Blood sugar levels

[888mom]

Haven't yet been in to see an endocrinologist or a dietary person to talk blood sugar levels and diet. Am having problems dealing with my insurance company who won't even cover my stupid testing strips.  They basically are $1 a strip. Expensive.  I had gestational diabetes several years ago (gestational diabetes was covered 100% for supplies and visits), so I am aware of how to do all the blood testing and have been doign fine about that. I also know that gestational diabetes is more strict with blood sugar levels than regular type II diabetes.  Now that I have type II, what are the ranges to aim for for blood sugar levels for fasting and then for 2 hours after a meal?  Right now, I'm testing about 100 to 110 in the morning and about 110 to 130 after meals.  If I forget to take my metformin at night, my fasting level is usually around 120 to 130.  But, with the medicine it is 100 to 110 fasting.  Is this good?  Is it supposed to be under 90?  Or can I not aim for that goal since I'm a diabetic and is it unrealistic?  When I was gestational diabetic I had to aim for under 90 fasting and under 120 for after meals, which I ended up on insulin while pregnant to do so.  My Dad says he has to aim for 90 to 110 fasting and under 140 after meals.  Does gender and age matter for what you aim for as well?  I'm 34 and female, so not sure what my goals shoudl be.  I'm taking 1500 mg of metformin with dinner every night.  No insulin, at least not yet, hopefully not for many years since I'm young, well at least younger than my dad.  The doctor wasn't much help.  And the book I got with my tester said to aim for under 170 two hours after a meal.  That seems really high to me.

[KevinHarney]

No sugar levels are not dependant on age or gender.  I believe that what your dad is aiming for is the current AMA standard which is correct.  90-110 fasting and less than 140 after meals.  Levels are not really supposed to be under 90 but many people can go lower without side effects like dizziness and cold sweats.  Anything less than 70 is considred bad and a state of Hypoglycemia and you should take in some carb snack.  Yes 170 is high.  The old standard was less than 170-180 after a meal but that has been reduced now to less than 140.

One tip on your test strips.  I know that you do not NEED a prescription but if you get one from the Dr. they will be covered under your insurance as a prescription instead of as a diabetic supply.  Same is true of Lancets and syringes and all of that other stuff for which a prescription is not really necessary including your meter.

[888mom]

I found out the diabetic stuff is covered.  I just had to reach my deductible first of $100 before having the copay.  Being January (I was diagnosed early January), I had to reach my deductible first.  Since the test strips were the first to get run up, well, it showed insurance 0.  It's still expensive copay... they want $50 for the copay!  I guess it's still half what the test strips are.

[888mom]

P.S.  Thank you for the test levels.  I thought that booklet was wrong that I got.  It was a free thing, and who knows when it was published.  So, under 140.  I am getting under 130 actually so I guess I'm doing pretty well.  I also know that can get worse as I get older, so I have to keep watching those carbs!!

[KJ5854]

We sound similar expect I've been diagnosed as insulin resistant and not Type 2 diabetic.  I too had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant eight years ago.  My morning number would never go below 100 which they wanted and I ended up on insulin as well.  The a.m. number still never went under 100.  

I was diagnosed this past October as insulin resistant.  I had a two hour glucose test and my blood sugar tested normal, but my insulin level was through the roof.  My morning readings were 125 to 135.  I was put on 500mg of Metformin and started low-carb dieting & exercising.  My Metformin increased to 1000mg one month later and then in December my insulin was tested again it was finally normal.  My morning blood sugar readings are now between 95 and 105 but if I don't take the Metformin they go up to 115 to 120.  I don't test alot during the day but on those times I have after a meal I'm usually in the 120's.

What was your diagnosis of Type 2 based on?  Did you have the 2 or 3 hours glucose test?

Sounds like your doing great managing your numbers!