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Posted 2/20/2008 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
I am a 42 yr old female, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes 3 yrs ago with the pregnancy of my son.  I have to admit I did not do a lot of follow up with it after the birth, however, I just had my annual check up and my numbers are very high.  My fasting was 315....  and it appears my numbers have been running in the 300's as the 3 month blood check did indicate 12.1.............  My Dr. started me on (2) pills (500 mg) of Glucophage (sp?) last night, however, I am 345 this am fasting.  Prior to this I was able to control the diabetes by diet (strict however)  In your opinion, is Glucophage the right choice... or is it basically the first pill they start you with?  Should I skip my Dr (Family practitioner) and request to see a Endocrinologist? 

Thank you in advance for any support!

Posted 2/21/2008 6:47 AM (GMT 0)
My last two babies were 10 and 11 pounds so I probably had gestational diabetes. The doctor never checked until he saw how big the babies were. I was started of Metformin alone at first but had to take paramedics back to hospital where I had Lantus added. That 345 would scare me silly now. I work hard to stay below 100 at all times so I don't get eye, foot or kidney damages. Go back to doctor and really talk to him(her). I am seeing an endo and go to a diabetic clinic along with my internist. I want all the help I can get and will keep changing doctors until I feel satisfied. It is my eyes, kidneys and feet that will show the damage. I get a tremendous amount of education here that has helped me more than anything. The low carb diet is such a good tool to use in fighting this disease. I will control my diabetes, my diabetes will not control me:) Good luck.
Posted 2/21/2008 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the encouragement. I have a call in to my Doctor now. I have been on 1000mg a day of the glucophage for 2 days now and no matter how good I eat my readings are still 290 and up.....does it take a week or two for the medicine to actually "kick in" or do you think I am just wasting my time with the Glucophage?
Posted 2/21/2008 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
It can take up to a month for metformin to kick-in fully.

You don't define what you mean by good eating- but your numbers are influenced by the number and type of carbs you are eating, and your sensitivity to those carbs. There's plenty of posts in the archive that describe Jeannie's - nothing white but cauliflower diet, the Insulin-resistance diet, Dr. Berrnstein's diet, and the Atkins diet. 

You might want to check these out and see how your current eating plan compares. Generally speaking, when you drop your carbs, you drop your numbers- Your challenge is finding the carb level that nourishes your body AND keeps your sugar at an acceptable level.

Exercise is a powerful way to drop your sugar level and keep it there. I work out for an hour every day- simple stuff- walking, biking, chair-dancing. If my sugar is high, I can drive it down  20-30 points simply by vacuuming my house for 20 minutes, or mopping my floors to my favorite Bob Seegar or Jimmy Buffett CD.

Losing weight, if you need to- is even more powerful.

If you rely on metformin or any other drug to regulate your sugar- you'll be disappointed, and on multiple drugs before you know it.

When I was diagnosed 15 months ago, my fasting was 457 and my A1c was 15. For the past 9 months, my A1c has been around 5.0 and my 30 day average is 92- you can get your sugar under control- it'll take work- but it will happen. Good luck!

sandy

 

Posted 2/22/2008 8:20 AM (GMT 0)
What raises our blood glucose is different for all of us. I learned to eat a food and test at 1, 2, and 3 hours and see where it sent my blood glucose to. I, unfortunately can't eat any fruit or wheat product(even the 4 net carb bread) or I will raise up in the 200's. I check my glucose levels at least 6 times a day...and yes, my fingers are hurting! I live by Dr. Bernstein's diet. I read and reread his book over and over. Best investment I ever made is that book. I still try adding new foods but it seems protein and veggies are what will keep my readings low. Keep trying to get your glucose levels down. Good luck:)
Posted 2/22/2008 2:31 PM (GMT 0)
Sticking to the protien (sting cheese, eggs, chicken, fish etc) and veggies, very small amounts of carbs.........and not making a dent in my readings.... I mean NOTHING... The high protien, low carb use to work (I could control the diabetes by diet alone) but not at all now. All I can say is this SUCKS (for lack of a better word!) I love a good pasta! I love dessert.... I love to eat!

I tested my sugars 3 hours after eating dinner (and 3 hours after the Glucophage) and still 349! I just wonder how long you can really go on reading that high... it has already been most likely a yr at that level.... I am just scared to wait to much longer (for the meds to kick in)...

I am looking into joining Curves, that is interesting that the exercise can have an immediate effect on your readings!
Thanks for all your comments and advice!!
Posted 2/22/2008 3:24 PM (GMT 0)

cmyers,

I am one of the oddballs here. Eating really low carb actually raises my blood sugar levels. I do much better using the Insulin-Resistance or Rosedale Leptin dietary approach.

I don't know how intense Curves is, but at your elevated sugar levels, you should be doing long duration, low intensity exercise such as walking. swimming, vacuuming and mopping. The goal is to drain the excess sugar out of your blood without provoking your liver to start making more. Your insulin resistance is very high, so your muscles can't get the sugar from your blood into the cells so the mitochondria can turn it into energy.

