Do I have diabetes?

I am a 73 yrs old male, 5'6", 170 lbs. My father and mother (both decease) had age on set Type II diabetes. While in the military for 21 years I've always had "borderline" glucos reading. After quitting smoking, I gained weight and my blood sugar went up to around 200. After retirement from my civilian job in 2003, my docotr placed me on low dosage Avandia. That brought my blood sugar reading down. I lost a few pounds and after three years of "normal" glucose and glycohemoglobin readings, he took me off Avandia. For the past four years my glucose reading has been fluctuating between 110-140 (fasting) and averages 150 (non-fasting). My glycohemoglobin readings were consistently below 6.5 and my urine read "normal" for blood sugar. I have had no diabetes associated symptoms. The twice yearly lab test however has always indicated an Asterisk (*) next to my glucose reading indicating above normal. My question is: Am I diabetic? I have a prescription for the glucose monitoring device which I take periodically. My concern is that I was told that as a person ages, the probability of having diabetes also increases.

[Zoelula]

You sound, DonSor as if you were able to hold the line on your glucose for many years, but your numbers indicate it might be catching up with you. You say you have a glucose monitoring device; do you use it to see how different foods influence your numbers? You don't mention anything about your diet and exercise which are very important factors in controlling diabetes. What about your weight? As you discovered in the past, if you get your weight down a bit, it will also lower your blood sugar.

Having said that, yes, your numbers are creeping up. Your fasting should be under 100 and your non-fasting under 140. If you are averaging 150, that means you are higher sometimes. I'm a bit unclear on what your doctor has been saying for the past four years. Perhaps it is a time to have a talk with him.

[DonSor]

Thanks for the response.I was not given specific times and conditions by the doctor when to monitor my glucose. I tamke it twice a day. Once upon waking up and just before bedtime. My diet has always been the same. I have no problem avoiding fatty foods. I eat lots of fruits and vegetables and prefer to eat chicken and fish. As far as excercise is concerned, nothing regimented but I am physically active most of the time. I do part time work at an auto parts store wherein I do lots of moderate lifting and lots of walking. My have been able to maintain my weight between 168-171 lbs. I weigh myself every other day first thing in the morning. Your glucose level seemed to differ from what I've read in the Mayo Clinic report which is 100-130 (fasting) and not to go over 180 (non fasting). Sometimes my non fasting reading is less than fasting. For example yesterday my fasting was 126 but my non-fasting was 108. Any explanation why? I see my doctor fairly often usually for lab tests. I see two different doctors and both said I don't need to have medication. As I previoulsy indicated I was on Avandia for a while but my doctor took me of it based on the glycohmoglobin test. My only medication I'm taking at the moment is Zocor 10 mg daily. My lipid panel have always been below normal. I'm secheduled for cataract surgery on my right eye and during a series of pre-op test the eye surgeon said that I have no indication that I am diabetic. Nonetheless, at my age it is somewhat of a struggle to maintain weight and perhaps some of my body system do not perform as well any longer. I will reduce frequency of my blood monitoring to once every other day and I will notify my doctor. What's the best time in the day to take the reading?

[Zoelula]

I am pretty puzzled by those Mayo Clinic numbers. They definitely sound high to me, you might want to recheck.

You are taking the fasting one at the right time, but what you are calling non-fasting, you would probably want to take two hours after a meal (usually breakfast) to get the true effect of food on your glucose level.

A person named Waverider usually responds to posts on this board and he is very knowledgeable. When he reads your posts perhaps he will have some thoughts to share.

It sounds like you are active. I don't do "exercise" per se either, but I live somewhere that you can walk everywhere (and don't have a car) so I get my exercise just in the course of my normal day which I think it easier to maintain. Yes, I am younger than you but I agree that things aren't perfect as we age, but we can work to keep ourselves as healthy as possible.

You sound like you naturally eat pretty healthy. I'm assuming you stay away altogether from sugar. Low fat is great for health, but not the key factor for diabetes. It is the balance of carbohydrates. For example I stopped eating eggs except for weekend breakfasts, but I discovered my new breakfast of (whole grain) cereal and fruit jacked my blood sugar up tremendously.
Zoe

[WaveRider]

Zoe, The Mayo Clinic as well as the American Diabetes Association (ADA) have revised what they feel are the "normal" glucose ranges, and at the same time dropped "prediabetes" from the vocabulary. Although Mayo derives their ranges for the ADA, they're not exactly the same. One has 70 mg/dl as the low, the other 80 mg/dl. Both have 130 mg/dl as the high for prandial (fasting). Both have postprandial as <180 mg/dl. I find this revision odd especially having range values being increased for normal.

Prediabetes ranges for years were 101-125 mg/dl, then in last couple of years dropped to 100-124 mg/dl.  But both Mayo and ADA have dropped prediabetes from their vocabulary when they talk about glucose ranges. It's like they no longer want to admit it exists and only want to discuss nondiabetes and diabetes. This is the thought 10-12 years ago - no prediabtes. What I strongly feel is that prandial normal ranges for both nondiabetics and diabetics is 70-99 mg/dl. I was in Los Angeles on April 10, Friday. During a break I read this thread and I called two major teaching hospitals in the area. Upon return home I called another major teaching hospital in my area and all three use my ranges. So why are these organizations on different pages? I'm all for lower more stringent range values, not lax upper ranges when it comes to health care, especially diabetes. I need to investigate this further to see if a drug mfg, plus more, are behind this. Hmmm, higher range$ equal$ more drug u$e, equal$ more $ale$, equal$ more $$$$ in the bank. Just  my opinion.

DonSor, short bursty movements isn't considered walking unless you break sweat. Walking 20 minutes at good solid pace w/o stopping helps to lower glucose levels. Same goes for lifting, it must be done under continuous time to qualify or do anything. What you're doing at work is better than nothing but you need more continous movement. Try walking at lunch or after work.

Your A1c of 6.5% can only be determined by your lab as most labs may have different ranges. Some may say <6% while others say <7% is normal. Look at your lab sheet to determine this. However, when you say you avg 150 mg/dl prandial, you're diabetic in my eyes and need to follow what Zoe mentioned about proper nutrition, moderate exercise, and normal body weight.

[DonSor]

Thanks for the information and advice. Fortunately I don't have a "sweet tooth". I drink diet soda in moderation and use mostly 0 cal sweetners (Splanda, Nutrasweet, etc). Very seldom do I eat pies, ice cream, or any sweet desserts. Nonetheless, I will take your advice into consideration.

Thanks.

Don