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[Wandasmiles]

Hi. I stumbled upon this forum looking for information on how fast I can expect my metformin to work for me. I found the info I need. I am a type 2 diabetic who has managed to control my diabetes with diet alone for 9 years. That being said I am getting older and I'm now needing to take medication. I began my journey with diabetes 23 years ago when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I was insulin dependent for my pregnancy. After my daughter was born I was no longer diabetic....until 16 years later. This is an interesting side note as I was told by my endocronologist and public health nurses that my risk for type 2 diabetes was no higher than the general population. I am looking forward to gaining and sharing knowledge here.

[Hooterville]

Hi. I stumbled upon this forum looking for information on how fast I can expect my metformin to work for me. I found the info I need. I am a type 2 diabetic who has managed to control my diabetes with diet alone for 9 years. That being said I am getting older and I'm now needing to take medication. I began my journey with diabetes 23 years ago when I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I was insulin dependent for my pregnancy. After my daughter was born I was no longer diabetic....until 16 years later. This is an interesting side note as I was told by my endocronologist and public health nurses that my risk for type 2 diabetes was no higher than the general population. I am looking forward to gaining and sharing knowledge here.

Welcome to DF, Wanda.

Interesting what you say about being told you were at no higher risk than the general population for developing T2. I had gestational diabetes 22 years ago and controlled my bg with diet alone through that pregnancy and was told that I was definitely at higher risk to develop T2 later and that I probably would. I was diagnosed prediabetic around 10 years ago and have probably been diabetic for at least 5 years, maybe more, but only diagnosed 1.5 years ago.

Anyway, welcome to the forum.

[Wandasmiles]

Hi Hooterville. Yes it is interesting. My daughter-in-law and I were discussing this the other day. She had a baby in January and told me she and her friends were of the belief that you didn't have to worry about becoming diabetic later in life. Clearly misinformation is still out there. I always made sure I had a fasting blood sugar done annually after I had my last child just to keep watch. That's how my prediabetes was detected. Nice to here from you. I think I'm going to enjoy this forum. Kinda like Facebook for diabetics....lol.

[Moonpie]

hello & welcome.

[patricia52]

Welcome to DF. Glad you are trying to do something now. It's betterthe FaceBook. You actually learn something here.

[bdelatte]

Isnt gestational diabetes when preganancy hormones block the insulin from working? I can see how it wouldnt give you a greater risk than general public if you had it during pregnancy if its caused by the hormones.

[Hooterville]

Isnt gestational diabetes when preganancy hormones block the insulin from working? I can see how it wouldnt give you a greater risk than general public if you had it during pregnancy if its caused by the hormones.

Gestational Diabetes Causes, Complications, and Risks

"You should also be screened for diabetes in the future. Women who have had gestational diabetes have a 60% increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later-in-life."

[Wandasmiles]

Hi. Yes gestational diabetes is caused by hormonal changes. We women go through hormonal changes again when we become menopausal. That's when I started to have trouble with my sugars again. This is not to say I wouldn't have eventually become diabetic even without the GD. I have a very strong family hx. of diabetes.

[jbmacomber]

Welcome to forum WandaSmiles. Interesting how even doctors say conflicting things. My son was over9lbs 28 years ago(gasp, time fklies). That doctor warned me with family history I had increased risk. Second child 15 years later had gestational diabetes but doctor did nothing, no meds, no advice except to reduce sweets. 3 years later dx with T2. Due to family history was advised by one dr. to be checked every year, but didn't . Anyway, similar stories and history. Great job on keeping control, but as you say our bodies do change in spite of our best efforts. You will learn as much as you could want to here.

[Wandasmiles]

Thanks JB. I think the medical community has made great strides in learning how to help their patients. But, it is up to us to take control. This forum is very encouraging. We all live with a chronic condition but can live well if we do what is necessary to maintain our health. I noticed you are on Lisinopril. I'm on Ramipril, Aldactone, and Crestor. I take an 81 mg Asa daily too. It's part of the diabetic protocol here.

[jwags]

Hi and welcome to DF. There is definitely a hormonal connection . Most women are dx'd after hormonal changes like pregnancy or menopause. I was in a very low risk group. I had 6 pregnancies without diabetes. I have no family history, I exercised every day, ate tons of fruits, veggies and whole grains. I was normal weight yet right after menopause I was dx'd. My doctor says I am an atypical diabetic but I don't think so. I really think hormones or lack of hormones play havoc with our endocrine system I started metformin 5 years ago and Imhave raised it 3 different times. It works OK, but I still have to eat super low carb to keep bgs below 120. Wxercise helps, too.

[Wandasmiles]

Hi. I totally agree with you. Hormones play a huge part in this for women.

[TrickyTreeFrog]

Welcome our humble home please do pick a section of the room and set your chair down

Hugs

Da Fwog

[Minigunn3]

I was also diagnosed as gestational diabetes, 6 years ago...managed with diet, excercise, and glyburide the last couple months of pregnancy. After the baby was born, the docs told me to stop the glyburide, that my diabetes was over and to go back to living/eating as normal. I did that...and didn't get checked again for 2 years. Then I went in for a physical...guess what...type 2!

[Azurah]

I had gestational diabetes 9 years ago (son will be 10 in October). I surprised my doctors since I didn't seem to have any risk factors and I was 19 years old and about 88lbs. I used insulin to control my sugars because I lost weight when I tried do it with diet alone.

I distinctly remembering someone telling me, and I think it was the CDE, that even though the diabetes went away after giving birth, there is a much higher risk of developing type 2 at some point after having GD. I remember thinking that if it happened, it probably wouldn't be until my 40's, but unfortunately that wasn't the case.

I'm truly interested in the how and why we are at increased risk! I'm still quite young and thin! I wasn't having my sugars checked yearly, but I had symptoms and that's how I found the T2. Honestly not sure how long I had T2 before I was diagnosed, but I don't think it was very long.