All in my head?

[angelsbridges]

I recently got to thinking that maybe (despite having all the symptoms), I'm not really pre-diabetic at all.

The highest reading I've had (outside of my meter during my OGTT) has never been over 200.

Usually 2 hours post-prandial I'm between 80-140. It almost doesn't seem like it matters WHAT I eat. Sometimes it goes high (the other day I ate 15 carbs of rice cakes and went up to 167, some days I can eat pizza and not go that high).

Last night I was 111 before dinner, and an hour after I ate I was at 84. I just read an article that said normal glucose readings after eating are 70-150.

I've never had access to test during my bad hypos, but when I feel the starts of one, I'm usually at about 70, in my OGTT I got shaky and cold, and I was in the 60's. That's the lowest meter reading I've gotten.

I mean, I never go over 200 post-prandial. It does seem like sometimes my body kicks out more and sometimes it doesn't. I guess I feel very alone and want someone to tell me there's nothing wrong with me. My doctor is acting like there is absolutely nothing wrong with me, I just want someone to tell me I'm not heading down a bad road. Sorry, this is very needy, haha.

[annjee]

You need to test two hours after eating, one hour is not going to be accurate.

If you have hypos, and your blood sugar goes over 150, then I would think that you are predabetic.

With regular exercise and a lower carb diet you could totally change that though.

I'm not going to tell you there is nothing wrong with you. I will tell you though, that it is manageable. Some people with pre diabetes use cinnamon capsules to help keep their blood sugar lower. Maybe that will help.

[fgummett]

At a diabetes technology meeting a couple of years ago, some guys from Germany presented some performance data for a continuous (actually every 15 minute) glucose monitor to be worn for three days. In adults with normal glucose metabolism (BMI under 25, fasting glucose under 100, 2 hour glucose on a GTT of under 140), 80 percent of the readings were under 100. That's 20 out of 24 hours. So after meals, the glucose goes up for an hour or two at the most, and then is back under 100 (not 140!). That is PERFECTLY NORMAL (or healthy) glucose.Are your BG readings normal or a sign that you need to take some action :confused:

[sugardumplin]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that if your blood sugar goes over 140 - 2 hours after a meal it means something isnt ticking right on the inside. Sounds to me like your pancreas is sputtering in and out of functioning properly.

But I dont really know a whole lot. Just another diabetic who thinks she knows a little bit of something :D

[foxl]

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that if your blood sugar goes over 140 - 2 hours after a meal it means something isnt ticking right on the inside. Sounds to me like your pancreas is sputtering in and out of functioning properly.

But I dont really know a whole lot. Just another diabetic who thinks she knows a little bit of something :D


Best to look it up -- American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists says:



Prediabetes currently refers to people who have IFG
(100-125 mg/dL [5.6-6.9 mmol/L]), IGT (2-hour postglucose
load, 140-199 mg/dL [7.8-11 mmol/L]), or both.
There is a continuous spectrum of glucose levels
between those considered normal (fasting <100 mg/dL
[<5.6 mmol/L]; postchallenge <140 mg/dL [<7.8 mmol/L])
and those that are considered diagnostic for diabetes (fasting
≥126 mg/dL [≥7 mmol/L]; postchallenge ≥200 mg/dL
[≥11.1 mmol/L]). IGT should be considered more important
for risk than IFG.

The upper limit of normal fasting plasma glucose
is widely believed to be 99 mg/dL (5.5 mmol/L) although
metabolic and vascular abnormalities have been described
recently at values less than that. Similarly, 2-hour postglucose
levels less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L) are believed
to be within the reference range.


Link won't show even though it is there.

[genie86333]

IThe highest reading I've had (outside of my meter during my OGTT) has never been over 200.

If it was over 200, you'd be full-blown diabetic...you're not in that range yet, but you have had *some* readings out of the "normal" range, right? If so, then sorry, but that just means you're not full-blown diabetic yet, not that you're not pre-diabetic.

It does seem like sometimes my body kicks out more and sometimes it doesn't.

That is very possible. Your pancreas may be working better some days (or times of day) than others and/or your insulin resistance may be worse at some times than others.

[angelsbridges]

I used my meter during my 5-hour OGTT. I didn't test twice, and I suppose I should have, but all the other numbers came out within the 20% error margin, except fo the 1st hour. My meter said 245, but the lab got 185 (I think, or 182).

I'm thinking about asking for a repeat test, but the thought of sitting in the lab for another 5 hours seems daunting. Maybe I could do a 2 hour. On the first test, I had a reactive hypoglycemia episode, and it was horrible once I hit hour 4&5.

