Obviously I am replying to make things more confusing, or am I...

The result of the glucose tolerance test is nothing else but a result. It needs to be interpreted while considering other results (blood tests) and clinical symptoms (visible signs of retinopathy for example - these findings are most important). Unfortunately no single test can tell you about the real condition of your body. Why is that so?

Imagine a narrow stream and a wide river. How much water is transported via the stream and via the river?
Does it depend on the level of the water? No, it all depends how fast the water flows. You may imagine that in a rapid stream the water flows very fast and it transport much more water than a slow river.

Same principle applies to these measurements... your glucose blood level doesn't tell (almost) anything about how much glucose goes into your tissues (level doesn't imply how much) after meal or about how much damage your tissues sustained until now. That's why there are so many complications of diabetes - because even doctors do not understand the fact that the tests are often worthless and when they intervene it's often too late.

When you reach 200, this means that you are really really overloaded, and it is too late.

It's a very good idea to try supplements, because at this stage (when the spikes are not that high) they may actually work very well. It's also a very good idea to take Metformin. Off-label use is also pre-diabetes (as far as I remember, but I may be wrong). Plus, Metformin is almost like a supplement, because it is of plant origin (see Wikipedia entry about Metformin).

Hopeless,

I will mention the Metformin ER during my visit to the endocrinologist this monday. As much as possible, I do not want to take additional medicine but I want to resolve the spikes. If I were not in pain or afraid on inflicting more damage to the nerves, perhaps, I would have just let it pass.

Mary

I understand your reluctance to add even more medications. I do not like to take anything that is not absolutely essential. I totally agree with you on that. I suggest the Metformin partly as a "test" over a 30 day time frame to see if it changes your spikes. If it does, then it would also be beneficial for your nerves and PN. It would treat your PN but it would keep spikes from causing further harm to your nerves.

I would not suggest you continue with the Metformin after 30 days if you do not see improvement in your post-prandial readings.

I totally understand both your concern and your not wanting to take more meds. While "pain" can elevate your blood sugars, it appears that is not what is causing your spikes. It appears your body is not responding in a timely manner to your ingestion of food, even healthy food.

I will mention it to my doctor's visit tomorrow. Thank you Hopeless.