Possibly Pre-diabetic

Good luck with your testing. Seems like you already have enough on your plate Johanna, I'd hate for you to have to add diabetes to it, also.

Dear Johnna,

I forgot to mention that both of my mother's parents were diabetics. My mom was a diabetic. I had 4 sisters and one brother. My brother passed away young, and another one of my sisters was killed recently when walking across the road.

Of my remaining 3 sisters, one has type 2 diabetes, and one is hypoglycemic. She has problems with her blood sugar dropping dangerously low. I think that is what they call hypoglycemic, but do not quote me on it.

There was no diabetes on my father's side of the family.

My own son does not have it.

Again, please let us know how you make out.
Sincerely,
Judy

Dear Johnna,
It is a big disappointment I am sure that you had to delay your test.

I am also sorry that your husband is suffering from kidney stones.

You never mentioned what type of test you are having. Here are the most common ones I know of. Sometimes they just do the first two and then if these results indicate that something could be wrong they go for test # 3.

Here are the possible tests I know of:

1. Do you just have to fast for 12-14 hours and then bring in your first morning urine sample in a special sterile container?
2. Are they going to do a blood test, that looks at your sugar levels over the past six weeks or so?
3. Or are you having the fasting for 12-14 hours and then the 3 or 5 hour glucose tolerance test?
4. Are they going to do all of the above tests?
5. Is there some other new test out there that I am not familiar with?

I just wanted to mention that if you are going for test #3, it may be a good idea to wear a comfy track suit. Most likely the laboratory office will be air conditioned. You could wear a light top and shorts underneath, just in case, the office air conditioning is not working that day.
Also if you have a little shawl or small blanket you could bring that with you and a pillow. Bring some good light reading, like magazines,crossword puzzles, or paper to write a letter or a good book. Have a sweet snack and drink available for after the test and perhaps a sandwich with protein. Your blood sugar might be REALLY low after all the tests and you will need something like a couple of sweet cookies, or a couple of small chocolates, or glucose tablets that you can get at the drugstore, just ask the pharmacist. A drinking box of orange juice or apple, or a can of non diet pop might also be a good alternative. Bring a couple of bottles of water as well. You could also bring fruit. When the test is over you may feel very weak and shaky. Eat one of your snacks. Have some of the juice. You would only need about one half of a drinking box and one third of a non diet pop. Throw the rest of the drink out. You do not want to have sugar overload. Then drink your water. about 20 minutes after you have had some sugar to help you feel less weak, make sure you eat a protein snack. The protein is necessary to stabilize your sugars. Do not eat it right away though. Your body needs at least the twenty minutes to build up the insulin, so it can properly digest the protein.

Please note I am not a medical doctor. You may want to review this plan with your doctor or with the diabetic educators at your local hospital. Perhaps the lab will have something like this available for you.

I have gone for this test many times in my life. The very first time I had it, no one prepared me for how awful I would feel when the test was done. I left the lab and drove to the nearest Hasty Market, where I quickly bought myself some honey glazed donuts. I felt so weak, shaky and was starving, so I demolished those donuts in record breaking time.

I found that after they did the things they do when you first go in, I got bored. I was pretty much free for one hour. Every sixty minutes they would retest me. In between I had to just sit there and wait.
When you first go in, after having fasted, they will give you a sterile container to urinate into. Then they will take a couple of blood tests. Next you have to drink this special very sweet drink. I usually had to drink two bottles of this orange flavoured drink. Mine has never been carbonated. Then they will do a blood test and possibly a urine test every hour for the next three hours. Just one test every 60 minutes.

In between tests, you basically just sit there. If you are going on your own, it is nice to have something to read or do. I find I start to get sleepy, so the lab I go to allows me to lie down with my pillow and shawl or blanket. Then they just come and get me every 60 minutes. I do not go into a deep sleep, just rest. Once completed, unless I have someone to drive me home, I stay at the lab for at least another half hour whilst I have my snack, to bring up my sugar, and then the protein for stabilization and lots of water.

That is how the test is done for me. You may want to find out exactly which test you are having, and ask if the lab will allow you to bring a pillow, and snacks for after etc. If you can get someone to drive you and stay with you that would be great. If not maybe someone could just drive you there and pick you up.

Now if you are just having test #1 or # 2 you will not need to do all this, but you still may want to have a small snack with you. ALL of the tests usually require you to fast anywhere from 10 to 14 hours. Make sure you do follow the rules regarding fasting, do not even have coffee. Even if you have black coffee, I have been told it may interfere with your results. Hopefully your doctor will also order a cholesterol test at the same time. This test requires fasting also, so it would be a good idea to get this test over with at the same time.

Please remember that I am not a doctor, so verify this information with someone like your doctor, the diabetic educators at the local hospital, or the lab technicians.

Take care and let us know which test you are going to have and how you and your husband make out. The tests sound worse than they actually are. They really are no big deal, but it is good to be prepared.
Wishing you all the best,
Judy/effie