Do I have Diabetes?

BeeBoop

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Feb 5, 2013
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So I went to the doctor last week to get a few things looked at and one of the test that they did on me was called a Glucose test. Just received a phone call and the doctor said she wanted me to come back for an A1c because my glucose levels are high. The nurse said that I might be at the early stages of Diabetes type 2? What does early stages of Diabetes mean? Do I have diabetes or not? Is it reversible? :(
 

KidNiki1

Platinum Member
Oct 15, 2010
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ask your doctor.

as far as i can recall, high fat foods make your blood sugar stay higher longer. my gut reaction is that one burger is not going to make or break your possible diabeetus.

just eat healthy 90% of the time and exercise, and the other 10% when you want to treat yourself won't matter.
 

Carson Dyle

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Jul 2, 2012
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You could be pre-diabetic. Meaning that you're part way there and that if you don't change you diet and/or lifestyle you'll be there soon.

There's debate in the medical community about whether or not diabetes is reversed or 'cured' by the diet and lifestyle changes that need to be incorporated to get your glucose levels under control. IMO, it's just two different ways of viewing the same situation.

If you're overweight, lose the weight. Get regular exercise, particularly aerobic. Totally cut out processed foods and refined sugars from your diet and increase the percentages of lean protein and healthy fats in your diet. Stay away from high glycemic index foods that can spike your blood sugar. If you don't understand what's meant by processed foods or healthy fats, it's time to begin doing some serious research.
 

Mr. Pedantic

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Feb 14, 2010
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Diabetes isn't a yes and no thing. It's a continuum, where obviously at one end you don't have diabetes, and at the other end you obviously do, but for many people kind of in the middle, it's hard to categorically say. What your doctor means is that you have some of the changes that are associated with diabetes, but not enough to be definitely called diabetic.

The HbA1C is basically a measure of how much glucose is bound to haemoglobin. Because red cells have a lifespan of around 120 days, it's a good measure of how good your blood sugar control is over the last couple months - a lot better than the old glucose tests which used to measure differently depending on when you last ate.

If you're interested in changing your life, now is the perfect time - because much of the basic changes in diabetes is down to blood sugar and how your body controls it, and at this stage it's largely reversible. Eat healthier, exercise more, etc. If you get into later stages of diabetes, some of the nastier things become less reversible.
 

BeeBoop

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Feb 5, 2013
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Thanks for the information. I just hope I can reverse my condition and didn't do any real permanent damage to my insides. I decided not to eat that burger.
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
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Come up with a list of questions and bring it to your appointment. Remember that the doctor is there to work with you on your health, so ask anything and everything related to your status.
 

BeeBoop

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Feb 5, 2013
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Is it possible that my A1C test could come back as me as having full blown diabetes and not just prediabetic? That would really suck. :(
 
Mar 22, 2002
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Is it possible that my A1C test could come back as me as having full blown diabetes and not just prediabetic? That would really suck. :(

There are some modifiable factors that play into having type II diabetes mellitus (or even being pre-diabetic). Are you overweight? How's your diet? Do you do any exercise (in particular aerobic/endurance exercise)?
 

BeeBoop

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Feb 5, 2013
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I'm 30 pounds overweight right now, down from 60 two years ago. Right now I havent been as active as when I first started, about 1 workout once a week, but I'm picking it up again after the bad news.
 

BeeBoop

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Feb 5, 2013
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My fasted glucose test came back at 109. Does the length of the fast have anything to do with the test? I ate about 2k calories in a 6 hour window, 16 hours before the test.
 

KidNiki1

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Oct 15, 2010
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My fasted glucose test came back at 109. Does the length of the fast have anything to do with the test? I ate about 2k calories in a 6 hour window, 16 hours before the test.

they told you how long you needed to fast, correct?

http://diabetes.webmd.com/blood-glucose

There are several different types of blood glucose tests.

Fasting blood sugar (FBS) measures blood glucose after you have not eaten for at least 8 hours. It is often the first test done to check for prediabetes and diabetes.

109 is high for a fasting test, but not ridiculous. now is the time to start changing how you eat. i've linked a bunch of stuff from websites that i recommend you visit and start doing your own research, mostly http://www.diabetes.org/
exercise and watching the fast food/highly processed foods can greatly reduce blood sugar issues.
 

