Can insufficient insulin production (Type 2 Diabetes) be diagnosed without fasting bs levels?
I was told after having labs run for my yearly physical that I have Type 2 Diabetes but its under good control, to come in to see the doctor in a couple of months and he'd set me up with the meter, education,etc. TWO MONTHS?! My fasting bs level was 109. Last year it was 102. Hemoglobin was 6.4. My cholesterol total is 151. (I'm on cholesterol and high blood pressure meds; my mother is diabetic.) From what I have read, none of those levels would indicate I have Diabetes. Certainly I have begun to stop eating sugar entirely, I am losing weight, and exercising more...But explain to me why my doctor casually, through his nurse, told me I have Diabetes over the phone but wait to come in?! And see that the levels really don't indicate diabetes, in my mind. Can he just say that to get me to do better in prevention? Well its working. But should I get a second opinion and second tests? Is there a test that shows production of insulin levels from the pancreas? In my mind THAT would be the determining, undisputable factor.
There is a test that will tell you whether or not you're producing insulin.. it's called a c-peptide test. C-peptides are produced in tandem with insulin, but they have a longer half-life in the body. Insulin only 'lives' for about five minutes, c-peptides 'live' for about thirty minutes, so they're a much more reliable indicator of whether or not you're producing normal amounts of insulin.
Here is the problem.. if you're type 2 diabetic, or even pre-diabetic, the c-peptide test won't matter one way or the other. Most type 2 diabetics and pre-diabetics produce normal to above normal quantities of insulin.. they're just resistant to the insulin they do make. Diet and exercise are going to help you greatly, but I strongly suggest you find an American Diabetes Association sanctioned self-management class in your area. This will give you some vital tools and education to manage your health. I've been diabetic for longer than ten years, and with the exception of my endocrinologists, my general practitioners have been woefully behind on all the latest research going on. Some GPs are a little more savvy than others, but it's important for you to educate yourself so that you can best deal with your personal situation.
Good luck.
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Elvia2
Monday, August 10, 2009 at 06:54 PM
Person1
Monday, November 09, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Pretty sure it really depends on the individual circumstance.
Type 1 diabetes also known as juvenile diabetes is NOT hereditary. There is no conclusive evidence to suggest so, according to the experts online, teachers and many books I have read.
But, type 2 diabetes, which is becoming an huge crisis in especially the western world, I think, can be hereditary.
What I also think is that lifestyle plays a large role in type 2 diabetes and many families with some or all family members having type 2 diabetes, probably have unhealthy lifestyles, so if there are just (overweight most likely) siblings with type 2 instead of a parent & child, it could be due more to lifestyle than actual genes causing it...
So basically to answer your question, in regards to the current diabetes crisis in the western world, I think there is quite a high chance to "ward off" type 2 diabetes even if it exists in the family, because in the western world I think at least half if not most of the cases are because of terrible eating, drinking (soft drink, no water etc) and exercise habits.
Type 2 diabetes is a bit of a strange disease at least to me because I think you can have it on many different levels and sometimes you can manage it to the point that it disappears because of a better lifestyle. According to the experts anyway ;)
One more thing though, I think it usually depends on the cause of family member's diabetes. If all are, well, overweight and lazy, then thats your answer, if not, then there might be a time bomb inside, but I am pretty sure there are worse medical time bombs to have!
Hope I helped!
Thank you. (I realize I sound like I am in denial, but I also realize that is probably normal.) You gave good, informed advise. There is SO MUCH I don't know, and that makes waiting SO HARD. He is a good doctor, he DID warn me this could happen, and after my cholesterol and high blood pressure, I should have seen the writing on the wall myself. I know just enough to be dangerous, right now.
Which brings me to another question: If diabetes is prominient in your family, do you have any chance of not getting it late in life? I mean, if you ate perfectly, like you already had diabetes, and exercised daily and kept a normal BMI, do you have a chance of not developing diabetes even though it's in your family tree?