Does this mean I have pre-diabetes?

33299 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Pianoman, Aug 10, 2010

Hayley

Discussion Starter · Aug 8, 2010

As of late I have been having some vague symptoms including being constantly thirsty and peeing a lot. I also noticed a very recent (as in it wasn't there just a couple months ago) skin change in my armpits which I recognized as "Acanthosis Nigricans" so I bought a glucose meter.
I followed the directions a website (it won't let me post a proper link, but it's phlaunt dot com slash diabetes) on how to test for diabetes. My fasting blood sugar was 93. One hour after eating the bagel my blood sugar was 166. Two hours later it was 110. Three hours later it was 102.
Roughly two hours after eating dinner I tested my blood sugar again and at that time it was 156.

Some background: I am Female, 25, 5'6" and 155 pounds. I have one known relative (my grandfather) with type 2 diabetes. Seven years ago during my pregnancy I had the one-hour test for gestational diabetes, "failed" it and had to go in for the 3-hour test. I guess I "passed" the 3 hour test, though my doctor did tell me that my "numbers were so high" during the initial test that they usually just forgo the 3-hour test and assume you have gestational diabetes. So I am wondering if it's possible I have been having some kind of insulin resistance or pre-diabetes for the past seven years?

What's the next step? I don't have health insurance so if it's possible I'd like some advice beyond "see your doctor".

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onaughmae

· #2 · Aug 8, 2010

Hayley said:
As of late I have been having some vague symptoms including being constantly thirsty and peeing a lot. I also noticed a very recent (as in it wasn't there just a couple months ago) skin change in my armpits which I recognized as "Acanthosis Nigricans" so I bought a glucose meter.
I followed the directions a website (it won't let me post a proper link, but it's phlaunt dot com slash diabetes) on how to test for diabetes. My fasting blood sugar was 93. One hour after eating the bagel my blood sugar was 166. Two hours later it was 110. Three hours later it was 102.
Roughly two hours after eating dinner I tested my blood sugar again and at that time it was 156.

Some background: I am Female, 25, 5'6" and 155 pounds. I have one known relative (my grandfather) with type 2 diabetes. Seven years ago during my pregnancy I had the one-hour test for gestational diabetes, "failed" it and had to go in for the 3-hour test. I guess I "passed" the 3 hour test, though my doctor did tell me that my "numbers were so high" during the initial test that they usually just forgo the 3-hour test and assume you have gestational diabetes. So I am wondering if it's possible I have been having some kind of insulin resistance or pre-diabetes for the past seven years?

What's the next step? I don't have health insurance so if it's possible I'd like some advice beyond "see your doctor".

Well, your post prandial (after eating) numbers are a a bit high...so I would say there is an issue there. Its good you have a meter and are testing. If you find that you are not back down to normal within at least 2 hours after eating, then you are eating more carbs than your body can deal with. I would suggest restricting your carbs and see if it makes a difference. Get yourself a good little carb counting book or there are plenty of websites that have carb contents of most any food you think of (even restaurants and fast foods). Start out at around 30 grams of carbs for breakfast, and 45 for lunch and dinner. If you must have snacks, stick to around 15 grams. Then test around your meals for a little while. If you find you are not back down to what you were before you ate within 2 hours, then lower the amount of carbs you are eating and try again until you find the amount that works for you.

Whenever possible, stick to complex carbs like whole grains, brown rice instead of white rice, sweet potatoes instead of white ones, whole grain pasta instead of regular pasta. Become a label reader, try to avoid foods high in HFCS (high fructose corn syrup).

And, I know its hard with no insurance....but I really have to say it....see a doctor. You need to have some bloodwork done. At the very least an A1C will tell you approximately how your blood sugar has been running over the last three months. You can buy home A1C kits....but there really is no alternative to seeing a doctor. Is there some sort of clinic in your area that has a payment plan on sliding scale according to your income?

Good luck and please ask any questions you might have. We love to help where we can

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Richard157

· #3 · Aug 8, 2010

Hayley, we cannot give a diagnosis, only a doctor can do that. An endocrinologist (diabetes specialist) is the kind of doctor who is most likely to give a correct diagnosis and prescribe the best treatment. I realize you do not have health insurance, but it is very important that you get a diagnosis. I hope you can see an endo soon. Good luck!

Richard

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Hayley

Discussion Starter · #4 · Aug 8, 2010

onaughmae said:
Well, your post prandial (after eating) numbers are a a bit high...so I would say there is an issue there. Its good you have a meter and are testing. If you find that you are not back down to normal within at least 2 hours after eating, then you are eating more carbs than your body can deal with.

