My crazy update - probably have diabetes for a long time, didn't know
 

Hi all, haven't been back in a little while. A lot going on. Let's see where do I start. MS is ruled out at this time. Still have neuropathy of both feet - burning and such. Still on Neurtonin 1600 mg a day. Now......The more I tested my blood sugars, the more I started to think - Geese, maybe I do have diabetes..maybe my neuropathy is from diabetes - maybe I have diabetic neuropathy. Crap! My numbers are not good (I have my own monitor because I had gestational 6 yrs. ago). Sooo, I called my neuro back and told him even though on 12/5 I told him he didn't need to test me for diabetes "because I didn't have it", I would now like him to order the 2 hr. GTT test and A1c.

So, I went for that on Tuesday. The 1/2 hour readings were "ok". I remember her saying the 1 hr was 212, and then they went down from there, so 212 was the highest which is ok. THen, my A1c was 5.3. When she called last nite, she said "you don't have diabetes". I was SO relieved. I said screw it to testing my BS's (I thought my monitor was messed up based on my "good results). Then, she called me at work this AM and said neuro and his nurse reviewed the results more thoroughly and they feel they are suggestive of diabetes and they would like you to follow up with your regular Dr. for more testing, etc.". I was stunned to say the least.

I came in to work in such a good mood, then by 10am, I was NOT in a good mood.

So, that's where I'm at. At this point, I'm wondering how long I've really had diabetes. I think back to when I was 18 (20 years ago) a random drawing before a small surgery I had was 138. They didn't think anything of it although my mother was a bit concerned, they all blew it off.

Then I remember a few years (like 10) I did a fasting draw at that same clinic. I don't remember the results of that, but I ordered copies of all labwork from that clinic as soon as I got that phone all. Throughout all these years, I remember having hypoglycemic episodes. I would shake and hunger and I HAD to get some food in me when that happened, and then I always felt better. But my glucose monitor numbers have been 175+ 2 hrs,l after eating. Then they would fall considerably in less than 2 hrs. down the 70's and I would shake. This happened to me two days in a row this week.

SO, that's that - any comments LOL?? This is crazy, isn't it?

What if I had diabetes for all these years and now I have had neuropathy for who knows how long - CHIT - my feet will probably turn gangrene and I'll have to get them cut off. Now I am in tears here.

Gotta go, I'll write more later this weekend.

What you are describing--
 

--is not that unusual. It's also a very strong argument for several-hour glucose tolerance testing--with concurrent glucose AND insulin levels being drawn (they didn't do the latter, I'm assuming).

I suspect that you have at the very least impaired glucose tolerance. It may be of a "diabetic" level, depending on who is interpreting the results, but your blood glucose level is shooting too high from such a small glucose challenge, adn this may well happen almost every time you eat, though what you eat and how much may affect the degree to which it happens.

I also suspect that you have insulin resistance--that is, your body has to pump out more insulin to drive glucose into the cells. What happens is, on glucose ingestion, your blood sugar shoots up due to cellular resistance, and your body has to put out massive amounts of insulin to get the glucose in there. But, your body may be putting out so much insulin that it overcompensates, and your blood sugar falls percipitously. (I'd bet around the time of your glucose readings in the 70's, and a little before, your insulin levels, if measured, would be sky-high.)

At this point, you are probably coping with the insulin resistance to a decent extent, and that is why your hemoglobin A1c is normative, but those spikes can be just as damaging--and CAN lead to neuropathy. There is a LOT of evidence now that pre-diabetic impaired tolerance can cause neuropathy, especially the painful small fiber kind. (This is discussed, with references, in the following thread:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...027#post185027

--which you may well have seen already.)

The problem with all this is that eventually the insulin resistance can build to a point at which yor ability to produce insulin isn't enough, and then you have a diabetic crisis on you hands when blood sugars shoot to really high levels. Obviously, one want to avoid this.

If nothing else, exercising and diet changes are warranted--they probably are for most of us whether we have these kind of readings or not. And, if you can tolerate it and they'll go for it, let them give you a 3-hour glucose tolerance test with concurrrent glucose/insulin levels at baseline and then every half-hour--I know this will make you feel like a pincushion--but the patterns of glucose/insulin rises and falls will likely be very illuminating.

Glen
 

I just don't why they don't just do it with the 3 hr.,I remember the 6 hr.
I guess they would say it cost to much..But look how much it would
save in preventive med.

It's worth it to feel like a pin cushion,I'm very sure your not feeling
at all well..I'm also glad your Neuro did not agree with the Dr. that
told you you were ok..Also please if you have a diabectic center
near you,have your Dr. Neuro,Primary,send you there,honest it
not hard to go on the diet,and if you can excersie... You have a
monitor please use it,you have to stop crying now,nobody wants
diabetices,but you will start feeling better,than you will smile.

