Should I be on medication?
I’ve been prediabetic for many years and managing only with diet and keeping active as much as I can. I also do frequent morning testing as well as 2 hours after meal testing. A few months ago I started seeing 2 hour readings in the 200-220 range when I eat a meal really heavy in carbs, which technically means I’m diabetic. But when I reduce carbs I get somewhere between 120 and 160 most of the time. Most of my morning fasting readings are in 110-130 range. My fasting readings during the day are a little lower than that.
Lab tests I did few days ago show 119 (6.6) fasting and 6.2 for A1c.
Is it recommended that I start taking medication or continue managing with lifestyle? I’m 52 male, 105kg, 187 cm.
The other question is that a fasting insulin test shows 16.7 which is normal for being below 25 according to the report. I can’t make sense of this as I was expecting a number above the range for somebody with insulin resistance.
Hi
. Have you asked your doctor for advice or have you not yet had a follow-up appointment? We are not medical experts, so please keep that in mind when anyone replies to your question. Your doctor will likely give you the option of controlling your blood sugar with dietary and lifestyle changes if you think you can commit to it. If you really want to stay off medication, you might want to ask for a referral to a dietician who specializes in diabetes. A good dietician can help you make food choices that will keep blood sugar more stable and, hopefully, bring your A1C down. Even for those who are super knowledgeable about nutrition, it can be helpful to have that new perspective. My guess (and only a guess) is that your low fasting insulin level indicates you might be able to bring your A1C down without medications. I hope this helps and that others who have shared your experience join the conversation. Best wishes. - Lori (Team Member) Given that you haven't really been on a strict diet for diabetes, I am sure you will see some big changes inyour blood sugar after visiting with a dietician. It is amazing what a difference small changes can make, like substituting whole grains for processed grains or doubling up on low-carb veggies. What I love about dieticians is that they provide individualized plans based on your current diet and your own likes and dislikes. Keep me posted if you don't mind. I would love to hear about your experience. - Lori (Team Member) Thank you Lori for the advice and for taking the time to reply to my comments. I'll definitely share updates.
Hello
, thanks for sharing so much of your journey with us. The first thing I would do is get advice from your doctor. I have had it for 30 years. When I do eat right, my numbers are great. I've only been able to get off of medication, for a few months but this is on me. I loved food. But as pointed out, that just making small changes will be good. I have a dietician now, which is a game changer. They point out things that I would have never thought of. Let us know how you are doing. We would love to hear from you. Diane (Team Member)
