Would I be considered Pre-Diabetic?

Jenny33 · 03-26-2008, 08:52 PM

Hi Cysters,

My doctor ordered a million tests recently. My health has not been good these last few years with PCOS, blood clots, major hair loss. She's thinking maybe a thyroid problem, but those tests aren't back yet. I, on the otherhand, was more worried about my glucose and the possibility of diabetes.

My fasting glucose was 94, and my Hemoglobin A1c is 5.8%. Would these be considered pre-diabetic? I read different lab values on various websites. Also, I've been on Metformin (1000 mg/day) for several years. Does that mean that without the Met my glucose would be much higher and that I'm actually already diabetic. I actually started Met to help me ovulate and get pregnant, but with the PCOS they kept me on it.

Any feedback would be very much appreciated :-)

Thanks,
Jenny

ComputerChick · 03-26-2008, 11:27 PM

I would say that if you're taking Metformin and your fasting number was 94, you may already be a Type II. My MIL is on 500 mg twice a day for her Type II and right now she runs in the high 90's or low 100's fasting and is working on getting that under control. I was Diagnosed with Type II last May, but the doc said my numbers weren't running high enough to warrant any medication for fear it would drop them too low. So I am monitoring my sugar with a Glucometer 1X daily and alternating the time of day. I also control mine by watching what I eat. So far, so good, almost a year and doing great.

Jenny33 · 03-26-2008, 11:56 PM

It's weird though because no one has ever mentioned that I was diabetic. The metformin was to keep the PCOS and ovulation under control and help get pregnant. Not sure I ever had my glucose checked before we started TTC, so I don't have a reference point. Thanks for your feedback. I'll ask my doctor if I need to start monitoring my sugar levels too.

ComputerChick · 03-27-2008, 01:23 AM

That's probably a good idea. I had a friend that was on Met and her doctor assumed she was diabetic, and had never heard that it could be used to help ovulation issues. She has since found out she is indeed diabetic, but as with most of us, it's one of those things we have to think about anyway with PCOS. I was IR for years and just was diagnosed as being a Type II Diabetic in May of last year.

Jenny33 · 03-27-2008, 01:41 AM

Yeah, I find that that people always assume I'm diabetic when they hear I'm on Met. But it is used to regulate ovulation a lot. Unfortunately i still had to go through 4 rounds of IUI and a couple miscarriages - so it didn't help me in the pregnancy department - but it's helping the sugar levels. I think I probably fall into the IR category right now, versus fully diabetic. I gotta get some weight off and see if I can get my numbers down.

I'm sorry to hear that you are now diabetic, but at least there's a lot of good support out there. Especially this website and SC community. I remember when I realized I had PCOS and it finally all made sense - the weight, the acne, etc and finally a feeling of "it's not all my fault!" But of course, it's hard to deal with being at higher risk for a bunch of yucky diseases. Do you mind if I ask if you what made your body jump from being IR to diabetic? And were you on Met all that time or just since May of last year?

Jenny

ComputerChick · 03-28-2008, 01:08 AM

I'm not sure what changed as I went over a year without going to the doc at all. I'm sure that had a lot to do with it and stress too.
I'm not on anything for the diabetes, my numbers haven't been very high at all so I am just monitoring it once a day and watching what I eat.

sarahgmac · 04-13-2008, 09:31 PM

You sound like you may be diabetic. I was on 2500mg of glucophage a day for a year, after the year I felt like crap..I gained 40lbs (without eating more or exercising less) had no energy whatsover my A1C was a 6 up from 5.3 before I started the glucophage a year before. I went to an endo. They said that in order for me to be diagnosed as a diabetic I would have to go off the glucophage for 2 weeks (to get it out of my system) and then be tested. He said if he were to bet, he would bet I have diabetes. I was TTC and stopping the glucophage right then was out of the question. They added actos and it really helped me feel better.

I am going to let them test me after I have the baby. Once you are actually diagnosed it opens up all new treatments too. Like byetta (which could help me lose weight). The only thing is if you don't have insurance, I wouldn't be tested just yet. Diabetes is a pre-existing condition and insurances don't like that.