This is the very first post for me on this site, so hopefully it will work fine. I have been diagnosed with the pcos quite a number of years ago, 7 years or so. I am sorry to say that I have not taken this condition seriously and largely ignored or "tolerated" my symptoms...
In any case, I don't know if I am insulin resistant or diabetic NOW, but few years back I was started to be worried about my enormous water intake - 7 liters a day. At that time I was still eating tons of sugar. I went to a doctor and told her about how much water I drink and that I am wondering if I am diabetic. I had a blood test done and it was negative. Therefore I know that it is possible to be very thirsty and drink lots of water, and not be diabetic; whether I was insulin resistant, I don't know - that doctor never mentioned it and I haven't heard about it then so I didn't ask. In my meager understanding of these issues that I am just now researching, I think that if I didn't have enough glucose in my blood for diabetes, then I didn't have enough for IR diagnosis. Unless I am wrong in assuming that, then it would mean that I wasn't IR or diabetic and yet had such thirst all the time.
After that time, I started to purposefully limit sugars in my diet, off and on over the next several years. It seemed to me that I was less thirsty when I ate less sugar or other carbs. But lately, (last month), I really got all the processed sugar out of my diet with no change in thirst; if anything, it is even worse! Last week I was on South Beach phase 1 (only protein and very low carb vegggies allowed) and thirst was same. Over time in last few years I have gone up to 9 liters of water per day. That's where I am now. I thought very low carb diet will lessen the thirst, but now I see it hasn't and I will make an appointment with a doctor tomorrow about this.
I wanted to see though if there are any other people with pcos but not diabetic and not IR, who experience this much thirst. Also I am wondering if thirst is a common or at least occasional symptom of IR? Often times there are all sorts of symptoms listed but not the thirst.
As for going to pee, obviously all that water must come out! So I do go frequently, but not what you would say, disproportionately more. And what really bothers me is not going to the bathroom so often, it is the thirst that's really bothering me!! I wish I could just stop drinking so much and drink normal amounts. But the need for water is very great and strong. And I know that despite all that water I am very nearly dehydrated if I don't drink as much - my heart starts to feel like it's laboring heavily trying to pump that thick blood.
I will update this post to let you know the results of the visit to a doctor.
18 May 2007: UPDATE - my blood and urine test results are ALL normal, including the glucose level. See post #15 for more detail.
Last edited by dwarfandelf; 05-18-2007 at 04:18 PM.
2 things I would like to offer from experience....
I started have frequent thirst followed by frequent urination and have been DX as IR but my levels stay within normal. I have been on metformin now for 2 months and have noticed that has gone away.
Now something to think about that happened with my hubby and his DX of type 1 diabetes. It took over a year before he had a test come back and say he was diabetic or maybe have a Doctor care...sad thing is my uncle who also happens to be our endocrinologist said he had probably been diabetic for years without it being DX.... so my point is I don’t trust but 1 test and that’s the A1-C is that what you had done? If not request one…
BTW welcome to the board, I am new also and just recently DX with PCOS
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Heather(31) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Randy(35) on 5/11/97
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DD: Miranda 5/10/96 DS: Tyler 8/3/98
DS: Kyle 12/6/99
PCOS DX 12/06/06
Fibroids DX 12/6/06
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I had felt funky for a long time, well over a year and then the intense thirst and peeing started.
I felt so dry mouthed all of the time and had to be drinking water constantly to feel ok.
I kept thinking that had a water infection because I always needed to pee and it smelt so weird.
Down below was always itching and always had big boils on them - I felt like an utter freak.
My mum and dad dragged me to see my GP and he did a urine test with a dipstick and it came back +++ glucose and ++++ ketones, I got sent to the hospital and thats when they told me that I have type II diabetes and was wayyyyyy out of control.
Now Im five months down the line, my diabetes is under control (with a HUGE lifestyle change and medication) and I feel fantastic.
If youre feeling really thirsty and peeing alot then get yourself to the doctor and get checked out.
As a side note - the smell I had down below and the big boils down there were classic signs of diabetes, well, uncontrolled diabetes.
I smell normal again and no boils anymore.
Diabetes for me has been a blessing, Ive changed my lifestyle, feel brilliant and am losing weight and getting healthy and am truly happy.
Took me a while to feel this way, at first I was upset, I would sit and cry and say "I dont want this" but now Im not actually sure that if they offered me a cure tomorrow that Id take it, sounds insane I know, but Im happy now and am at piece with my diabetes and my life.
