Bleah. Glucose Tolerance Test--Fail!

[minkydog]

My doctor called me in this morning for a 2hr GTT, based on some labs I had last week. My insulin level is extremely, critiacally high(74) and she told me that my pancreas is probably failing and I'd be lucky if I don't have to go on insulin shots.

Here are my numbers:
Fasting--116. Very high for me, used to always be inthe70s
Hour 1--256. Starting to feel nauseous
Hour 2--212. Double vision, feel drunk, can't read, want to lie down and sleep.

I drove home, but it was scary. I felt like I was all over the road and having a hard time with braking and being vigilant. Thank goodness the docs office is pretty close to my house. I need to eat some protien, but I'm so "off" I don't think I can cook. It's hour 4 now and i"m still over 200.

I am very sure that I have type 2 diabetes, based on these results. I'm sad about it, but not surprised. There are several people in my family with type 2 and type 2 diabetes. Plus, I've had 2 babies over 9-lbs, I'm overweight, my lipids are all skewd, and I carry my weight around my waste. I have to pee every 20-30 minutes. I had a skin biopsy done over 6 weeks ago that shows no signs of healing. I think I'm cooked.

[Imzadi]

Originally Posted by minkydog

Hour 2--212. Double vision, feel drunk, can't read, want to lie down and sleep.

I drove home, but it was scary. I felt like I was all over the road and having a hard time with braking and being vigilant.

Your dr let you drive home in this state without giving you something to eat? It is very dangerous. My dad got pulled over once in this state & was given a sobriety test because the symptoms so mimic being drunk.

Beyond that, sorry you are going though this. Type II diabetes may not be permanent. If you lose some weight, they diabetes may go away. It depends on your pancreas.

[rie'smom]

I'm glad that you made it home safely!

[themarquis]

Originally Posted by Imzadi

Your dr let you drive home in this state without giving you something to eat? It is very dangerous. My dad got pulled over once in this state & was given a sobriety test because the symptoms so mimic being drunk.

Beyond that, sorry you are going though this. Type II diabetes may not be permanent. If you lose some weight, they diabetes may go away. It depends on your pancreas.

Her blood sugar was high, not low, so giving her somethign to eat would have made it worse. If your dad got pulled over and was having blood sugar problems, either his sugars were very low or very very high (much higher than the OP's -- in a state called diabetic ketoacidosis).

I am surprised they didn't have the OP sit and wait it out until she felt better, though.

[lattemomof3]

Saying a prayer for you! I recently read an article about Halle Berry, who has diabetes, and she said she is MUCH healthier w/ diabetes, bec. she takes much better care of herself and eats healthier than she did before she was diagnosed. Maybe you can make this a chance to change - my dad passed away 6 months ago (he was 71) from complications of diabetes, which he had since he was 40. He did'nt change his eating habits at all, did'nt exersize or get enough sleep. I truly believe he would have lived much longer had he cared enough about himself to change his health. It's scary, and not easy, but you can do it!!!! If you are diagnosed, please go to all of the dietary meetings they set up for you, and try your darndest to follow the advice. You ARE worth it!!! My mother in law and brother in law were recently diagnosed also, they have been doing a great job of keeping their insulin in check, have lost weight and can't believe how much better they feel.

[themarquis]

Originally Posted by minkydog

My doctor called me in this morning for a 2hr GTT, based on some labs I had last week. My insulin level is extremely, critiacally high(74) and she told me that my pancreas is probably failing and I'd be lucky if I don't have to go on insulin shots.

Here are my numbers:
Fasting--116. Very high for me, used to always be inthe70s
Hour 1--256. Starting to feel nauseous
Hour 2--212. Double vision, feel drunk, can't read, want to lie down and sleep.

I drove home, but it was scary. I felt like I was all over the road and having a hard time with braking and being vigilant. Thank goodness the docs office is pretty close to my house. I need to eat some protien, but I'm so "off" I don't think I can cook. It's hour 4 now and i"m still over 200.

I am very sure that I have type 2 diabetes, based on these results. I'm sad about it, but not surprised. There are several people in my family with type 2 and type 2 diabetes. Plus, I've had 2 babies over 9-lbs, I'm overweight, my lipids are all skewd, and I carry my weight around my waste. I have to pee every 20-30 minutes. I had a skin biopsy done over 6 weeks ago that shows no signs of healing. I think I'm cooked.

Minky, I'm so sorry. Looks like they will likely diagnose you as T2.

But the good news is that it's EARLY in the process. Lots of people don't get diagnosed until their blood sugar is 600 and they wind up in the ICU. 212 is JUST over the line.

