Hi there,

I had posted here before back in August but under Thyroid issues. Well I finally went to the Endocrinologist...After throuogh tests she had run, it has been determined that I have PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome), high cholesterol she is also leaning towards type II diabetes. She was a great endo dr, i am glad that I FINALLY found someone that doesn't think that I am crazy and depressed all the time. So, after these tests, she has told me that I need to go on a diet of 1800 calories per day, exercise and also has prescribed Gluophage XR for me to take. I started taking it last night and it has given me diarrhea (which she said it would be a side effect). She mentioned that for my age 31 and weight 192 ( i am 5'8 inches tall) that i should not have a cholesterol that is 228 (it went up from 208 in Feb 2004) blood sugar level in my blood. For now, she has placed me on this medication for one to 2 months, she wants to see me back in a month and she will let me know how it is working. She mentioned she will run more blood work.
Does anyone know how long people are usually on the meds, is this a rest of my life thing, or only till it's controlled. I am really stressed about being told this diagnosis. Please if someone could give me some advice?
I am relieved that a dr took the time to help me figure this problem out instead of prescribing me more antidepressants. But then again, i am scared.

Hi Deanna, Welcome to the board... Its great that you have found a doctor that will work with you and that you are comfortable. I am also glad that she did not instruct you to cut calories too dramatically. Doctors don't typically give great dietary advice. I'll go further to say that often diet advice given to T2 diabetics is "loose" and unclear.

You need to do more than just limit your calories to 1800 per day. There are specific strategies you can apply to your diet that will help you gain control of your diabetes and your cholesterol. I happen to be one of those people that believes you owe yourself an opportunity to see if you can approach this without the meds. Don't misunderstand - I am not telling you to not take the glucophage, and in fact, I don't even know what your glucose readings are like. I am suggesting that you consider making dramatic lifestyle changes with the ultimate goal of not taking the medication. And of course you should discuss this with your doctor. MOST T2 diabetics are able to control their condition with diet and excercise.

I am in the process of preparing a response to Sam061 (on this board) and it will provide you with some additional detailed information that will be helpful. I will also modify that response based on your numbers, but It won't be until later this evening or tomorrow.

How long you need to stay on the meds is based on a lot of factors - Will your body respond positively to changes in diet and excercise? Do you have the determination to follow a plan precisely? Are you amongst the 10% of T2 diabetics that cannot control without meds?

I started on meds when I was first dxd. The meds made me sicker than the diabetes. I was determined to find a better way, I did, and it worked.

Stay tuned...

Deanna, I just posted my response to Sam in the thread "Explain Tight Control" It's a VERY long response (3 separate posts). Check that out and let me know if you want help modifying the numbers for your specific needs.

hey there.. well i know a lot of diabetes II so hopefully some of this info will give u a hand :)

first .. some people do " defeat" type II diabetes. ( defeat as in they are no longer on the medications and can keep there numbers in the normal range) so to answer your question.. no if u are determined to beat diabetes u will not be on the glucophage forever. about your side affect.. u can always ask ur doctor if there is an alternative drug that has the same affect that u can use to lessen the side affects. ( if u have only been taking the medication for a day u could also try letting ur body get used to it.. then deciding if u want to switch medicatinos)

well i hope u have found this helpful! good luck!

There are two separate but related things going on here to keep in mind. You have PCOS (so do I) and a regular treatment regime for PCOS to help control and regulate your cycles and ovulation is the glucophage. Your endo may keep you on it for months or years to treat the symptoms of PCOS. Keep an eye on your cycle length and start charting your ovulation if you can - becuase the glucophage does help. SInce many with PCOS have fertility problems, glucophage is used to help lower your sugar (as pcos gals are insulin resistant) and does wonders in that department.

Add to that the fact you may have high sugar anyway (pcos gals have a high rate of type 2 diabetes) the glucophage would be used to treat the sugar levels for that...........so you're kind of killing two birds with one stone.

While managing your type2 without glucophage could possibly be done, remember that part fo the reason you're on it is for your pcos. The med is doing double duty here.

Your symptoms with the glucophage will subside, don't worry - and you'll probably find some great things happening with your pcos symptoms. I'm on glucophage for my pcos MAINLY and now that I'm type2, the glucophage is gonig to do do double duty and handle that as well. Remember that pcos gals do best on a lower carb diet for weight loss, and definitely need the exercise.

I really hope to remain on glucophage for life. I'm serious! My pcos has never been in such great control than when managed with it. Great monthly cycles, great energy, lowering of a lot of the symptoms....it's fabulous! I take 500mg 2x per day.

Your endo will probably monitor you and see how you're doing, of course.

marie

Thanks for posting responses. I have been in a state of anxiety over this since I was diagnosed. I hope that the Glucophage XR does work, currently I am only on 1 500mg per day...I can't tell if it's working or not though, Banjomama, did you notice a difference? If so, how long did it take?
I go back to see the dr on 11/05 and she is going to recheck my blood levels and hopefully tell me if its working.