If youre diabetic just remember that its not the end of the world.
Good luck.
__________________ Me 30
DH Tom 30
**************************** Dx 1998/9~always suspected!
****************************
Levothyroxine 175mcg ~ Hypothyroidism
Diagnosed with type II diabetes 29/12/06
2000mg Metformin daily
Folic Acid ~ 5mg p/d ~ Higher than the usual.
***************************** They say that 'God' only gives us as much as we can cope with, if thats true then I wish that 'he' didnt trust my powers of coping so much!!!
I get thirsty allot. I did not really notice it until my school stopped letting us carry around water. I never kept track of how much I drink, I'm going to start.
Have you ever hit you head really hard. People who have hurt some part of their brain get diabetes insipidus and are really thirsty.
May want to check out Cystinosis. Heres a video about a boy who has it. http://www.cystinosisfoundation.org/...rdiagnosis.wmv
I agree with the previous poster: diabetes insipidus is much more likely if your blood sugars are normal. It doesn't have anything to do with your blood sugar like regular diabetes: it has to do with antidiuretic hormone.
But just a reminder: those of us with PCOS are at risk for diabetes later in life, just like we are at risk for high cholesterol etc. It might be a good idea to limit your sugar intake simply for that reason, even if your blood sugars are fine now.
Thank you so much for your responses! They have given me a lot to consider, some excellent suggestions, and I learned few new things. This site is great!
I was not told what type of diabetes test was done, doctor did mention that it is a weak test, but she said she can't proceed unless that test indicates that something is wrong, in which case she could do more testing (that was 4 years ago). I did go to a doctor today and I was given a referral to do blood and urine testing: the form lists things to be checked, but it does not say by what tests. When I go back to the doctor I will ask if A1-C was done, but I already have a feeling that's not the one (they are probably doing some sort of weak screening tests rather than sensitive one, but I will ask). I will try to request it if he will listen to me... That's unfortunate how despite all the hype over warning people of risks of diabetes, they don't diagnose the ones right under their noses.
As for being itchy down there and boils there and pee smell: I had no idea those are related to diabetes! I have so much to read and learn! I actually do feel itchy down there (not constantly throughout the day, but every now and then, each and every day) for the last almost 3 years! I went to a doctor about it too, and told her it is a constant itch that doesn't get progressively worse with time (like yeast infection would, for example). She saw there is one particularly sore spot and she knew that was the focal point of itching, (even though my whole skin is itching off and on) but all she said is that I should stop using soap as my skin seems too sensitive, so to wash with water alone. I have been doing as she told me since then, but the itch has not changed for better or worse, it's just the same. About boils down there, I actually also had them couple times, one at a time. I was puzzled by them, but then they would go away and I didn't give it any more thought. I would have never connected them with diabetes! Finally, yes, my pee has rather strong smell, not all the times, but often enough. All this leads me to think that maybe I do have that diabetes, and will be sure to tell doctor about these symptoms - I had no idea that I should mention them. I just resigned myself to thinking that maybe my skin is simply too sensitive and there is nothing I can do about it. Thank you also for giving an uplifting and positive view of having diabetes! I do feel better about it (if I have it) after you said that!
I watched video about cystinosis - I hope I don't have that (it is so rare after all) because I do like rather salty foods, although not to that degree, and I suppose since I am of normal growth and haven't had developmental problems by now (36) I don't think I have those genes (I hope). I did hit my head once though, as a little kid, I was climbing something on a playground and my hands slipped and I landed on my head on concrete. I had concussion which got better after one day. I wonder if that was enough to jolt something in my brain that badly to have diabetes insipidus. That is an excellent suggestion as something for me to read up on a bit and consider if these tests show nothing much. And again, I never knew about the connection between head bang and this type of diabetes (don't know anything as a matter of fact about that type of diabetes).
Finally, my years of sugar-binging are over. Three years ago I eliminated sugar and limited carbs from flour and lost a lot of weight - almost 60 pounds in about 8 months. I was shocked by that result! I was normal weight after hitting 200 pounds and in such a short time and practically without effort (after initial effort to stop sweets, I lost craving for them as well as the huge appetite). But then I let things slide; I let myself have a sweet there and another here, and soon enough my cravings and appetite were growing and growing, and I gained 40 pounds back. This has taught me a lesson though: don't stop being careful about what you eat. That holiday indulgence that I thought "what harm can couple cookies do?" has cost me 40 pound-gain!!
