I went to Dr in 2001 for sinus and urinary tract, bladder, and kidney infection-- was told that since I was over 45, and overweight that I MIGHT POSSIBLY be a diabetic. A1C test was done in afternoon, not fasting in a.m. and it came back at 6.1. At this time I was a sugaraholic big time. I was told that level needed to be under 7.0 I questioned need for meds and was told it would be better to be safe than sorry. Advandamet was prescribed and taken for about 1 year. Had to get off if this-- made legs, joints, muscles increcidibly stiff and sore, had shortness of breath. I was sent in for stress test on heart and learned I was collecting water on the lungs. I was taken off of this and given glipizide er. Again experienced extreme tiredness,muscle weakness, joint stiffness. At one point I was sleeping at least 22 hours a day. At one point the whites of my eyes turned yellow for 2 days. I was sent for cat scan on abdomen and discovered my spleen was EXTREMELY enlarged with "babies" inside of it and attached to it. No explaination was given as to why they were there, what caused them or how to get rid of them--just to have it removed-----sought advice from anyone and everyone that I thought could tell me anything about it. About the only consensus I got was to be sure I wanted to live the rest of my life without it and how come nothing was found as to what caused this. I later read up on the glipizide er and it said that there was an increased mortality rate on this drug due to heart attacks. It also said that it could cause tumors in the spleen and liver, tiredness , weakness, joint pain and dark, orange colored urine. I have all of these symptoms as well as enlarged ankles due to swelling. My A1C number got up to over 8 at one point, i got a virus in April and did not take any blood pressure meds( was told it was too high at 130/70), thyroid or diabetic meds, I changed the levithroid to synthroid and that has helped tremendously, started the high blood pressure meds with no problems, had aic test redone and it was 7.6-- (I have eated more candy bars, had more colas and sweet stuff than i have had since 2001) My question is -- being that it came back at 6.1 to begin with and has gone down since i quit taking it --- do I really have diabetes at all? Is there any type of medication that does not caused all of these side effects. I dont mind taking meds if needed but it seems that the diabetic pills caused weight gain and water retention and so i had to take the blood pressure pills to negate effects of the diabetic pills. Is there anybody else that has had a similiar problem?

I personally would be wondering about just what prompted your doc to even TELL you that just because you are over 45 and overweight,that you "might possibly have diabetes???? is this an actual Dr?this just honestly seems ridiculous to me that he can actually make this percieved Dx and also place you on meds for it without really actually fully Dxing or confirming it??

I just really don't understand his reasoning with this when most docs will try and do everything for you to try and avoid having to place you on meds,espescially one that has appeared to cause you some major life threatening complications.is this doc getting some sort of 'kickbacks' from the drug co that makes the med he placed you on or what?

how have you actual blood sugars been running?i honestly would get the heck away from this doc and move onto one that actually appears to know how to properly Dx diabetes and treat appropriately if it actually turns out that you do really have it.

i really just do not understand your docs Rxed treatments.anytime you are questioning a dx or your docs practices,honestly,it is time to move onto a different doc.i would seriously start looking for a new one,today,well tomorrow after the holiday anyways.if i was in your shoes,i would NOT want your doc treating me at all.i have seen and had to move onto many different docs for my many medical conditions that have attacked me over the past few years just because of questionable practices or I didn't feel that they treated me with any actual respect of any kind.you don't have to stay with this doc for any reason and it would be totally within your rights as a patient to leave this doc in the dust and find another(not in the same exact practice as the current one)being treated all this time for a diabetic condition that you are not even sure you actually have is just crazy,really.this doc has caused you many many major medical problems from treating a condition that you probably do not even have.that is just plain scarey!

for the sake of your own health and peace of mind,start finding a new doc asap,really.you DO deserve better.I do hope you find another doc before this one actually kills you.i am serious here.start the process tomorrow and get yourself seen as quickly as possible for a full physical including bloodwork.and most definitely explain to your new doc about the actual practices of your old one.this guy should possibly not even be practicing medicine.

