Posted by noa on February 6, 2004, at 11:04:11
In reply to Re: curious if I have diabetes two » Wolf Dreamer, posted by Penny on February 6, 2004, at 9:26:52
I'm in the high risk group for Type 2 diabetes, or insulin resistant diabetes. My endocrinologist, when I went to be checked for hypothyroidism, suspected as much and had me tested. I had the oral glucose tolerance test--First, they drew blood before I'd eaten anything that day. Then, they had me drink a disgustingly sweet liquid. Then, they drew blood at various intervals up to two hours. In between, I was able to go down to the lobby or outside the building, as long as I was back in the lab at the next draw time. From this they found that regular blood sugar level is fine, but post glucose drink it went up a lot--not quite to the level of diagnosing diabetes, but much higher than normal, and I guess the rate at which the blood sugar levels returned to normal was slower than normal, again not quite in the diabetes range, but getting there.
So, the endo put me on glucophage xr pills. I know I also need to do more to lose weight and curb my sugar/carbo intake, because although the glucophage has kept my blood sugar in check, who knows how much longer it will suffice?
I had been exercising regularly when the glucophage was first prescribed, and the combo of glucophage plus regular exercise facilitated some good weight loss. My exercise habits are very episodic--when I am in exercise habit, I lose weight. When not, gradually gain it back. Not nearly as quickly as before the glucophage, though.
I really do need to start exercising again. Aside from the insulin resistance risk, I apparently tested positive for c-reactive protein last spring, which is scary because the news is full of reports about this being a predictor of heart disease. I may still have a little protection left from being in childbearing age, but that's not gonna be around much longer either, and when the hormones go, the risk of heart attack rises a lot. The insulin resistance also is a risk for heart disease because apparently when the body produces more and more insulin in its attempts to metabolize the sugar in the face of cells being resistant to the effects of the insulin, apparently the insulin can be damaging to the arteries, etc.
OK, when did I officially become middle aged and having to worry about these things in such stark reality??
poster:noa
thread:309841
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20040102/msgs/310137.html