Catching it early means that you can prevent most or even ALL of the complications of diabetes. According to recent studies, it looks like when diabetes is discovered early and managed carefully, people usually avoid complications. That means a careful diet, medication, maybe insulin (actually, nothing wrong with going on insulin -- it's very similar to the natural insulin our bodies make & so the side effects are minimal to non-existent compared to any diabetes med on the market) maybe weight loss if possible, lots of doctors visits, A1c tests, foot exams, blood sugar monitoring, blah blah blah blah.

Basically ... this is NOT a death sentence. It's just gonna be a major pain in the butt!

I went through the same process a few months ago -- fortunately, it looks like I'm earlier in the process than you and barely "pre"diabetic. But yeah, there's a lot of "pain in the butt"ness involved even as a prediabetic!

If you want to take the bull by the horns, you can manage this and you can get well and be healthy and live a great life. In fact, you might find that once you get your sugars down, you get HEALTHIER than you've been for years! You'll likely start feeling great.

Best of luck to you -- you really can do this, I promise!

[minkydog]

Oh, I fully intend to take this seriously! My mother has not been aggressive AT ALL with hers and she has lost all feeling in both feet. Her sugars average in the mid 140s to the low 200s. and she only tests occasionly. Says "I don't wanna know." And the kicker is, SHE'S A NURSE!

I have purged my cabinets of most bad carbs and put big Xs on those things that I cannot eat, like pancake mix, granola bars, and Frosted Flakes. Anything white or beige is permanently off the list. I'm already eating better. I felt like crap all day today--it took a long time for my BS to drop and when it did, WHEE! dropped like a rock. 70. Then I REALLY felt bad!

This evening I'm just hanging at 140

[pigletgirl]

Originally Posted by minkydog

Oh, I fully intend to take this seriously! My mother has not been aggressive AT ALL with hers and she has lost all feeling in both feet. Her sugars average in the mid 140s to the low 200s. and she only tests occasionly. Says "I don't wanna know." And the kicker is, SHE'S A NURSE!
I have purged my cabinets of most bad carbs and put big Xs on those things that I cannot eat, like pancake mix, granola bars, and Frosted Flakes. Anything white or beige is permanently off the list. I'm already eating better. I felt like crap all day today--it took a long time for my BS to drop and when it did, WHEE! dropped like a rock. 70. Then I REALLY felt bad!

This evening I'm just hanging at 140

Not really surprised on that! My parents are both in the medical field and are the worlds worst patients. Very non-compliant!!!

But yeah, glad you got answers. Will you meet with a dietician at all?? It must be hard knowing carbs and sugar are in practically everything.

[minkydog]

Originally Posted by pigletgirl

Not really surprised on that! My parents are both in the medical field and are the worlds worst patients. Very non-compliant!!!

But yeah, glad you got answers. Will you meet with a dietician at all?? It must be hard knowing carbs and sugar are in practically everything.

I'm sure I will meet with someone in the know. Not sure whether it will be a Certified Diabetes Educator or a nutritionist. I'm doing okay with the low carb thing, but I could use some clarification on a few things. I already know a lot about diabetes(I used to be diabetic educator, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth--meters had just come on the market and a lot of docs were still using sliding scale insulin based on urine tests. That tells you how long its been!)

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Diabetes is a cruel disease. I'm sorry you're having to deal with all of this. Your mom sounds like my MIL. I about fall out of my chair every time she orders sweetened iced tea with her meals. Then she wonders why she feels bad all of the time! My father died from complications from diabetes.

My DH was just diagnosed with prediabetes.We now walk 2.7 miles every morning. (except on rainy days like today) Since the beginning of the October he has lost over 20 pounds. The great thing is we now have time to really discuss things. Walking has given ME new energy too!

[DVC~OKW~96]

Although you do not have to be overweight to develop type II diabetes, if you are please give that some serious thought.

I was able to lose enough weight (I had always been thin, but then through a series of factors gained a considerable amount of weight over a short period of time) so that I no longer take any medication and my BG remains at the 100 level (give or take) which is ideal.

Yes, I've changed the way I eat, entirely and it has been totally worth it.

Not to disparage anyone's profession, but once I STOPPED listening to the diabetic nutrition counselors and began to listen to an endocrinologist and pay attention to the metabolic factors, I began to lose the weight, and remove myself from a life long problem.

All that to say, good luck to you and I hope you are able to be successful in managing your NIDDM, or even losing the diagnosis if weight is the major causal factor.