Expert: Barb Date: 5/11/2008 Subject: Trying To Figure Out If I Am On The Way To Type 2 Diabetes
Question I am a 52-year-old female with a family history of Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes. Lately, I felt that I might be on my way due to insatiable hunger (which I thought might be caused by blood sugar swings), unrelenting fatigue and a gain of belly fat where I did not previously tend to gain weight there.
So, I had my fasting insulin and glucose done, as well as a Hemoglobin A1c level. Those all came back normal, even a little low for the fasting insulin/glucose. (Fasting glucose was 86; insulin was less than 2.0 and Hemoglobin A1c was 5.3).
Still, not satisfied, I bought a glucose meter because I have been reading that you can have normal fasting glucose/insulin and still be on your way to Type 2 - the real question being how long it takes your blood sugar to drop back to normal after a meal.
Yesterday, I tested after three meals and got the following readings: 114 2 1/2 hours after a moderate carbohydrate meal; 122 one hour and 15 minutes after a meal with more carbohydrate and 126 two hours after that same meal. This morning my fasting blood glucose dropped to 64.
Although you list different blood glucose goals for a type 2 diabetic, I have read that the hallmark of being "normal" (i.e., not a diabetic or on the way) is that your blood sugar drops back to 85 within 45 minutes of a meal. That is definitely not happening to me.
Do you have any suggestions other than to continue to monitor myself with the glucose meter? Given my family history, I have a real concern of trying to nip Type 2 in the bud.
Answer Hi Barbara,
(I like your name -- *grin*)
The best thing I can suggest for you to nip type 2 in the bud is regular, vigorous exercise. I don't know if you currently get any exercise at all, but if not, START.
Start out by walking for at least 20 minutes every day. Walk fast enough that it makes you breathe hard and sweat. After a couple of weeks of this, increase your time to 30 minutes. After a couple of weeks at 30 minutes, increase the distance you walk in that 30 minutes. You should also do some type of weight training (weight lifting)to build muscle. Muscle is more receptive to blood glucose than fat is, so more muscle will decrease insulin resistance.
You can also restrict your carb intake. Since you are not currently diabetic, I'd recommend restricting it to 200 or fewer grams per day, with no more than 40 grams at any one meal/snack. Watch out for carbs hidden in places that you don't expect them --- like in milk. Choose whole fruit instead of fruit juice.
