<p>Have a friend who seems to feel he is diabetic, mostly due to dry mouth. He doesnt have insurance, so he cant go and get tested. I wanted to ask you fine folks, what doctors usually say to the patients after a diagnosis. Whether he actually has diabetes or not, I am sure the advice given by doctors can have some helping or even preventative measures to my friend. What types of food should he be eating and how much exercise?</p>
<p>Thanks all.</p>
<p>FYI, other things can cause a dry mouth, such as Sjogren’s. Good luck to your friend.</p>
<p>Dry mouth does not always mean a diagnosis of diabetes. </p>
<p>Husband is a diabetic. Stay away from sugared drinks, choose mutigrain versions over white versions foods (bread, white rice, pasta), loose weight if you are overweight, eat smaller means but more often. Testing the sugar levels at random times during the day helps to pinpoint triggers that elevate the levels for this particular person. Husband was told to keep a log of his self test results and write down things he ate previous to a high result. Diet and exercise (to lose weight and maintain good circulation) help enormously but depending on the severity of each particular case, it may not be enough to treat the diabetes. </p>
<p>This is not a condition that you can self diagnose or self treat. Inadequate treatment can have a very bad effect on all organs. Often times there are underlying conditions that also require treatment. In other words, for someone without diabetes and with borderline high blood pressure, diet may be enough to treat the blood pressure. For someone with diabetes and with borderline high blood pressure, a physician may recommend blood pressure medication. Proper management of diabetes means visits to a physician throughout the year (H goes every 3 months) to monitor typical blood work ups. The doctor needs to monitor everything going on–liver function, kidney function, sugar levels, cholesterol, and enzymes associated with heart function. It’s also important to have eye exams regularly. Your friend needs to get a proper diagnosis and a treatment plan specific to him/her.</p>
<p>My Dad was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at age 42 and elected to ignore his physician’s advice. Please don’t follow his (really unfortunate) example.</p>
<p>if he has diabetes, he may need medication. I’m sure you can find a diabetes diet online or in bookstores, but it is not something to mess around with, because he has no idea if he is borderline or if he is in need of medication.</p>
<p>your friend can buy a fairly inexpensive glucose meter at a local drugstore and start taking blood glucose measurements before and after meals. They are very easy to use and very accurate.</p>
<p>If glucose readings are high (over 120) on a consistent basis, that would be good indicator.</p>
<p>He may have prediabetes and with proper diet and exercise may be able to forego medication. Either way, he needs to see a doctor. Some people will also have a high glucose reading that is an outlier. My father once tested with a high reading and fortunately it never happened again. Unfortunately - I haven’t been so lucky.</p>
<p>My father was told he was/is borderline diabetic. He lost weight, started exercising, and eats properly. He’s not a daily drinker, but imbibes even less than previously. If he knows he’s going to have a drink, he’s extra careful about what he eats in the days leading up to that one. His sugar levels are not too bad now. I do wish his Dr. would see that and take him off some of the meds. I’m not a physician, but I really think doctors are reluctant to take patients off meds once they get started on them.</p>
<p>November is National Diabetes Month and I believe a lot of hospitals and other organizations give free screening blood tests. You friend should check in his area. If he tests postive the staff should be able to assist him in locating affordable treatment. They also can provide literature.</p>
<p>Is he unemployed, poor?
Our city has free clinics for the uninsured who can’t get insurance and can’t afford care.
Check especially with a hospital in his area that is non-profit, associated with a religious group.</p>
<p>Everybody on my mother’s side and on my H’s father’s side died of Diabetese (complications of) as far as I know. Get the measuring thing (my H. claims that he gets them for free) and measure Blood Sugar. My H (diabetic) and I (non-diabetic) measure it on a very regular basis. The level depends on WEIGHT much more than anything else, which is also confirmed by my diabetic cousin (who is also MD). My H. was told that he can get rid of it and his high blood pressure (on medication for both conditions) if he gets himself into normal range of weight for his height. I am in my range. We both exercise for about 2 hours every day. I have never heard about any restrictions in exercise. H. does not restrict himself in his diet either. His Sugar has been normal with medication.</p>
<p>Also make sure to fast for at least 8 and preferably 12 hours before any blood test; otherwise carbs in the system can skew the readings.</p>
<p>I think it’s easy to get a free glucose meter, but the test strips are what cost a fortune. Before choosing a meter I’d advise finding test strips that are affordable. I know that there are organizations that give free diabetes supplies to people in economic need. I just donated extra diabetes supplies to an organization in California that does that.</p>
<p>It’s fairly common for people to come in with coupons and get a free meter. Strips cost about a $1 each. They all cost about the same. They are covered by insurance, most of the time.
The ADA has a lot of good information on their website.
Some pharmacies are now selling home HgbA1c meters. You can diagnose diabetes with a high HgbA1c of >7% or so.
If curious about glucose levels, you can try and find a current diabetic and ask if you can use one strip to test yourself. A fasting glucose level of >126 mg/dL or a random level of 200 mg/dL are considered to be diabetic levels.</p>
<p>Dry mouth is not a common sign of diabetes. The most common symptoms are increased thirst, hunger, and urination.</p>
<p>member:</p>
<p>Here is a website you can pass along to your friend which talks about the different types of diabetes diagnosis…How you test for diabetes…and lots of other helpful information…hope this helps. Please be sure to ask if you have further questions.</p>
<p>[Diagnosis</a> of Diabetes](<a href=“http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/diagnosis/]Diagnosis”>http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/diagnosis/)</p>