I am very confused because I developed gestational diabetes last year and my baby is almost 4 months old and my blood glucose is l between 96-115 (using my glucometer). Last month I went to get checked and my dr. sent me for an A1c and it came back 6.0. He said that I am Type II and to follow the diet I did when I was pregnant and to exercise at least 45 minutes every day. I am doing that, but I have been researching about diabetes and I found out on some websites that I classify as pre-diabetic, not as Type II yet. However, other websites mention that there is no such thing as pre-diabetes or borderline diabetes. I won't see my dr. until April, but he was very convinced that I have Type II. My question is, why are so many people being told that they are pre-diabetics if there is no such thing as pre-diabetes? If pre-diabetes does exist, then I guess I wouldn't be Type II quite yet, since my fasting readings are 96-115 and two hours after meals between 119-130 (whatching my carbs). I am very confused about my condition. Of course, no matter what I have, I will continue to take care of myself like a Type II because I am so scared of the complications. I just turned 32 and I have never been overweight, I am rather slim and no history of diabetes of any type in my family.
Its kind of hard to get an answer from doctors I think in your case as to what you are. i guess it depends on the doctor you talk to. I am a type 2 and my numbers tend to go between 90 and 130 but I do hit numbers in the 170 right after eating. If I get into normal numbers in the 70 and 80’s my body wont stay on those numbes I will tank within 30 minutes of those readings.
You are taking a good aproach on eating better and excercising. That should keep your numbers in check and maybe out of taking meds. I dont see you been told that you will use insulin for now. I know wives of my coworkers who had gestational diabetes and I dont see them change there behaviour as far as eating and work after birth. They went back to the old lifestyles which i think will eventually bring the big D back. My opinion. The only thing that I have seen is that pre diabetes you wind up not taking meds while type 2 you are in meds.
take care. I am also confused because if I can maintain 96 to 115 my med doses are usually lowered.
First - Happy Birthday.
Second - While technically there is not such thing as “pre-diabetes” (just as there is no such thing as a “little bit pregnant”) many doctors use the term to alleviate stress on their patients. You might wish to get in and see an Endocrinologist who specializes in Diabetes as well as a Certified Diabetes Educator. Additionally - if you are worried - you might want to check out some Diabetes Education Centers - such as Joslin. Even if you have everything under control it is worth knowing about other issues that you may encounter down the road. Remember - even though you have doctors to supposedly watch out for you, as a diabetic you have to keep in mind that YOU are the Team Leader in your care. Take the attitude that you are a customer and never never fail to ask questions. The most important question whenever you are told something about your diabetes is “WHY?” Take the time to understand what it is they are saying; what longterm and short term results you may expect - both positive and negative and if you feel that anyone on your care team (Primary, Endo, C.D.E., Podiatrist, etc.) is blowing you off or not answering your questions to your satisfaction - then replace them ASAP. Do this and you will probably be around to celebrate many many many more birthdays in the years to come.
This is similar to my story and my BG #'s have continued to slowly deteriorate I suggest looking at gestational to type 1 and LADA 1.5. I had many blood tests to determine my condition is autoimmune so I am T1 or T1.5 not T2. I found this helps so I know what to expect and how to medicate. My third baby was born Dec. 2008 and one year later diet and exercise was not enough and now my endo has me on metformin… and it sounds like a slow progression to insulin dependence. Check out phlaunt.com by Jenny Ruhl “Blood Sugar 101” she has tons of info on this type of diabetes and how to help control your BG numbers. Getting blood tests ordered from an Endocrinologist will help your auto antibodies and fasting c-peptide (tells approx.how much insulin your body is making ). From my understanding of C-pep if you are within normal range or below it indicates T1.5 or T1 and if you are above normal or high end of normal range it indicates T 2. My auto antibodies came back normal except GADA which indicates autoimmune condition. This is my understanding but look up Jenny she is awesome.Regular exercise and Lowering carbs to 30-50gm a day. " For Me" has worked to lower my BG!! Lots of info. on this site and knowledgeable people to help! Hang in there.
P.S. Check your one hour Postprandial I found this was quite high for me and where my BG#s began to deteriorate (first phase insulin). Lowering carbs brought both one and two hour below 120 most of the time. Everyone is different though, just my 2 cents.
Another site that helped me a TON when I was diagnosed was http://www.mendosa.com/ This Dave Mendosa (there are several out there - not diabetes related) has put out lots of information on diabetes all of which is helpful. No matter what area of diabetes you need information on you’ll find it or leads to it on his site.
Hi AquariusNL: There is a very strong possibility that you do not have Type 2 diabetes, but that you are in the early stages of Type 1 diabetes as Dawn suggests. Type 1 is a very different disease and requires different treatment, and it is important to get a correct diagnosis. The stress of pregnancy is “the straw that broke the camel’s back” for many women who develop Type 1 diabetes during pregnancy (autoimmune gestational diabetes). In Europe, all of the literature on gestational diabetes mentions this, but here in North America the layperson literature doesn’t mention autoimmune gestational diabetes. However, the existence of autoimmune gestational diabetes is widely reported in North American scientific literature (for example, a July 2007 “Diabetes Care” article and also an April 2003 “Diabetes Care” article on GDM). The July 2007 issue of “Diabetes Care” indicated that autoimmune gestational diabetes (new onset Type 1 diabetes) accounts for about 10% of all Caucasian women diagnosed with gestational diabetes (Diabetes Care July 2007 vol. 30 no. Supplement 2 S105-S111 ). It says
A small minority (≤10% in most studies) of women with GDM have circulating antibodies to pancreatic islets (anti-islet cell antibodies) or to β-cell antigens such as GAD (anti-GAD antibodies)
and then notes:
They appear to have evolving type 1 diabetes that comes to clinical attention through routine glucose screening during pregnancy. Whether pregnancy can actually initiate or accelerate islet-directed autoimmunity is unknown.
It would be good for you to see an endo to get the tests to determine if you have Type 1 (GAD, ICA, IA-2). Good luck!
Go to a specialist. Get the referal as soon as possible because you may have to wait months to get in. Others have told you very good things to think about. You will not know what your issues are until proper labs are done.
IMO find out now and address it now plus I think you will be seen since you do not have classic issues associated with T2 even with your situation presenting as ‘mild’. I was the same way and I’ve learned quite a bit with correct lab work.
Your story is also similar to mine. I think you’re smart to pursue answers because it’s your health and it’s important to know what’s happening. Your body goes through a lot of changes after you have a baby and I don’t think what’s happening now necessarily indicates where you will be at a year from now. I was told I had gestational, then after the birth I had what I believe was a honeymoon period for about three months. Breastfeeding also was very effective in keeping my blood sugar down. But low and behold, two weeks after I was told I was probably pre-diabetic, my numbers shot up and have stayed that way ever since. My son was born in May and just last week it was confirmed that I am LADA. After going through what I have, I will always encourage others to question a diagnosis when they have few or no risk factors for gestational.
Healthy people rarely go above 7.9 mmols (about 144), but the threshold for diabetes is above 11 (198) anytime of day or a fasting above 7 mmols, although most healthy people wake up at 5.3 or lower. Thus the in-between numbers are deemed “prediabetic”. I believe people are told they’re pre-diabetic because acting upon this knowledge could mean delaying or preventing Type 2 diabetes if you are on that track.
