[baskar20]

Good morning everyone!

I am 38 yr male, Indian. I have been recently diagnosed with diabetes. I have never had abnormal fasting blood sugar. Even now it is around 85. My A1C test recently also showed it is 5.7 I had other symptoms like dizziness, trembling, etc., and hence my Doctor wanted to do an Oral Glucose tolerance test.
Fasting Blood Sugar : 75
Fasting Insulin : 11
Fasting Finger prick Blood Sugar : 95
30min Finger prick Blood sugar : 153
1 Hr Finger prick Blood Sugar : 211
1.5 hr Finger prick Blood Sugar : 191
2 Hour Finger prick Blood Sugar : 189.
Blood Sugar at 2 hrs from lab : 174
Insulin level at 2 hrs : 298.

The Doctor gave me a 100gram sugar soultion to drink.My Doctor confirms this to be diabetes. He says I have very high insulin resistance and put me on Avandamet twice a day. I bought the medication but after seeing the side effects I am scared to take that medication.I am so thin weigh 130 lbs height 5'7", BP 96/61, low HDL and high triglycerides. I have had this High TG and low HDL for more than 6 years now [ as far as I know ].

Am I diabetic? Or is it just the previous stage of DM II? Is it just insulin resistance? Can I reverse the insulin resistance? Any herbs that will help me in this? I do not want to take Avandamet at all.

Is the 2 hour insulin level of 298 dangerously high? What should be the normal range?

Should I ask for a C-Peptide test? What is that done for?

I am sorry that I am asking a lot of questions. I am new to all these things and request you to help me understand my situation and take appropriate action.

Thanks much in advance for your help!

With best regards,

Baskar

[poper77]

I am by no means a dr - but it looks like your numbers after the sugar solution suggest that you do have diabetes. I believe that insulin resistance that is in the ranges you listed considered type 2. I am not sure what the insulin level at 2 hrs means....

[moorejames]

Originally Posted by poper77

I am by no means a dr - but it looks like your numbers after the sugar solution suggest that you do have diabetes. I believe that insulin resistance that is in the ranges you listed considered type 2. I am not sure what the insulin level at 2 hrs means....

I think fasting BG is usually the last thing to "go" in a diabetic.

Not sure what type that would make you though. Either early stage insulin resistant T2, or it's possible, I suppose, to be very early stage T1 and your body just isn't making enough insulin to cover the post meal spikes.

Not sure what the insulin levels tell you, I was clearly T2, so I never got too involved in those tests. I'm sure a T1 will chime in with some insight.

[princesslinda]

Welcome Baskar. I'm T2, with fasting of 215 at diagnosis. I've been on metformin since diagnosis, with good results. The metformin helps with your insulin resistence, allowing your cells to better use what insulin you are producing. The Avandamet you have been given is Metformin and Avandia combined.

Testing is crucial to good management. I would suggest you test each morning before you eat breakfast and then test 2 hrs after the start of each meal to see how different foods affect your blood sugar levels..you'll know what foods to eat and what to avoid that way. I try to eat a low carb, lean protein and plenty of green vegetables, avoiding bread, pasta, rice, potatoes and sugar.

I also have had problems with November HDL of 23 and LDL of 140...after 3 months of exercise, fish oil tablets and red wine at bedtime, my March readings were HDL 44, LDL 120...total cholesterol has been within normal limits all along. Exercise is key in raising HDL to normal levels.

I was told that my 2 hr post meal reading (2 hrs from first bite of meal) should be 140 or less, so 298 would be quite high. We should strive to be as close to a non-diabetic level as possible to stave off potential complications.

As for side effects, there are potential side effects with any medication, even aspirin. You have to weigh the potential risks against the potential benefits and make your own decision, as you will be the one dealing with the consequences.

The metformin has really helped me achieve good results...I'd rather not have to take it, but if it improves my quality of life, i'll do it. I've seen first hand in my mother what uncontrolled diabetes leads to, and I don't want to experience it myself.

Hope this was helpful to you. It's scary to be given a diagnosis like diabetes, but it is possible to live a full and healthy life with it (you may find you live longer with diabetes, as it causes you to be more aware of your health).

Again, Welcome!
Linda

[jentoe_22]

Hello there. I am jen. A Type one who recently started pumping. I wanted to say welcome. I am sorry I could not help you with your questions. I am sure someone will be able to. Its a very nice forum.

[princesslinda]

Jim is right, usually the first signs of elevated blood sugars can be found in post-meal readings....that's probably why often times T2s can have diabetes for years and not know it, as it hasn't gotten bad enough to affect the fasting levels.

Whether you are T2 or prediabetic (though with 298 post meal, I think you're probably past the prediabetic stage), you now know you have a problem and can take whatever steps are necessary to get good control. With good control, you won't believe how much better you'll feel.

If your doc is not sure exactly what type you are, i'd suggest you see an endocrinologist the help get a good handle on things.