D

HI there,

Sorry I was away for a few days.

I definitely noticed a difference right away, but again,I'm on 500mg twice a day. My readings are slightly higher if I don't take them (which happened over the weekend due to travelling and forgetting to pack them!) If you are taking glucophage for PCOS, you may want to ask your doc if you should be taking more. Most pcos gals take at least 1000mg/day ..some as high as 2000mg. But it's very individual. As for how long it took before I noticed a change in my cycle, it took a couple of months. Again, it's individual. You may see good things shortly or in months. Most docs will up your dose if you dont' see your cycle improving on the lower dose. So as you can see, glucophage is handling two situations, your pcos and your diabetes.

Good luck!
:bouncing:
marie

Well, wanted to give an update....

I have been taking Glucophage XR 500mg once per day and have not noticed a difference. Am I supposed to be feeling different? Or How can I tell that my sugars have been going down? I go on friday to the dr for a followup, she will more than likely do blood then...

Do you test your glucose at home? That would be the way to know if the meds are working. When I was first diagnosed my dr gave a referral to Diabetes Educator - it was a 1-hour consultation where she went over EVERYTHING I needed to know about being a diabetic. The session included a free glucose meter (of my choice) and a lesson on how and when to test. Then I had to get a perscription for additional testing strips from my dr because the meter only came with 10. Most meter manufacturers will provide their meter for free - because they make all their money on the strips.

As far as how you feel - you may or may not feel different on the meds, but how you feel is all relative. In terms of things to watch for - if you are having any low-blood sugar symptoms you need to document that - that is often a sign that your meds and/or your diet need to be modified. Also if you are having any other symptoms that you are not comfortable with like depression, hunger, anxiety, physical discomfort, etc.

I am assuming that your dr is only rechecking your fasting glucose level - there is really no point in rechecking the HA1C yet - that should be retested in January to see improvements. Also, don't be surprised if you do not see dramatic changes this quickly. Diabetes is typically not controlled in just 1 month - it can take months of adhering to lifestyle changes before you will see a positive impact on your health. What are you doing in terms of diet and excercise?

Thank you so much for responding JDimassimo...

Nope, i haven't been told to test my glucose yet, she just ran a bunch of blood tests, then sttd that I have PCOS and Type 2 diabetes and prescribed Glucophage. So, i don't really know if my levels flucuate and when during the day. I have been trying to do some research on this Diagnosis on the web and came up w/alot of useful info. She has put me on a 1800 AMA diet, watching for sugars and such, she has told me to exercise, but I haven't really stuck to that a whole lot. I don't like to exercise. I am not too overweight, 5'8 192 lbs.....My BMI is 28....

It is so important for you to monitor your blood sugar. Get an Accucheck or blood sugar machine. The closer you can keep your blood sugar to a normal range 90- 110 will be so much better for you. Check it before you eat meals and at bedtime. Find out all the ways sugar is in your food, starches, sweets and try to stay on the diabetic diet.

I am kind of stunned myself, because I am thinking that I may be diabetic. I have recently had symptoms of frequent urination, but thought, I am just getting older. I am 42 yrs old, 5 ft 7 and weigh 185 lbs. I kind of feel like you right now.
I am going to check my fasting sugar in the morning. I checked it this afternoon 2 hrs after eating supper and it was 183.

So, my hope is that with weight loss, and proper diet I will be able to change the diabetic state. Other people have done it before.

Read all the information you can find about diabetes. And monitor your blood sugar level.

Let me know how you are doing!

Check it before you eat meals and at bedtime.Actually, this is not the recommended testing schedule for a T2 that is not injecting insulin. A T2 really needs to check before meals AND 2 hours post-prandial. This is the only way you can see your body's glucose response to the foods you eat.

Unfortunately some insurances limit the use of testing strips to 2 or 4 times per day. If this is the case, a rotation schedule is recommended. On a rotation, you would test twice per day, wrapped around 1 meal. For example, on Monday test fasting and then 2 hours after the start of your breakfast. On Tuesday test before lunch and 2 hours after the start of lunch. On Wednesday test before dinner and 2 hours after the start of dinner. And then repeat the cycle.

When my doctor first wrote the perscription for the testing strips he only ordered enough for 4 tests per day. By default the instructions stated "before meals and at bedtime." But I had been given different instructions verbally. When I asked my doctor he told me that the "before meals and at bedtime" instructions are for T1 diabetics or those who inject insulin. He added that those are standard instructions are placed on the label by the pharmacy.

Also, I asked my doctor to write the perscription for 6 tests per day so I could test around each meal. Turned out my insurance company didn't care. I payed the same $20 copay for a 100 strip supply as for a 50 strip supply as long as the doctor requested more frequent testing!

