Neuropathy and pre-diabetes? - Neuropathy Message Board

Robbysmom · 01-29-2009, 09:43 AM

Hi Everyone,
I'm new at the neuropathy board, docs were checking me for MS..that still continues, but now I have a new neuro and he discovered I have neuropathy in my hands and feet (I knew something was wrong there but couldn't put a name to it until now).
He thinks it may have to do with pre-diabetes. I am confused by this, as my blood tests always come out fine, and I thought that was how you could tell you had diabetes?
Has anyone had an experience like this, and what was the outcome, if you don't mind sharing.

Have a great day!
Robbysmom

Aussie100 · 01-29-2009, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbysmom

Hi Everyone,
I'm new at the neuropathy board, docs were checking me for MS..that still continues, but now I have a new neuro and he discovered I have neuropathy in my hands and feet (I knew something was wrong there but couldn't put a name to it until now).
He thinks it may have to do with pre-diabetes. I am confused by this, as my blood tests always come out fine, and I thought that was how you could tell you had diabetes?
Has anyone had an experience like this, and what was the outcome, if you don't mind sharing.

Have a great day!
Robbysmom

Prediabetes was the cause of my neuropathy, did your neuro request a glucose tolerance test or insulin level test to come to this conclusion ? the prognosis can be good if the prediabetes can be reversed but it does take time for the nerves to heal.
good luck
Aussie

Robbysmom · 01-29-2009, 04:10 PM

Hi Aussie,
That's the thing, my blood tests are fine. I think my neuro is either reaching for an answer (which I appreciate, at least he's trying!) or he's thinking it's something way worse and doesn't want to freak me out.
Have you ever heard of anyone with normal bloodwork having prediabetes? I will say that my last glucose test was about 6 points over the high normal, but that doesn't sound like prediabetes to me!
Thanks for the reply.
Robbysmom

Aussie100 · 01-29-2009, 04:42 PM

Hi again, depends on how your glucose levels were tested, an overnight fasting glucose test is pretty useless yet a lot of doc's still do it, because your allowed many hours for glucose levels to settle back down again, were as the 2 or 3 hour Glucose tolerance test puts your system under real stress at the time to see how it reacts to the very sugary drink, an insulin blood level test can show higher than normal insulin levels even before prediabetes presents itself.

It's really best to have the insulin levels tested at the same time as glucose levels are tested in the glucose tolerance test.

Aussie

Aussie100 · 01-29-2009, 04:50 PM

Hi again, depends on how your glucose levels were tested, an overnight fasting glucose test is pretty useless yet a lot of doc's still do it, because your allowed many hours for glucose levels to settle back down again, were as the 2 or 3 hour Glucose tolerance test puts your system under real stress at the time to see how it reacts to the very sugary drink, an insulin blood level test can show higher than normal insulin levels even before prediabetes presents itself.

It's really best to have the insulin levels tested at the same time as glucose levels are tested in the glucose tolerance test.

Aussie