pre-diabetes

[tarapags1107]

Hi everyone,
My name is Tara and I was dx with pre diabetes a little over 6months ago. Anyways, I cannot control my hunger. I am starving all the time, peeing alot, and seriously cannot stop eating. My A1C at the time of dx was "too low" for my dr. to put me on meds. I don't know what to do about controlling the hunger. I came home tonight and binged out on sweets (2 full hershey bars, 1 choc chip muffin, 3 gramcrackers, 2 bowls of cereal, and a cereal bar.....yikes) Keep in mind I ate a normal dinner as well at work. I cannot stop eating and all I crave is sweets. I am not even nearly overweight (I'm actually underweight 128 lbs 5'6) and only 24 yrs old. I was only like 2 or 3 points away from failing the OGTT at diagnosis of "pre-diabetes." I refuse to use a meter and know that my sugar levels are high because my feet tingle and I get pain in them. I am at such a loss and so depressed at this. I don't understand why this had to happen to me I am allready dealing with another autoimmune disease (MS) and was recently dx with that as well. It is not the type "I" but rather adult onset. I am really depressed because I feel like my life is ruined and I feel like I can't have children because I'll definately develope type two and their are studies out there with more birth defects in babies that are born to mothers who have diabetes. My dr. is also a jerk b/c I was sick with tons of symptoms of diabetes (peeing alot,starving, weight loss...yadayada and my father has type 2 adult onset ) yet he would never check my sugar level. I had to force him into giving me a RBS test and the OGTT which classified me into the pre-diabetes range at that time. He also thought I was making up all my symptoms of multiple sclerosis (took almost 5 years of being sick to get a diagnosis) and told me that it was stress related. I still have to this date a fever (one of my original symptoms) every day but my Dr. just disregarded it claiming that i was stressed. Yea I pretty much had to get my own referrals and fight for myself through that one....
Anyways, I was wondeirng if you guys had any advise onto what medication might help me control my cravings and not eat all the junk food we have in the house! Its also not easy for me b/c my fiance has never been a great eater in his life and can down like 12 single packages of gushers in 10 mins and eats candy like crazy everyday. I just don't have the discipline to control my diet myself. Like I said, I am by no means overweight but I know that this stuff is not good for me and eat it anyways. Did any other pres or type 2's experience this problem. I am in the medical field and know every complication possible and STILL cannot control myself. Ridiculous.... Thanks for listening to my nonsense. Any advise is greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone!

Tara

[EeyoreButterfly]

Byetta can help control hunger, but hon, nothing is going to do you much good until you start using a meter. Also, given your stats there is a good chance that you are not a type 2 (formerly known as adult onset diabetes). You need to demand a visit with an endocrinologist and demand testing for Type 1.5 also known as Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA). LADA patients tyipcally are adults (most over 30), underweight, and experience a progression much faster than Type 2. It is estimate that 10% of those diagnosed Type 2 are actually 1.5.

That being said, medication is simply not the answer without testing. Testing will allow you to know what is working and what doesn't work. It is vital. Until you are willing to do what it takes to control this (including testing), there's not much that can help you.

[genie86333]

I second what EeyoreButterfly said - you need to test. You didn't say *why* you refuse to use a meter, but no reason is worth the complications.

Additionally, it takes a couple of days, but if you cut out the carbs (or significantly reduce them - avoid sweets and "white" foods - pasta, potatoes, rice, bread) your cravings for them will lessen or go away. As it is, the more carbs you eat, the more your body will crave them, so it's a vicious cycle, which you can only break by not giving into the cravings.

I know how difficult that is, but as you said you know what the complications can be & if you don't want those things to happen you need to make changes.

[Ronin]

Hi Tara,

Reading your post I can feel the panic you are trying to communicate. You are presenting a whole host of symptoms that could be due to one or more conditions in your body.

My sense is that the desire to eat is both biological and psychological. If you are attempting to avoid a long list of foods you are probably starving yourself of both calories as well as essential nutrients. Sufficiently starved your body will drive you to eat anything in sight. What is necessary is a healthy balanced diet that provides the calories you need to do all of your activities and maintain a healthy weight.

Regarding your MD: a lot of these professionals have the problem of only allowing 15 minutes per visit and you want to talk out your problems. That is a doomed mix of agendas. You might try finding a nurse practitioner as they tend to give their clients a lot more time than an MD and usually offer both a listening ear as well as good advice.

[tarapags1107]

thank you guys for all your input. I am kinda in a panic. How would type 1.5 be determined in lab testing from type2 or pre? I am just so upset with myself for my cravings and lack of self control. Today I felt so sick after eating all that junk last night. I think the nurse practioner idea is excellent. I'll try to get into seeing an endo, but I refuse to do the 3 hour oral GTT again. That was unbelievably painful. The reason behind the meter is mainly my schedule and pure exhaustion from the MS symptoms. I can barely get myself up in the morning for work nevermind all the exta stuff that goes along with that. I wake up at 5 am and have to do my eyedrops for dry eyes/blepharitis and 10min hot compresses on my eyes and wash them with ocusoft lid scrubs. Yeah, an aggravating condition I developed and it is chronic and no cure! **** blepharitis. Then I have to drive 45 mins to work to get there for 7 and just don't have any more time in the mornings to add anything else if I want to be on time!
I don't think I could cut out all the sugar in my diet. I can't cook and neither can my fiance so we eat sandwiches and microwavable food if were not eating out. I don't have any desire to learn how to cook because I can't multitask anymore with the MS due to my lack of concentration and I end up screwing everything up with timing or I just simply leave the oven on and risk burning my house down! I know it sounds like I'm filled with every excuse possible but I am so fatigued and just feel aweful everyday. I feel like I was hit by a bus literally everyday of my life with these autoimmune diseases. Thank god for my fiance b/c he helps with all the housework and maintaining things. I used to be so independent before I got sick, now he practically does everything for me..... its kinda disheartening. Hopefully I can get on meds b/c I just don't have the energy to exercise and have such a mentally draining job thats stressful. Thanks agian guys for your advise.
Tara

[EeyoreButterfly]

Tara, really testing does not take that long. It is very quick and pretty much painless, I almost never feel it. I realize that you are dealing with a lot right now but it sounds like from your description that you may have moved beyond Pre-D. If you don't do what you can to get it under control now, you are going to be kicking yourself later on down the road when complications set in.

The testing to determine type is pretty simple. It's not fool proof, but it will give you an idea. Ask for a C-Peptide, Islet Cell Antibody, and GAD 65 test. The ICA and GAD 65 will tell you if you have antibodies which indicate an immune system attack (a determining factor of 1.5 and 1). Not everybody with 1.5 or 1 will test positive. A C-Peptide measures a byproduct of insulin production which can let you know how much insulin you produce. If it's high you're probably on your way to type 2, if it's low you're more likely a 1.5 or 1.

[genie86333]

Tara,

Some of your problems - the fatigue/exhaustion & the lack of concentration - may be partially caused by high blood sugar - it's hard to say for sure because of the MS, but testing your blood sugar could figure it out & if your blood sugar is high it could help you to feel somewhat better if you get it under control. No way to know though without testing.