Newbie trying to figure out what's going on

[bigskygal]

I'm posting in the type 1.5 section because this is my hypothesis about what's going on with me, but I'm hoping more knowledgeable people can give me some advice. My doctor hasn't been helpful at all.

So, here's a quick rundown of my story.

About three years ago, I had my first and only child. During the pregnancy I tested negative for gestational diabetes, never once spilled glucose in my urine, and my son was 7 pounds at term so I assume I never had any hidden high sugars during the pregnancy.

Six months after the birth I was diagnosed with autoimmune hyperthyroidism (Grave's disease) and took medication. I am now in remission.

About a year after that, a blood test found my random glucose to be 212 (it was after a meal). I did a follow-up fasting and a1c which were 104 and 5.8 respectively. My doctor told me that these were both normal (he doesn't believe in the new guidelines for impaired fasting glucose) and not to worry.

A few weeks ago I was at a health fair and did a blood sugar test...177! So, I got myself a meter and did tests on myself after every meal for a couple of days as well as fasting. Every meal I tested sent my blood sugar over 160, the highest I saw was 287 (pasta dinner with dessert). It takes me 4-5+ hours to get down below 120. Fasting has ranged from 98-128, the higher it goes the evening before, the higher the fasting.

So, I assume this has to be Type 1.5...can't be Type 1 since I don't have symptoms and the onset is way too slow and I assume it can't be Type 2 as the onset was too fast (I'm assuming that Type 2 would have showed up in the pregnancy). Plus I have another autoimmune disease, I'm only 35 and normal weight, don't have high cholesterol or trigylcerides.

I would prefer not get an official diabetes diagnosis, which is what I assume would happen if anyone did a glucose tolerance test on me, as I'm in a bad insurance situation as it is. Of course, I don't want to make myself sick or get complications either.

So, I'm going to try a low carb diet, get more exercise (though I've noticed that vigorous exercise tends to make my bg go up), and keep on testing.

Anyone have any other ideas for me? Do you think I'm right in my "self-diagnosis" based on the information? Do you think my approach is reasonable (not ideal I realize)?

Thanks so much in advance for helping me out.

Kim in Montana

[Rekarb]

Welcome to the forums.
I'm sorry about your insurance situation but I do understand.

Frankly, diagnosing is not my thing but I'll give it a go. You obviously have some pancreas function going on because your bs comes down after a few hours, so probably not a type 1. Type 1.5 is a catch all for all manner of diabetes. You would know a lot more if your doc would do some antibody tests.

Whatever the case, type 2 or type 1.5, you are right in watching your carbs. Avoid sugars. Read labels. Test an hour after you take the first bite to see what your spikes are doing. Take a brisk walk after you eat to help bring you blood sugars down.

There are a lot of people here who have good tricks to play on ill fate so stay tuned and try to stay positive.

Mike

[yannah]

you need to go to the docotor. it could def. be type 2. the diagnositc criteria for prediabetes id 5.7.

high blood sugar has serious conseqences. I would not do anythng short of going to a doctor.

my fasting was 109,(I was told this was fine, its not) 6 months later my random was 588.

it can come at you fast.

and if it were 1 or 1.5 you need to go to the doctor even faster.

[foxl]

Graves Disease, huh? Well I have Hashimoto's but still suspect you are my kind of diabetic ... and a reading over 200, in my books, is cause for MUCH concern. Low-carbing will prevent recurrence of that, but also get a meter and keep doing your own random testing.

What you need to get (once you have insurance) is a GAD Antibody test. And you might have to fight to get it. Your MD may not be familiar with it ... but keep asking. IA2s and ICAs are more common in Type1, but GADs predominate in LADA or T1.5. And my thyroid autoimmune disease is precisely why I suspected those antibodies would be there.

Next battle: Getting them to treat you like a type 1.5. After getting the Antibodies I got referral to an Endo, who told me I am a Type 2, with Antibodies.

Keywords to google and look up in PUBMED are GAD, GADA's, and LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes of Adulthood).

[ljjhouser]

Welcome to the Forum. This is a great place to learn and share. Again, Welcome. Best Wishes Larry

[SB_Krista]

You might also try an at-home HbA1c test if you don't want to go to the Drs to have it done. Unless, your last A1c test was less than 2 months ago.

Watching your carbs and exercising more is the best advice. After dinner walks, particularly after pasta or other carb heavy meals, worked wonders for me. And I think alot of folks see a BG spike initially after exercising vigorously...wait 1 or 2 hrs and retest.

Welcome to the forums!

[bigskygal]

Thanks to everyone who responded with empathy and advice - both were very welcome!

So, I've been low-carbing for 3 days now and I can't believe the change in what I'm seeing on my meter - this really works! Basically, my blood sugar's been behaving itself, goes up much less and comes down quickly...no more spending 4-5 hours around 200 after every meal! My fasting's still a little high (115-120) but it's only been a few days.

Thanks for the suggestion about a home a1c! I went and got a Bayer a1c Now and it measured 6.4 which is, ugh, in the diabetic range. Not too surprising but I was hoping for lower. I will re-test after 3 months of low-carbing and if it's still high I'll go to a doctor - thanks for pushing me.

Linda, it does sound like we're on similar trajectories with thyroid and blood sugar issues - nice to see you're doing so well! My doctor told me that being hyperthyroid makes you more insulin resistant...did you have a hyper stage with your Hashi's or did it go straight to hypo? If so, is that when your bg issues started? My doctor was convinced my bs would return to normal once I got my thyroid stuff under control, but he seems to be wrong about that. Probably have some antibodies, or I stressed out my pancreas while I was hyper, or most likely some combo thereof. I got tested thyroid antibodies when I first got diagnosed with Grave's. They were present but not horribly elevated...the endo I see (who I really like for thyroid stuff as he never pushed me to destroy my thryoid with radioactive iodine like every other practitioner -- including a naturopath! -- told me to do) doesn't believe in antibody testing because he thinks there are so many we haven't discovered yet that the tests are often inconclusive. So, I don't know if he'll do a GAD test. Plus, he's the one who discounted my high blood sugars in the first place. But still a good suggestion, thanks.

[foxl]

I suspect my thyroid disease onset cycled for a time before onset -- I had "storms" of highs, and lows. Just from how I felt once I got medicated, and all.

I think my blood sugar did the same thing. And yes, increased thyroxine = increased insulin resistance.

I wish thyroid disease was considered a risk factor D and the guidelines would indicate the need to SCREEN US THOROUGHLY. I would have been far more proactive and suspect my MD would have, too.