Diabetes Makes Me Poop - Cassandra's Story

Cassandra has had quite the two weeks, and she’s ready to share them with you. After not feeling well one Monday morning, a trip to the emergency room turned into an unexpected hospital stay. Here’s her story.

Also, discussed in this episode:

A1C (also called hemoglobin A1C or HbA1c) is a blood test that shows your average blood sugar level over the past 2–3 months.

It works by measuring how much glucose (sugar) is attached to your red blood cells. Since red blood cells live about 90 days, the test gives a long-term picture — not just what your blood sugar was that morning.

What the numbers generally mean:

1. Below 5.7% → Normal
2. 5.7%–6.4% → Prediabetes
3. 6.5% or higher → Diabetes

So instead of a snapshot, it’s more like a season recap.

It’s one of the main tools doctors use to diagnose and monitor diabetes, and it helps show how well blood sugar has been managed over time.

Daily glucose (or blood sugar) is your blood sugar level at a specific moment.

It’s the short-term number — compared to A1C, which is the long-term average.

People check their daily glucose with:

1. A finger-stick glucose meter
2. A continuous glucose monitor (CGM)

General ranges (for most adults):

1. Fasting (before eating): about 70–99 mg/dL is typical without diabetes
2. After meals (1–2 hours): usually under 140 mg/dL without diabetes

For someone with diabetes, target ranges can be different depending on what their doctor recommends.

Think of it like this:

1. Daily glucose = today’s weather.
2. A1C = the climate over the last 3 months.

One tells you what’s happening right now. The other (A1c) shows the bigger trend.

Here are the most common symptoms of type 2 diabetes — and the tricky part is that many of them build slowly, which is why people sometimes don’t realize what’s happening.

Common Signs

1. Increased thirst
2. Frequent urination (especially at night)
3. Feeling very tired
4. Blurred vision
5. Increased hunger
6. Slow-healing cuts or sores
7. Frequent infections (yeast infections, UTIs, skin infections)
8. Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
9. Unexplained weight changes

Why it can sneak up on people

Type 2 often develops gradually. Someone might think:

1. “I’m just tired.”
2. “I’ve been drinking more water.”
3. “I’m getting older.”
4. “Work’s just stressful.”

The body gives subtle hints before the lab work confirms it. Please get your yearly physicals and have the doctor test for glucose.

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This episode contains content that some may find emotionally challenging. This is not a substitute for professional therapy or mental health support. If you are struggling with persistent or severe mental health challenges, it's essential to reach out to a qualified mental health professional for guidance and assistance. Therapy provides a structured and supportive environment for individuals to explore their thoughts and feelings, develop coping strategies, and work towards lasting positive changes. Seeking professional help is a proactive step toward overall mental well-being.

All original content, unless otherwise stated, and music written and performed by Anxiety Makes Me Poop.