Anthony, to be honest, it has not helped me at all with weight loss. As a matter of fact, when I was having all those hypo episodes these past couple of months, I was ridicuously hungry, so I ate more than I should have.
I know on the Victoza board there have been a lot of folks who have had more success with weight loss than I have. I definitely would not go by just my experience with it. I am just happy it is bringing the numbers down.
Well, that is good, it helps the interpretation. But it still doesn’t give you a real indication of whether you are significantly insulin deficient or resistant. For comparison, my c-peptide was 1.8 ng/ml with a fasting blood sugar of 130 mg/dl. My endo told me that the results were “inconclusive.”
trtpup, that’s the way I would read it, However the article also says “the meaning of a nonfasting C-peptide test that is normal or high (compared to a fasting reference range) is impossible to interpret.” Apparently the reference given is only for a fasting test. Still a high number would seem to be an indication of significant production and with the other test results still points to sparkysmom being T2. I must admit this is stretching my arm chair endo credentials to the limit.
Yeah, your results definitely indicate T2. Although, because the test wasn’t fasting, that could have affected your c-peptide results. When you eat, you stimulate insulin production and this results in a higher level of c-peptide. But that, combined with the antibody tests, should make it pretty certain that you’re T2. From what I understand, Metformin can suppress insulin production and Victoza can increase insulin production. So I don’t know what impact these meds could have had on your results.
I am glad that you were able to get the tests & have some peace of mind Sparkysmom! It will also give you a baseline to compare to should things change in the future. I don’t know about the drugs impacting it, but I do know that Medicare requires a fasting glucose along with the c-peptide – they also have a number limit on the glucose. Apparently a high BS can lower the c-peptide so that is why they put that step in place. Since yours was 122 before the test, that part wouldn’t affect your result.
I thought you were going to try out a different doctor that your PCP knew?
Well, the way we left it, I was going to see what the results were and she told me if I wanted her to refer me to an endo, she would be glad to. I think I am going to go back to the diabetes clinic one more time and see how it goes. I say this because my numbers are good right now and I am feeling so much better. I am going to see what they have to say and then take it from there. I am wondering if an endo would even want to see me since I don’t have type 1?
One thing is for certain…I definitely want to see a doctor this next time instead of the nurse. I don’t mind seeing her occasionally, but I am going to insist that I speak with the doctor this time.
I don’t think there’s any reason why an endo wouldn’t see you just because you’re type 2, especially because you are on insulin. If you decide though to stick with the PCP, I would either insist on seeing the doctor or switch to another one who will see you each time. I somehow doubt they are billing your insurance less because a nurse sees you. If the nurse is a Nurse Practitioner or Physicians Assistant that is better but a regular RN is not ok. I used to see a NP and I liked her because she had a fair amount of knowledge but also had a “bedside manner” as well which can be hard to find in doctors.
OK, I remember that part now, but I was more surprised that you would go back to the old place. Hopefully, you won’t see that nurse - she was definitely an idiot!
I agree with Zoe, there is no reason that an endo wouldn’t see you. There may be some out there that won’t see T2 patients, but they are probably in the minority.
Kelly and Zoe, the nurse I saw was a Nurse practitioner, and maybe it was just the sucky bedside manner that got to me, LOL.
I already have an appointment to see them, so I’ll go ahead and go. Oh and by the way, they had asked me to email them my BS log and food log last week, which I did last Monday. I never did hear back from them. You would think I would at least get an email saying, “way to go, keep it up.” Whatever. I have gotten better advice on this board than I have from that NP.
I am still deciding about whether or not to go to the endo. I am leaning toward it though, because even though I am not a T1, I suspect my pancreas is not always going to be performing well, and I am thinking the Victoza is what is making the C-peptide results as high as they are. Might be better to get on board with an endo, especially since I am 45 and hopefully have many years of living left.
I thought that she was an NP. Yeah, you have to love that bedside manner! I want my doctors & nurses both smart & nice - I don’t think that is asking for too much!
Don’t feel that you are alone on getting better advice here - I am in that same boat. I can’t imagine where I would be today if I had not found the DOC. I think regardless of whether you see an endo or not, it is important you keep up with stuff - I know I don’t need to tell you that.
I hope you have lots of years left also!