didn’t mention this.
How about gestational diabetes?
How often does gestational diabetes go away after pregnancy? How often does it stay? If you get gestational diabetes and it goes away are you more likely to become diabetic later?
Until Qadgop comes in with the definitive answer, I’d say that gestational dm is type 2: insulin resistant, and yes, you are more likely to develop dm later on.
The beta cells on the Islet of Langerhans in the pancreas is where the insulin is produced. These are small masses of cells scattered throughout the pancreas. The Islet cells also secrete glucagon.
Pretty much what barbitu8 said. I haven’t done OB in a long time, so I’m not up on the very latest. But I don’t think things have changed that much.
A non-diabetic diabetes-related post…
I am prone to skin infections, which I am told is not unusual in diabetics. In my case, it’s because I am also prone to skin rashes, and when a significant part of your hide is in a raw state infection is much more likely.
However, shortly after moving to Indiana (and no doubt the stress of the move contributed) I broke out in a lovely rash that became infected. I went to a local doctor, who of course didn’t know me from Adam, and while I was trying to explain my history of allergies and rashes he jumped in and said:
“How many of your relatives have diabetes?”
“None” I said.
Disbelieving look “Maybe they talk about how they have “the sugar” or such?”
“No, my family knows how to say “diabetes”. None of my blood relatives has ever been diagnosed with diabetes.”
“What about during pregnancy?”
“No.”
“I find that hard to believe.”
“It’s true”
“They probably didn’t tell you. How many times a day do you pee?”
“Three or four.”
“Are you sure?”
Trying hard not to roll my eyes “Yes.”
“Are you thirsty all the time?”
At this point my husband starts laughing - "Are you kidding? All summer long I have to nag her to drink fluids, or she’ll forget and get dehydrated. She’s never thirsty.
Doctor again: “Have you ever been tested for diabetes?”
“Yeah - three months ago, at my FAA physical.”
“I’m really concerned about these skin infections. I pretty sure you have diabetes. You’re 30 lbs overweight and your skin is a mess. I don’t know why you aren’t showing any other symptoms, but I want you in here tomorrow for blood tests. No food past midnight, just water - not even fruit juice, OK?”
Well, wasn’t that going to be fun?! Did the tests anyway, my blood glucose was spang in the “normal” range. As I suspected. When the doc kept insisting it HAD to be diabetes and was talking about checking me into the hospital for more tests because it HAD to be there… I got a new doctor.
By the way - even though at 5’3" and 145 lbs I am heavy for my size, I still have a 28 inch waist. I’m not supermodel thin (yuuuuuck…), but I don’t think I need to lose 30, either. Besides, my weight has been stable at that figure for 20 years, which I’ll take over yo-yo dieting any day.
If I start pissing like a racehorse, find myself incredibly thirsty and losing weight for no reason, I promise I will get myself checked for diabetes. Heck, I get checked anyway, because if Type II starts sneaking up on me I want a chance to beat it into submission if I can before it endangers my pilot’s license. Meanwhile, I’ve got other things to worry about.
My husband, though… HE has the family history of diabetes and his blood sugar has been inching up for the last few years…
I pee at least 8 times a day and drink over a gallon of water day. (thirsty and pee a lot). I don’t have any other signs of diabetes though. (no weight gain or loss, well I work out 3 times a week so my weight is held constant)
Is there another symptom? Like dizziness after eating sugary foods or something wierd like that?
epi, I’d recommend a visit to your doc to get a check-up. Nothing you read here will definitively decide whether you have diabetes or not.
Epi, it’s more like getting sleepy after eating food with lots of carbs, and getting freaked out or paranoid if you’re late getting a meal.
I’m not too worried about diabetes QM, more interested in what the symptoms are. I work out 3 times a week, eat low carbs (40%, low GI carbs, little if no refined sugar), and stretch out my 2800 calories in 8 meals. Breakfast large, with meals getting progressivly smaller as the day goes on. I think I am safe. 
Oh, I am not obese and I am only 25, though I do have a family history of it. Still not worried.
Those symptoms are hardly specific to diabetes. They occur with many other disorders, and also in many healthy people.
A big symptom is nocturia. If you’re getting up at night to pee because your bladder is full I’d recommend getting it checked out.
My diabetes was discovered well before I presented any symptoms although in retrospect I can see that I may have been peeing more than average.
The reason for getting slight diabetes treated is that a high blood sugar level is very bad for the body esp. kidneys, heart and eyes. If you suspect that you might be diabetic (and perhaps even if you dont) it can be a good idea to get checked.
Broomstick: interesting about the rashes. I do remember that for about a year before being diagnosed as diabetic, I had repeated ear infections. Now I hardly ever have them. I guess that sugar in sweat allowed the bugs to prosper - I’ve never had this confirmed - does anybody have a similar story.
barbitu8: my doctor assured me that it was all a lot more complex that a simple division into Type I and II. The exact details of what is happening to an individual can depend on all sorts of complex interference with the metabolic pathways. That is why patients respond differently to different drugs.
First of all, there’s quite a range of normal when it comes to the frequency of drinking and peeing. If you have energetic work outs, your fluid intake and outgo might, for all I know, be normal.
There are screeening tests that are less involved and cheaper than fasting blood draw and glucose tolerance. If you have a family history, if you’re going for a routine physical ask about a screening test (this might be either a urine test or finger-prick). It won’t diagnose, but if it did come up as outside of the normal range you know to seek a more definate answer. If those tests come up normal, and you have no symptoms you needn’t worry so much (as long as you get regular screenings).
Certainly, steady weight and regular exercise will only benefit you, regardless of what else may or may not be occuring. (Remember, I am not a doctor - if QtM contradicts me, go with what he says)