Question
I have noticed some changes in myself lately that are concerning me a bit. Have any of you ever experienced this:

*Studdering (when you never have before)
*Slurring words
*Speaking wrong (mixing up words. I.E. I meant to say Skating Rink or Bowling Alley and I called it a Skating Alley. I couldn't remember what the correct term was)

I started experiencing this the past few weeks and I'm a little concerned. Maybe I need more sleep? What do you think?

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Sleep is a definite good place to start.

I only do those things when I'm nervous or overly excited. Try a few days of good sleep and see how it goes. Then go from there.

*waits for Wynelle's professional opinion*

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It can just be because you're stressed or overly tired. Also, it could be a drop in blood sugar. (I have hypoglycemia, and when my blood sugar drops, my brain and thinking/speaking is the first thing affected.) But it could also be something serious. I'd keep tabs on your stress levels and eating in relation to it, and if you still have those symptoms call a doctor.

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I can't think of how it would be possible for my sugar level to drop...I'm always having sugar.

But I will try to keep track for a few days and see if I notice a pattern.

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Originally Posted by Jennifer I can't think of how it would be possible for my sugar level to drop...I'm always having sugar.

But I will try to keep track for a few days and see if I notice a pattern.
Too MUCH sugar can cause the same problem. Does diabetes run in your family? If it does, and you can't pinpoint anything else that would cause these problems, you might consider a diabetes screening with your doctor.

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ETD--my computer froze and it posted twice.

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Yes. Feb said exactly what I was going to say. Before I knew I had hypoglycemia, I used to have sugar ALL THE TIME! I could have nothing but sugar to keep me going--and I felt great, as if I was always charged up. If I didn't have a sip of soda or a candy bar, though, I was so sluggish I couldn't move.

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Dang it! It does run in our family. Now you have me knowing that I need to go get checked! I'll be at my dad's this weekend...I'll have him check my sugar level..then I'll make an appointment with my doctor.

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Yeah, after hearing the you're a sugar-fiend AND diabetes runs in your family, I would definitely see a Dr. then.

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Originally Posted by Jennifer Dang it! It does run in our family. Now you have me knowing that I need to go get checked! I'll be at my dad's this weekend...I'll have him check my sugar level..then I'll make an appointment with my doctor.
I know it's a drag, but if you do have it, better to find out now. According to my doctor, of all the "chronic" conditions a person could develop, Type II diabetes is the "best" of them to have because it's the most manageable.

I know - I have Type II diabetes. It runs rampant in my dad's side of the family, regardless of diet and weight factors.

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So if I check my sugar level this weekend...will that tell me anything at all?

How do they test for diabetes? Can diabetes cause weight gain? Can it make me more tired than normal?

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Originally Posted by Jennifer Can diabetes cause weight gain? Can it make me more tired than normal?
I can't answer the first 2 ?s, but for both of these the answer is a big, emphatic YES!

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B/C I've put on some weight (about 10 lbs) over the past few months. And my friends are giving me a hard time about how often I nap now. But I never thought to put it all together.

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You might not be able to tell anything just testing at your dad's house. Blood sugar levels fluctuate a lot--especially if you have hypoglycemia or diabetes. I'm not sure if they test for diabetes the same way, but for hypoglycemia they make you drink this really sugary, syrupy liquid and then they take a blood sample every half hour for 3-4 hours to see what effect the sugar has. Most people can eat sugar and your blood sugar will be normal. If you have diabetes your blood sugar will get too high, and if you have hypoglycemia your blood sugar level will actually DROP after having sugar. Having that tested is a good place to start. If you told your doctor your symptoms and the history of diabetes in your family he/she would likely recommend testing.

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I've had that test before..a few years ago.

I've taken some online surveys and they say I am a low to medium risk. I am going to make some lifestyle changes for a few weeks and then I will get tested.

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Originally Posted by Jennifer So if I check my sugar level this weekend...will that tell me anything at all?

How do they test for diabetes? Can diabetes cause weight gain? Can it make me more tired than normal?
Here are some typical symptoms of diabetes:

Unexplained weight changes
Excessive fatigue
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Extreme hunger
Irritability
Blurry vision

When I got tested, I first had to fast for 12 hours. The lab tech took a sample of my blood and then had me drink this nasty, super-sugary liquid. They tested my blood one, two, and three hours after I drank the sugary drink.

Testing your blood sugar once on a meter won't tell you definitively if you do or do not have diabetes, but it can give you some sort of indication if you check your blood at the right time. If you are going to use your dad's meter, check your blood sugar either a) when you first wake up (before eating), b) two hours after a meal, or c) right before a meal (as long as it's been at least a few hours since you last ate). You can also check at bedtime.

According to the American Diabetes Association, your blood sugar should be 90 mg/dL to 130 mg/dL before meals and 110 mg/dL to 150 mg/dL at bedtime when using a blood sample drawn from a fingertip (plasma blood sample). One to two hours after a meal, blood sugar should be less than 180 mg/dL. Blood sugar meters give you results in mg/dL.

The best test to determine your "overall" blood sugar is the Hemoglobin A1C. This test measures your average blood sugar level over the past three months. You do not have to fast for this test. Typically, it's only given to people who are already diabetic, but you might be able to request it. With the Hemoglobin A1C test, a "score" of less than 7.0 (sometimes printed as a percent - less than 7% is considered normal).

I know that's a lot of information, but I wish someone would have told me this earlier. Given my family's susceptibility, and the fact that I had gestational diabetes in my last two pregnancies, I would have gotten tested a whole lot sooner.

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Thanks for all of that info. I will be getting tested soon, I'd rather prevent it than live with it. I appreciate all of you help!

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Well, Feb-bride said it all! Right to the point as always.

ALso, what type of birth control do you use and do you smoke?

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Originally Posted by Marrying_the_Good_Husband You might not be able to tell anything just testing at your dad's house. Blood sugar levels fluctuate a lot--especially if you have hypoglycemia or diabetes. I'm not sure if they test for diabetes the same way, but for hypoglycemia they make you drink this really sugary, syrupy liquid and then they take a blood sample every half hour for 3-4 hours to see what effect the sugar has. Most people can eat sugar and your blood sugar will be normal. If you have diabetes your blood sugar will get too high, and if you have hypoglycemia your blood sugar level will actually DROP after having sugar. Having that tested is a good place to start. If you told your doctor your symptoms and the history of diabetes in your family he/she would likely recommend testing.
Oh man I had to do one of those test about 8 yrs ago when I was having problems with my blood sugar dropping really low when I would get stressed out. Not fun. I hope you don't have to do it Jennifer.

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I do it once every few years it sucks. I get sick from the stuff they make you drink. A lot of people gain a few pounds after the first get married. But you better be safe then sorry. Keep us posted!

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Originally Posted by wynelle Well, Feb-bride said it all! Right to the point as always.

ALso, what type of birth control do you use and do you smoke?
I think I take Yasmin (I usually get the lowest dose) and no I don't smoke.

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I had (have) the same problem, from time to time with speaking wrong.....They say ti is caused by stress......

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stress and even check for heart problems and thyroid levels too... Nothing can be ruled out.. !!! This often has happened to people with heart problems who keep forgetting and have mix-ups ..

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Definitely keep us posted on how you're doing, Jennifer!