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Posted 4/7/2009 8:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hello all,

I posted here awhile ago and you were all a great deal of help to me.  The thread is a few down and here is the link:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=20&m=1404236

In short I have had trouble with neuropathy over the last few months and I wonder if it's not diabetic related.  I investigated possible MS, in which an MRI of my head, neck, and lower back came back without any explanation for my symptoms.  I have also had a lot of bloodwork which came back normal.  There is some degeneration in my lower back, but apparently not enough to cause this type of problem.  According to the numbers, I have been prediabetic for 4 years at least.  As said in my prior posts, my doctors never informed me of this, which I am very upset about to this day, even though the tests came back showing I was prediabetic (101 in 2005, 108 in 2007).  My main complaint now is the bottom of my feet hurting and my toes having unusual sensations like burning and stabbing.  These also go into my hands, legs, and arms at times.  I have been trying to monitor my blood sugar over the last couple of months to figure out if diabetes could be the cause, and I'm not sure what to think.  My fasting blood sugar taken in the morning is definitely higher than it should be...ranging from 95-105 everyday seemingly.  Two hours after meals, it seems that my blood sugar ranges from 100 to 120.  There have been a couple in the low 120s I believe.  I have purposely ate high carb meals (Such as fettucine alfredo and breadsticks) and then followed with a two hour test to see what would happen...and it seems it's on average in the 115 range.  Perhaps I should be taking it one hour after as well?  Maybe this will give me a better idea.  I tried drinking a Sprite to simulate a GTT and then took my blood sugar at an hour and two hours but it didn't seem to cause it to just but a few points.  I guess I'm confused and maybe grasping at straws.  There are times I have taken my blood sugar at random times during the day where I have gotten back low 90s or even high 80s a couple times (although the common is in the low 100s) I think the main problem I'm having is what to trust.  There seems to be a split opinion on what really is high blood sugar.  The supposed NORMAL person will hover around the low to mid 80s I read and will quickly drop back under 100 two hours after meals.  By that measure, I'm certainly high.  But other things I have read suggest that 140 is the "damage" level barrier or something and if you aren't hitting that mark, then you shouldn't worry.  Also bizzare is that I am in the prediabetic fasting range almost always, but never seem to reach the prediabetic 140-200 after eating range....although maybe more 1 hour tests would reveal that.  There have been times I did one hour and two hour afters though, and it wasn't high.  I plan on doing that 1 hour testing more often now.  It's almost as though my after eating range is decent, although maybe not great, but my fasting level is and has been constantly higher than it should for a long time now.  I have an appointment to talk with my doc (a new one) Thursday and then refer to an endo if necessary.  I guess I'm just hoping for thoughts that anyone may have.  Does this sound odd to you?  Is there any test I should do that I'm not?  What really is HIGH blood sugar?  I guess what I really want to know is hovering in the 95-110 range of fasting blood sugar for years damaging?  I plan on asking that Thursday, although I'm not sure if he will know.  Does anyone know if pre-diabetic are guaranteed to progress?  Or is there a statistic on that? Thank you in advance to everyone who reads this obsurdly long post.

Post Edited (Andrew22) : 4/7/2009 3:23:22 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/7/2009 9:43 PM (GMT 0)
Well, gosh, it sounds like you're back at square one.  Maybe those blood sugar readings are slightly elevated and, yes, you need to be watchful that they don't start creeping higher.  Only a doctor can determine if the neuropathy is related to the blood sugar but you haven't had such high blood sugar for very long periods of time.  As far as I know (and you know I'm not a doctor), if a so-called pre-diabetic allows the blood sugar to creep ever upwards then it's possible that there can eventually be nerve damage as well as damage to other organs.  And I've also read that magic number "140" but since diabetes affects people differently, some people might live with much higher blood sugar readings with no neuropathy or other damage, yet others might end up with complication with consistant lower blood sugar than 140.  You've read here, I'm sure, that some members have had blood sugar in the 200's, 300's and 400's.  Certainly, those are critically high. This is why I'm keeping my own blood sugar as near normal as I can without meds; I do follow a low-carb food plan.  If I ate as I did before (bread, rice, pasta...), I'd be on meds or I should be.  There again, I have a GP, not an endo, and it's possible that my doctor might think it's ok for me to live with higher blood sugar.  For example, she wanted me to have my A1c lower than 6.0 but from what I've read, that's higher than I want it.  My last one was 5.6 and that's much better in my opinion.  I don't know if there are definitive answers to your questions:  blood sugars hovering in the 95 to 110 range doesn't seem like they would cause damage but I'm not sure; for the record, I believe the doctor would have you do the GTT in the lab so they can have official results. Sorry I can't help more than that.   

