Question about type 2 diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance

[sincitylover]

I have had impaired glucose tolerance for about three years and am retested each year.

In the past my HBA1C has been 6.6, 6.1 and 6.3 respectively and for the past two years my fasting blood sugar and the sugar afterward the glucose drink and 2 hour wait has been in the impaired glucose tolerance range.

However today my fasting blood was 7.9 and the result after glucose drink and 2 hours was 10.6 which is under the 11.1 required for diagnosis as diabetic. but the 7.9 is above and considered diabetic. So I was told I am diabetic.

What I am confused about is that the HBa1c (which is a long term indicator of blood sugar levels)is actually better than it has been in the past and then I was not considered diabetic.

It seems a bit illogical to me but perhaps someone can shed some light on it.

Either way I just have to continue being active (which I have stepped up over the past year) and carry on trying to eat healthily.

[bunnybunyip]

Diabetes is always diagnosed on glucose levels, not HbA1c. I think because it is a better measure of how your body deals with glucose. Whereas a diabetic person may have a normal HbA1c if they have a great diet and exercise well (because they are not getting huge peaks of glucose to raise the average), they will still have raised fasting glucose or raised level after a glucose drink.
When it comes down to it, it is all a continuum of sugar levels and risk anyway, but the official guidelines for diagnosis are what all the research has been done on over the years, so that is what we have to go on.

[sincitylover]

Thanks Bunny. I can see the difference between the two.

[sincitylover]

bumping in case anyone else with type 2 diabetes

[pipme]

Hi

Just to throw a spanner in (wink), I am type 2 diabetic and for a couple of yrs had normal fasting blood sugars. Apparently, the research is beginning to suggest lots of different variations depending on genes. All very confusing. The important thing is that now you have the diagnosis of diabetes your follow up particularly of eyes will be yrly etc to catch problems early.
Have you thought about joining diabetes uk, have found the info very useful.

Hope this has been helpful

Pippa x

[sincitylover]

thanks pip - things are never as straightforward as they seem particularly in medical matters!!

How was your diabetes first diagnosed?

And how do you feel generally?

I also have underactive thyroid which is treated with medication.

[pipme]

Hiya

I ws diagnosed when 15 weeks pregnant, too severe/early for gestational diabetes given my advanced age 39! Tbh, I did already have pcos/metabolic syndrome and had been taking metformin for yonks, needed it to conceive.
I have never had the same energy levels as colleagues and always felt abit flaky tbh, now realise I have to pace myself and keep well or I get every thing going. How about you?
It took me a while to come to terms with it all even though I knew it was coming, still a shock. You have to take good care of yourself xx

[sincitylover]

my hormonal/endocrine problems started after ds2 was born.

I sort of knew this was coming but still find it hard to accept. But it might explain my continuing fatigue. I also find it hard to keep up with colleagues at work.

Yes I will take care of myself and have to see GP soon to dicuss ongoing management.

I am reluctant to take more medication but maybe it might be better in the long run.

[pipme]

I understand what you mean about more meds I went to drastic measures to avoid going onto insulin- gastric bypass ( I currently hold the coveted title of most daily insulin ever in pregnancy here ) but what I will say is when I was pregnant and on insulin I felt better than I had for about 15 yrs !!! You will feel heaps better for taking the right meds so go for it. Anything is better than feeling constantly foggy and drained , especially when looking after a family and working.
I came clean at work to my managers about my need to manage my life/work and they have been very supportive, it was hard though, find it very difficult to admit.
Sounds like you have good follow up

xx

[Catitainahatita]

A HBA1C of over 6.0 is indicative of diabetes, whatever your fasting/after glucose drink blood sugars are.

The HBA1C shows (more or less) the average of your bllod sugar over (more or less) the last 3 months. You want to be aiming for a score of 6-7 for your peace of mind. Once you start going over that you really are in diabetes territory.

The thing is with blood sugar is that your levels can vary wildly day to day. Depending on your health, the time of the month, stressful situations etc. Perhaps the day of the test you had a bad day, and normally yo've been having a good day when they have tested you.

If you are worried, the best thing to do would be to invest in a glucometer (they cost betweem 10 and 15 pounds) or convince your GP to prescribe you one. That way you can check your levels daily. If you have been officially "diagnosed" now as diabetic, you may find you get prescribed one anyway. Plus you might get a referral to see a diabetes nurse. All of which can be very useful in helping you understand the whole thing.

[Catitainahatita]

Sorry I menat that a score of over 7 means increased risk of diabetes related ills. Sorry to be so unclear. Although I think that up to 8.0 is acceptable in a diabetic.

Sorry, I always fixate on 7 because it was the upper limit I could have the year prior to TTC (I'm a type 1 diabetic)

[sincitylover]

thanks yes I think the appointment with gp will be useful - it just seems so much to get your head around esp having to do bloods regularly

However I do still get spells of fogginess usually at certain times of day and if they could be cleared that would be great.

[Catitainahatita]

The best way to deal with diabetes, imho, is to learn about it and understand how your body deals with glucose. It seems to me that everyone is slightly different and this causes confusion especially for GPs and medical generalists who are not specialists. Thus to avoid being confused/misled and criticised unnecessarily you have to be your own best advocate.
There is lots of good info on the web. Diabetes UK has a great page, for example.

Lots of people get scared by diabetes and by the prospect of having to use medication on a long term basis. This is very normal, but can be dealt with by education and "coming to terms with things". This takes a awhile, but believe me, it gets easier and easier.

[sincitylover]

thanks yes I know I need to get my head around it and it will take time.

Have started to read more around the subject.

It just seems so overwhelming.

[Catitainahatita]

Of course it does. Because it is overwhelming. It is a big deal after all. You need to go easy on yourself and try to remember that you aren't superwoman. You can only do your best, not more not less.

When I was first diagnosed (5 years ago) I was a nightmare ot live with for about 18 months. I obsessed about testing, counting glucose in meals and getting hysterical everytime my blood sugar didn't follow "acceptable guidelines". I got depressed, lost lots of weight and basically was a misery guts.

Once I relaxed a bit, got more confidence and learnt about my condition, things got easier. Above all I stopped taking as gospel everything someone in a white coat or a uniform told me. Doing my own research made me much more confident and less likely to stress.

You'll come to terms with this in your own way. Be kind to yourself and try no to stress too much.