[tiffanyfaith86]

" Originally Posted by angelsbridges
It does seem like sometimes my body kicks out more and sometimes it doesn't."

"That is very possible. Your pancreas may be working better some days (or times of day) than others and/or your insulin resistance may be worse at some times than others."

I agree, i believe depending on what activity you have or havent done will affect your insulin resistance on those certain days or times. Are you overweight?

[angelsbridges]

No, I'm 5'3", 110ish lbs.

[tiffanyfaith86]

have you lost weight recently or gained?

[angelsbridges]

Well, yes. In the last year and a half I gained 35lbs. In the last 6 months, I've lost around 10 (I finally forced myself to STOP eating all the time).

I never thought about it until recently as being weird, because I was only 80lbs before I gained. So I didn't think it odd because I didn't mind the weight.

[tiffanyfaith86]

usually when your diagnosed you have lost around 15 pounds or more because the sugar/carbs your eating isnt being turned into fat because not enough insulin in your blood stream. But maybe since you gained 35 pounds your body reacted by making you insulin resistant for awhile and if you add a little weight training to build muscle mass instead of fat, you might be able to avoid diabetes. Which honestly if i had your numbers even with just pills, i would be happy as a diabetic.

[tiffanyfaith86]

the weight loss happens within a couple months usually, i lost 30 pounds in a span from April to July then slowly lost another 20 over the years.

[angelsbridges]

Well, about 2.5 years ago is when I lost a ton of weight. I lost about 20/25lbs in the course of a few months. They never checked my blood sugar then, and I came back positive for mono at the time, so they told me it was mono that made me lose that much. I was unable to gain weight after that until the last year and a half. I overdosed and was hospitalized, and after that I started drinking tons of milk (I'd go through 2 gallons/2 days), and then that sort of opened a gate to where I started eating ALL of the time, and never got full, and gained 35lbs. (I don't have any damage from the OD though). Could it all be related? Most of my symptoms started in the last year and half though...but I suppose maybe stuff could have started 2.5 years ago, type II and LADA can take a while for symptoms to show, right?

I'm hoping to get tested for LADA soon, but I'll probably have to wait until at least June. My biological father as an autoimmune, and all 4 of my grandparents are type II.

[hardingnerd]

That is what it seems to be doing to me also. Some days my fasting is under 100, others it is over 100. Sometimes I can eat very little carbs and go high, and then eat more later and it be lower.

I say that just to let you know your not the only one doubting your dx. I am planning on seeing another doctor, just to make sure because just in case I am they can help me get on the right meds, or if I am not advise me on how to prevent it.

Unless it is blatantly obvious I like to get 2 opinions, that's what my brother did, despite he never takes his meds, is overweight and a lazy bum, he still got a second opinion, what you do with the doctors information is up to you. For health sakes I hope you take it seriously, as I am starting to really realize this is something that can be very hazardous to you if not taken care off.

I wish you the best of luck in your situation. :)

[Subby]

I think you are right to keep an eye on your prediabetes, and keep assessing. I'd do this confidently and keep educating myself about what exactly prediabetes might mean (both BG wise, and "other"). I'd say you could look into the issue with a more thorough approach of when to test, what tests to ask for, and just do what you need to get a sufficient clarity for some kind of peace of mind. - And a more firm call to action.

Do you have clear goals as to what you should do about your prediabetes?

That said, maybe part of the question is, are you ascribing the right issues going on for you, to "just" prediabetes? (as in, separate issues possible). I say that knowing full well how vague and frustrating it is to track symptom with BG trend. Unfortunately, many issues can affect just as vaguely, all I can suggest is try to get a tab on what you can, and keep open to other possibilities as well, actively seeking an explanation.

I do realise how frustrating and drawn out that process can be. I just don't think there are any alternatives. I don't mean plugging away with books or on the net in isolation: anything like that. It might mean all sorts of things, such as getting a second opinion on why you are getting out-of-norm BGs, seeing specialists, etc.

I don't know much about this, so apologies if it's a stupid question. but I do know people whom your general symptoms remind me of: do you know if you have PCOS? It was just a random thought crossing my mind.

[angelsbridges]

No PCOS. I have annual exams and have never had any issues. I'm usually regular as rain (the most I've ever been "off" is a few days).

I found these Sx listed online:


Acne. - yes, but I've always had acne :( Genetics :(

Weight gain and trouble losing weight. - I suppose in the last couple of years....

Extra hair on the face and body. Often women get thicker and darker facial hair and more hair on the chest, belly, and back. - no extra hair, anywhere :)

Thinning hair on the scalp. - definite NO. I have too much hair.