You should probably check with your doctor to see if it is safe for you to work out. My doctor only allowed me to walk until my 14 day average was under 250. Aerobics, in particular, drive my blood sugar levels up by 30-40 points for a couple of hours, then they drop and stay low. Training with the weights doesn't raise me, but it doesn't drop me either. A 40 minute bike ride (7-8 miles)  at level 3 resistance on my bike drops me by 20 points. If I do the same workout at level 5- I shoot up.

sandy

Posted 2/22/2008 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
Sandy....

Ugh! So much to take into consideration. I work full time and have 2 small children at home...it just seems so overwhelming in every aspect right now. I think Curves is all I could fit into my schedule right now, and that is pushing it! I have a housecleaner as I don't even have the free time to do that! I guess I will have to start to mop and vaccum for fun though!

Sounds like you have a great grip on controlling your diabetes! Good for you.

I am going to request a referral today to an endo specialist as I don't think my GP is going to be able to handle this.
Posted 2/22/2008 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi cmyers and welcome to the Forum.  I hope you can find an endocrinologist because as you say this might be beyond the expertise of a GP.  Sandy can tell you about glucophage because she is on it too.  I went to Curves for a year a few years ago and found it too "easy".  I felt it was unchallenging unless a person has a severe condition that makes movements painful.  However, for the 30 seconds in between using the machines, you can do any movements/exercise as you like to the music.  Some women could only march in place but others did cheerleader moves that were very strenuous and exhausting.  Before signing a contract, ask if you can just go around the circuit at least once to see if it works for you.  The good thing about signing on to an exercise program is that you feel committed.  At that time, Curves cost $30/mo.  We benefit from the types of exercise for the short term and the long term.  You can get your little kids involved with you when you're with them, too.  Put on some music and "dance" around with them, marching, high stepping, leaning out and in, twisting, bending and lunging.  If you can add some strengthening routines holding and pumping with weights, you'll tone up your muscles which will be stronger and help your health for the long term.  You don't even have to buy dumb bells.  You can use canned goods to begin.  Also helpful are the rubber bands and they're inexpensive - they come with instructions for exercises.  The aerobic (cardio) exercise is good for the heart, lungs, muscles and burning calories.  The anerobic ones like lifting those cans or other weights and strength training will make you stronger.  Both types are good for us, regardless of the diabetes.  I don't know why the low-carb eating isn't having an effect on the blood sugar along with the meds.  People usually see a big difference in blood sugar readings the very day they eat low-carb, but maybe it will take some time.  In the meantime, I hope you can get to an endo.  Good luck and let us know what happens.  :)

Posted 2/24/2008 5:35 AM (GMT 0)
cmyers,
If the metformin alone isn't doing it you may want to ask your doctor for Lantus Insulin or byetta. Both of these will have a dramatic effect on your sugars and help you get them down right away. I had much better success with my Lantus than I did with actos. That only gave me insane lows. Yours looks like it might be a tough case so work closely with your doctor.

Another thing to start right now is a food/med/exercise/blood glucose diary. The more you keep track of your numbers vs. food and exercise the easier it will be to modify your food plan and meds as you go along. I actually was able to fax my diary over to my doctor's office and let the nurse report to the doctor how I was doing. She then adjusted my insulin doses and had the nurse call me with the new amounts until we got it right and it saved us both some time. It was also much easier than going into the office every week!
Posted 2/25/2008 10:43 PM (GMT 0)
Jeannie:

I started the diary a few days ago.... The doctor actually just changed my med's to include 2- 500mg of Glucophage at night and one 500mg in the morning along with 1 500mg Janumet. My numbers are actually (finally) coming down, however, not at all where they should be. My fasting was actually 217 this am (in comparison to the 345) and my after lunch today was in the 100's (186) so slowly but surely getting there. Do you think it is taking too long to get down to normal range or does it usually take a couple weeks? I just read about the woman on the American Airlines flight who died from heart disease and diabetes and she is only 44...it freaked me out!

Lanie: Thanks for your advice as well!
Posted 2/26/2008 3:00 AM (GMT 0)

I hope the blood sugar continues to fall to normal levels.  It might be gradual.  If you stay away from carbs and take your meds, you must see better numbers soon.  Sometimes it's tricky getting the right combo.  And don't lose hope!  If you stay on the diet and get some kind of daily exercise in, you'll lose weight - which will also help keep blood sugar down.  Even though your fasting number of 217 this morning is high, it's a big drop from 345!  Wow!  That's an improvement.  So, I really think you'll see better numbers soon.  I also read the story of the poor woman who died on the plane.  This just reminds us how important it is to take control of our health.  Jeepers, I wish I knew this all 20 years ago......  but it's not too late.  Don't give up the low carb diet.  It may take some time for your meds to be figured out, so just continue doing what you know is right.  :)

Posted 2/26/2008 3:24 PM (GMT 0)
It took me close to 2 months to drop from the mid-400's to the mid 100's and another 2 months to get conistently at 100 or less.