Last night I checked it again an hour after eating and it was 177. But then only about 20 minutes later it was 144. Is it ok for it to go up that high after an hour if it comes back down before the two hour mark?
Also I read that meals high in carbohydrates but also fats will take longer to digest and will make you spike hours later, so if that's true is it still only important what's going on at the 2 hour mark?

I know I should see a doctor eventually, but since I apparently don't have full blown diabetes I wonder if they would tell me anything but to lose weight, exercise, etc. But maybe my presumption is wrong.

Thank you for replying.

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onaughmae

· #5 · Aug 8, 2010

Hayley said:
Last night I checked it again an hour after eating and it was 177. But then only about 20 minutes later it was 144. Is it ok for it to go up that high after an hour if it comes back down before the two hour mark?
Also I read that meals high in carbohydrates but also fats will take longer to digest and will make you spike hours later, so if that's true is it still only important what's going on at the 2 hour mark?

I know I should see a doctor eventually, but since I apparently don't have full blown diabetes I wonder if they would tell me anything but to lose weight, exercise, etc. But maybe my presumption is wrong.

Thank you for replying.

You need a doctor to tell you if you have diabetes. We cannot. You need to have certain lab work done. In my opinion, what you are describing is diabetes. I dont place a lot of stock in the term "pre-diabetes". To me...if your blood sugar is out of the normal range for any length of time and there are no other reasons for it...then that is diabetes. Its like you cant be just a little bit pregnant....you are...or you arent.

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onaughmae

· #6 · Aug 8, 2010

2 hours after eating at 144 is still too high. You should be back down to a normal level by then

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Hayley

Discussion Starter · #7 · Aug 8, 2010

onaughmae said:
2 hours after eating at 144 is still too high. You should be back down to a normal level by then

It was 144 only 20 minutes after it was 177. I didn't test it at the 2 hour mark.

I will probably have health insurance soon, when I get married I can get on my boyfriend's plan through his work, so I will hopefully see a doctor by the end of the year. In the mean time I think I should make changes to my diet and watch my blood sugar because nothing I've read indicates that those numbers are a good sign. Thank you for taking the time to respond to me.

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onaughmae

· #8 · Aug 8, 2010

Hayley said:
It was 144 only 20 minutes after it was 177. I didn't test it at the 2 hour mark.

I will probably have health insurance soon, when I get married I can get on my boyfriend's plan through his work, so I will hopefully see a doctor by the end of the year. In the mean time I think I should make changes to my diet and watch my blood sugar because nothing I've read indicates that those numbers are a good sign. Thank you for taking the time to respond to me.

Please feel free to ask anything...we are all here to support each other

I would definitely make those dietary changes and see where that gets you. Keep a log book if you can. Most likely a dr is going to tell you to make those dietary changes first anyway...and this way when you can see one you are ahead of the game a bit

Let us know how you are doing and any help we can give on diet advice or anything. Good luck and hope you can stick around. There is always a lot of good info being posted

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diabetes86

· #9 · Aug 8, 2010

Making dietary changes can only help your BG.

You meter is the best tool to see how your diet is working.

many Md's now believe that anytime your BG goes over 140 your body is being damaged, over time it ads up. so its best to control your BG sooner rather than later.

whole grains still contain a lot of carbs. you need to use the meter to see how they affect you. teat before you eat (have a measured amount of carbs) test 1 hour after you eat and 2 hours. once you see when you spike (reach the highest BG level) and how high, you can use that time to test in the future, and now you know how that food affects you. if your BG is too high you can eat less of that food.

weight also will affect BG levels if your over weight and can loose some it will help lower your BG.

Exercise helps a LOT. Exercising tones your muscles (toned muscles use more BG even at rest) and the act of exercising lowers BG. Just walking for 20 minuets will lower your BG.

That is all stuff you can do without a MD.
Keep a log of what you eat and BG and time.

Diabetes is a learning disease you WILL learn a lot.

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Hayley

Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 9, 2010

Thank you, diabetes86, that was a very helpful reply. I've heard the exercise recommendation before, but I didn't understand how it was related to blood glucose, it makes sense now.

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Pianoman

· #11 · Aug 10, 2010

Hayley said:
Thank you, diabetes86, that was a very helpful reply. I've heard the exercise recommendation before, but I didn't understand how it was related to blood glucose, it makes sense now.

With diabetes focusing your exercise on building muscle tone around your middle is actually more helpful than straight cardio focus. Though both are necessary and good.

Good luck in starting your personal control even before you have an official diagnosis. Like others have said - we're not doctors but the numbers you describe sure look like diabetes to me too. I know that's not something any of us wanted to hear - and your being so young too. The beautiful thing is that this disease is so controllable for so many with just changes to diet and adding an exercise regimen. You'll see that of all the diseases you could contract this one is in a way the most merciful. Unless you've built your whole life on the love of chocolate cake.

- then you'll have a harder time.

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