diabetes 11 no symptoms?

[madmick67]

Hi went to docs other week for indegestion/ intermittent pain in chest, he gave me indegestion tablets and sent me for blood tests, have been off work for 4 months, very stressed etc, put on weight, my indegestion now ok, doc said first bloods came back high sugar, 7.6,   sent me for fasting one came back 7.2, so had to go see nurse at surgery, she said almost sure have diabetes type 2 and was ready to give me insulin tablets. said no not happy as have no symptoms at all, now back at work and since saw doc (1st blood) lost 1/2 stone, requested glucose intolerance test from nurse but can't get appointment for another 4 weeks, have bought a blood test machine, tested other day after eating (2 hrs) reading was 10.8,  went for a meal and had a few alcoholic drinks, next am reading was 2 ? but didn t wash my hands (didn't read leaflet properly) but felt fine (normal hangover feeling)  tested again 2 days later first thing am before having any food / drink etc and reading was 6.2  really watching what i eat and how much sugars / saturated fats in diet.   the nurse said they based my two blood tests from the lab as an average of 6.8 was lowest they could get it to and thats why they say i am a diabetic any comments please? jsheel

[Zoelula]

Your reading before evening meal is not particularly meaningful. Our blood sugar peaks and starts to decline after 2 hours post prandial. The only value of before meal testing (unless you're on insulin) is to see a "before and after" to see how certain foods affect you.What is important are your fastings and your two hours after meals numbers.

The OGTT will give you more information to go on. Meanwhile keep records of your numbers to show the doctor and see what your patterns are. All that will help with decisions.

[madmick67]

hi, thanks again for comments, have so far gone from 14 stone to 13 .1 stone,   have been watching sugar content and sat fat content in foods and also trying to eat low carbs  am reading today was 6.1 (one day last week had 5.9)  (partners this morning was 5.2 was just curios)  have not been testing in daytime, but test before evening meal so have not eaten for about 3 to 4 hours, this evening my reading was 4.9 is this good or bad ?  still in two minds whether to just bite the bullet and accept diagnosis and tablets or wait, keep testing, diet etc

[Zoelula]

You most likely DO have diabetes. But many Type 2's are able to control their numbers for quite awhile with just diet and exercise, and you seem to be having some success at doing this. If that's what you want to do, I would let the doctor know you'd like to try that for awhile before starting meds and if your numbers are too high then you will be open to meds. The doctor needs to be willing to work with you.

[madmick67]

Thanks for your comments,  over the last few days been getting some different readings
as been really watching what i am eating etc.  
have been getting 5.2 - 5.8  2 hours after eating   but then in morning before i eat anything
been getting 6.2 - 6.8,    really struggling to understand and get my head around this, am going to have a ogtt test on 11th May (oral glucose tolerance test)  and continue to be good on diet / exercise etc ,   spoke to doctor again  but he is still adamant that i have diabetes:(   and he just wants me to go on metaformin or whatever they're called now

[Zoelula]

Type 2 diabetes is often discovered before there are any symptoms, and that is a good thing, because you can begin to do what you need to in order to control it sooner. 7.2 is 129.6 in U.S. numbers. 126 and over for fasting blood sugar is considered diabetes. Your reading two hours after food, 10.8 is 192 which is very high. Normal people without diabetes rarely go above 120 after eating.

There is no such thing as insulin tablets. You are probably referring to one of the oral medications for type 2 diabetes such as metformin. My suggestion would be to try and treat your diabetes with diet, exercise and weight loss for awhile and see if you can get your numbers under control that way first. Many people are able to control their diabetes that way for quite awhile before they eventually need medication. Please educate yourself about a diabetic diet. You should plan on eliminating sugar and seriously reducing carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, rice and cereal. It sounds like you already have a glucometer and you can use this to determine which foods and what portions allow you to stay under 140 2 hours after eating; we are all a bit different. Good luck to you. Diabetes is a disease that can be managed, it takes some work and some changing your habits, but you can do it.