Diagnostic issues

[ShottleBop]

My youngest brother was here a couple of weeks ago. He had an attack of gout. Also, for ****s and giggles, I tested his fasting BG. (He was staying with us for several days.) It was 122 on my Aviva. I suggested to him that he get things checked out.

Earlier this week, he did go in and have some blood tests run. His fasting BG was 122, but his A1c was 5.7%. His doctor made no diagnosis, and made no recommendations about watching things. His father, and our mother, both had type 2; I have suggested that he start watching his carb consumption, and that he get retested in a couple of months. I also recommended that he buy a cheap meter and test himself after a couple of meals.

[Granny Shanny]

Perfectly appropriate suggestions . . . here's hoping he's amenable.

[RobertIA]

ShottleBop, Good for you. Hope your brother can realize that with the family history you have his best interest at heart. Not that you will always convince him. The old adage of you can set the food in front of him, but have no power to get him to eat.

I just hope that you can continue to talk about it and ask him how he is doing. Some families can handle caring siblings, others can't.

Keep a positive attitude.

Bob

[foxl]

Sounds reasonable to me, but I know how MY brother would take it ... :( Just cause it came from ME.

[ShottleBop]

Fortunately, he's receptive. (I mentioned the Walmart mail-order A1c test to him, too, and have sent him some suggested reading, as well as links to a few good sources of information.)

[binnieman]

My FBG is 106 and I have not even thought about telling my family as I just want to deal with it myself. It would drive me crazy if my sisters ask me what my numbers are but I guess people deal with health issues differently. For me, however way I am feeling, I would not show it to the people who care about me for fear of distracting them but I am sure that is the wrong attitude.

P.S. I could not help but notice GS's numbers between May and August. It is a dramatic change - GOOD for you! What did you really do? All my numbers are very good except this fasting glucose which comes out between 88-106 but I am very impressed by how you took near complete control.

[Granny Shanny]

P.S. I could not help but notice GS's numbers between May and August. It is a dramatic change - GOOD for you! What did you really do? All my numbers are very good except this fasting glucose which comes out between 88-106 but I am very impressed by how you took near complete control.

Thanks, binnieman! Doc put me on metformin & levostatin, and I put myself on a lower carb regimen (doc had said to keep carbs under 100g a day . . . I started out that way, but couldn't keep bg under 140, so he upped my metformin & I lowered the carbs more). On the exercise front, very little increase - about the difference between "slim & none", y'know? :o But I've lost 15# with this system, so I think I'll stick with it at least for the next six months until I see doc again. As I told deercotn on another thread, I've lowered carbs, but not fats, and the butter, cream, bacon, etc., had no ill effect on my lipid levels OR on my weight loss.

[ADSOFT]

You know people talk about FBG but I think the real test is the Glucose Tolerance Test.

What do you guys think is more conclusive: FBG test or GTT?

[ShottleBop]

FBG usually trails OGTT--OGTT is better for catching issues earlier; the problem is that it's not given unless someone thinks that there are issues: goes to the doctor because they're thirsty and peeing a lot, for example. FBG, however, is easy to run on off a standard fasting blood sample. By the time FBG has risen enough to raise anyone's antenna, however, a lot of the damage has been done.

[ADSOFT]

FBG usually trails OGTT--OGTT is better for catching issues earlier; the problem is that it's not given unless someone thinks that there are issues: goes to the doctor because they're thirsty and peeing a lot, for example. FBG, however, is easy to run on off a standard fasting blood sample. By the time FBG has risen enough to raise anyone's antenna, however, a lot of the damage has been done.

You know, I believe that. I passed the fasting test twice. But I'm reading here that a lot of people with strong D can pass it too once they learn to manage their metabolism.

A person with D could go to a doctor and be diagosed as D free if he know how to control his/her glucose.

Glucose tolerence test is the true indicator IMHO.

I think I could eat right for two days excercise and pass the fasting test but still fail the GTT.

I was tested 1 1/2 yrs ago passed twice, but I would always go to work and passout at the desk.

Presently by 11am I'm burned out, really run down. I have to take a nap or something to keep going. I'm cutting down on carbs and boosting protien in the morning, also doing more resistive training. ... see if that works.

I will be going in next month for a D test, I'm scared. But I'm going to request a Glucose Tolerance Test and the Fasting.

[binnieman]

my FBG comes out a little higher than 100 but two hours post meal, it is usually about where i was before i ate but varies a little bit depending on what and how much i ate but always within the normal range. perhaps someone here knows how to prepare an equivalent of that glucose solution they use for OGTT? that would give some of us a rough estimate before formal blood work at the clinic.

[Granny Shanny]

I have no opinion on the OGTT, but what I CAN tell you is that if I ingest a meal higher in carb content, I'm going to fall asleep within the hour. Before I began curbing the carbs in my diet, I fell asleep every time I sat down.

You know, I believe that. I passed the fasting test twice. But I'm reading here that a lot of people with strong D can pass it too once they learn to manage their metabolism.

A person with D could go to a doctor and be diagosed as D free if he know how to control his/her glucose.

Glucose tolerence test is the true indicator IMHO.

I think I could eat right for two days excercise and pass the fasting test but still fail the GTT.

I was tested 1 1/2 yrs ago passed twice, but I would always go to work and passout at the desk.

Presently by 11am I'm burned out, really run down. I have to take a nap or something to keep going. I'm cutting down on carbs and boosting protien in the morning, also doing more resistive training. ... see if that works.

I will be going in next month for a D test, I'm scared. But I'm going to request a Glucose Tolerance Test and the Fasting.

[Moonglo]

I have no opinion on the OGTT, but what I CAN tell you is that if I ingest a meal higher in carb content, I'm going to fall asleep within the hour. Before I began curbing the carbs in my diet, I fell asleep every time I sat down.

That is so true! I have the same problem! Before dx, I just thought it was because I was so far out of shape... but I definitely am not nearly as tired in the afternoon on days when I eat fewer carbs.

[ADSOFT]

Well it's 10:57 pm and I have been up since about 3am.

I read that drinking water clears out toxins in the kidney and intestine which allows the burning of protiens and fats for energy and cuts down appetite.

So I woke up at 3am, feelling pretty good. I had a 20oz cup of coffee and 500 ml of water. Three hours later I was dozing off at the computer, I thought my sugar was low(dont have a meter at my house), so I drank more water and had about 4-5 baby carrots.

I got my energy back and had to go see mom 45 miles away. At about 11 am I had 3 more baby carrots and a handful of walnuts . Then had to go run some errands.

Kept drinkiing water and had to do some work on the computer. I started dosing off again at 4pm. So I drank more water. The dozing went away.

At 5pm I had my sister check my BG, 101. Hmm I think this is kind of high after all that activity.

So I decided to drink 500 ml of water and take s garlic supplement just to see what would happen to my BG in 1 hr.

6pm BG 98.

Kept driinking water till 10:45 pm.

I wasnt hungry but I decided to eat dinner.

The water helped me control my appetite and I was n't feeling run down except for those twi times at the computer but water and carrots help.

I pretty much survived on a cup of Coffee and approx 7-8 baby carrots from 4-am to 11pm.

I do think my BG at 6pm should have been lower. What do you guys think?