confused about diabetes

[misfit22r]

     I have been worrying since I went to the doctors the other day.  My Dr. checked my blood sugar in january and it was fine.  He decided to test it again because I got a fungal rash which he says can be indicative of high blood sugars.  The test came back a 143 and I had eaten about hour to hour and half before the test.  He says it could be pre-diabetes and has ordered an a1c that hasn't come back yet.

    My dad has type 2 diabetes.  I am a 35 year old male and my dad was diabetic by age 33 or so.  

    I have been using his monitor to check my sugar levels since I heard this.  I used to check it from time to time and it was always within the normal range.  I have checked my fasting blood sugar the last 3 mornings and they were 90, 88, 90 which I know is in the normal range.

    What is confusing me is two evenings in a row I have had oatmeal and a a bowl of Total cereal and 45 minutes later my sugar is 135-145.  After about 2 hours they are in the 120's and after 3 hours they are within the normal range.

    I'm not sure if my sugars are rising too high after I eat or if that is normal.  Everywhere I read it seems to say something different.

     Thanks for any advice.

[Zoelula]

Yes, it is rare for a non-diabetic to go over 120. But meters do vary and she isn't that high. She should keep track of testing her A1C on a regular basis.

[misfit22r]

One thing I don't understand.  My mother has been checking her blood sugars with me sometimes to compare.  She is sometimes higher than me and I have seen her 135--145 range.  One day her fasting glucose was 100.  She asked her Dr. for an a1c and it was a 5.2.

I just don't understand why my a1c is so much higher.  My Dr. told me a non diabetic never goes over 125.  No matter what they eat.  We both had a small italian the other day.  Two hours later she was a 133 and I was a 118.

I am confused about this.

[Zoelula]

Also, pre-diabetes is a relatively new concept. It used to be people didn't get tested and didn't get diagnosed until they had significant symptoms, by which point a lot of damage may have already occured. I believe diagnosing pre-diabetes is very positive as it allows people to make changes before they have progressed to the point where complications set in.

[Zoelula]

The values have been revised down over several years; I don't know the exact dates or what it used to be, but it is not brand new. I believe doctors used to think under 7.0 was normal and it was okay to go up to 180.

[misfit22r]

The 5.7 to 6.4 are brand new values, correct? Didnt it used to be anything 6.1 and under was normal?  Just trying to understand as Much as I can about this.  

[Zoelula]

Pre-diabetes is A1C from 5.7 to 6.4 and 6.5 and above is diabetes, so yes, you would be categorized pre-diabetes.

Caregiver is correct that you need to learn to test with a purpose, to learn what foods allow your blood sugar to stay under 140 two hours after eating (even better is under 120). It sounds like you have a good doctor; some don't take pre-diabetes seriously at all. It also sounds like you have started doing the things you need to do to prevent your diabetes from progressing-change in diet, exercise and weight loss. Keep up the good work!

[misfit22r]

My a1c came back at 6.1.  My doctor said he would discuss it at my next appt.

Some sites say this is normal, others say it is pre, and others say it is diabetes.  I am so confused.  

Can someone please shed some light on this?

Thanks!

[misfit22r]

Thanks for the responses.  I am not in the normal weight range.  Need to lose about 80 pounds and I have lived a sedentary lifestyle the last few years.  My Dr. seems to think if it is pre-diabetes that with exercise and diet I can prevent type 2.  Not sure I believe him that pre-diabetes is reversible if taken care of because i have read so many different things.  

Anyways, I have already started eating better and been going for a walk everyday.  I'm to scared not too.  Also, I put the tester away for now because I am driving myself crazy with it.

[caregiver222]

Zoelula provided a good answer.

You need your own insulin monitor and should not be using someone elses. Almost all of them have computer memories which are downoaled when you go to your physician for prescription renewal and medication adjustment. The computer will not be able to distinguish between your readings and the person to whom the meter was issued. These meters are very inexpensive with rebates (they make money on the test tabs).

The answers you seek are best provided by a diabetes screening clinic, which have excellent nurses and people who will evaluate you. These clinics are (in my experience) really good. Taking random blood readings after eating random foods does not provide much information.

[Zoelula]

Most non-diabetics blood sugar rarely rises above 120 no matter what they eat, so yes, your doctor is right to do an A1C and you might in fact be pre-diabetic. If that turns out to be the case you might want to do some re-thinking of your diet as things like oatmeal and cereal will definitely jack up your blood sugars.

Also if the doctor does diagnose you, given your age and if you are in a normal weight range, you might want to request an antibody test to make sure you are in fact type 2 and not LADA/1.5