Hi everyone,

First of all, let me thank you for being so open with each other and so incredibly supportive. I've spent some time going through these diabetes boards and am both amazed and moved. So thank you for YOU! :angel:

My mother and her 3 sisters are diabetic. My nephew has juvenile diabetes. I'm overweight (yes, I'm working on it! :rolleyes: ) and have polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). In my last set of tests, which I have every year, my 8hour fasting glucose level (which was really 12hours, after sleep,etc) was 7.6. Normal levels, I believe are 4.5-6.5 or so. I can't recall as I type this. LOL Anyway, obviously the alarms went off with my obygyn who wanted me to go see another doctor to start management. No problem. Great idea.

Now, as part of my PCOS, treatment to regulate my cycles includes taking metformin/glucophage. Yes, a diabetic treatment used for this reproductive problem is quite normal. So, two days after this 7.6 reading I started my regime of metformin for the PCOS anyway. I went to see the new doctor who kind of laughed and said "Well, we'd be putting you on metformin anyway, so you're kidn of killing two birds with one stone here!" So this is all terrific.

I was told to start monitoring my sugar 4 times a day for the next couple of weeks. I noticed that even on the metformin I'm waking up with levels around 6.6. Before dinner I'm normally around 5.2-6.2. Seems to be okay.

I guess my question is more of my "babbling" to see what your experiences are. If you have taken metformin to help you, but you still see levels that are on the higher end of normal, could this mean that without it you'd basically be higher, as a logical conclusion? I guess it makes me think "wow, if I don't take this metformin my number would be much higher!

This doctor doesn't want to label me as truly diabetic until we do this few weeks of testing 4 times a day (followed by a couple of weeks of testing 2hours after every meal..to establish my patterns) but he's figuring that I'm probably either "just shy of" diabetic, if not diabetic.

Considering the number of diabetics in my family and how involved in their treatment I am, you'd think I'd be more at ease with all this -- but now that it's actually ME, I guess I'm a little freaked out.

Thank you for listening to my rambling on. It just feels really good to be able to talk this all out. :wave:

Marie

It is totally natural to be emotional when it comes to your own health. We can see others who have the same condition but it doesn't hit us the same as when we have it ourselves.

Yes, the logical conclusion is that your blood sugars woulbe higher without the glucophage. I had a hysterectomy a year and a half ago but before that, I had PCOS and endometriosis so I can totally relate.

There is a blood test you can get called the A1c where you can find out what your blood sugar averaged over the past 3 months. I would continue to take your blood sugars now and mention the test when you go back in.

HTH

I guess my question is more of my "babbling" to see what your experiences are. If you have taken metformin to help you, but you still see levels that are on the higher end of normal, could this mean that without it you'd basically be higher, as a logical conclusion? I guess it makes me think "wow, if I don't take this metformin my number would be much higher!

Hi Marie, Welcome to the boards. I will share my opinion with you, but remember, it is JUST an opinion. Your numbers point to T2 diabetes, but they are not through the roof. I personally think that its healthier in this scenario to attempt to control WITHOUT the medication if at all feasable. Doctor's have a tendency to automatically start people on meds for several reasons -1. They are trained and conditioned to do it, and 2. They don't believe most patients have the dicipline to make necessary lifestyle changes.

For me, the most difficult time I had controlling my glucose was ON medication. After 5 weeks I begged my doctor to let me try controlling through diet and excercise because the meds were making me SOOOOO sick. I was successful, but meticulous in my approach.

So in answer to your question, just because the Metformin seems to be lowering your numbers slightly DOES NOT mean that your numbers would necessarily be higher without the Metformin. There are so many variables.

The biggest factor I see is that typically people who rely on medication for control have a tendency to not follow as "tight" a diet. I think a better approach is to attempt the natural methods first - improve diet, increase excercise, focus on liver detocification. Then, if you still don't have results, go on medication. You will find that approaching your health naturally will have an impact on ALL of your health problems, not just diabetes.

I recommend that you speak to your doctor about any and all approaches to your condition.