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Always expect the unexpected

Last month when my oncologist said she was going to order additional tests that hadn't been performed for awhile, my only concern was with the PSA test.

I had heard having an enlarged prostate typically produces a false positive, which then requires a very painful biopsy to confirm the diagnosis of prostrate cancer. Assuming Certain I had a large prostrate, because of frequent trips to the bathroom, seemingly mostly at night, I was fully expecting to see a high reading, and kept thinking about this painful test, and what to do about it.

But NO, my PSA didn't turn out to be a problem at all. It was only .73 ng/mL, which based on everything I've been able to glean from the internet is a relatively low number. (The lab did not provide a reference range for my test.)

So then what is causing those frequent trips to the bathroom at night, you might ask?

Could it be the blood glucose level of 106 mg/dL, I reported in my previous post, may not be a lab error after all, especially considering my glycohemoglobin level came back at 6.1% (reference range 4.8 - 5.9%)? It turns out, frequent urination is a symptom of diabetes. Fortunately, I don't have any of the other symptoms, except for maybe some irritability, which Becky may attest to. :)

So now that prostrate cancer and a heart attack don't appear to be a problem, (total cholesterol was 137, HDL 42, LDL 87, and triglycerides were 41), all I have to worry about is my lymphoma, and the possibility of diabetes.

This just sounds like a wake up call to me, to do what I haven't been doing for the last few years. It's time to commit to eating healthier, eliminating all sweets, and increasing the intensity and lengths of my workouts.

I plan on being under 150 pounds by this time next month (currently I'm just under 160 pounds), after which I expect a marked improvement on both fronts, but also not forgetting the title of this post. And hopefully I might even see an improvement in my cycling.

Comments

Becky said…
Before John was diagnosed with diabetes he was ALWAYS going to the bathroom. He also drank a ton of water as he felt thirsty all the time.

Here's an article about red wine and diabetes.

http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Features/0,1197,4332,00.html
Alan Posner said…
Hate to ruin your theories, but you're not urinating at night because of your "pre-diabetes".

The reason diabtetics urinate a lot is that if their blood glucose is high enough, the glucose spills into their urine creating an osmotic diuresis.

This requires quite a high level of blood glucose, much higher than 106.

Your nocturia is being caused by something else.
Probably prostatic hypertophy. A normal, or even low PSA doesn't rule this out.

Another possibility is that you're drinking a lot of wine before bedtime. Alcohol is a diuretic.
Marc said…
And the quart of tea I have every morning, plus an almost equal amount when I'm at work, and the additional large cup after a ride, might also have something to do with it.

Still that doesn't change the fact, I've got to start eating healthier, and cut out the sweets. I really want to get my weight down.

I'm able to climb so much better on the bike when I'm under 150 pounds, and who knows for sure, it may actually help with the lymphoma and possibility of diabetes.
Gerry said…
Keep sitting on my wheel as usual and you can't help but get faster. I'm down to 155 and still can't climb. I also have the nightime trips to the b-room about every 2 hours, part of turning 60 I hope.
See you on the road!

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