[cregan]

I was diagnosed pre-diabetic last year. My 2 hour GTT was 187 mg. I was not told what to do, so when I had symptoms of hypoglycemia, I ate sugar. My symptoms are Shakiness, Lighted head, Sweaty, Irritable, Vision blurry and darker, Hearing decrease, Nervousness, Confusion. Eating lots of sugar would make them go away. Recently I started having these symptoms more often and sometimes a few days in a row. I changed my diet, tried the Atkins: after a day I needed sugar. I tried incorporating the Atkins with a few fruits. I was OK for a couple weeks and my symptoms came back. I decided to go to the doctor. My previous doctor was not available anymore. My new doctor said that it is impossible for me to have this problem because I am at a healthy weight. I begged her for a GTT test. She gave it to me only if I promised to take anti-depressant (I am not taking them, I am not depressed). My results came back and she didn’t want to give my results. I had to beg her again. My 2 Hour GTT is 125 mg. My cholesterol and triglycerides are high. I do not eat junk food, I don’t know here it comes from. My blood monitor shows different than my latest GTT. I have blood sugar of 207 mg after a soup or 130 after French fries. Why am I all over the place? I am trying to see the correlation with food and the way I feel, but it seems as my body does whatever it wants. I really want to fix this problem, because my symptoms are really hurting and it seems like anything I do, these symptoms come back.

I I am lost and would appreciate input, thank you

[J_9]

Let's see, your triglycerides and cholesterol can also be genetic. Did anyone in your family have this problem?

Normal blood sugar is 60-110, so you are hypERglycemic.

You need to learn to read lables. Starches turn into sugar in your system. It is not remarkable that your sugar was so high after eating french fries. French fries are made of potatoes, potatoes are high in starch, starch turns into sugar.

It would be helpful if we knew what your main diet consists of. We could help you there. What are some of your favorites, etc?

[cregan]

Thank you for getting back to my message so quick :)

None of my family members have high cholesterol or triglycerides. Which is really weird


I rarely eat fast food (like French fries) but I was amazed to see my blood sugar was better with French fries than with a soup.

My favorite foods (I know I can’t eat them) are pastas and fruits. I try to eat them less often.

I have been eating beef jerky, low fat/low sugar yogurt, organic wheat crackers. For dinners, more read meat and turkey with green beans with few small potatoes. If I do all no carb I get the shakes. Salads without dressing. I try to eat cheese for snack and sometimes without the crackers. I think I will go see a nutritionist, because I feel so limited. Oh, my favorite is cottage cheese with pineapple or strawberries


Thank you again

[chippers]

first of all, you need to get a new doctor. What she did was inappropriate. As a patient, you have every right to get acces to you test results. You came to her as a patient presenting symptoms associated with diabetes. Her responsibility is to test you for and not treat you as a mental patient.
secondly, I agree with j_9. Cholesteral can be gentic as well as diet related and life style. Meaning are you active, exercise, etc.
thirdly, it is not uncommon for a 2 hour gtt to come back elevated. The second one of 125 is okay. We worry if it goes above 150. Because when it's over 150 that's when we usually treat with medication.
fourth, before I would be really worried, I would ask my NEW doctor for the following test.
1 a diabetic a1c, this lab test can check for an average range of bolld sugars. Don't quote me, but I believe anything below4.0 0r 5.0 is okay. (I don't have my lab values with me)
2. you want an insulin stimulating hormone level done. This can tell you if your pancreas is producing enough insulin. If the number is high it means you could be pre diabetic. Usually a drug called glucophage is prescribed to see if the level comes down. All it does is boost the pancrease with added help. In other words, makes the insulin its producing stronger.
pre diabetes is also called insulin resistant diabetes. Meaning it needs a little help breaking down sugar.
3. you need a fasting blood sugar. Preferably in the morning before you put anything into your mouth.
4. depending on those results, the doc could order a glucose tolerance test. They give you a certain amount of sugar to drink and check your blood sugar over a four hour period.
I would also suggest you get a consult to see a doctor specializing in diabetes, called and endocrinologist.
5. I would not make any major diet changes or worry yourself needlessly until you have all the facts.
If you want, you can go to the american diabetic association's website for more info,

I hope that helps.

actually fruits and pasta are good to eat because they contain complex sugars that break down slower and help maintian a regular blood sugar.

