Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Judith on September 15, 2010 at 6:49pm

All right. You've come to a good place for support and solid info.....Constant Vigilance is the name of the game for the scourge of Diabetes. And yes, gestational diabetes is often linked to developing the permanent Thing. So you are very right to insist on any lab tests you think necessary---we have all learned the hard way that we need to be our own advocates. Your A1c is good, but with the gestational D, I would definitely keep track of it.

Here at Tu D, explore all the wonderful, fulfilling ways you can lower your carb-intake---including enticements for your family to come along on the journey. But also meet senior members like Nel who can eat more carbs than many of us and do really well for many, many years. You will see quickly that frequent testing is the only way to figure out what works for your very personal body.

Stay in touch now and keep us posted! No question is out of bounds at TuD! When I joined as a newbie at 800 members, I had to inquire about how to test in public because as an old woman new to the protocols, I was clueless as to what to expect!......We all wish you and yours the best!.....Judith in Portland

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Melitta on September 15, 2010 at 9:01pm

Hi Jennifer: I would say you really should go to an endocrinologist as soon as possible, do not delay, and request a c-peptide and full-screen antibody testing (glutamic acid decarboxylase antibodies (GADA), islet cell antibodies (ICA), and insulinoma-associated (IA-2) autoantibodies), which is the gold standard for the diagnosis of Type 1 autoimmune diabetes. There is a form of gestational diabetes that is called "autoimmune gestational diabetes"--a recent article in the July 2007 issue of "Diabetes Care" indicated that autoimmune gestational diabetes (new onset Type 1 diabetes) accounts for about 10 percent of all Caucasian women diagnosed with gestational diabetes. In a recent study of Sardinian women (Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, 2008), 40 percent of women with GDM were antibody positive (GAD, IAA, and/or IA-2) and had autoimmune gestational diabetes. (Sardinia has the second highest prevalence of Type 1 diabetes in the world, after Finland).

It is important that you quickly determine what type of diabetes you have--if you have Type 1 diabetes, you should be on insulin, even at low doses. Quite a few women here on TuD developed Type 1 diabetes during pregnancy. Please reach out to them, including Kelly. Best of luck to you, and TuD is a great place to get support and learn a lot.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Flowerjen on September 16, 2010 at 10:38am

Thank you Melitta, I will probably follow your advice and requests these tests.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gerri on September 15, 2010 at 10:09pm

Welcome, Jennifer.

Sound advice & wonderful info from Melitta. I second her suggestion to get a referral to an endo. You've done beautifully controlling your BG, but it is creeping up. No doubt it wouldn't be as good if you were less dedicated. Thankfully, you've done a lot to not stress your beta cells.

The symptoms you mention were similar to mine when my BG was high, though I had no idea at the time what was causing them.

Did your GP just test TSH? If so, this doesn't give an accurate picture. Free T3 & free T4 are the tests needed to assess thyroid function. Since Vit D3 deficiency is widespread, this another good thing to have tested. The only blood test that can diagnose vitamin D deficiency is a 25-hydroxyvitamin D. It's recommended that levels be above 50 ng/ml (125 nmol/L) year-round.

Keep us posted.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Flowerjen on September 16, 2010 at 10:40am

Hi Gerri,

Yes, it was just the TSH...came back 2.8 which was right in the middle of the range.

There was a lab called Vitamin D 25 OH...sounds like the one you're talking about? Mine came back 32...the range was 30-100...I was going to ask about this since it was pretty low and I thought it could possible be the cause of me not feeling great. Thanks for bringing it up.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Gerri on September 16, 2010 at 10:57am

Hi Jennifer,

GPs only do TSH. TSH doesn't give the appropriate info.

Yes, that's the right D test. 32 isn't bad at all, but 50 is better. Vit D3 supplements are inexpensive.

bsc is right about endos dismissing us until things are out of control. Hopefully, you can find one who appreciates a proactive, informed patient. I've gone through three endos in two years & most people shop around until they find an endo who understands their goals.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Brian (bsc) on September 16, 2010 at 4:55am

While I really respect Melitta and Gerri, I gues I have to provide some counterpoint to their suggestions to going to the endo right away. You may be "dismissed" by the endo. Your HbA1c is only 5.7, which is just barely a "prediabetes" reading and the HbA1c can have some errors. A number of US labs these days have been currently found to have HbA1c errors of +/- 0.35%.

An alternate strategy would be to start home blood sugar monitoring. Get your current doctor to prescribe 3x a day testing, and start measuring your blood sugar first thing in the morning and 2 hours after a meal. If you are having blood sugar problems, it should be quite evident in those readings.

I commend you for getting on top of things, and Melitta and Gerri have given you prudent advice. But my experience seeing an endo for the first time with an HbA1c of about 6.?% was that I was dismissed as not needing his expertise. He would hear me out, I got no tests and at that first meeting he promptly "fired" me, saying I did not need his services, that there were patients with terrible blood sugar control who needed him more.

