I currently have the following three month average sugar test results (fasting) :
HGBA1C: 11.7
GLU: 217
I am 28 yrs old and weight 280 lbs. My physician notes that my results are really high and that diabetic medication is neccessary. I am really concerned about diabetic medication and the side effects that I always read about. I understand that diabetic medication may be neccessary given my situation. Is there any way that I can avoid medication and lower my sugar levels? I'm afraid that once I start diabetic medication that I won't be able to get off it later in life due to side effects. I'm concerned and somewhat afraid of this situation. Any help/advice would be appreciated. Much thanks.
If you don't start diabetic meds you can die of a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, liver failure or even pancreatic cancer to mention a few, in short order. The choice is your's, but if you continue to let your blood sugar run high even while you are trying alternative methods, you are simply entertaining silent damage to all sorts of things in your body.
Me? I'd start the diabetic meds and then try to lose some weight and adjust to a lifestyle that might be able to stave off the disease! There is no quick "non medication" solution to get you back under control. There are lots of things you can do to ultimately lower or possibly eliminate medication from your regimin, but for now, the MOST IMPORTANT thing is to get those numbers down!!! and it JUST ISN"T GOING TO HAPPEN without some chemical help. Sorry.
Warren
It's not that some people have willpower and some don't. It's that some people are ready to change and others are not. -James Gordon, M.D.
What some call health, if purchased by perpetual anxiety about diet, isn't much better than tedious disease. - George Dennison Prentice
I can only please one person per day, today is not your day...tomorrow doesn't look good either.
Will, Being diagnosed as diabetic isn't fun and it's scary. We have all been where you are and we understand your fears but diabetes is kind of like that 'clunking sound' in your car engine. You know it's there, you hear it but you don't take the time to get it fixed. Does it go away if you ignore it? Does it get worse over time? Could it cause a complete system breakdown? You know the answers to these questions but you want someone to tell you it's not true. This is called denial and we have all been there.
I can give you something very great to aim for... Good Numbers! I have an inexpensive blood glucose test kit called a Prestige IQ. It's a bigger meter and uses regular batteries but it is very inexpensive and the most important part is the replacement strips are cheap! You start on your new meds which will lower your body's insulin resistance to itself and help you metabolize carbohydrates the way you are supposed to. Follow the food plan that your dietician or nurse gives you and start learning about glycemic index numbers for foods. Get educated, lose some weight with these meds helping your body work correctly and get those numbers down. If you are dedicated you may be able to get your body to the point where you will no longer need the meds and you can do it on exercise and diet alone. In any event, your numbers will be good as you pursue your goal.
Here's why I harp about low numbers. Anytime your blood sugar is over 150 more than two hours after a meal you are doing irreversable damage to your sight, kidneys, and the circulation to the extremeties especially toes and fingers. I'm not saying this to scare you... just stating the facts. Not following approved med, exercise and food plans is the number one cause of blindness and kidney failure as well as amputation in diabetics today.
So rather than worry about problems from the meds you should be thinking about problems from the high sugar levels. Also, the sugar comes out in your sweat and saliva. This leads to chronic yeast infections of the skin in moist areas as well as increased cavities and gum disease. And gum disease leads to plaque build up and gum irritation... The same bacteria who have been targeted in plaque build up are being investigated for causing plaque build up in the arteries which leads to stroke and heart attacks... I could go on all day about the stuff that your body has to put up with when your sugar levels are high.
It's so much easier to just take your diabetes classes and start your meds and start getting this monster under control so you can beat it. We will be here to help you every step of the way so hang tough and you will get there. ~ Jeannie
"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."
Will, I would run to the Dr. and tell him/her that you are concerned and that you must go on some type of medication to help lower your blood sugars because if you don't and wait too long you will be doing damage to your organs. If all it takes is a pill to help lower them that is well worth a co-pay. I started out on pills and lost a lot of weight it took me only 6 mos. and I got off but as time went by, this disease progresses and now I take Humalog and Lantus insulins and have much better control. I was diagnosed a type 2 back in 88 but as it turns out I have type 1.5 or ( LADA) as it is referred. You can do a search to find out what a type 1.5 diabetic is since it is too lengthy to go into. Get to the Dr. ASAP and good luck, I wish you well.
Thank you everybody for responding to my original thread. I pondered about my glucose situation and realized ( thank you Jeannie143 ) that I was in denial. I went to see my physician last week and explained to him my concerns. He basically told me that he couldn't help me unless I wanted to help myself. Tough love I suppose. After some further discussion and counsel, he prescribed Metformin for me ( 500mg - twice daily ). My physician told me that was a lose dose and should lower my glucose level. Also, he suspects that I might have something called Hemochromatosis due to my really high iron scores and that this disorder may be a cause of my high blood sugar levels. I have a lot of reading to do about Hemochromatosis and Metformin but I hope some good numbers show up soon. I also invested in the purchase of an Accuchek Advantage glucose meter and testing strips to monitor my glucose level. I have a tough journey ahead of me to control my glucose level. I hope to receive counsel from this support group along the way.
I feel happy for you that you have heeded the prompt and correct advise given to motivate you to visit your physician.This is the specific reason that this forum exists and is popular!
DON'T READ about HEMOCHROMATOSIS AS IT CAN SCARE YOU!THEORY IS MUCH DIFFERENT FROM REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCES.A definitive diagnosis is made these days by genetic tests and a liver biopsy!Sure enough,the high iron scores point in that direction.Your physician must have noticed some pigmentation of your skin to order those tests about iron.
You are in the hands of a good physician and voice all your concerns to him.We are here to support you (as jeannie did)!You need to shed those extra pounds via exercise and diet modification and i can assure you that you will feel fantastic!
Will, Did your doctor prescribe a food class? This is the number one type of education you need. Call his office and get one ordered if it's covered by your insurance. If not, check into teaching by local nursing schools or nearby universities. You can often find eating plans from your local health department, also. If your doctor is only offering medication without patient teaching I would find another doctor, hopefully an endocrinologist. You have a long and happy life ahead of you if you get the correct information on how to handle your glucose levels and all the problems they can lead up to.
One positive thing you can do is start a food, diet, exercise journal. Doesn't have to be anything elaborate, just jot down your blood sugar readings in the morning and before dinner, jot down your foods as you eat them, if you exercised and how you're feeling. In a few weeks you will have some real information you can use in your life. This was how I found that I am extrememly sensitive to potatoes and rice but not so sensitive to corn and wheat. They are all carbs but my body thinks that rice is candy! I'm able to adjust my eating patterns so that when I have these foods I am careful to limit them. When I eat Chinese, I use the rice like a condiment, putting two tablespoons or so on top of my meat/vegetable mix. I only eat little bitty baked potatoes and limit myself to 13 french fries when they are part of the meal. All the diet books in the world wouldn't have been able to figure this out for me. I had to use my personal experience to plot my own course thru the food mine field.
You can do your own research and do very well also. Hang tough, buddy. You can get there from here and we will help! ~ Jeannie
"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."
Warren