New to Type 2 Diabetes / Insulin Levels

[Ed1944]

I am new to Type 2 Diabetes and have a questions on fasting insulin levels and a couple more.

On the last two months my Fasting Glucose was 115/125 Mg/DL and my fasting insulin levels were 36/32 UIU/ml. The Ha1c on the first occasion was 6.4.

Currently taking Advandamet 1/500 twice a day. No sugar sodas, no added sugar to my food.

Is that level of insulin level slightly or highly high?
How long can you go being non insulin dependent?
Is it advisable to check your blood sugar, say once a day at the same time?

Regarding the last question my doctor did not seem that it would be necessary at the present. It would be interesting though to see what your levels are, on how you feel. Sometimes my body acts like it is low in blood sugar but it turned out high. I would be sure I was in a sugar low. But it wasn't the case.

What happens if my insulin for some reason will not let the cells absorb gloucose?

ed

[Mark Munday]

Originally Posted by Ed1944

Is that level of insulin level slightly or highly high?
How long can you go being non insulin dependent?
Is it advisable to check your blood sugar, say once a day at the same time?

Ed,

You haven't got an answer from an expert yet. So here goes.

I am not a doctor. And I am a Type1 Diabetic. So I don't know a lot about Type 2. But having been insulin dependent for 27 years has given me some useful insights. And you may find comments from my perspective interesting.

Your blood sugar is high enough for you to be classed as diabetic. But it isn't that bad. Sounds like the problem has been identified early on. Which is great because you will be able to make a real difference by managing the condition actively.

The normal fasting insulin range is 5-25. So your level of 36 is a bit on the high side. And it suggests that you are insulin resistant, and is probably why you have been put on Avandamet. But, having said that, much higher insulin levels, like 90, are not uncommon. So things could be a lot worse.

You have a window of opportunity now. By normalising your blood sugars, you can prevent the potentially very nasty long term complications. If you eliminate the insulin resistance and normalise your blood sugars, you shouldn't ever have to inject insulin. It will take work. But it is achievable.

At this stage, the more often you test the better. More than anything else, you need information to be able to manage your diabetes. Information about how food affects your blood sugar. Only then will you be able to make eating choices that keep ypour blood sugars in the target range.

Testing once a day won't tell you very much. Initially, you should test before eating (to get the baseline reading), one hour after eating (to see how high the food you have eaten pushes your blood sugar), and two hours after eating (to see how quickly your blood sugar comes down again). This might sound like a lot of testing. But it will provide you with valuable info.

You will probably find that your blood sugar spikes after meals. And, for much of the rest of the time, it is close to normal levels. Your challenge initially is to eliminate the spiking effect. And your main tool for doing that is by making appropriate food choices. You will probably discover that the white carbs, rice, potatoes, pasta and bread, really push up your blood sugars.

Reducing and leveling out the carbohydrate load should go way to normalising your blood sugars and reducing you insulin resistance. Consider going on a low-carb, or at least a reduced carb diet. Excercise will also reduce your insulin resistance.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Mark

[vinny1957]

Mark,
Thank you for your post to Ed, it was most informative. I too might be type 2 diabetes (numbers much like Ed's) and was confused about them.

Thanks again.

[arkie6]

Excellent post Mark. Very good info there.

The only additional thing I might suggest is for Ed to get a copy of "Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution", which is available at most bookstores and many libraries. This book is an excellent diabetes reference and covers many of the points that Mark discussed in the previous post.

One other thing. Ed, if you haven't already done it, read through the many postings here in the Diabetes forum at Healthboards over the past year or so (you may have to change the Display Options at the bottom of the page to see messages older than 75 days). You can learn a lot from just reading these threads. The search function is also very useful.

Alan

[Weaver]

Good information, guys.

Let me pass on something I heard about testing last week in a diabetes class.

They recommend pattern testing. You test before breakfast and 2 hours later on Monday, Tuesday-before and after lunch, Wed-before and after dinner, Thurs-before breakfast and before bedtime. Friday,you start repeating the pattern.

This pattern gives your doctor the information he/she needs to see when your BG levels are spiking or dipping. A few weeks of this and you have some good statistics. Much better on the fingers than those who want you to do tests before and after meals every day.

Good Luck,

J