Just an FYI,call your current docs office tomorrow and tell them that you need copies of all of your medical records from this doc.if they ask just tell them they are for your own personal medical files(you really should be doing this anyway,it really is sooo helpful to have your own set of all records,including all er visits and any hosp stays too)but ask for a release of information sheet to be sent to you,or you can actually just go to the docs office and ask the receptionist for one and fill it out right there too.but all you have tyo do is just fill it out and sign it and send it back and in about a weeks time,your records from this clinic will be just sitting in your mailbox.you really really DO need to see what is in your actual file from this idiot.reading thru all of his little clinic notes that every doc has to make after every visit with every patient will tell you alot about what this doc thinking was regarding your "diabetes Dx"plus this offers you a bit more insight into just what this doc is actually thinking about you and your ongoing medical conditions.trust me,you will be rather amazed at all of the interesting things that you will find out just obtaining and actually reading all about yourself from another docs eyes.but you espescially considering this highly questionable Dx really do need to obtain your records.maybe you should actually get your hands on your records BEFORE you attempt to actually see a new doc,who knows what this doc might do if he knows his records on you are going to be gone thru by another doc,you know what I mean?it should only take about a week or so to get the records then you can actully make an appt with another doc.this will also be giving you that badly needed "second opinion" but with a doc who will hopefully know what the heck he is actually doing.once you actually set an appt with another doc,the new docs office will be contacting your old doc to obtain your medical records,so this is why you should probably wait til you get yours.

I do wish you luck with all this and hopefully you will not even have diabetes at all.if that actually turns out to be true,and that docs mis Dx of your condition led you to have to endure major medical problems because of the unnessescary treatment he gave you,well it might be time to contact a malpractice attorney.you will just have to wait and see.i don't normally tell anyone to actually sue sue sue,but in your particular case,and after all you have been thru.well.you know.

there really are sooo many really ridiculous malpracice cases going on out there that are actually so stupid they are almost laughable that someone would even attempt to actually sue a doc over,but you may truely be a victim here if this doc screwed up.just an FYI.i wish you luck and please keep me posted here on what happens,i really DO want to know what happens,K? hang in there and start the proces by calling your current docs office tomorrow or show up there and just ask for that release.FB

Diabetictoo,

Take a look at the post's on the DIABETIC thread...you will soon realize how 'ridiculous' your doctor is (if you want to call him that).

Good Luck!

I agee. would have to find another dr. My fasting yearly bloodwork 2 years ago came back with a 120 glucose reading. dr. did an A1C and it came back somewhere around 6.5. told me i had diabetes and we were going to try diet and exercise first. 2 1/2 years later my A1C which my dr. checks every 3-4 months is down to 5.7. check my sugars sporadically since they are usually normal unless i over eat the bad carbs or have to take steroids. I don't feel that you should have ever been put on diabetes meds at a 6.1 without trying diet first. I am still a little overweight but diabetes is under control. please see someone else and have a complete physical. dr.s crack me up. one won't treat anything and another prescribes, prescribes, prescribes.:confused:

..... My question is -- being that it came back at 6.1 to begin with and has gone down since i quit taking it --- do I really have diabetes at all?
We need t be careful not to get hung on the numbers. And not to confuse diagnostic benchmarks with traetment targets. "Normal" HBA1c is 4.3 - 4.8%. People without diabetes or insulin resistance will have an HBA1c in this range. But you are not diagnosed as being "Diabetic" until te HBA1c go es over 6%, by which time your blood sugars are way higher than "normal". And the treatment target for people who have already been diagnosed as diabetic is to keep the HBA1c below 7%.

So you HBA1c results strongly suggest that you are a diabetic. And the first thing you should be doing is cutting as much sugar and carbohydrate out of your diet as possible. An exercise program could also make a big difference. Together, these actions could be enough to normalise your blood sugars. If they don't medication would be the next step. But you need to consult an endocrinologist. It sounds like you have a number of other medical issues, which could also be causing your blood sugar to rise.

Cheers,

Mark ;)

"Normal" HBA1c is 4.3 - 4.8%.

I realize the lower the number the better but from my understanding here in the USA (where diabetictoo lives) it's more like...
FPG levels are considered normal up to 110(6.1).
Levels between 110 and 125 (6.1 to 6.9) are referred to as impaired fasting glucose.
They are only slightly above normal but are considered to be risk factors for type 2 diabetes and its complications.

