I was dx'd last week as being reactive hypoglycemic and pre-diabetic. Is this possible?? The rx my endo. doc has given me is for Actos. My concern with the Actos is that I read that it helps lower your blood sugar if your a diabetic. If my blood sugar is already low afer I eat a meal then wouldn't the Actos make it lower????? Please help! I need to start on some med's but I am worried about taking this one in particular. Thanks!!!

Kandi http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Taken alone, Actos does not generally result in hypoglycemia. It is a medication used to get your body to use the insulin it already produces.

Being a type 1 myself, I can tell you that there is alot of information to learn about diabetes. You need to know what each medication does. This means talking to the Dr until you understand no matter how long that visit might take. I would call and find out why exactly you were given this medication and what exactly is the medication supposed to do. From everything I have read, unless you are having occasional high blood sugars, this is not the right medication for you. Good luck

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Mindy :o)

Mindy, thanks for your reply! I talked to my doctor's office and the nurse told me that I am hypogylcemic and pre-diabetic. I asked her how that was possible and she told me I just am. I am not sure what to think of that! She did tell me that the Actos was to regulate my blood sugar and to help my insulin do what it is supposed to do. My pancreas creates too much insulin and therefore I have become insulin resistant. Does any of that make sense because I am a little confused as to whether I am taking the correct medicine or not. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/confused.gif

Thanks!!!!

[This message has been edited by Kandi76 (edited 09-30-2003).]

At least for type II diabetes it is very common to have a period of low blood sugar before the diabetes begins. I can't remember why that happens but it is the usual course of the disease.

Well, upon further thinking, her reasons do make sense. Alot of Dr's will consider someone pre diabetic anytime they have a problem with their blood sugars. I guess it would indicate that things arent working properly whether the problem is hypoglycemia or high blood sugars. I guess the Actos works with the body to help the pancreas function properly.

If that is the case, I would start taking the medication and watch my diet. That way you know that your blood sugars are staying as close to normal as possible. Good luck

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Mindy :o)

Thanks for your replies! I started taking the Actos already. I guess it will take a while to get into my system and start working properly though. I have changed my diet and for the past week I have felt a lot better! Just cutting out sugar and cutting back on carb's has made a HUGE difference already and that was before the Actos. I am really hoping to be able to reverse this. I don't know if that will be possible but I am willing to try. It is good to know that there are people out there who are concerned and have advise to give. I find sometimes you can learn just as much from someone who has shared similar experiences than from some doctors. Does anyone know if the risks involved with Actos are real high... I mean I know about the risks involved..liver problems etc., but I was wondering satistic wise how often anything serious develops from taking Actos long term. Thanks!! http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Actos is very safe if you don't have any serious heart or kidney problems, people who have heart and kidney disease need careful consideration before being prescribed Actos. My mom has been taking it since it was released with great results (combined with Glucophage and Prandin). BTW, I was also having awful periods of hypoglycemia before developing diabetes. I thought it was panic attacks until my mom was with me, gave me a glucose tablet and "diagnosed" me (of course I had that confirmed with a doc later). Take care

ono1, thanks for your reply! Well that is good to know that your mom has done so well on it. Hopefully it will help me just the same. Funny though that you mentioned you thought you were having panic attacks when it first started out. All last year I had "panic attacks" well I guess that what they were. I am wondering now if I was at the begining of becoming hypoglycemic and didn't know it. My arms and legs used to hurt and ache. I would get real bad pins and needles in my arms for no apparent reason. I had heart palpitations all the time. All the doctors I saw told me it was all in my head and not to worry about it. However I kind of knew deep down something was wrong, I just didn't know what. I guess it is possible I have been hypoglycemic for a while. Based on your symptoms though did you ever get nauseous and real fatigued just out of the blue? I get that way sometimes...mainly in the afternoon and early evening hours. Is that because I need to eat?

Kandi http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Those with true hypoglycemic often become diabetic. So I think your doctor is correct. I am not however convinced that Actos is the best drug for you. Actos essentially bypasses the effect of insulin. It is very similar to Avandia and the annimation at the link below shows how it works.
http://www.avandia.com/right_for_you/aairesistance/iranimation.jsp

It could make your hypoglycemia worse. A person with hypoglycemia at another forum I frequent has been helped with metformin. You may want to ask your doctor about it compared to Actos. Incidentally Actos takes about 6 weeks to take full effect. I did not have hypoglycemia but I tried Actos. It caused me to have have hypoglycemia about two hours after eating.

Overall I would say there are fewer side effects with metformin compared to Actos. Are you overweight? Actos is primarily intended for overweight people who have high resistance to insulin.

Ron