[ordinaryguy]

I'm guessing here. Take it for what it's worth. I suspect the symptoms you think are due to hypoglycemia are due to something else entirely and eating sugar is a placebo that works. Unfortunately, it also raises your blood sugar to unacceptably high levels. Do you usually take a glucose monitor reading when you're experiencing the symptoms and BEFORE you eat any sugar to confirm that your levels really are low, (say 60 or lower)?

I don't understand your doctor's reluctance to test, and certainly not her reluctance to reveal the results. That she insisted on an antidepressant also makes me wonder.

[J_9]

Sorry Chippers, I got the spread it message!!

Yes, I too believe you need a new doctor. The treatment you were given is abhorrant in my opinion. Your doctor should not only give you access to your test results, but explain them in a way you can understand. S/he should refer you to the right specialist if it is deemed necessary.

diabetic a1c, this lab test can check for an average range of bolld sugars. don't quote me, but I beleive anything below4.0 0r 5.0 is okay. (I don't have my lab values with me)

Lab values for this test are Total A1 should be 4 - 7% and A1c should be 4.0 - 5.5%, so you were right on the money there.

I am curious what kind of doctor you HAD! I agree with Chippers that you need to seek out the expertise of an endocrinologist. Maybe seek the advice of a diabetic nutritionist.

One thing you did not mention was your weight. Is it within normal limits for your age and size? Do you have a history of high blood pressure?

It may do you well to refrain from any canned goods as they contain unnecessary sugars and salts and stay with fresh veggies and fruits.

[cregan]

Wow, thank you for all your help 

I scheduled an appointment with an endo, but it is next month. The weird doctor wanted to put me on cholesterol and triglycerides medicine without knowing what is the cause. I got scolded because I supposedly eat too much fast food (I really don't) and I supposedly lie about my activities. I work out a lot, love walks. I can't wait to see the endo.

I am currently at 120 lbs 5 ft 1 in. My Blood Pressure always has been high. Doctors always told me to check it. But I never knew how. One doctor told me when I was 20 that with my cholesterol and blood pressure it sounded really bad news.

Little history: about 10 years ago, in High school I felt bad about myself and decided not to eat anymore. When I would eat I only ate pastas and fruits. This lasted about 2 – 3 years. Until I got hit with my first shake. I think back to that time, and I was so bad on my body. Since my first shake, I can not diet anymore. I wised up and I do believe in eating healthy  I wonder if this part of my life could have triggered something. My mom tells me that I always had the shakes since I was a kid and her Aunt is a Type 1. My mom always thought I had sugar problems. Might be too much history, but maybe relevant 

J_9 I agree with you about the canned foods. Off the subject, my cat can only eats can food (no more teeth) and his triglycerides are so high. I read and learned that the glue used to make the easy pop can thing has something that elevates triglycerides in animals. I always wondered about us, if it was the same case.

I usually get the shakes at 80-90 mg. But that is when I was at 160 to 200 mg 1 hour previously too that. I woke up at 30 mg once … I felt weak all day and with anything I ate I could not bring my blood sugar more than 80 mg. That is why I am so confused.

Thank you so much!

[J_9]

I scheduled an appointment with an endo, but it is next month.

Hey, at least you got in with an endo. Sounds like you are trying to take care of yourself. KEEP IT UP!

My Blood Pressure always has been high.

First RED flag.

My Blood Pressure always has been high. Doctors always told me to check it. But I never knew how.

If worse comes to worse you can always go to your local pharmacy and sit at one of the machines to check it automatically. Otherwise, you can buy an automated machine for a few bucks.

her Aunt is a Type 1.