The Januvia will take up to 3 months to see full effect, although it seems to be helping you already. 

A moderate gradual drop is the best way not to feel horrible while your sguar is stabilizing. The first time I went under 300, I had all the symptoms of a classic low. I went to the ER thinking I was dying- they tested my sugar and a really sweet nurse came in to explain what was happening and gave me advice on how to carb up a bit to feel better.

On Sunday, I walked around (actually salivating and lusting) at the Spring Garden Show for about 4 hours. I had to see every one of those little wonderlands and talk to some vendors- and talk I did- by the time I got to my late lunch at 3PM, my sugar was cruising in at 67 and I felt fine.

Don't worry- your numbers will come down, and with due diligence- they'll stay there.

sandy

 

Posted 2/27/2008 4:00 AM (GMT 0)
I still get the symptoms of classic lows even now, all the time when I am at normal levels of 95 or lower. I keep checking my blood to make sure the numbers are good. The doctor said it will take time because I was so high for so long. She thinks I was running high for two years. HMMM, I got checked and she can see the numbers from the hospital for the past two years(I was in the hospital LOTS). Makes you wonder why the doctors didn't address it sooner. I dropped from the 700's and 800's to 100's in about a couple of weeks span. Maybe slower is better because I sure felt awful. They keep saying just to hang in there until my body gets used to the new numbers. That is what I am doing. Good luck:)
Posted 3/10/2008 6:15 PM (GMT 0)
Cmyers,
And although I don't want to beat a dead horse... my doctor was absolutely rabid about getting my sugars down when she took my case over from her husband. She was the one who pushed me to the Lantus insulin and it was the best thing I ever did. It brought my sugars down right away and gave me good numbers while I learned to evaluate my food plan and exercise regimen.

I started swimming three to four times a week, learned about the low carb way of eating from my buddies here and generally, getting on insulin was the good, swift kick in the Dupa that I needed to get on the right road to control. Don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about insulin. It's not the 'death sentence' that it used to be. It's made from cloned human DNA and works very well. AND I was able to get off of it once I started losing weight and was able to exercise better. It might be something that helps you, too.
Posted 3/10/2008 6:45 PM (GMT 0)
Jeannie, are you on Lantus now? I am going to ask my endo about it in a few weeks when I go in. I want to be able to eat fruit and a little sprouted grain bread and right now I can't without raising my bs...even when I pair them with peanut butter or cheese. Right now I'm on metformin and glyburide. The doc said she would take my off the glyburide if I decided to go with insulin and she said it would give my beta cells a break. If I'm not mistaken I think Dr. Bernstein feels the same way about the sulfunyreas (sp).
Posted 3/10/2008 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
I have been able to leave my Lantus behind since I lost about 45 lbs. My insulin resistance is not so bad with the increased exercise and the lack of carbs. My body and I have come to an understanding and that is that I'm not supposed to eat carbs. I'm supposed to eat meats and fish, veggies and cheese, nuts and fruits, but I'm not supposed to eat starches.

It also helps to be on Prozac, since the starches help raise seritonin levels in the brain which leads to better sleep patterns and an overall 'contentment' feeling. (mashed potatoes = comfort food) My doctor explained to me that because of my fibromyalgia I have low seritonin levels and I've been trying to self medicate with carbs to improve my mood. She instead gave me a SSRI (Selective seritonin re-uptake inhibitor) to help me make do with the seritonin I have available. Makes it much easier to turn down the taters.
Posted 3/11/2008 8:49 AM (GMT 0)
Hi tutorgirl:)

I am on 28 units of Lantus and I still can eat no fruits or any kind of bread. I don't think I will ever be able to:( My body just won't accept them without drastic highs. I hope you have better luck.
Posted 3/11/2008 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
Ceebee,
Do you take your fruit with fats? I just realized that is something that I always do. I pair apples and bananas with peanut butter or I put a mayonnaise dressing on my apple/celery salad. Looking at my food plan, I don't usually just eat a fruit. It's always fruit with a form of fat. Would this maybe help you?

For example, pie crust has lots of fat, right? So cherry pie would almost be health food, right? tongue DON'T I WISH?!?!! Sorry about your problems with fruit... must be beyond frustrating when strawberry or peach season roles around. I admire your dedication.
Posted 3/12/2008 7:58 AM (GMT 0)
HMMM cherry pie...what is that?? I can't remember it anymore!:) I have tried every way to eat fruit and it is a no go except for one. The De lMonte sugarfree peaches in the lunch pack. I can eat one of these if my sugar is low and not get a great rise in bs. I crave thes peaches and look forward to eating one every two weeks or so. I don't know why I can eat these and no other. any ideas?
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