I need some advise...

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
I need some advise...
3
Fri, 06-22-2007 - 8:53pm

Hi! My name is Laura and I'm new to the board. I'm actually new to the possibility of diabetes, too. When I was pregnant 11 years ago I gained tons and tons of weight. I'm embarassed to tell you how much, but I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes and had an almost 10 pound baby. I was told that I had a good chance of developing diabetes.

Anyway, I've never had any issues with my blood sugar since then (until now, I'll get to that in a minute), but I was put on 1500mg metformin xr due to pcos and high insulin levels. That was about a year ago and in december I had a 3 hour GTT and I never heard back from the doctor. I assumed all was well.

Fast forward to now...I had my check up with my primary care he did the regular work up and fasting blood work. The next day I had an appointment with my ob/gyn and while I was waiting I got a call from my primary care. They said my fasting blood sugar was 125 and that I was prediabetic and I should repeat blood work in 2 months. Then when I met with my ob/gyn she looked at my bloodwork from 6 months ago and freaked out. My fasting was 130ish, 1 hour was over 200 and I don't remember the rest. She apologized over and over and can't explain how she never signed off on the results and I was never contacted. I told her what my primary care said and she said that since I'm on 1500 mg met and I'm still getting high numbers that she doubts I'm prediabetic and I might need some additional medical support.

So, what do you all think? My primary care left it for repeat bloodwork in 2 months and he knows I'm on the met. My ob/gyn thinks I should schedule again with my primary care. I don't want to seem like a pest to him (primary care).

Also, what's a normal bood sugar for random before/after meal testing. I have a meter and I have been randomly testing and I get anywhere from 70 to 165 during the day. Okay, the 70 was one time and I've been over 120 consistently for every other reading. I'd say I can expect 120 - 130 consistently with occasional spikes up to 165ish.

Is this something I should take more seriously or just wait for more bloodwork in a few months.

Thanks...I hope that made sense.

Laura

Laura, mom to B & E
Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Fri, 06-22-2007 - 10:13pm

Hi Laura and welcome to the board!


Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sun, 06-24-2007 - 8:13pm

Laura,


Unless you have been able to lose the weight that you gained with your pregnancy it is very likely that you have become diabetic. I am sorry to tell you that. In gestational diabetes if the mom isn't able to get back down to what is normal weight, usually within 5 years she will be diagnosed diabetic. So I would listen to your OB-Gyn. I would also ask for a copy of the lab work that she performed on you and take it to your primary care doctor.


The diagnosis of diabetes is 2 fasting blood sugars above 126 and pre-diabetes is any fasting blood sugars about 100 or a random blood sugar of 190 or above.


Cheryl has sent you to a wonderful website and so I am not going to post all the other numbers. You will find them there. Please look at that website and get back to us with anymore questions.


Incidentally when I was in nursing school it was recommended that moms not gain more than 30 pounds for a pregnancy. Then the recommendation were changed and basically the mom was allowed to gain whatever she wanted. The result has been a huge increase of weight on the moms and really large babies who have a much greater chance of becoming obese themselves and diabetic. SO the pendulum is beginning to swing back to way it was when I was in school.


Have a great week,


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-26-2007
Tue, 06-26-2007 - 9:12pm
I feel for you hon. My primary care dr missed my reading a year before my OB found it. I recommend skipping both and going directly to an endocrinologist in your area. Talk to some friends, coworkers, neighbors to see who they go to. When you schedule with them, tell them your situation - had gestational, fasting runs high, etc. They will likely do two tests - 1) A1C -- tells you your average BGL for the past 3 months - p.s. some dr's can do this by a finger prick in the office with immediate results 2) There is another test where they have you drink some special glucose solution and then test your bgl.
If you don't want to do this, swing by your local fire/ems to get random blood glucose readings. most have meters there. Ideally, test it about 1-2 hrs after you eat (or get a friend/coworker to test you. I do it to family and friends when they ask).
Best wishes. While diabetes is a very scary disease always know that it doesn't define who you are. Don't like it run your life. You can control it.