My PCP said the dragon is sleeping!!!!!

I was in his office for high glucose (refeence range 165-240) asked him point blank "does this have anything to do with Hep C" He went on to tell me some **** about the virus is sleeping, which I know is ****, the dragon never sleeps, just don't know when we will see him! He is diagnosing me Hyperglycemic and Hyperthyroidism (blood glucose 245 and blood pressure 156/105) WHY??? This seems to me to be ****!!! Have to do ONE MORE blood test before my meds will start, just happenens to be the day I am supposed to start tx. 8/28/07! WHAT DO I TELL MY GASTRO/LIVER SPECIALIST?????????

[pigeonca]

For diabetes, which at a glucose reading of 245 you most definitely have, you really need to see an endocrinologist.  Diabetes is as serious as hepatitis and requires life style changes as well as medication.  Good luck and good health to you.

[FlGuy]

As pigeon points out, seeing an endo is a good idea.  If he'll be watching your glucose while you're on treatment, make sure he knows specifically the med you'll be taking.  The meds can effect blodd sugar on tx.  The BP is pretty high too and it bears watching as well.  What doses of meds (riba) will you be on.  Are you overweight?

[GrandOak]

Firstly, diabetes does not always require medication.  Smoking, diet, and exercise can affect one's glucose levels.  Type 2 diabetes can sometimes be controlled by making changes without needing medications (I know, I've been working on it for the last several months since being diagnosed).

The first thing you should be doing is getting your Hgb A1C checked (a simple non-fasting blood test) to see what it shows has been going on with your glucose over the past few months.  You will also want to have your glucose levels monitored during tx.  I requested that mine be watched since diabetes is a possible sx and I do have a family pre-dispostion to it and unfortunately it was not,   I learned of my diabetes a few months post tx when I began having symptoms.

Was the glucose reading you've mention from a fasting or non-fasting measurement?

Since our livers are responsible for insulin production, and a the primary filter also can affect BP, you want to be more cautious of doing tx with abnormal readings already present.  Do yourself a favor and find a doctor for your glucose and BP who knows more about HCV than simply how to spell it.

[pigeonca]

You're right, Grand Oak, diabetes can be handled minus medication, especially if you're overweight.  I guess I was thinking toby was like me, a non-obese diabetic and kind of health-foody.  I'd have to go on the Atkins diet (no carbs) to get my blood sugar in control, and I don't want to.  But if you have some pounds to shed, results are almost inevitable.  It all depends on where you're starting from, but I've read that just losing weight - if you need to - is the very best thing you can do for diabetes.

I second Oak's recommendation for an A1c. Your primary physician can order that before you visit a specialist.  

[tobywankenobi]

I have my blood test order 1 test is complete metabolic (Chem 14) Of course!?! the other is Glycated Hemoglobin A1C.....Is that what you are saying??? Yes I am overwieght 5'10@250lbs. I gained all this weight after starting SeroQuel.........LOVE it HATE it!!! My blood pressure and Glucose has nothing but shot up through the roof. I have been execising and dieting and my wieght has gone up even though I am eating less. Thanks to the hep I do not like to eat....always full!! Seroquel makes me hungry...ravonously to be honest. I used to be 165lbs and physically active........before I started seeing the doctors..............AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!!! LOL

[Upbeat]

You can test your own blood.  There are meters for testing what your blood is at the moment and there is a test avalibile for doing your own hba1c.  You can get it at any pharmacy.

                                                                                                          Ron

[pigeonca]

If you test your own blood, here are the criteria:
Fasting  - below 100 - okay, between 110 and 126 - impaired glucose tolerance (pre-diabetes), above 126 - diabetes
AND/OR
One hour after a meal - Should never be above 180 (some say 140)
Two hours after a meal - Never above 140 some say 120)

A1C should be below 6.5%

If your glucose level exceed these limits, then you know that you're going to have to do something about it.