BeeBoop

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Feb 5, 2013
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Thanks. Probably going to eat salmon, shrimp, and lettuce dribbled with olive oil for a while.
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
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There's a book called "Sugar Busters" which I suggest you get. It's cheap and I went from 275 to 219 following its advice. I gained some of that back, but only because I let my diet slip.
 

BeeBoop

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Feb 5, 2013
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Just talked to the nurse and she told me that I'm pre diabetic with a 5.9 score for the A1C test. How bad is this and did she forget to tell me another number?
 

Chaotic42

Lifer
Jun 15, 2001
33,936
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Just talked to the nurse and she told me that I'm pre diabetic with a 5.9 score for the A1C test. How bad is this and did she forget to tell me another number?

That would have been a fine question to have asked her. :p

hba1c_540.gif
 

BeeBoop

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Feb 5, 2013
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I've been doing a little bit of reading online and it seems that I am insulin resistant. True? I've also ran across some papers that associate VLCD with increasing my insulin sensitivity. How does VLCD compare to a standard calorie reduction diet? Does anyone here know of a way to increase my insulin sensitivity other than the standard diet and exercise? Is it even possible for my insulin receptors to use insulin like a normal person again?
 

KidNiki1

Platinum Member
Oct 15, 2010
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I've been doing a little bit of reading online and it seems that I am insulin resistant. True? I've also ran across some papers that associate VLCD with increasing my insulin sensitivity. How does VLCD compare to a standard calorie reduction diet? Does anyone here know of a way to increase my insulin sensitivity other than the standard diet and exercise? Is it even possible for my insulin receptors to use insulin like a normal person again?

i'm just really curious as to why you aren't asking your doctor all of this? not that i think people don't want to be helpful, i'm just wondering.
 

BeeBoop

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Feb 5, 2013
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After getting tested, my doctor got the nurse to relay information to me and the nurse told me to setup an appointment 6 months from now. So I guess that made me feel like she didn't want to deal with me directly. All the nurse said was to stay away from sugar and include regular exercise.

I've since signed up on diabetic forums and seen that some people do show improvement on just 7 days of VLCD but it's just anecdotal evidence. I'm going to try it. Need to buy my glucose meter later today. The idea of pricking my fingers sucks.
 

jaedaliu

Platinum Member
Feb 25, 2005
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You're just a little diabetic. You're a fairly young guy, right?

It can be hard to make the right diet choices with "eat better" and exercise. You should consider having your doctor refer you to a dietician. That way your insurance can cover it.

Make the right lifestyle changes and your toes and feet won't fall off.
 

Ventanni

Golden Member
Jul 25, 2011
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I've been doing a little bit of reading online and it seems that I am insulin resistant. True? I've also ran across some papers that associate VLCD with increasing my insulin sensitivity. How does VLCD compare to a standard calorie reduction diet? Does anyone here know of a way to increase my insulin sensitivity other than the standard diet and exercise? Is it even possible for my insulin receptors to use insulin like a normal person again?

Supposedly it's theorized that you can, but it's much more difficult (or impossible) to reverse insulin resistance than it is to bring it about. Basically, the most common reason it occurs is due to the result of the body trying to protect itself from the high level of lipids and blood sugar that's been present in the bloodstream as a result of poor dieting. It can also occur from having an inactive lifestyle where that available glucose energy isn't used, but generally inactive lifestyles and poor dieting go hand in hand.

Note, it can also be genetically caused or as a result of disease.

High levels of glucose and lipids in the bloodstream are very damaging to the cardiovascular system resulting in the breakdown of blood capillaries. Once the capillaries break down, nutrient rich blood can't reach your cells, and they die off as a result. This is why people with type-2 diabetes often go blind, lose fingers/toes or other extremities, experience sexual dysfunction, and suffer from organ breakdown (most commonly the kidneys, but heart and liver problems can occur as well).

Diabetes is certainly manageable, but if you're pre-diabetic, it's time to take a good, hard look at your lifestyle and eating habits and start thinking about making some changes. If you enjoy having good health and money in your wallet (as well as a love life), having diabetes is not ideal.