My sister on the Borderline

[flash]

My sister had a bagel, I tested her sugar right after eating and her glucose was 139. I then tested her 2 1/2 hours later and it was 109. Her doctor says that she is not diabetic, I think she is borderline or pre- diabetic ? She is a little over weight and I think she might be at the beginning of type 2. My sister is 50 years old. I think she should be watched and tested but her doctor just brushes it away. Any comments would be appreciated.

Flash

[Cyborg]

How about a second opinion?

[JasonJayhawk]

Remember, home meters are only +/-20% accurate.

It's not unheard of for people to reach high ("above normal") levels after eating high carbs. If she's overweight, perhaps a second opinion is needed.

Unfortunately, many doctors don't have time to deal with "a little diabetes" until it becomes something big enough treat.

[lilituc]

At this stage you would probably only get results if she took a Glucose Tolerance Test. The doctor will probably try to push the fasting glucose test, but that can only indicate a positive diabetes result since it's the last thing to go. So in the early stages a fasting will just come back normal. If you're concerned (and it sounds like maybe you should be), have her get the GTT. Most people have a peak at 1-2 hours after eating. So that might be the best time to test her bg at home. Good job staying on top of this, by the way.

[JasonJayhawk]

By the way, I was thinking -- let's say she was dx'ed with Type 2 diabetes. What then?

Do you start treating it with oral medication? There are side effects.

Or is this something you can self-treat by losing weight (if it's weight-induced type 2). If that's the case, then that's something that can be done without a doctor.

[lilituc]

Or is this something you can self-treat by losing weight (if it's weight-induced type 2). If that's the case, then that's something that can be done without a doctor.

Well, I was thinking that you want it on the record. Why? Well I actually had to go uncontrolled to "prove" to my doctor and insurance company that I was diabetic. My endo told me he'd had patients who went off all their meds and treatment plans to get their A1c above 7%...for the insurance company. If you start treating it at home and are successful, it's great for you, but bad for the insurance company. This can be bad for you in the long run (or short run, for me). Sad, sad fact of healthcare in this country.

I don't think there's much danger of oral meds unless she draws an unusual doctor. I wanted them and had the bg numbers to back me up (and couldn't do diet and exercise), and I still couldn't get them for six months. This underprescribing seems to be the way things are going for now.

[flash]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I guess my real question is this, Is it normal for a non diabetic's sugar to rise to 139 right after eating ? Is it normal for her glucose to drop to 109 2 1/2 hours later ? Is 109 normal or is it High normal meaning something is wrong ?

Flash

[Funnygrl]

Yeah, I think that is normal as long as it doesn't go much higher. I'm always amused by people asking diabetics what normal is. Feh...we don't know. We're not it!

[lilituc]

It's hard to explain for me. I don't think those numbers are truly normal, but the medical establishment thinks they are. However, if you look at data of "normal" blood sugar, the people whose bg is that high are way more likely to develop diabetes. I think you are right, that your sister might be prediabetic. Numbers like that to me indicate that the pancreas is under a strain.