Actually, this is not the recommended testing schedule for a T2 that is not injecting insulin. A T2 really needs to check before meals AND 2 hours post-prandial. This is the only way you can see your body's glucose response to the foods you eat.

Unfortunately some insurances limit the use of testing strips to 2 or 4 times per day. If this is the case, a rotation schedule is recommended. On a rotation, you would test twice per day, wrapped around 1 meal. For example, on Monday test fasting and then 2 hours after the start of your breakfast. On Tuesday test before lunch and 2 hours after the start of lunch. On Wednesday test before dinner and 2 hours after the start of dinner. And then repeat the cycle.



Thanks for letting me know! I didn't know that. I knew at we usually were to check sugar before meals and at bedtime. You are right, we really should know what the response is. The fasting and 2 hrs after a meal.

Well, I have an update. I checked my fasting blood sugar this morning and it is 161. I am upset! It confirms the tests last night. I took a random test and it was 181.

I have a question for those of you with diabetic experience. Can I just try to control my diet right now, no sugar, exercise and see if the blood sugar will lower? I am really in a state of disbelief at this time. Or do I really need oral medicine to go on and lower the BS?

I really would like some advice. Thanks.

I have a question for those of you with diabetic experience. Can I just try to control my diet right now, no sugar, exercise and see if the blood sugar will lower? I am really in a state of disbelief at this time. Or do I really need oral medicine to go on and lower the BS?

I really would like some advice. Thanks.I am a T2 diabetic who is not on meds and controlling with diet and excercise. My fasting glucose is consistantly 90 and my 2 hr pp is in the range of 100-115. My HA1C is now 5.0.

There is a very thorough post on my regimin and "rules" I have established for myself. The name of the post is "Explain Tight Control" and here is the link:

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=213548
If you read this, please remember that the specific numbers in this post were calculated for another individual. Your calories, carbs, etc would need to be determined based on your body and your health.

I believe that the key to my success is precision. Yes, there is a lifestyle change, but once you follow a plan like this, you can get quite used to it. It may seem complex in the beginning, because you measure and weigh portions and calculate macronutrient values. But once you learn how to eat to control your condition, it actually becomes simple. You may need to break some eating habits - for example a common habit many people have is eating a carb-heavy breakfast that lacks protein. I can honestly say that following this diet, cooking, eating, and shopping has actually become simpler, not harder!

The bottom line is that cutting out sugar may help somewhat, but there is much more to gaining control than that. Not only do you need to regulate your glucose levels, but as a diabetic, you need to maintain your overall health and protect your vital organs.

I am a T2 diabetic who is not on meds and controlling with diet and excercise. My fasting glucose is consistantly 90 and my 2 hr pp is in the range of 100-115. My HA1C is now 5.0.

There is a very thorough post on my regimin and "rules" I have established for myself. The name of the post is "Explain Tight Control" and here is the link:

http://www.healthboards.com/boards/showthread.php?t=213548
If you read this, please remember that the specific numbers in this post were calculated for another individual. Your calories, carbs, etc would need to be determined based on your body and your health.

I believe that the key to my success is precision. Yes, there is a lifestyle change, but once you follow a plan like this, you can get quite used to it. It may seem complex in the beginning, because you measure and weigh portions and calculate macronutrient values. But once you learn how to eat to control your condition, it actually becomes simple. You may need to break some eating habits - for example a common habit many people have is eating a carb-heavy breakfast that lacks protein. I can honestly say that following this diet, cooking, eating, and shopping has actually become simpler, not harder!

The bottom line is that cutting out sugar may help somewhat, but there is much more to gaining control than that. Not only do you need to regulate your glucose levels, but as a diabetic, you need to maintain your overall health and protect your vital organs.

Thank you so much for your response! I will immediately read it and begin a diet like that! I have so much to learn! I am so encouraged by your success! Do you think I need to contact doc to get oral med to lower Blood sugar? Or do you think I will be ok if I monitor my blood sugar and follow diet to get it lowered? I really don't want diagnosis on my chart right now.

I really don't think testing before a meal is important for a type 2 diabetic. I would always have a normal fasting level before meals. It is much more important to know how food affects you by measuring 1 and 2 hours after a meal. You soon learn what you can eat and don't have to measure as often.

I really don't think testing before a meal is important for a type 2 diabetic.I disagree.

If the pre-meal test is 150 and the 2 hour pp is 150 then it may or may not be that specific meal causing the high glucose level. It would certainly be reason to believe that there are other factors contributing to the high glucose levels.

On the other hand, if the pre-meal test is 90 and the 2-hour PP is 150, that is a sure sign that the meal caused the spike. I believe the pre- and post-tests are crucial if the goal is "tight control."

It's really important to understand that food is NOT the only thing that causes glucose levels to elevate.