Being tested on Monday

Mustangsally82 · 10-07-2006, 03:13 AM

I was diagnosed with PCOS last November, and put on Met 500 mg twice a day since then. I've been eating a low/no sugar diet since then and cutting out processed foods/white breads/potatoes etc.

My gastroenterologist asked me yesterday what the difference was between insulin resistance associated with PCOS and insulin resistance associated with Type 2 diabetes. I didn't know the answer, but I've never had a glucose tolerance test or A1C so I didn't really have any information to add. I was diagnosed via ultrasound and put on Met as a trial. It helped me lose 30 pounds (19% my body weight) so I've stayed on it, but I've never had a blood glucose level or any of the other tests.

I made a doctor's appointment for Monday after my gastroenterologist asked me to, and they told me to come in fasting. The underlying problem is that I'm having a lot of GI issues and my doctor thought that if I had diabetes that might be one of the contributing factors. I'm also having a gastric emptying study on Thursday.

I've had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, upper GI series and CT scan this year to try to find the source of my abdominal pain, upset stomach, etc. and I also saw a rheumatologist about my muscle and joint pain after having a high ESR and CRP. The blood tests the rheumatologist did were normal.

I've been to a lot of doctors and it's frustrating to not have a diagnosis, but at the same time I'd rather not be told I have diabetes. I just wondered what others had been through because my gastroenterologist was not the first doctor to ask me if I was sure I didn't have diabetes. I'm confused about what the difference is between IR and Type 2 diabetes, and I really don't want to be labelled as a diabetic because so many doctors think Type 2s are lazy and have no willpower and they tend to ignore problems and assume they're all caused by diabetes.

flyfisher · 10-07-2006, 08:44 PM

I am type 2. I am not lazy and my doc doesn't think I am lazy. I've never heard a doc say that before. If they do, shame on them. You don't have to be overweight to be type 2. I know lots of people that are very under weight and are type 2. I too went to a rhumatologist for my joint pain and all my tests came up normal as well even though my ESR was high. I mentioned this to my endo after being dx as PCOS and he said that the joint pain is related to PCOS. I am on 2000mg of met and diabetic exchanges for my type 2 and the joint pain is almost completely gone. I do get tired easily and don't understand that. Good luck and I hope you get the answers you are looking for.

Mustangsally82 · 10-08-2006, 01:13 PM

I wasn't saying that people with diabetes are lazy, I just meant that that seems to be the stereotype sometimes. I didn't mean to insult anyone.

I think the idea of having diabetes is just freaking me out: it's scary to think of all the complications and extra things you have to do.

flyfisher · 10-12-2006, 12:03 AM

I fully understand, You didn't insult me...I was just trying to let you know not to be embarrassed by doctors or feel that they will think you are lazy because you are type 2. Don't let them make you feel that way. Type 2 is scary, but it can be managed. If it is managed properly, you will live a normal life with very few complications. When I was first dx, I too freaked out. I immediately started watching everything I ate and did so too strictly. You will be fine, don't panic. I do recommend going to a diabetic teaching class or see a dietician. That will help you a lot...I wish you luck and don't worry, I wasn't offended and I am sorry if I come off sounding like that. I just didn't want you to believe that you or anyone with type 2 is lazy and if a doctor says that, shut him up...lol..I know I will...I've never heard that and I've never thought that about people with type 2 before I was dx..

Mustangsally82 · 10-13-2006, 03:33 PM

You didn't say anything wrong. I just didn't want to offend you!

I'm still waiting on my A1C results but my fasting glucose was 84, and my doctor told me that I don't have diabetes yet. But my family history and my PCOS/insulin resistance put me at high risk and I'll probably eventually get it one day.

My gastroenterologist is a foreign medical school graduate and I guess he didn't know much about PCOS. Some of the things he said made me start to believe I was diabetic now, but my family doctor put my mind at ease.

But I still have to stay on my diabetic-like diet and take metformin. That's okay, though.