[Renee]

I was having some symptoms that concerned me and I have PCOS, so I decided to start monitoring my glucose. After eating meals without sugars or simple carbs, my glucose levels were in the normal or near-normal range: nothing over 136. But if I ate a high-carb meal or had dessert, my glucose levels ranged from 150 to high 180's. Fasting levels were from 89 to 106.

I showed my log to my doctor. She said I was insulin resistant (or pre-diabetic), put me on a low dose of Metformin and instructed me to change my diet and exercise. She also ordered the A1C. I got the results today: 5.0. While that's great, I expected it to be higher based on the results of the glucose monitor.

So, I'm confused. Am I pre-diabetic or not?

 

[Richard157]

Hello Renee, welcome to our community! Is your doctor an endocrinologist (diabetes specialist)? An endo is better able to make the correct diagnosis. How long did you wait after eating to test your blood sugar. Wait two hours after your first bite to test. Thentest four hours after eating too. At four hours after eating your blood sugar should have returned to the level that it was before your meal, assuming your pancreas is functioning normally and you have no insulin resistance. If it is significantly higher than before your meal then you may be prediabetic
Your other numbers (fasting and A1c) are normal, like a nondiabetic. I am thinking you may have tested too soon after eating. Even a nondiabetic will have a higher test soon after eating.

Good luck to you!

Richard

 

[Renee]

Well, the first couple of times, I didn't wait a full two hours. Then, someone told me I should, so I began doing that. Here are some of the results:

Before dinner: 81
After dinner: (waited 1 hr, 15 minutes) 188

Next day
Before lunch: 96
After lunch: (waited 1 hr, 30 minutes) 182
My mom was visiting and we ate the same lunch. She tested at the same time, and while mine was 182, hers was 99.

Before dinner: (5 hours after lunch) 113
After dinner: (waited 2 hrs) 151

My doctor is not an endocrinologist. She is just a family practice doctor, but she does treat a lot of diabetics.

I did see a reproductive endocrinologist, but I don't think he tested my blood sugars.

 

[Richard157]

With that additional information I can see that there is definitely something wrong here. You probably are prediabetic. Eating low carb meals and exercising every day will help you. I exercise after my biggest meal. That keeps me from going so high two hours later.

 

[Renee]

Thank you! Since I altered my diet and started exercising, I already feel so much better. Even with the good A1C, I was going to keep up the exercise and low-carb diet because I no longer have the overwhelming fatigue or the Restless Legs Syndrome that I did before. I appreciate your help!

 

[Renee]

I guess it's been about two or three weeks since I've been following a strict low-carb, very low-sugar diet. With changing my diet and exercising, I was able to keep my 2-hour after meals levels around 130 or less. Once I added Metformin, my levels have been less than 120 after meals, sometimes as low as the 90's.

Today, I had a small dessert for the first time since starting the new diet. Two hours after my meal, my glucose level was 161. And four hours after, it was 149. I was disappointed because I thought that the exercise, better diet and the Metformin would have improved that.

Does this mean that I should NEVER have sweets? Should I never let my BS get high like that? Or is it something that is fine on occasion, like maybe once per month. My doctor said she won't take away any particular foods as long as my diet is mostly low-carb and healthy, and but it does seem that sweets send my BS back to the old levels, in spite of everything I have been doing.

I guess I'm not really sure what my goal is. Am I always striving to keep my BS below a certain number or am I just trying to limit the times when it's high?

 

[rubystar2]

I believe sugary foods are always going to spike your glucose. As Richard said, I would take a brisk walk after eating sugary foods as a treat. That should help. You seem to be doing great, otherwise. Good job!

 

[Claudia]

There are a few good articles out there for checking and monitoring your glucose levels for diabetics such as one I wrote and give out freely.

 

[alprunty]

How long are you waiting after meal to test?

I test two hours after I take the last bite of my meal. Thats pretty much how I test and how my doc tells everyone to test.

If you test one hour after you eat of course it's going to be high... and my target after meal is 140... if I am in the 140's or even lower 150's I don't sweat it that much.

Granted I am on the insulin pump and can compensate I do have a dirty little treat that I indulge in once a month... I do go to dairy queen and have a peanut buster parfait. I have to take a pretty substantial dose of insulin to cover it. You can have an occaisional treat within reason... and I always get the small one. For the longest time I felt like I was sneaking around or did something dirty.

Talk to your diabetic team about occaisional treats... you would be surprised that there are more things you can work into your diet than have to cross off the list as forbidden.