I went through the same thing for very many years,good luck
to you,I know you just want to feel better. Hugs Sue

Hi Want2bwell, i also think 3 hour GTT minimum, the longer the better ..and you really don't want to let yourself get to the stage of feeling weak and shaky, it's better just have a small healthy snack in between meals to keep your blood sugars up to a good rate, even just a an apple or a pear [for example] in between main meals can help a lot and eating smaller portions at the main meal time puts less strain on your pancreas to produce enough insulin, its better for people with pre or diabetic condition to have 6 SMALL meals a day spread evenly during the day than the regular 3 large main ones.
A variety of high fibre/ low GI foods will release more slowly into your blood stream, they will keep you from feeling hungry for longer.

Brian :)

Hi there.

I'm a diabetic also. I have no idea if you are overweight or not, you didn't mention it in your postings. But if you are, I would advise you to start eating a high protein, low carb, low fat healthy way of eating. I don't call it a diet, because diets don't work and they say 95% of people who lose weight, can't keep it off.

Well, Alan and I are in the 5% of people who lost it and kept it off FOR YEARS!!!

It's just in our best interest to do so.

You can have snacks (it's good for you, and it will keep your blood sugar on an even keel). You obviously have had low blood sugar problems. ( I have rarely had episodes of hypoglycemia). I'm extremely lucky in that regard.

Took me a long long time to learn how to eat, and when to eat.

My best word of advice is not to eat anything WHITE. Keep the colors in your food. They are good for you. White stuff is bad. Colored stuff is good. Lots of greens. Whole grains. Don't use caffeine if you can help it.

And we eat fish. Lots of fish. We watch the mercury also. But we do eat fish. Do you eat fish?? And we gave up Red Meat a long time ago on the advice of a nutritionist. Now many people eat meat and have no problem. We just don't.

It's a way of life and my husband and I have adapted.

I only wish I could have used my brain like this 30 years ago, but SIGH!!! I was not the woman I am now.

OH well. We live and we learn.

I hope everything turns out okay for you.

Melody

I was diagnosed as diabetic three years ago, almost by accident. My fasting glucose levels have always been fine, I'm not overweight, and my diet was good. But when I went to an endocrinologist and she found out I had gastroparesis (paralyzed stomach muscles, meaning food stays in my stomach for several hours), she decided to do a GTT.

I was angry when I found out I was diabetic, because the implication was that type 2 is always the result of poor lifestyle, and I had had a healthy one. But I found out that heredity and having an autoimmune disease can also lead to diabetes. I'm sure you already know that gestational diabetes can sometimes lead to type 2.

Anyway, I went to a few diabetes management classes and tweaked my diet just a bit. My doctor added a small amount of medication to help me out more. I got my glucose levels completely under control in a matter of weeks once I knew what to do, and I've not had problems with it since.

The situation may not be as dire as you suspect, especially since your a1c is not elevated. Once you learn what you need to do to stabilize your glucose levels, you may or may not need some medication. The more serious complications of diabetes can usually be staved off if you follow your doctor's recommendations and make an effort to preserve your health.

The people I know who lost limbs to diabetes were drinkers and would not eat properly or exercise, and some quit taking their meds and going to doctors, even when they knew something wasn't right with their circulation. One of the things you will be taught as a diabetic patient is to check your feet every day and to let your doctor know right away if you have any problems. Also, you can protect your feet by wearing shoes, even indoors (I wear comfy slippers with a good rubber sole on them).

For the low glucose levels, like the others said, avoid going more than a few hours without any food, and carry a quick source of glucose with you at all times in case you have an episode when you're away from home. To avoid high levels, doctor or nutritionist can help you figure out how many total carbs you should consume at each meal and how many times a day you should eat. If you can tolerate vegetables, they are an excellent source of nutrition, and you can eat a lot of them without going over your carb limit for a meal.

You can get through this. It will take some time to adjust, and it won't be fun, but you can get the hang of managing diabetes easier than you think.

fanfaire
:cool:

I am sorry for your news. I guess now its focusing on what you can do from now on to be healthier? I have to go for that glucose test too but regardless of what is going on I am going to work on my health habits. Can you possibly see a nutritionist too? I think they can be helpful to creating a plan for you?Also someone gave me some good websites on the net you may want to check out. The doc who was talking about this with me said how important it is to eat every 3 hours with some protein in it and to drink plenty of fluids. Hang in there

Hi there.
 

Want2bwell, your story is a mirror of mine. It's so good to find someone else who has found out that such low (mine was 209) numbers can cause such serious problems. I've had severe pain in my feet and ankles, and now have cramping up into my calves too for the past 6 years. I'm trying to lose weight and eat every 3 hours or so, but the exercise part has been hard since I now am scheduled for achilles tendon surgery July 11. Also have had some serious arthritis pain in both knees. It goes on and on, doesn't it? My feet hurt right on cue every time I eat something. Guess my blood sugar doesn't come back down fast enough after meals. So there you have it.

Joyceann:

You said the following: "It's so good to find someone else who has found that that such low (mine was 209) numbrs can cause such serious problems.

209 is extremely high. Not low.

I'm just wondering if you mis-typed this number or if you really think that 209 is a low sugar reading.

Just curious.

Melody

Melody-The 209 is what I had after eating and the way my doctor put it was that I was barely diabetic. My A1C is always around 6.0.