Hyperglycemia/Diabetes?

[Woolygimp]

About 3 years ago I developed a gradual onset of symptoms including fatigue and a severe dehydration. Hypothyroidism runs in my family, so I attributed the symptoms to that and began taking t3. Well now that my hypothyroidism is in check, this severe fatigue/dehydration is still there albeit not nearly as severe as before.

Before I began the t3 medication, I would wake up with complete cottonmouth (no liquid/saliva in my mouth whatsoever). My eyes would be dry and itch constantly, my skin and lips would start peeling.

I also drink about a gallon of water a day, and stay thirsty. If i eat anything w/ sugar (fruits and candy) i become extremely fatigued and even more dehydrated, more so than usual.

Going in to get checked for diabetes/hyperglycemia tommorow... Anyone here have any personal experiences with diabetes?

[kurosh]

I'm retarded.

[Woolygimp]

Well i'm talking about hyperglycemia which is too much sugar. A person's body with hyperglycemia purposely dehydrates them to dillute their blood with water to lower their glucose content. Also what I feel isn't necessarily fatigue it's a feeling that you're muscles are rested but you're body doesn't even have the energy to lift an arm.

3 years of my life went down the drain...

[posnera]

Why are you taking T3?? Who is your endocrinologist? The standard of care for hypothyroidism is T4 - synthroid, not T3. But it sounds like you are self-diagnosed/self-medicating. Go see a doctor.

[LittleOldLady]

[ QUOTE ]
About 3 years ago I developed a gradual onset of symptoms including fatigue and a severe dehydration. Hypothyroidism runs in my family, so I attributed the symptoms to that and began taking t3. Well now that my hypothyroidism is in check, this severe fatigue/dehydration is still there albeit not nearly as severe as before.

Before I began the t3 medication, I would wake up with complete cottonmouth (no liquid/saliva in my mouth whatsoever). My eyes would be dry and itch constantly, my skin and lips would start peeling.

I also drink about a gallon of water a day, and stay thirsty. If i eat anything w/ sugar (fruits and candy) i become extremely fatigued and even more dehydrated, more so than usual.

Going in to get checked for diabetes/hyperglycemia tommorow... Anyone here have any personal experiences with diabetes?

[/ QUOTE ]

I have type 2 diabetes (runs in my family). Diabetes of either sort is a mean, nasty, vicious, insidious illness which will screw up your body in almost every possible without giving you much notice. A specialist in diabetes once told me that 90% of the people who have diabetes do not take it seriously--to their ultimate detriment.

If it turns out that you have diabetes, follow the medication, dietary, and exercise program laid out for you religiously. Or suffer the very unpleasant consequences. BTW diabetes can be difficult to control even following all recommendations to the letter. It requires walking a tightrope between too high blood sugar and too low.

Good luck with your checkup!

[prohornblower]

Gimp,
For the last 14 months or so, I've had similar symptoms. Extreme thirt, dryness in mouth in middle of night, urination several times a day (drink a ton of water), vision worsening, "woozy" feeling in my head...

I really thought I was developing MODY- (Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young), which comes around mid 20's (I was 26 when I started getting symptoms).

I cut out sugar sodas (of which I drank about 8-12 a day) and began eating healthier because I got very scared. My dad's mother had diabetes. After cutting out sugar and a lot of carbs in my diet, I still felt the same way. I was scared to go into the doc b/c I was afraid my life was about to change drastically and it took me a long time to build up the nerve.

Anyway, I went to the doc about 2-3 months ago, and got a COMPLETE physical (which is recommended for guys in their mid-20's anyway). I made sure they ran a diabetes test (of which they assured me they do anyway).

Turns out, no diabetes. I was quite relieved. I still feel "woozy" often, and still get thirsty and whatnot, so I haven't pinpointed what is wrong. It could be strange co-incidences, I don't know. But I was glad to find out I didn't acquire diabetes.

In the year in which i had the symptoms I did a lot of research on diabetes, and didn't like what I read. I learned a lot though, of which I'm glad.

I say go to the doc and get a complete phycisal (yes, he'll touch your cajones), but it'll be worth it. You'll feel much better for finding out, whether you have it, or not.

Good luck.

[Woolygimp]

Posnera, don't get me started with synthroid. Synthroid is standard medication for people with classic hypothyroidism i.e. low t4 levels however it does absolutely nothing for people with thyroid hormone resistance. My TSH/T4 levels are well in the normal range, but my the receptor sites in my cells simply don't process t3 as they would in a normal person.

3 of my 4 sisters, and my mother are all classic hypothryoid and they all show almost no improvement on Synthroid, while showing drastic improvements on Armour.

Anyway providing the receptor sites in my cells don't receive t3 properly, it's entirely possible for other hormone resistance conditions to be present, for example cortisol resistance, and/or insulin resistance. The latter which would cause hyperglycemia, however most of this is speculation and I'll know for sure when I get tested tommorow.

FWIW, I've taken Synthroid. I've taken Armour, I've taken Cytomel, and I've taken sustained release t3. I've taken Isocort and Hydrocortisone...
Saying Synthroid is the "optimal" way of treating such a condition is absolutely ludacris, as I could take 500 mg of it and get no reaction except a headache. For the past 3 years that I've felt like this I've put countless hours of research into trying to find the cause, and since I had such an improvement on t3 I always assumed my problem was thyroid based and completely overlooked the obvious...

Body temperature is up from an average of 96ish to 98.5ish, and I feel better in general, so the t3 has definately shown an improvement. I know more about metabolic function than you average person, and plainly put even if I was classicaly hypothyroid I would never take pure L-thyroxine again, and would probaly stick with a mixture of that and L-trilodine-thyronine (Armour).

[Woolygimp]

Prohorn, Did you have really bad dry skin and a bad reaction to sugar? What about constant fatigue?

[straightflush]

I also have dry skin, fatigue, sugar reaction, thirst. I called my doctor and asked to be tested for diabetes. I went in, told him my symptoms, and got a blood test. A few days later, I got a call from a nurse telling me I was perfectly healthy.

Since then, I have started using lotion, eating healtier and exercising more. This has helped a lot.

I would recommend you get a physical/blood test and if there is nothing wrong eat healtier and exercise more.

[posnera]

Gimp, no need to get pissy with me. I was just asking, but as long as you're being pissy, so will I.

How was your thyroid hormone resistance diagnosed? Are you following closely with an endocrinologist? Some of your symptoms sound consistent with untreated/undertreated hypothyroidism. Since Synthroid is the treatment of choice by endocriniologists for the overwhelming majority of hypothyroid patients, you can see how I might have come to my statements.


Either way, I hope you get some answers tomorrow.