Diabetic but with normal fasting blood tests

[jow]

I'm wondering how many other women out there have this.... I’ve had normal fasting blood results for years now but I knew there was a problem. I was finally given an OGG test after my own testing at home showed levels of 15+ after eating and I am now diagnosed as diabetic.

Despite this diagnosis all my morning tests are normal. This concerns me because it means that if I hadn't basically tested myself at home then my doctor would still be telling me nothing was wrong.

I can see little research on line into the percentage of PCOS cases who have normal fasting levels when they are in fact seriously IR or diabetic.

Depending on your replies , it is something that I would consider taking forward with my local NHS - that all of us with PCOS should be offered OGG test rather than the normal fasting test... It seems to me that cost, as much as ignorance of PCOS, seems to be a factor where I live.

I await your replies. Thanks

[crystalwitch]

Hi Jow,

I'm in no way an expert on this sort of thing but just wanted to give you my experiences.
I had a fasting blood test towards the end of last year which also came back normal, even though I personally believe that I am definitely insulin resistant, or certainly have blood sugar issues, as if I don't eat for a longish period of time I get very shaky, irritable and sometimes get migraines.
My Dad is diabetic (type 1 I think as he has had it since his 20s), and he has always said that if you are diabetic you shouldn't have fasting blood tests as they can be dangerous! I know that's not completely relevant to your question, but I wanted to mention it as I was concerned by the idea of you having fasting blood tests if you have been diagnosed as diabetic.

Hope this helps a bit, and I'll be interested to read anyone elses's replies too!

CW

[ameythyst_rune]

hiya.

I've had a blood sugar problem since my teens and possibly before. No doctor has taken this seriously.

If I have a low blood sugar episode i tend to get very shaky, dizzy and irritable and often it takes a long time for this to regulate after eating and if I eat a large amount of carby food in particular I end up falling asleep within an hour or so after eating and wake up having slept like the dead after a couple of hours with a raging thirst and irritability. I've never self tested my levels after eating though.

I have had countless fasting blood tests over the years (last one was at 4.4 whatever that means?), and each has come back normal and more importantly the doctors dismiss my evidence that I have huge sugar highs and lows. There is also a definite inheritance factor of diabetes in my family as well, my father and (paternal) grandmother as well as my (maternal) uncle have all developed type 2 diabetes in recent years.

Got a GTT test tomorrow, the first one ever and I'm already certain that it will be an unfair test, as I haven't been told to stop taking met before it and it won't be a true indicator of my actual blood sugar levels.

[Annoldie]

Hi, my father and paternal grandmother were both type 2 diabetics. For about 4yrs after I was diagnosed with PCOS I kept asking my GP to check me out for diabetes, fasting blood sugars and urine tests were always negative. Eventually I asked the nurse if she would do a GTT for me - I was a diabetic. I had been on a low GI diet and Metformin for 4yrs and I think this had masked the diabetes. When eventually I got to see an Endocrinologist ( that was a battle! ) she said she thought I had been a diabetic for some time. So I support the idea that we need a GTT and not just the usual blood sugar tests - I also think this test needs to be repeated periodically along with BP and Choleserol tests. Telling women to come back when they want to get pregnant - they might never want to - is not helping to prevent the long term effects of PCOS. Ann.

[jow]

ameythyst_rune...good luck tomorrow and please do let us know how you get on.

annoldie, In my case metformin or low carbing still doesn't mask the diabetes hugely. It may have brought down my overall HBa1c but even then, when I first get up my BS is always 4.5 - 5.0. but the diabetes is clear to see after breakfast when I can hit 15+ at one hour after eating and 10+ at 2 hours. What I find strange and I think may be something many of us with pcos have in common is that I've never registered at 6.5+ before breakfast. Does this happen to you too?

[ameythyst_rune]

hi Jow.

I had the test this morning, nearly fell asleep in the coffee shop where i had to wait Nil by mouth for 2 hours (and made sure to tell the phlebotomist that the drink had made me really sleepy). I didn't take my morning met and fasted from 8pm the night before. The phlebotomy clinic did find out for me about the met, apparently it doesnt affect your responses to a GTT. The drink was revolting btw. I don't know when the results are back, but am assuming I just need to call the GP's surgery at some point.

I think I need to get hold of a glucose tester for home. When I broke the fast (had to wait til i got home) I was having a classic shaky low blood sugar episode. I admit I may have had a fairly carby lunch to compensate (sandwich and crisps) but I hit a high within half an hour and I only woke up from a very deep slumber about half an hour ago, I'm guzzling water for england now and feel like I can't shake the lethargy off.

Do you know any places where you can get a good blood sugar testing machine?

