Can one have normal fasting glucose and plasma glucose readings but still have prediabetes ?

I had my PN diagnosed as "probably" alcohol related, but after no alcohol for 5 months and progression during that time from slight burning in foot pads to burning soles and heels and then to burning hands as well. I'm not now so convinced alcohol is the culprit and looking for other explanations (re-referral to Neurologist pending).

No problems with B12 by the way - I'm about 1800+.

Westie I am in the same position as you, its just getting worse & as its not seen, people don't really understand how miserable and depressed it can make you.

I have an auto-immune peripheral neuropathy called anti-MAG. I find that the terrible burning in my hands and feet is much less as long as my body stays cool. When I walk a fair amount or when my body gets warm, the burning and discomfort get a lot worse! I am living in a part of the country that doesn't have hot weather, so that is much easier.

I have found that soaking my feet and hands in cool water is very helpful. I also don't wear shoes at home as shoes often make my feet too warm.

I hope you can find some relief!

Pre-diabetes is where insulin starts to be made in excess. This can lead to low blood sugars in between meals. Low sugar also damages cells. Doctors don't really address low sugar in diabetes. But there are some new studies to show that just one attack of very low sugar--ONE--increases risk of Alzheimer's!

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146021.php

It's not hard to imagine not enough sugar getting to your fingertips or feet with chronic low sugar readings. In fact the ACCORD study stopped the aggressive arm of trying to keep type II patients below an HbA1C of 6. People were dying during the study, so they dropped it. European studies showed at one time that people with low HbA1C lived longer. But now that is being thought to be a STRESSER on the nervous system. Now the target is 7.0 for elderly patients.

When the mitochondria do not get glucose to run the energy requirements of cells, they can run on fatty acids. Acetyl Carnitine and lipoic acid are thought to enhance this. Studies are showing more and more benefits for acetyl carnitine. It is something to think about.

Yes you can have normal fasting levels with prediabetes and I know some full blown diabetic 2 peole that also retain good fasting levels but once tested with a glucose challenge [ glucose tolerance test ] it will show the real picture.
I can't understand doctors relying on a overnight fasting glucose test to testfor diabetes, as the body has at least 12 hours to get rid of any excess glucose, its the spikes 1 to 2 hours after meals that do the damage over time and the possible lows as Mrs D explained.

good luck
Brian

The overnight fasting levels go up because when the sugars get really low while you sleep, then the liver starts making MORE glucose, for the "dawn phenomenon". The higher fasting levels of glucose reflect this new manufactured glucose and not what you ate the night before.

Type II diabetics typically have elevated INSULIN levels, and this is what is creating the lows when food is not available. You can be tested for fasting insulin, and if yours is elevated, you can be sure you are pre-diabetic. Not many doctors do this, but will test you if you ask.