Should I buy the blood sugar monitor?

[Flipmutt]

Hey Guys,

I am new and I tried searching for advice in regards to this. I have been diagnosed with PCOS about 4 years and ago and about 3 years ago I was told I needed to take 850mg of Metformin 2x daily. I did this for about 6months and I hated the way it made me feel.

I decided to go the natural way and just excercise and diet. Well it worked and I lost a good 40 pounds (now at 145). I look pretty healthy and a lot fitter, however my sugar levels are getting to the point I cannot control them.

Just the other day I had some sort of panic attack at the resturaunt and it felt like my sugar levels were sky high... I didnt eat much (hence why i was at the resturaunt) but right before I had a Starbucks yummy drink. Well as soon as I drank some and order my food, I had felt horrible and I couldn't move. My arms and legs went numb and I ended up vomitting at the resturaunt. (VERY embarressing!)

After 30 minutes I felt a little better, and I tried to eat some bread and chicken (what I had originally ordered) but I was so drained, just walking to the car to go home was so exhausting.

I havent really changed my eating habits so I don't know what I am doing wrong. Right now I feel funny, and I just ate a Ham and Cheese with egg sandwich.

Should I think about taking the metformin? Will this assist with the peaks and drops that I am experiencing?

Should I buy the monitor? My endocrinologist never recommended it, and I honestly dont even know what to even look for or do with the results.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

-Courtney

[GovtProf]

Hi Courtney,

Have you had a glucose tolerance test? That should be your first step in looking at how you react to sugar. I am normal to underweight and struggle very hard to keep my blood sugars below 140 (after eating) and under 100 in the morning. My endo recommended I keep a blood sugar panel a few days out of the week just to see how the sugar progressed. Sure enough I was going out of range and so am now on Metformin to help... which it has done! You can also go on actos/avandia which are insulin sensitizers and work in a different way but don't cause those same side -effects that Metformin does.

[jupiter]

Haveyou been diagnosed with diabetes or insulin resistance. If you have than you should buy a monitor. When you buy one check the prices of the test strips since you will be buying them all the time. WalMart sells a ReliOn monitor that is inexpensive and the strips are reasonably priced. Here's a link http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3555238. I have used the ReliOn and it is a good meter. All meters have a log book so you can write down your results. You should test first thing in the morning and two hours after each meal. My doctor wants my fasting to be under 114 and two hours after meals to be under 140.
The Metformin will help with the highs and lows. I'm on 2000mgs a day. The side effects when you first start Meformin are yucky but they do eventually go away.

[Flipmutt]

Thanks guys,

My endrocrinologist did the glucose test on me I believe. That is where I fast the night before, then they draw my blood, give me that sugary drink and make me sit there for 3 hours and then take my blood again?

I do not recall the numbers, however that is when they put me on Metforming 850mg twice a day.

I do not take it for I wasnt having "sugar" related problems, I just wanted to lose weight. I ended up just dieting anf exercising and now... my sugar levels "feel" like they are always "off."

[sharleenia]

Hello and welcome to SoulCysters!

I am a type 2 diabetic and I really cannot emphasize enough to you to get and keep your sugars under control. Early detection and prevention can be beneficial to you later on down the road. When you say you just don't feel right, listen to your body!

As far as buying a glucometer, I have several that are almost brand new. (seems that my insurance is always upgrading me ) So, you are welcome to them if you don't want to spend the money on a new one. I do agree with the PP...check prices on lancets and strips. These can be very costly.