May be beginning treatment

Hi Pete, welcome!  I hope I can answer your questions.  First of all, from what you write, it doesn't seem like a critical situation.  Doctors are looking for fasting results to be under 100; this is considered 'normal' or non-diabetic.  In answer to your questions, this is what I think:

1.  He might give you a prescription for metformin (the generic Glucophage) which helps the body metabolize carbohydrates.  If he does, I would imagine that he would also prescribe a blood sugar meter so you can monitor your own blood sugar at home.  Then, I would expect that he would want to see you sooner than six months.  Or, he might just give you a diet guideline and tell you to come back at some other time.

2. Metformin is normally the first choice for someone who's a straight-forward type 2 at the beginning.  It's very cheap and usually on the list of the $4/month or $10/three months at most pharmacies these days.

3.  Side effects of metformin can be problems with your stomach: acid-like  feeling and or diarrhea IF especially you eat a lot of carbs.  It's best to take this with food.

4.  Other information that you need to know, I'll explain later! 

5.  Questions for the doctor?  I guess that depends how he views treating patients new to blood sugar problems.  See below.

My comments:  Doctors seem to have different ideas about patients whose blood sugar is like yours (and mine) because it's not critically high.  Some doctors would tell you to watch your diet, lose weight, get some exercise,  and go back to see them in six months.  When some say 'watch your diet' they might hand you the American Diabetes Associations handout.  However, in my opinion that will keep blood sugar elevated.  And this is because:

Different doctors and medical associations have different ideas and parameters for what blood sugar ranges we should have.  A non-diabetic's blood sugar will rarely get over 140 and that would only be after a meal heavy in carbs like at Thanksgiving (potatoes, yams, gravy, stuffing, pies - all carbs).  Cutting way down on carbs will help keep your blood sugar lower.  Some doctors will be satisfied if you keep your blood sugar 'lower' than it is now but in reality that would be higher than a non-diabetic's.

There are many kinds of drugs for diabetics that work in different ways.  Some help with metabolism.  Some help the pancreas produce more insulin.  Your needs determine what meds (if any) are necessary.  In difficult cases, an endocrinologist is the specialist to see.

If there is diabetes in your family, if you are overweight and not physically active and if you eat a lot of carbs, then it's very common to find high blood sugar.  Some people have been successful at your point in controlling their blood sugar by losing weight (but I have no idea if you need to), engaging in regular, sustained exercise and cutting way down on carbs.

I always recommend The Diabetes Solution by Dr. Richard Bernstein because it is a book that explains the disease (types 1 and 2), medications, lifestyle, testing and food.  It even has recipes.

Also, this website has all the information you need as well: http://www.bloodsugar101.com/

Finally, read the stickies at the top of our forum for more information.

I know this might be a lot to chew on at one time, so take one bite at a time.    And ask any questions you want!

I do not have full-blown diabetes (yet) but I have been monitoring my fasting blood sugar every morning for the past 5 years. I learned that one simple can of soda will elevate my fasting glucose for several days. There is no doubt in my mind that if I continued with drinking soda then I would be diabetic by now.

But I learned other things too. For example coffee doesn't seem to affect my blood sugar much. I try to sweeten it with stevia instead of sugar, but even a packet or two of sugar doesn't seem to hurt much.

Besides soda I cannot not not eat candy made from high fructose corn syrup, which is in most candy but not in chocolate. I can eat moderate amounts of chocolate without too much damage.

What really, really, surprised me is that gluten in wheat raises my blood sugar. Later I found some research verifying that for some of us who are gluten sensitive that gluten (from wheat, barley, and rye), can raise one's blood sugar. The same amount of carbs from corn which doesn't have gluten actually seems to lower my blood sugar (don't ask me why). Some people have a similar problem with dairy.

I recommend monitoring your fasting blood sugar each day and see what you discover.

I think when patients have only moderately elevated blood sugar their doctors sometimes like to have a wait-and-see plan. They want to see IF the patient will change his diet and lifestyle and IF that will translate into lower blood sugar (fastings and A1c). A healthy diet is one that is also considered heart-healthy: lower fatty food, more veggies, less salt. And they want to see more exercise. Then they'll do another round of lab tests to see if this is working. During that time, the patient should be recording his blood sugar on rising (fasting) and about two hours after eating. Of course your meter does record all that but if you have this in a notebook or on your computer, it's easier to read.

And while all this is pretty much standard, you can also be your own health advocate by learning more about diabetes. The Bernstein book and the website I mentioned in the first post are good places to start.

The value of recording your blood sugar (time, what you eat, etc.) is that it shows you how your body reacts to the food you eat. As Judy and Babe wrote, they eat different kinds of food that work for them. It may or may not be the same for you which is why logging what you eat and your blood sugar before and after will help you know what food will raise your blood sugar and what doesn't have much of an effect.

In general, carbohydrates raise a diabetic's blood sugar. However, if there's a lot of fiber in the carb then the blood sugar might be more drawn out rather than spiking immediately. Fats also seem to curb the spikes. (This doesn't mean mashed potatoes with their skins mixed with butter is going to give you great blood sugar readings. )

Exercise, like walking, biking, jogging, swimming, running, also helps control blood sugar as it helps use up the glucose running around in our system. Having more muscle does this too. This is where men have an advantage over women but we can all benefit from using weights to tone up.

So, good luck when you go back to the doctor. Ask him for literature on diabetes and if he thinks you should have a nutrition class. Show him your meter and your daily logs (if you're keeping any). And then, search for all the information you can yourself so you can understand what happens when you eat. And let us know how the doctor's visit goes, ok?

Best of luck, Pete! You've got the resources now at your fingertips and I hope you stay well!

Welcome to HealingWell, Kathnes. Please start a new thread and introduce yourself!