Last edited by dwarfandelf; 04-26-2007 at 10:10 PM.
I agree with previous posters that the number 1 thing it might be is diabetes.
You can check your ketones with strips that are over the counter. Continue to drink water. If blood glucose rises too high, your body burns fat as a result you excrete ketone from your urine. If you pee and the stick is anything but yellow you are positive for ketones. See your doctor asap.
A HgbA1C is the best way to determine how long your sugars have been too high.
Good luck.
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Sarah(39) To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Tim(39) Married 03/21/03
I kept thinking that had a water infection because I always needed to pee and it smelt so weird.
Down below was always itching and always had big boils on them - I felt like an utter freak.
.
I'm having the same problem. Were these "boils" in the crease of your inner thighs, right where the lining of your underwear would be? I've been waking up in the middle of the night with cotton mouth and having the problem with itching and very dark patches of skin. My gyno said my fasting glucose was normal so I've never given diabetes a second thought.
They varied from my creases to my inner labia.
Mainly they were on my labia and were huge and very very sore.
__________________ Me 30
DH Tom 30
**************************** Dx 1998/9~always suspected!
****************************
Levothyroxine 175mcg ~ Hypothyroidism
Diagnosed with type II diabetes 29/12/06
2000mg Metformin daily
Folic Acid ~ 5mg p/d ~ Higher than the usual.
***************************** They say that 'God' only gives us as much as we can cope with, if thats true then I wish that 'he' didnt trust my powers of coping so much!!!
hi, i get very thirsty especially after eating and i tend to drink lots, im not diabetic though, after drinking the required amount i have a bit more energy.
I am always thirsty. I always have a water bottle with me. I drink until my stomache hurts and is totally full and I still feel thirsty. I've never really thought about it being part of my pcos. My mother and her family drink lots of water so I just though I got it from her.
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Jessi
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When you had your blood tested, was it a finger prick test?
I ask because for years my MD would do the finger prick test in his office and it always came back normal. Then my gyno ordered a two hour fasting glucose test and bam . . . turns out I was insulin resistant.
To this day, my finger prick tests usually come back under normal limits.
I saw a doctor yesterday and found out my blood (not a finger prick, but out of the arm) and urine test results: all normal. He said my sodium is very slightly lower than it should be but still not bad. He said he expected it to be a lot lower with all the water drinking.
He said my blood pressure is extremely abnormally high: on my first visit it was 180/120 and yesterday 150/109. This is apparently very alarming, and he said especially for someone who is 37 it is not supposed to be. So he is referring me to "internal medicine" specialist - wait time approx. 2 months. Such is the health system in Canada. This specialist is supposed to order other tests (or not) as he sees fit.
I did ask this doctor yesterday about doing the "2 hour fasting test" or the "Hb 1A-C", but he said the test that was done (after 12 hours of fasting) show NOTHING out of normal and so he will not order any more tests (but is referring me to another person because of my BP and water intake). Also because ultrasound revealed polyps on my gall bladder - I have no idea if this relates to anything else I have and I still need to research *that*.
I think there are other possibilities to explain my abnormal thirst, but until I find out more (which will take months in this system) I will personally take it that I do have at least insulin resistance and likely full blown type 2 diabetes. According to Wikipedia, high BP or "hypertension" can be a symptom of various things, Insulin Resistance being one of them.
Furthermore, my face is easily flushed - my cheeks get very red when I am even slightly warm - and this also among many other things is a mark of untreated diabetes. And "itching vulva" that we discussed, or pruritus vulvae (finally found a name for it other than "the itch down there" :-) is also a classic sign. Little bit intimidating, but a great web page for this info: http://www.telemedicine.org/dm/dmupdate.htm (skin problems in diabetes).
I am thankful to everyone who posted. From everything I heard, my conclusion is that all of us here are likely to have IR or possibly actual type 2 diabetes. It is good to check out other possibilities like diabetes insipidus and whatever other disorders just to make sure it isn't any of those, but the point I really got out of this discussion is: For the purposes of finding out whether you have IR or type 2 diabetes, having a "normal" glucose level under 12-hour fasting test or finger-prick test, basically means nothing.
Always Thirsty and drinking a LOT of water 