RED flag #2. Diabetes runs in families.

Might be too much history, but maybe relevant 

Very relevant. There is never TOO much info when it comes to your health. Some things skip generations. So they may go from your grandparents, skip your parents, then go on to you. Others skip certain family members. They can tend to skip from Mother/Father to daughter/son, then on to cousins/aunts/uncles and so forth. So, just because your mother or father did not have these diagnoses, if ANYONE in your genetic lineup did, it could have come down to you.

Now, make sure you stay away from starches, too much candy, etc.

Here is a little tip I learned in school about hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia...

"If your skin is hot and dry, your sugar is high" HYPERGLYCEMIA
"If your skin is cold and clammy, eat some candy." HYPOGLYCEMIA


Please keep us posted.

[cregan]

J_9 I like your tip :)

Chippers – you are funny :)

I want to say how much I appreciate this site and all the great information you have given me. I got the shakes again today, and I know that I have something to work on :)

The weird doctor had told me that my parents had to have diabetes for me to have it. At least chatting with you, I will have an understanding when I go see the endo.

I really appreciate all your time and input, thank you

[ordinaryguy]

The weird doctor had told me that my parents had to have diabetes for me to have it.

Absolutely not true! Neither my wife nor I have diabetes (nor our parents or grandparents) but our son was diagnosed Type I at the age of 18. It can happen to anybody.

[chippers]

I agree wth chuff, diabetes doesn't have to run in families for someone to have it. I am prediabetic and my patents don't have it. ( I really need to loose a lot of weight) Your doctor can't just brush it off because no in your family has it. It's not safe to for her to brush it aside like that. ( A BIG RED FLAG).
To help with the shakes and sweat, carry some cnady in your purse. It'll be enough to raise your sugar until you can eat something else. (sometimes I carry hershey kisses because the sugar hit is almost immediate untli I can eat something else) one or 2 should do it.
I wouldn't wory about any diet change or fret about anything until you see your NEW doctor. If I were you, I'd give the duck the brush off.

[J_9]

No, DM does not always run in families, however, when you go to your doctor to give your health history, you MUST mention if someone in your family has diabetes.

Cancer is said to run in families also, but does not always.

It is a rule of thumb that you may possibly have a predisposition to diabetes if someone in your family has it. This does not mean that you will get it.

On the other hand, it is possible that NO ONE in your family has ever had it, but you may get it. Diet and exercise can be a factor when family is not.

I liket the hershey's kisses idea. I like to suggest lifesavers too. In hot climates or pockets they don't melt.

Let me put it this way:

If one or more people in your family have diabetes, that does not mean you will develop it

On the other hand

If no one in your family has diabetes, that does not mean you WON'T develop it.

I hope you can understand this.

[cregan]

It seems simple :) and it makes a lot of sense that it doesn't have to be in the family. It think sometimes it might just be as simple as lifestyles.

I like the kisses and lifesaver idea :) I used to do that, until I realized I was eating it without noticing it. And then there would be no more for my shakes :) oops. I need to learn self-control

I really like to read your posts, thank you

p.s. the little squares on my previous posts are happy faces that did not copy correctly on the reply message

[cregan]

I took my blood pressure. I am 173/117. I read a little about bad lipid levels, high blood pressure, and my symptoms and is it possible I am insulin resistant? Would that be the reason my weird doctor could not pinpoint my real problem? She would have had to do more tests probably. I can’t wait to meet with my endo.

I still think I have sugar problems. I got the shakes bad this weekend again. It happens every other day. So I tend too overeat to avoid theses shakes, which is bad.

My worry is that I keep track of my glucose level and I am confused. Some days I am super low and it will last for a while and then I jump to high 100s to 200 other days. It does not seem predictable. I’m just scared that the endo will not care because my body does not seem to be consistent and I’m not overweight … well I am on my way with overeating. I gained pounds, enough to buy new clothes :(

Your responses are great … and I know I should just wait until my appointment, but I am determined to put an end to feeling weird

:) Thank you