I am not saying that you shouldn't go see an endo, rather it might be good to collect the evidence on your condition first.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Flowerjen on September 16, 2010 at 10:41am

Thanks bsc, I totally get what you mean about my a1c not being high enough. My in-laws are both Type 2 (and not diligent!) and my sister in law is an RN...and they totally blow me off about a 5.7...

I do test at home, but I tend to be neurotic and doesn't seem worth it maybe. My fasting is always high 80's, low 90's. My 2hr post meals are usually under 140. If I eat very healthy, like salad and meat, it could be in the high 90's, low 100's. Last night I had eggplant parm with a little dreamfield pasta (a SMALL amount), and a heap of fresh green beans....and it was 118 2 hours later. I worry I am not eating enough though because I'm scared of a high reading.

I will definitely "make my case" before seeing and endo.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Cara on September 16, 2010 at 5:24am

Do you have an internist you can see? I'd just ask for the tests to see where you stand. GD have a good chance of developing type 2 down the road, and your concern is good. For peace of mind, get some blood tests run and if you can test now and then, do so.

Good luck!!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by The Diabetic Welfare Queen on September 16, 2010 at 6:06am

Hi Jennifer...

First off, let me tell you... that PCOS is basically an unrecognized form of Diabetes. If you have PCOS you may as well assume you have Diabetes.

Seriously.

One of the hallmarks of PCOS is hyperinsulinemia, and unfortunately, this only gets worse and worse with time. An a1c in the high 5's is never normal for one of us. It only means your body is making more and more insulin...

I know a lot of people will come and talk to you about Type 1, and all this stuff... but honestly, PCOS does not give a royal rat's ass (pardon the French) if you are skinny, or overweight. PCOS will start making you hyperinsulinemic, it will will start with time making you overweight, it will (unless you end up by random chance having an autoimmune attack) end up making you a Type 2 Diabetic, if you don't seriously watch it. And the ONLY way to watch it is with a low carbohydrate diet, or a low carbohydrate vegetarian or vegan diet... One of the two.

In PCOS, the body's fat stops working properly. You see, unlike most people believe, fat is not a passive element just sitting there, doing nothing. Fat is an organ; it makes hormones which interact with our body's other hormones, and help us maintain proper bodily functions. Fat makes a hormone called adinopectin. In us, women with PCOS, fat does not produce enough adinopectin and, therefore, there is no appropriate communication going on with the hormones leptin (which controlls hunger and satiety) and insulin (which metabolizes glucose.)

Because there is this miscommunication with our fat, our body produces MASSIVE amounts of insulin. These massive amounts of insulin bathe the ovaries, and they cause excessive androgen and testosterone production (facial hair, hair loss, infertility problems, enlarged ovaries, cysts in the ovaries, irregular or nonexistent periods, acne, mood swings and fluctuations including anger, pain around the pelvic area sometimes, skin tags, acanthosis nigricans or velveting and darkening of skin areas like the joints and neck, insulin resistance, and weight gain, etc.) The symptoms are endless.

You truly should lead the life of a Diabetic, NOW. Right now. I should know. I've had PCOS since I was a child, and NO ONE told me about any of this... and now I have Type 2 Diabetes.

I suggest going to an Endocrinologist who is specialized in both Diabetes, and PCOS, and a GOOD reproductive ob/gyn.

You will need to be, either on birth control pills or Clomid, or Metmorfin. (Yes, even if you were a Type 1, which I seriously doubt -- it's not impossible -- but it's a far shot in the dark -- you will still need to take Metmorfin because you will always have insulin resistance, due to the hyperinsulinemia. If you catch it now, you will avoid serious weight gain.)

I want to invite you to join our group, Women with PCOS and Diabetes. It is a private, moderated group in which we can talk about whatever we want, without needing to feel embarrassed about any of the more salient points of PCOS.

Welcome to our community... :) I'm gland you found us.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Flowerjen on September 16, 2010 at 10:46am

Thanks Lizmarie.

I haven't given the PCOS much thouht except when I was TTC. I guess since I don't exhibit any or the normal problems associated with it, on the outside. You taught me something I will keep in mind!

And I feel like I pretty much do live a diabetic lifestyle, although probably cheat a little more than if I was officially diagnosed.

Jennifer

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Natasha Bowlds on September 16, 2010 at 10:50am

I have a question for you then. I have a son with type 1 and no other autoimmune diseases in our families. However, my sister was diagnosed with PCOS a couple of years ago when she started trying to have children. She has never conceived despite going through fertility treatments. (That's not an issue anymore since she's adopted two kids) but my question for you is this: She is very thin and always has been (although she eats low carb and low calorie from what I can see) - should I try to encourage her to see someone about it? She doesn't react very well to suggestions from me or my mother - since these are issues we never had and don't quite understand. But she is my sister and if there's something she should be doing about it beyond a healthy diet, I want to let her know.

• ▶ Reply

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page