What is good with him is his discipline to exercise. He has sweet tooth but can restrain himself. I always tell him one PN in the family is enough.

I think his AIc was 6.5.
Thank you Mrs.D

That really shouldn't matter. I just got tested for 2 things that weren't in the "system"; the doctor just writes in the tests by hand and the lab sends them out to be done elsewhere. It takes a few extra days to get results.

It's possible your PCP had some other reason for not feeling the longer test was necesary/warranted(?)

Doc

Well, I also experienced one time when my endocrinologist just wrote on his prescription pad the request for my bloodwork.

Thank you.

--they certainly could order a longer glucose tolerance with several more draws and with insulin levels concurrently measured, which I think might provide more insight.

I suspect he is borderline. The A1c test is useful in that it provides an average of glycated hemoglobin over an eight-to-twelve week period, but one does not know if these averages come from a relatively uniform level of glucose in the bloodstream or from significant peaks coupled with significant lows. The longer glucose tolerance test with concurrent insulin levels is better at seeing this--one can see how one's insulin levels are at baseline, how they respond to the glucose ingestion, and how long the cycles are.

A fairly common finding as people get older is fairly "normal" glucose levels to start, but somewhat elevated insulin levels needed to keep those glucose levels, and an overproduction of insulin upon challenge to keep glucose levels out of diabetic ranges. Sometimes the glucose spike is so big that a reactive hypoglycemia occurs in the second/third/fourth hour. This is often referred to as "insulin resistance" and indicates difficulty getting glucose into the cells; this is often a harbinger of future diabetes. Muscle building is often a way to combat this--muscle on the whole is less difficult for insulin to drive glucose into. (And, of course, losing fat helps.)

Thank you Glenntaj. I will definitely share your message with my husband.

I am sure it will take a long time and for good reason for him to take another glucose test (he got "traumatized" as his arms were both black and blue after the extraction - even now).

He will have to observe his diet even more. He actually been observing the less carbo due to his triglycerides. He is taking Tricor or sometimes the generic version.

Yes, glucose tolerance tests can be awful for people with thin or deep veins!

He might want to get an RX for a glucometer and strips...to monitor what foods control him better. It can be helpful to manage the dietary habits.

I favor One Touch. You can get a free meter, but strips are separate. Its chemical system is less prone to false high readings. Strips on RX are paid for by most insurances and medicare.

He has thin veins. He was very hydrated the day before the test but still it was an experience for him!!

Thank you MRs.D for your suggestion

For what is is worth, Tricor did not affect my triglycerides any more than fish oil did. I was at 512 originally, doctor freaked out and put me on Tricor. This was about six months before I was diagnosed with PN. Pain levels and disability really escalated and my neurologist advised I stop taking it. It is toxic for CMT and a lot of neuropathies.

Tricor only brought my levels down to 350, fish oil, walking, and weight loss have been more effective, low carb, etc. levels staying around 300, but i have bigger issues with the CMT, so don't actually care too much. There is some evidence that sugar really imacts triglycerides, so I try to watch that, but I love sweets and fall off the wagon sometimes. GTT has been normal.

There is something called hereditary high triglycerides which seems to be benign, also there was a study linking high triglycerides to PN in a British medical journal some time ago.

Even though your husband doesn't have PN I would keep an eye on the Tricor side effects list. I think it can be a dangerous and not particularly effective drug.

Thank you Susanne for chiming in. I appreciate it.

He has been on Tricor (and Nexium) for years. It seems that Tricor is working for him since his triglyceridess been normal.He is being monitored for it every 3 months just as his blood sugar, kidney and liver functions.

He exercise 5x a week and observe carbs, BUT he loves sweets. He would indulge himself on weekends with some sweets as his "rewards/gifts".

I put him on VitB12 because he feels some little burning in his feet every once in awhile. So, I remind him always of how critical to maintain his blood sugar. I always tell him, one PN in the family is enough.

Nexium will deplete B12, folate, iron, calcium, magnesium and
zinc absorption.

I'd put him on magnesium too. Diabetics lose magnesium in the urine, and he is borderline. Males should not supplement iron, unless a doctor suggests it from tests.

He might also benefit from whey protein shakes. Nexium impairs protein digestion, and hence protein may become low in people using it long term. Whey protein is predigested and assimilated as amino acids. This may help the A1C.