Irregular periods. Often women with PCOS have fewer than nine periods a year. Some women have no periods. Others have very heavy bleeding. - No to all of the above.

Fertility problems. Many women with PCOS have trouble getting pregnant (infertility). - Never tried to get pregnant, nor do I want to. I've been told I'm healthy and could if I wanted to, though, but I suppose I'd never know until I tried.

Depression. - I did up until a couple years ago, then I had a real eye opener, and now I don't get depressed at all.

[tiffanyfaith86]

Here is a major question that could really let you know if your pre-diabetic/diabetic. Have you had a Hemoglobin a1c test. It is an average of your blood glucose over the last 3 months. So if your sugar has ran high at all for more then a few times and for more then just a stressful situation, or illness, then your a1c will be much out of normal range. I would suggest just calling your doc and asking him to give you a lab sheet to get it done and do it soon. Stress even going to get the diabetic test done can raise your blood sugar, but will return to normal.

[tiffanyfaith86]

I honestly have to say yes LADA does take awhile to show and so does Type 2, but the signs are undeniable:

Frequent urination(more then 4 times in an 8 hour period)___
Thirst(every hour or so you feel dehydrated)__
Weight loss___
Fatigued___
Drowsiness___
Headaches___
Dry skin___
Hungry (i felt like my stomach hurt and had to eat to make it feel better,but still didnt gain weight)___
Blurred Vision___


I was diagnosed as Type II in 2007, with sugars over 400
Slowly the 1 pill and all the pills combination and units of insulin the doc gives me starts not to work, so i believe i may be a Type 1.5 or slow onset of 1.
The progression was slow but fast at the same time, because just recently i had sugars over 400 again with 5 pills a day and Insulin, and its not 2 years yet since DX
So when were you first told you were prediabetic?

[Subby]

I honestly have to say yes LADA does take awhile to show and so does Type 2, but the signs are undeniable:

Frequent urination(more then 4 times in an 8 hour period)___
Thirst(every hour or so you feel dehydrated)__
Weight loss___
Fatigued___
Drowsiness___
Headaches___
Dry skin___
Hungry (i felt like my stomach hurt and had to eat to make it feel better,but still didnt gain weight)___
Blurred Vision___


Are you putting those up as signs of type 2, or signs of LADA? How are you so sure these are so concrete and "undeniable" in other cases? These are all signs of excessively high blood sugars, which Bridgette already knows she doesn't have - but she does have slightly out of normal, which may mean a symptom or two surface, in vague ways.

[Subby]

Here is a major question that could really let you know if your pre-diabetic/diabetic. Have you had a Hemoglobin a1c test. It is an average of your blood glucose over the last 3 months. So if your sugar has ran high at all for more then a few times and for more then just a stressful situation, or illness, then your a1c will be much out of normal range. I would suggest just calling your doc and asking him to give you a lab sheet to get it done and do it soon. Stress even going to get the diabetic test done can raise your blood sugar, but will return to normal.

There's a reason that A1c isn't part of the official diagnosis of pre-diabetes - it's that at those kinds of BG levels, A1c usually is not a clear indicator at all.

That said, it's not a bad idea. It may not help with pre-diabetes diagnosis at this stage, but it would be a good thing to know, as far as another indication of tracking progress.

[angelsbridges]

I was dx prediabetic last month.

Frequent urination(more then 4 times in an 8 hour period)
-Ha! I pee at least once an hour!
Thirst(every hour or so you feel dehydrated)
-Yes, I always have a water bottle with me, but I usually don't go over 2/3 bottles a day. My MD told me I was drinking "too much water" and that's why I was peeing all the time.
Weight loss
-Just the 25lbs two years ago.
Fatigued
-All the time.
Drowsiness
-Most of the time. Obviously worse when my bs is low.
Headaches
-every day, but I'm also prone to migraines.
Dry skin
-Yes yes and yes. It was so bad at one point I was using vaseline at night.
Hungry (i felt like my stomach hurt and had to eat to make it feel better,but still didnt gain weight)
-This was me two years ago, and then again about 10 months ago. I had to "train" myself to get full again. I still have to be careful though. I stopped gaining after the 35lbs, but have lost 10 in the last 6 months, and I don't do anything for weight loss.
Blurred Vision
-Yes. I actually had my eyes checked a year and a half ago because they were bothering me so bad. The doctor said my Rx hadn't changed, and told me I probably have a slight astigmatism which was causing the blurriness. I still have major issues with this, and have a hard time driving, especially at night.


