Hello, I posted a question about being Impaired Glucose Tolerance back at the end of March. I am now being told by my Doctor that after having more blood work done I have to be put on Glucophage XR...500 mg. I am supposed to start taking them in 2 weeks after I finish taking Augmentin for being sick. She says I am in the early stages of Diabetes. I am told this is Type II, anybody out there that can pass along any advice, feel free. I am still trying to take all of this new information in. I have started changing the way I eat (by cutting out sugars and salt) and also getting alot more excersise to help. I have already lost 10 pounds in the last 3 weeks and hope to lose more. I am trying to also eat smaller portions and eat more often then what I was eating. I find it hard sometimes with my schedule for work and just life in general. If anybody is taking Glucophage XR 500 mg and can tell me if anything you have read sounds similiar please let me know. Thanks, Peggy

Hi Peggy:

I checked back to your original post to refamiliarize myself with your situation. I saw where your fasting glucose level qualified for a diagnosis of diabetes (over 126) and then you had a tolerance test. How did that turn out?

As I said in my answer to your post back then, starchy food such as bread, pasta, rice is often worse than sweets. My glucose level is always above normal 2 hours after a meal that includes a bagel.

You'll only be able to find out which foods are worse for you (they tell me its different with everyone) by home glucose testing. Has your doctor recommended that?

I think if you continue to lose weight and increase your activity level (it doesn't have to be formal exercise program, just walk more) you will notice improvement.

I'm very interested in this because I think I have impaired tolerance and see my doctor in a few weeks and wonder what he will say.

Chris

Hi Peggy,
Firstly I totally agree with everything Chris says and secondly, if you are just in the early stages of impaired glucose tolerance, I am a little bit suprised at your doctor putting you straight on to Glucopharge. To me it sounds like the patient sits down and the doctor takes out his pen and goes "right ..Glucopharge...NEXT!!"
It seems to me with your self motivation and power to diet and excercise (and all power to you) that he would at least have discussed this a little more fully and encouraged you to try these other things first. Not that I am suggesting that there is anything wrong with the med but it does, in my experience, tempt you into letting slip, even though they do emphasize that it should be taken in conjunction with a diet.
I am not an expert on this so please, anyone who thinks what I am saying is nuts, please correct me.
Anyway keep up the good work with the diet and excercise and you will do well.
Mike

Hi Mike:

I see my doctor in about 3 weeks and it will be very interesting to see what he says as he is very conservative when it comes to meds. My situation isn't exactly like Peggy's though because her fasting glucose level met the criteria for diagnosis while mine does not.

Chris

Hi Chris,

About the home testing, she wants me to start the medication and come back in about 4 weeks...then look into the home testing. Like I had stated I haven't started taking the glucophage xr yet, not till I am done with the antibodics. The funny thing is since being on the antibodics for my ear..I have started getting sicker. Does having the problem with my blood sugar have anything to do with my immune system ? It seems I remember her saying it did.

Mike, usually my doctor is not one to jump the gun and put me on medication, so I not sure why this time she is. It kind of scares me, like what I was doing with the diet and excersise just wasn't enough to help. I really feel very uneducated with the whole subject of diabetes...but I am trying to learn everything I can to educate myself. I am still going to do what I have been doing with the diet and excersise and see what happens when I go back in 4 weeks. Thanks for you responses.

Take care, Peggy

Hi Peggy:

The home testing really helps document which foods are bad and which are not so bad. (as far as elevating your bs goes) Even on meds, I understand that some foods will elevate your blood sugar more than others and the only thing you can do is limit or avoid them.

Last night at work I couldn't understand why my bs was still above normal at 3 hours after a salad and a meatball sub for dinner. I only ate half the roll and then realized that meat balls are probably full of bread crumbs :<(

How did the glucose tolerance test come out?

Remember, it is your right as a patient to get an explanation you can understand about why you are being put on this med.

Chris