[soso]

If the insulin level is high at 2 hrs this is indicative of insulin resistance, as the pancreas is desperately pumping it out in an attempt to bring the glucose level down....eventually ones pancreas cannot keep up and the subject become insulin deficient as well...however, since your fasting bg is good, that does not seem to be the case here...To really know what that fasting insuiin means one needs to know what the normal range is for that test, then you can judge how high the insulin level really was.
Although T2 is more often seen in overweight people, there are probably other breakdowns in the system than can cause it....
It is always possible that you are T1.5, but if I were you I would just work at getting my numbers down and see what happens... That is always job 1..As to Avandia, I am not sure whether I would take it or not, did your Doc suggest Metformin and did he do an A1c? One thing is that right now, high trigs and high bg might be doing you more harm than the possible (not gauranteed) side effects of the med.. Lowering your carb intake will bring your trigs (and of course bg) down...I think I would start on doing that and go back to your docs with a list of questions..
Good luck and don't panic, things will get better soon
ss

[kgm0612]

HI & Welcome to the forum.

I can't answer some of the questions you posted, but I can tell you that the C-Peptide test determines whether or not your pancreas is producing any insulin, hence type 1 or type 2.

Karen

[Siren]

As far as herbs: you might want to try drinking unsweetened decaffeinated green and black teas; the polyphenols in them are natural anti-inflamatory agents and of course anti-oxidants. Caffeine has been shown to raise blood sugar, so you want to avoid it. I'm very liberal with both teas in my diet though I am a type 1. Chromium can also help moderate your blood sugar levels, as well as vanadium, both of which can improve how well your body USES insulin. Vanadium can also help lower cholesterol.

Most importantly, however, you want to get more physical activity once you've established an acceptable routine. Not enough is said about the benefits of physical activity, in my opinion. It can help moderate your levels over a long period, which is an area where even drugs and other therapies can fail. It helps physiologically through the bolstering of lean muscle mass to fat (your heart is a muscle). It helps emotionally through endorphin release (these are feel good chemicals). And it helps mentally by releasing stress and helping to assure a good night's rest.

The thing to remember is that you must listen to your doctor and your blood tests, which have asserted his diagnosis. If you don't trust him, you can get a second opinion, but no herbal remedy will make a person "undiabetic." What herbs and exercise CAN do for you is cut down on your necessary medication level.

As always, I'd advise talking to your doctor about cutting your carbs.

[petunia]

Hi,
I was under the impression that with a GGT you were diagnosed as diabetic when your 2 hr levels were over 11(198).between 8 and 11 is pre diabetes. Your fasting blood sugar is fine. I am pre diabetic but my blood sugars are fine during the day but my fasting is always in pre diabetic stage.
I live in the UK so maybe it is different. I don't know anything about your results for insulin so that might be making the difference....

[tanyatype1]

Welcome baskar!

[KritterMom]

Hi! Welcome! There is a wealth of information here, and very nice people to go along with it!

[baskar20]

Hi friends,

I posted this question about 3 hours ago and just came back to see if I got any replies.

I am amazed to see how many good people are here to help others. I whole heartedly thank you for your help.

May be I did not write it clearly. I like to inform you that my 2 hour glucose was 174 mg/dl which I understand that it can be classified as Pre-diabetes.

My concern is about the 2 hour insulin levels. It showed 298 IU [ Do not remember the units clearly - I apologize. But it was tested in Georgia, US ]. It looks like my fastin insulin levels at 11 IU are normal.

Is this danegrously high?

I really appreciate your help in making me understand the issue.

With best regards,

Baskar

[Siren]

A person that doesn't have diabetes or hallmarkers of the disease, (type one, two, hypoglycemia, or pre-diabetes), runs consistent sugars of 60-140 (or so).

As noted in the type two section, a pre-diabetic will often experience their highest levels after a meal. I have bolded the values that your doctor is likely concerned about (from my understanding/experience).

Fasting Blood Sugar : 75
Fasting Insulin : 11
Fasting Finger prick Blood Sugar : 95
30min Finger prick Blood sugar : 153
1 Hr Finger prick Blood Sugar : 211
1.5 hr Finger prick Blood Sugar : 191
2 Hour Finger prick Blood Sugar : 189.
Blood Sugar at 2 hrs from lab : 174
Insulin level at 2 hrs : 298.

Your fasting levels are fine; even your 30 minute level (I assume this is after eating), is borderline fine. It's your 1 hour to 2 hour levels that are marking you as pre-diabetic because your body is showing signs of not regulating itself fast enough at these times. The high level of insulin, relative to your fasting insulin, is likely a mark that your body is secreting quite a bit of insulin but not using it properly, which is also an indicator of type two diabetes. Is this what you're asking?

[baskar20]

Thanks much for your reply Siren!

What should be the maximum value of insulin levels after 2 hours of drinking the 100 gram sugar solution during OGTT?

Is there anyway I can reverse the insulin resistance? He was saying Avandamet will do the trick of making the muscle and fat cells react with pancreas to maintain the BGL. But is there any natural way? I understand that one other person helped me stating that vanadium and chromium will be helpful in such regard. Any other herb / dosage ? I want to try natural remedies first without taking Avandamet.

If there is no way to reverse the insulin resistance, how many years do I have to become a full blown diabetic?

Kindly let me know.

Thanks,

Baskar