Extreme hunger

Hello @chriskc and welcome to Mayo Connect.

I see that you are just beginning your adjustment to being a diabetic. It can be difficult. Changing eating and exercise patterns represent a major lifestyle change and it does take time to adapt. So give yourself a little room to make the changes you need to.

We have many members who have discussed Diabetes and I hope that they will join you in this discussion. I would especially like to invite a Member, @ihatediabetes to speak to this issue of change of lifestyle. She has made many successful changes. Also, @retiredteacher and mentor @gailb

Here is a link to a post from Mayo's website that discussed Type I diabetes and it does list hunger as a symptom https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20353011.

"Symptoms Type 1 diabetes signs and symptoms can appear relatively suddenly and may include:

Increased thirst
Frequent urination
Bed-wetting in children who previously didn't wet the bed during the night
Extreme hunger
Unintended weight loss
Irritability and other mood changes
Fatigue and weakness
Blurred vision"

However, from your post it sounds as if the extreme hunger did not begin until you started insulin usage. Is that correct?
Have you experienced other symptoms from this list as well?

I hope that you have a good adjustment to life as a diabetic. I look forward to hearing from you again and hearing how you are doing.

Teresa

Thank you for your reply. I have always had a very healthy appetite and consider myself a larger volume eater. I have had: increased thirst, frequent urination, unintended weight loss (before insulin) irritability & increased anxiety, tired and occasional blurry vision. I find myself growing a bit depressed thinking about how my quality of life has declined and feel that it will probably continue to do so. Last summer I was happy and looking forward to new experiences and here I am one year later in a place I never imagined being and it feels very discouraging.

@chriskc

Thanks for your response. The discouragement is understandable. This is something quite unexpected, isn't it?

Are you currently seeing an endocrinologist? They are best specialists to help you with diabetes management. Have you been offered the services of a nutrition counselor or a diabetes support group? These can be very helpful in the adjustment of a new lifestyle.

Once again, I urge you to give yourself time to adjust to this "new normal" and realize that a lifelong lifestyle pattern takes a while to adjust to. Read all that you can about diabetes, subscribe to websites that can help you understand this disorder. Also, very important is to find an exercise plan that you can enjoy.

Here is a website for the American Diabetes Association, http://www.diabetes.org/. You will find some good information here as well as support for your new lifestyle.

Keep in touch, Chris. I look forward to hearing from you again.

Teresa

Yes my Endocrinologist is at Mayo and I will see him again in Sept and will also meet with a nutritionist in a couple of weeks. I had been excercisng 30 min a day for about 3 years but when I became sick I stopped for a couple of months but I’m working at it again. I have to say the insulin is a better feeling medication than Metformin was...I felt horrible from last Oct until this July. Coming down with diabetes at 58 hit me out of the blue but I tell myself there are so many other people dealing with far worse things. I appreciate your comments and advice.

@chriskc I was diagnosed with diabetes at around the same age. Thankfully mine has been very minor, I take nothing for it. I have read that if you lose weight it can almost be reversed. I have lost a considerable amount of weight so I will be interested in seeing what my endocrinologist appointment turns up at the end of August. My A1c numbers are always under 6, have been as low as 4.9. I guess I am one of the lucky ones.
Good luck with adjusting to this. You do have to become more conscious of what you eat but it is doable.
JK

Thank you and hope you continue to do well.

@chriskc Thank you, and I hope you do too. There are times I do indulge but none of us is perfect. In fact I was craving a jelly stick after one of my hospital admissions and my husband mentioned it to one of the doctors. She said once in a while a person is able to do that, just not frequently. We stopped at Dunkin Donuts on the way home and I got my jelly stick. I needed something good after eating hospital food for a few days.
JK

Hello @chriskc

It sounds as if you are taking all of the important steps needed as a newly diagnosed diabetic. I'm pleased to hear that your use of the insulin helps you feel better than the other med, that is a good sign.

I appreciated the comment you made at the end of your post, "but I tell myself there are so many other people dealing with far worse things." This is so true, isn't it? I often have to stop and remind myself of that as well.

Continue to post, as you are able, and I trust that you will continue to make good progress with this chronic health condition.

Teresa