Newly diagnosed with questions

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2004
Newly diagnosed with questions
20
Fri, 03-19-2004 - 2:00pm
In December of 2003 I was diagnosed by my internist as having metabolic syndrome. Fasting test results at that time:

Serum Insulin 50 (s/b less than 17)

Cholesterol 214 (HDL 40)

Triglycerides 338

Glucose 143

A1C 6%

I was told that I was NOT diabetic, but I was put on 500 mg. of Glucophage per day to get my glucose level down.

I started reading up on metabolic syndrome and type II diabetes and I started to question the diagnosis. I also started testing my own blood sugars once or twice a day. The numbers kept going up...into the 180's. I called the office again and was told that I didn't need to check my blood sugar, that it was metabolic syndrome and 500 mg of Glucophage a day was plenty to be taking.

Still not sure what all this meant, I called and got a referral to an endocrinologist. The doctor I saw was caring, compassionate, and answered all of my questions. She said indeed I was diabetic and increased my Glucophage to 2,000 mg. per day, put me on an ACE inhibitor, and also put me on Zocor. She wanted to put me on Prevacid for GERD, but the last prescription I took for that caused me to break out in hives, so I just take Pepcid Complete now.

This has me taking 6 pills in addition to my calcium and vitamin supplement, and now I am feeling depressed and overwhelmed. Maybe I should have just gone along with my internist and things would have been fine! I had heard that this endocrinologist was one of the best, and treated aggressively. She even signed me up for diabetes education classes.

Does my treatment seem excessive for my test result numbers? Just curious if maybe this treatment is overly aggressive and I don't really need all of this. Is there any chance of me eventually going off of medications????

Alison

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2004
Tue, 03-23-2004 - 4:32pm
Funny you should mention that book, I just got it and it's sitting on the bookshelf waiting for a quiet moment.

I love coming here and reading the posts, because I've either thought the same thing at one point, or it's new and interesting.

Thanks for your words of encouragement!

Alison

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2004
Tue, 03-23-2004 - 4:36pm
UGH! Don't even get me started on the insurance stuff again!

I don't understand WHY these medications cost so much, and why we pay good money for insurance but it doesn't help out much! You have to pay to be healthy anymore, it's just not right. I mean, I could see a few bucks, $5 maybe or $10 even. But the costs have gone beyond what most people can afford, it's a very sad thing.

We are self insured and pay our premium every month...that's painful enough!

Alison

Avatar for happyscrapper40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 03-23-2004 - 7:44pm
Hi Alison. I am Insulin Resistant, Metabolic Syndrome, and a Type 2er also with high Triglycerides. I started with the high (365) triglycerides about 5 years ago and "Syndrome X" and have watched the progression of my disease to the diagnosis of full blown diabetes 18 months ago. It is overwhelming to get the diagnosis, and it is common to go into denial! We have ALL been there, so we can empathize! We are also here to help!

The endo. probably is the one to get on the bandwagon with- your numbers seem similar to mine in a lot of ways, and the treatment seems similar. I hit my PA up for free samples a lot- they seem to see EVERY drug salesman who stops by, which can mean they run late once in a while on appts., but the free samples are important too! :) My small school district is self-insured with only catastrophic reinsurance, so we pay out big time for our insurance, and get crappy coverage too. I take Lipitor for the Triglycerides, and mine have dropped more than half to the 160's. Of course, they have lowered the standard twice since I started trying to lower my triglycerides, and now they want mine below 100. My latest Ha1c is 5.8, down from its highest of 7.5 back in Nov. That is when I started on Metformin (Glucophage's generic). I am now at 2000mgs. a day. I am concerned only that the endo. wants you to start with a 1000mg. I found I had terrible belly and stomach pain when I started with 500 mgs., then again when I went to 1000 mgs.two months later and now two months later----this last week when I went to 2000 mgs. a day it has been unbearable. It has been ten days and I am just getting where my tummy doesn't hurt 24/7. (By the way, I have talked with the PA about it). I think they are trying to reduce or break our insulin resistance, b/c from what I understand, if our pancreas 'burns out' from putting out too much insulin 24/7 for too many years, then insulin shots is the only option. Ugh. I don't want to burn out my pancreas!!! LOL I am sure the endo. has told you that exercise is an important link to breaking the insulin resistance too. Ugh again! LOL The class will help you with the diet- basically they will let you know how many carbs to eat per meal and snack etc. Carbs. must be eaten in moderation.... Come back often! I am definately still learning!! Michele
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Tue, 03-23-2004 - 10:07pm
Sounds like we've been following the same path. Some fun, huh?

I just sent in the prescription for the Glucophage XR today. It's 500mg, but won't be getting generic. My PCP tried regular glucophage with me a couple of years ago and I got ill. Sure hope this doesn't turn my stomach into somersalts and a bloated mess. Tried to get samples from my endo, but the PA said they didn't get samples of the XR. So...here I go again...$$$

You sound like you have your triglycerides, BS, and cholesterol under control. Good for you!!! Keep you fingers crossed that my next bloodwork shows as much improvement. Say a prayer and light a candle for me, ok?

:-)

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 03-24-2004 - 1:27am

Kathi,


We are not going to give up on you. We all have good days and bed days and sometimes we have good months and then a bad one. Its just the nature of the beast.


A genlt hug,

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40


Co-Cl Diabetes Board


iVillage Member
Registered: 02-03-2003
Wed, 03-24-2004 - 7:39am
Type 2 Diabetes, the first year" by Gretchen Becker was teh best book I read when I was first diagnosed.

Smoochdog (aka Michelle)


iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2004
Wed, 03-24-2004 - 8:08am
What do you mean you got "ill" when you tried the regular Glucophage? Are you talking about the generic or just the Glucophage without the XR? I seem to be able to tolerate my 1000mg morning dose, but my 1000mg evening dose makes me wake up every morning feeling nauseated and with diarrhea (this is the generic Metformin). I just wonder if it makes a difference being generic or brand. I know sometimes with brand they will use a coating or something, the metformin is just chalky and thought maybe that was why it was irritating my stomach.

Alison

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2004
Wed, 03-24-2004 - 8:16am
Wow! We are in the same boat :::scooting over to make room here in my row boat:::

It's reassuring to hear how your numbers are coming down. That's awesome! Does it make a difference at all in how you feel?

I for one feel constantly tired. I get as much exercise as I can in, but some days that's just walking the mile around my neighborhood. I wake up tired, I feel tired during the day, I flop into bed at night exhausted. But I have three active boys (15, 13, 5), so maybe that adds to it. But one of the reasons I even went to the doctor in December was because I was so daggone tired all the time.

And this whole problem with IBS (maybe) doesn't help. It makes me tired too. I've had it for a long time (20 years), and have talked to my doctor about it. He just doesn't seem too concerned about it, though there are days that it is totally debilitating. I just so want my health to improve and to start feeling better. I'm only 40 and yet I feel like I'm in my 80's.

You said that you were having stomach pain with the dosages of metformin...is it strictly pain, or do you get ill from it? Just wondering if it is making my IBS worse, or if I'm just having a major flair-up.

:\

Alison

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Wed, 03-24-2004 - 9:18am
I'm going to call Dalton's today and have them order it for me. Thanks bunches
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Wed, 03-24-2004 - 9:21am
It was the generic glucophage. I was nauseated, dizzy, and vomited a couple of times.

YUK!!! Sure hope the real stuff extended release works for me.

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