[Amelie]

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about a month ago. My fasting glucose was 11, and after the sugary drink they gave me at the lab, it was 22! My A1C was 9, although my doctor wondered how accurate that result was, considering how high my blood sugar was for my other tests.

I was put on Metformin and Avandia. I've been watching my diet (although I had healthy eating habits to begin with, believe it or not) and I've been on the treadmill for 45 minutes every day.

On Sunday, I finally got around to getting a blood glucose monitor, and I've been testing frequently since then. And every reading I get is completely normal.

This morning, for example, my fasting glucose was 4.8.

My 2 hour post-meal numbers have ranged from 5.8 to 6.3.

My doctor had mentioned to me that the main reason to test is to find out how different foods affect your blood sugar, so today I decided to do a little experiment. Although this is not something I'd normally do (not even pre-diabetes), I decided to gorge myself on Chinese food, including a large amount of chicken fried rice (kids, don't try this at home!). I tested at 2 hours post-meal, and I was at 5.8. At 3 hours post-meal I was at 6.3. That's the highest number I've gotten with my monitor so far, but is still within the normal range, apparently.

So I'm having all kinds of wacky thoughts running around in my head. Such as:

1. Maybe I was misdiagnosed, and don't have diabetes at all. (I've had absolutely no symptoms of diabetes whatsoever, by the way.)

or

2. Maybe my monitor is inaccurate.

or

3. Maybe Metformin and Avandia are wonder drugs.

and/or

4. Maybe diabetes is a lot easier to control than I thought.


Or is it possible that I'm in some kind of honeymoon phase? I've only heard about a honeymoon phase in relation to type 1. Can it apply to type 2 as well?

(Don't worry, I won't be repeating the Chinese food experiment. Diabetes or no diabetes, that's not good for anybody!)

[BigcityRich]

Amelie,

Answer: Metformin is a wonder drug.

The whole purpose of the meds is to keep your sugars normal. When I was first diagnosed, foods that I thought would spike my sugars never did(pasta and rice) and other times my sugars would soar. I was convinced that doc was a quack and there was not a thing wrong with me.
I just one day decided I was done with my meds. It took about a day and I felt like crawling under a rock and dying. My sugars were over 200 and had no energy and all I wanted to do was pass out and sleep. I learned my lesson and realized I have a problem and started taking it more serious. I have a love/hate relationship with my Metformin. Its my personal poison. But I never miss a dose, cause I know I will pay for it if I do.

Sound to me like the meds are doing just what they need to be doing.

[genie86333]

Amalie,

I have to agree, sounds like the Metformin's working. If you'd only had 1 test that was out of whack, I'd say maybe it was a misdiagnosis, but if your BS went up to 22 AND you had an A1C of 9, then it's no fluke.

You might want to get another meter, just to be sure your meter's reading right. There are low-cost ones available, and some links to free ones around here sometimes. Besides, it never hurts to have a spare so you can always have one with you. (I keep one in my purse, one at home, usually.)

However, probably, it's just that the medicine is doing it's job. Still, watch the diet, keep testing, etc. Little things can cause big changes sometimes.

[rpsingh]

I heard that in the begining years, Body responds to drugs very effectively. So it is easy to control.

[Amelie]

Thank you all for the replies.

Well, I wonder how long the medication will remain this effective. Of course, I understood that it would lower my blood sugar, but I didn't realize it would lower it to normal levels! I'm very pleased with this result.

I will definitely get back to my healthy diet and carb counting tomorrow though. I didn't even enjoy the Chinese food very much.

Thanks again.