Posted 4/8/2009 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, pretty much square one.  I don't know if there is any definitive way to determine if the damage is from high blood sugar or not, and I really doubt the doctor will have any good answers, but you never know.  I'm going to try the low carb diet too to see how it affects my blood sugar.  I see that there are quite a few sites to look at posted on what kinds of things to eat...do you have any others you use?  I think you are right about there not being any solid answers to my questions, but I thought I would browse for opinions given all of the experiences and knowledge of the members on this board.  I would think that it hovering in 95-110 range wouldn't cause damage, but who knows I guess.  It seems that it would be the higher levels that would harm things...but as you said...everyone is different.  Let me ask your opinion on this: is eating low carbs preventitive in some way of the progression of prediabetes?  Or is it more of just a management technique for someone in my situation?  Just curious for your thoughts.  I greatly appreciate you taking the time to respond.  Thanks.
Posted 4/8/2009 2:37 AM (GMT 0)
I honestly don't know if eating low-carb will prevent the progression of diabetes.  I don't know if there have been those kinds of studies.  I think that as long as the pancreas' production of insulin doesn't change then maybe the diet plan could keep the blood sugars in line indefinitely.  I'm hoping that is so.  But, again, if the pancreas can't keep its status quo or if it burns out and produces no insulin, then meds would have to be prescribed.  The exercise also helps metabolize the carbs that are in any diet, and that's why you'll always see "controlled by diet and exercise".  For someone who's type 1 and must take insulin, it seems the low-carb and exercise plan helps even them reduce their insulin need, so for many people it is a management technique.  I consider it management in my case too because my blood sugar easily rises with carbs; I hope it works out to be a life-long preventative but who knows?  I'm eager to see what your new doctor says and does.  Don't forget to tell us. I hope others jump in here, too!  Here is the low carb site that Chris (TVEditor) brought to our attention recently:  http://forum.lowcarber.org  It's worth poking around there.   


Posted 4/8/2009 3:05 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info. I will let you know what he says. Hopefully something worthwhile....but you just never know what you are going to get sometimes. Thanks again.
Posted 4/8/2009 7:08 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know either whether low-carbing will stay the onset of future complications but I took Lanie's advice about a year ago and drastically modified my diet.  While I didn't have any major symptoms, I did have some unexplained foot/hand tingles and various aches and pains that have disappeared, I think due to the diet change and weight loss.

My doc is of the opinion that diet control/weight loss is always a good practice and has a positive affect on many physical conditions.

The forum Lanie mentioned is a great place for getting ideas.  Personally, I don't follow a specific diet or count carbs -- I read labels and use common sense.  Works for me :)

Chris

 

Posted 4/9/2009 5:55 PM (GMT 0)
Well, a pretty uneventful appointment for the most part. The opinion of the nurse seemed to be that I shouldn't really be there. But, fortuantely I really liked the doctor so if nothing else I think I found a new primary doctor. He listened and ran a A1C which came back at 4.9. So he then did an ultrasound of my internal organs (emphasis on the liver) as I mentioned the fact that my fasting tests in the morning are always higher (between 95-105) and my afternoon ones 4 or 5 hours after eating were generally 85-95 and I didn't understand why. Came back normal. So, I guess I'm scheduled to talk with a neurosurgeon about my neck and back as I have a mild bulging disc in my neck and some low back degeneration so maybe that's causing some of this neuropathy. Anyway, I think I'll just monitor my blood sugar and try to stay active. Other than that, I guess maybe, my neuropathy is coming from elsewhere. So the search continues, but thanks for all of your help. I will definitely use the knowledge I gained here and keep an eye on the blood sugar as I move forward. Thanks for everything, to everyone.
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