The dietitian I saw said an A1C wouldn't be an accurate picture. She said if you have highs and lows, that an A1C will balance them out to an even number, so even if I was running higher than normal, if it was accompanied with lower than normal bs, they would balance out. I'll ask for one on Friday, but that's what they told me.

[tiffanyfaith86]

i would say if she is pre diabetic the a1c would show that her average is higher even just around 140 or 160.

Those signs are signs or both and yes there are variations, everyone is different. But for sure if she has any of those signs id be worried.

[angelsbridges]

Maybe there is some weird disease that mimics diabetes symptoms completely, but keeps your sugars in prediabetic range, haha.

[Subby]

I was dx prediabetic last month.

Frequent urination(more then 4 times in an 8 hour period)
-Ha! I pee at least once an hour!
Thirst(every hour or so you feel dehydrated)
-Yes, I always have a water bottle with me, but I usually don't go over 2/3 bottles a day. My MD told me I was drinking "too much water" and that's why I was peeing all the time.
Weight loss
-Just the 25lbs two years ago.
Fatigued
-All the time.
Drowsiness
-Most of the time. Obviously worse when my bs is low.
Headaches
-every day, but I'm also prone to migraines.
Dry skin
-Yes yes and yes. It was so bad at one point I was using vaseline at night.
Hungry (i felt like my stomach hurt and had to eat to make it feel better,but still didnt gain weight)
-This was me two years ago, and then again about 10 months ago. I had to "train" myself to get full again. I still have to be careful though. I stopped gaining after the 35lbs, but have lost 10 in the last 6 months, and I don't do anything for weight loss.
Blurred Vision
-Yes. I actually had my eyes checked a year and a half ago because they were bothering me so bad. The doctor said my Rx hadn't changed, and told me I probably have a slight astigmatism which was causing the blurriness. I still have major issues with this, and have a hard time driving, especially at night.


The dietitian I saw said an A1C wouldn't be an accurate picture. She said if you have highs and lows, that an A1C will balance them out to an even number, so even if I was running higher than normal, if it was accompanied with lower than normal bs, they would balance out. I'll ask for one on Friday, but that's what they told me.

OK, well I think you've answered your original question about whether you are pre-diabetic or not, right here. There's no getting around that DX. I say that assuming there was abnormal BG shown at the time?

Are you saying these things are persisting at the moment? Can you compare and contrast how you feel now with that list.

What courses of action are you specifically taking for you prediabetes? Meds, change of diet, etc. Getting your BG under better control doesn't mean you should consider your status changed - not this soon, anyway. One month - early, early days.

[tiffanyfaith86]

well with Hyperthyroidism, you have sweats, high pulse rate, and often high blood pressure, hunger, weight loss, abnormal or High blood sugar, headaches, confused, and eye problems.

it is considered an autoimmune disease(Graves Disease)
so if your family has history of any autoimmune issues it is a possibility to.

OH and you have diarrhea or just really lose stools.
and i think thirst also was on that list.

[tiffanyfaith86]

If you truly are pre-diabetic, i would just suggest low carb dieting, but dont kill yourself just yet. It sucks once you have to do it 24/7/365. As i said before, do weight training to build muscle, if your leaning toward type 2 meaning your insulin resistant, this will help. Muscles are much more sensitive to insulin then Fatty tissue. Try to just maintiain your weight right now.

[Subby]

well with Hyperthyroidism, you have sweats, high pulse rate, and often high blood pressure, hunger, weight loss, abnormal or High blood sugar, headaches, confused, and eye problems.

Sounds like one to get checked on, Bridgette.

[angelsbridges]

My thyroid tests have come back fine over the last few years.

They told me diet and exercise.

[soso]

what would happen if you were told you were not diabetic?

I only ask cos, clearly you are worried by "the situation that exists'
I fully understand why you want to have a definitive diagnosis, but as many of us here know, they can be hard to come by...

I couldn't say whether you are or not, but if I had your range I would be glad that I wasn't frankly diabetic, but very watchful of my blood sugar and try to keep a good diet and exercise thing going... That is good advice for everyone and anyone.

FWIW I started out with modest rises after meals and over a couple of years progressed to clearly diabetic pp rises... as to whether you are heading down a bad road, it is what it is love. If there were something you could do as a lifestyle choice and chose not to or you were doing certain things we all know to be unhealthy, that would be YOU heading down a bad road..
But the reality is you are doing all you can, if the road is heading that way and it's the only road you've got, not a lot of choice but keep out of the ditch!

[angelsbridges]

because I have been checked for everything else, and it all comes back negative. If it's not diabetes/prediabetes, then I need to continue searching (which I do, but it would mean different doctors, etc).