[babygem]

Whenever I have measured it, I have normal fasting blood glucose results. A GTT I had a couple of years ago confirmed that I am insulin resisitant though but do not have diabetes - glucose was 3.9 after two hours so had been knocked quite low by insulin being pumped out.

I think cost is definitely a consideration and is why Dr's are reluctant to authorise the GTT - but if IR is your problem then it isn't going to show up in a blood test measuring glucose levels alone.

It seems as though they are not very interested in preventing diabetes despite all of the current publicity about it. When I first asked my GP about Metformin for women with PCOS he said that he would prescribe it WHEN I became diabetic, not if, but WHEN as though it was inevitable and any attempts at prevention were futile!

Amethyst Rune - didn't see your post until just now but in case you are in a similar situation again - assuming you aren't diabetic, I would think that if you have to fast for a blood test then there isn't much point in taking your Met dose anyway as there is no food going in to your system for it to work with?

[Annoldie]

Hi Jow. My blood sugar is often 7 -8 in the mornings, but I put that down to my late evening meals - 8 - 10pm most days. It's 6 -7 before most meals but I do find it drops rapidly to 3+ when I do some hard work - even less than 2hrs after lunch. Do you have this problem? I can't find any research on the effects of PCOS on diabetes and I get blank looks when I ask any of the doctors. I think a lot of GP's have little or no understanding of Insulin Resistance and how they can help to prevent progress to diabetes. We need more research on a lot of aspects of PCOS, they only seem to be interested in fertility issues. Ann

[jow]

Hi Annoldie, my problem is almost always in the morning. I wake up at normal levels and have breakfast- this sends my BS straight up then by 11.30 I'm back down to 3+. The rest of the day is fairly stright forward- if I eat too much, or of the wrong thing, then I see it on the blood glucose monitor!

I guess it means that my body can still build up a good insulin supply overnight. But I want to get my PCT to consider a different approach with those of us who have PCOS. On the whole I think the fasting test is futile.

I agree about Drs lack of knowledge- when I saw a new Dr last year and said I had v bad IR she laughed and said " only diabetics are insulin resistant" If they gave us all an OGTT that tested before, at one hr then again at 2 hrs they could then see the IR at work and the BS shooting up and down. With better advice we could then adjust our diet, take our metformin and hopefully delay further damage to our bodies.

[hs2395]

doc has finally refered me to endocronology, but also kicked me out of his practice today as well. wants to know where i got info on IR from.....


was on met a couple of yrs back till i fell preg, then moved house changed docs who would not continue with my script, been several yrs of hell including really bad depression

[babygem]

At least you got the endo referral - hopefully you can start to get things moving now with regards to getting back on metformin.

I am a bit confused though - why did your GP give you the refferal and then make you leave the practice? Was it because you did your own research re IR? If so than I think you are well rid of him!

[jow]

I tend to agree. You need a doc who listens and works with you. There seem to be too many who unfortunately allow their egos to get in the way.

Good luck with the appt and let us know how you get on.

[TinaD]

Hi Ladies - After reading your posts, its scary to think big diseases such as diabetes are being missed. I managed to get a OGTT done on Monday after years of fasting bloods coming back normal with continued symptoms. Also it seems that this test seems to vary. I had bloods taken every 30 mins for 5 hrs - hope this is a good sign that my test was thorough? Going back for results on 17th june.

Can anyone recommend a good home testing kit to check sugar levels, i've not done this before.

[ElleBelle]

Hi, I defiantly have sugar problems and have done since I can remember. If I go to long between meals I basically get shaky,sweaty,irritable etc.
I was given a test for hypoglycemia..normal. Done some research some more and found a connection with pcos and went back, my gp done some fasting tests which were again normal.
She has put me on cilest to control my acne but Im still undiagnosed as she said she couldnt diagnose me when my tests were normal,even though I protested I was worried about diabetes and what damage was happening to my body. She said she wouldnt rule out pcos but couldnt diagnose it.
Im really confused as to what tests I should be asking for? I had glucose tolerance tests both my pregnancys, both normal.
As my skin has got considerably better since taking cilest I have no reason to go back and carry on fighting for a diagnosis, but the sugar thing is still a real worry for me.

[TinaD]

Hi Ellebelle

This is what i'm worried about too, if the OGTT comes back normal for me, i wonder what the specialist will say? After reading all the posts on the site, the advice from the ladies seems to be 'keep fighting' to get tests done, as we all have a right to a diagnosis. But like the ladies say, not all the gps even know about PCOS, insulin resistance etc - which is so frustrating isn't it.

But ultimately 'we' know our bodies best and if you still struggle with symptoms keep fighting. Ive thought about if my OGTT comes back normal i'm going to push for an answer as to what causes the symptoms - there must be something, even if it is stress related - i'm hopefully going to 'politely' demand that they find out the reason!

I'll let you know how i get on with results. Take care, Tina