?'s about diabetes diagnosis tests?

krism74 · 11-04-2009, 09:21 PM

Hi, I've had PCOS for many years, went through infertility treatment and gestational diabetes with each pregnancy..I've been on glucophage for a number of years now. My question is I recently went in with just vague complaints of not feeling well, my pcp looked at my chart and mentioned it had been about 4 years since i've had a GTT test and suggested we do that. I did that and failed BIG time the 3 hour test, however he said my a1c test was ok (i haven't been in to see what the number was)..I was told over the phone by the nurse just to keep on my glucophage that that should do it, I put the brakes on her there, i was told years ago by my then endocrinoligist that they don't use the a1c test as a diabetes diagnosis, it is the GTT test and fasting glucose levels that are used. I have an appt next week to go over all of this in detail with him, I think i'll ask for a referral to an endo. to further clarify this. Any ideas on what I should think? I don't WANT to be diabetic, but I also don't want in 5-10 years to start having REAL problems from something I should've been treating...Thank you for all your help!

AngelaGrace · 11-07-2009, 09:06 PM

Kudos to you for being proactive with this! I feel the same way - needing to take charge, it's your health! I'd say you are on the right track by wanting a referral to make an appt. w/ an endocrinologist - just atleast for another set of eyes on your lab-work and coming up with a game plan! You might be alright, but better to know, right?

I'm not diabetic but insulin resistant + my blood sugar was high, didn't do well on GTT, etc (i guess just not high enough to be considered "diabetic" technically)... BUT I am on insulin - low dose right now, as we're TTC and my RE wants to see my blood sugars be near-perfect.

Good luck to you - keep us posted!
Angela

krism74 · 11-10-2009, 03:31 PM

Thanks for the reply and I hope your journey ends well..I was on that road and it's a frustrating one!
Well, I went today to review all of this, found my fbs was 117, then 1 hr 256, 2 was 253 and 3 was 183...my a1c was 5.3 which they said gave me a general bs of 100...I was told just to keep with my glucophage and we'll check it again in about 6 months, that it is likely just insulin resistance instead of diabetes...I need to do some research and reading up on all of this, it's been a while but any suggestions to anyone who has had similar situations? Met the best way to go?

GovtProf · 11-13-2009, 10:10 PM

Your numbers are indicative of type 2, not pre-d, those are solidly type 2 diagnosis numbers. You are correct that FGT and OGTT are what usually is used to indicate diabetes. Please go to an Endo who can properly diagnose you! When I first thought I had D, my A1C was 5.2 but my numbers were all over the place. That is why your A1C is so low--- you are going low and high and it is just an average. Yes, Met is usually the first drug given to combat high sugar levels. What dose are you on? Are you following a diabetic diet--- no sugar, no simple carbs, try and keep your meals to under 40g of carbs? If Met does not work, their are a few more oral drugs to try and then you would move on to insulin.

Good luck!

krism74 · 11-15-2009, 02:01 PM

Thanks for the info...I've been doing some reading up on all of this and I'm not comfortable with feeling with just being pushed to the met and no other changes...currently (and for the last 4 years) i'm on only 500 of met twice a day...no he suggested no other diet changes, etc....i think i need to be doing something different though....

sheila32 · 11-23-2009, 11:33 PM

Yes you do need to do something different. Your story sounds a lot like mine and now I have nerve damage because my A1c was always good. My numbers after eating were always high. Keep pushing until your comfortable with the docs plan. Remember you employ him/her not the other way around.

julie373 · 12-06-2009, 11:58 PM

I was diagnosed by my A1C, it was 12.5 which means my average blood sugar was up around the 500-600 range I do believe. Thats how they diagnosed me. The A1C is a test of your average blood sugar over a period of 3 months. They want you to keep it under 6. Its all about eating healthy (low carb) and taking meds. Its hard to do. Ive been struggling with it for 3 years.