*My morning reading are normally around 98-105 but for the past 2 days they have been slightly higher and I couldn't figure out why until last night when I developed a full blown earache.

Anytime my body is dealing with an illnesses or infection - my sugar goes beyond my 'normal' readings. I think diabetictoo is also dealing with 'other' health issues then just Diabetes.

PollyAnn

PollaAnn,

We are talking about different measurements. I was refering to glycated heamaglobin, which is a percentage figure. You referred to blood glucose measurements, which are in milligrams per decilitre (US) or millmoles per litre (rest of the world).

A normal random blood glucose reading is 83 mg/dl. Sure, you aren't diagnosed as a diabetic until your readings go over 110. But anything over 83 is still above normal. And, to minimise the chances of long term complications, the goal should be to achieve BG levels that are as near normal as possible.

Cheers,

Mark :p

A normal random blood glucose reading is 83 mg/dl.... And, to minimise the chances of long term complications, the goal should be to achieve BG levels that are as near normal as possible.
Mark, this is a terrible "target" for an Diabetic with UNSTABLE bGs: If you swing up/swing down very easily, you might suddenly find yourself driving along the freeway at 50mg/dL, feeling kinda sleepy and confused....

Not good. Death by accident, if you suffer it, is a very serious long term complication :(. When --> I <-- fall to 80mg/dL, it's DEFINITELY time to grab a couple of sugar tabs.

Definitely get another opinion..and also keep a glucometer handy. Check your sugar I'd say at least 2-3 times a day. I check mine in the morning, when I wake up, before supper and at bedtime. It's very important. And for anyone cutting back on sugar and carbs is very important.

A normal random blood glucose reading is 83 mg/dl. Sure, you aren't diagnosed as a diabetic until your readings go over 110. But anything over 83 is still above normal.

Mark1e, I understand the HBA1c is your overall blood glucose reading for the past 2-3 months. My last HBA1c was 5.4. down from 6.8 (I go for bloodwork every 3 months). A comfortable sugar reading for me is 95-100. At 83 - I can assure you - you'll find me on the floor!:dizzy:

PollyAnn

..... At 83 - I can assure you - you'll find me on the floor!:dizzy:
PolyAnn,

I know the feeling! It means that your system has become so accustomed to high blood glucose levels that alarm bells go when they are normal. Unfortunately, the fact remains - even slightly elevated blood sugars lead to long-term complications.

Mark, this is a terrible "target" for an Diabetic with UNSTABLE bGs: If you swing up/swing down very easily, you might suddenly find yourself driving along the freeway at 50mg/dL, feeling kinda sleepy and confused....
rickst29,

You are absolutely right, in that targets need to be realistic and achievable. The point is that, the closer the target is to normal (83mg/dl) the less likely long term complications are. My target range is 4-8 mmol/l (72 - 144 mg/dl) and my HBA1c is 6.5%. But I wish I could get it lower!

I am inspired by Richard Bernstein who, in addition to being an accomplished endocrinologist, has been a T1 diabetic for 60 years. His HBA1c is consistently 4.5%, which is "normal". Getting it this low has enabled him to reverse severe complications, which were the result of poor control during the first 30 years of being a T1.

Bernstein is adamant that near-normal BG is achievable for everyone and is waht we should all be aiming for. He gets his T2 patients to shoot for 85mg/dl and his T1 patients to shoot for 90mg/dl. These targets become realistic and achievable once the diet/insulin regimen have been sorted out.

Having said that, achieving those kinds of numbers is still a distant goal for me. I find the diet just too restrictive. And, all too often, life just gets in the way .... But we need to set ambitious goals.

Cheers,

Mark :yawn:

I am inspired by Richard Bernstein who, in addition to being an accomplished endocrinologist.

Aww, No doubt Dr Bernstein is a very brilliant and accomplished physician but...I find him a bit 'old school' and outdated.

I actually have a very good friend that has worked for him for many years and says he is not one to implement new methods and ONLY sticks to what he knows from the past. These days with new studies and findings, I think there are updated standards that need to be adapted.

PollyAnn