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Do I really need to be concerned I'll get Diabetes

J

jrsitman

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7
My Dr. says my blood sugar level is at 140 and that is risky for Diabetes. I'm 95% sure it is because I drink sugar high alcohol. Like Kahlua. Diabetes has never been in my family and I'm in perfect health.

So do I really need to be concerned? :?:
 
You don't appear very concerned and casual about it. Don't you care about your health? Don't you believe your GP?
 
At this point I don't know that I need to be concerned, because I don't know enough about the disease. I'm not trying to be casual, that's why I'm asking questions and trying to learn. I don't want to over react just because my blood sugar levels are up. I have friends with higher levels that mine and they don't have diabetes. Just getting some facts. Rather than questioning my concerns, information would be more constructive. :)
What is GP?
 
jrsitman said:
At this point I don't know that I need to be concerned, because I don't know enough about the disease. I'm not trying to be casual, that's why I'm asking questions and trying to learn. I don't want to over react just because my blood sugar levels are up. I have friends with higher levels that mine and they don't have diabetes. Just getting some facts. Rather than questioning my concerns, information would be more constructive. :)
What is GP?
Click to expand...

GP - General Practioner [your own GP ' Doctor' at the surgery ]
 
Hi. Is that an HBa1C of 140 or a non-UK blood monitor reading.? If it's a UK HBa1C then I would say you ARE diabetic already based on the 3 month figure. I have no history of diabetes in my family, apart from a nephew with LADA, and was fit and slim at diagnosis but I was diagnosed with diabetes all the same. So, if it is an HBa1C reading then you do need to be concerned and need to take action now. Discuss actions with your GP but it must start with the right diet if you are overweight and/or medication if you are normal weight.
 
I don't understand your reading of 140. Mine is usually around 12-15 after a meal (mmol). Are you based in the UK? If your doctor is concerned didn't they explain why whey're worried? It would be the first thing on my mind if my GP was worried. I'd also ask them straightaway for any information. Have they requested any blood or urine tests for you? I'm trying to keep it nice and simple for you. Give a shout if you don't understand anything. ;)
 
PS: why not check out the specific diabetes forums. TYPE ONE DIABETES, TYPE TWO DIABETES, TYPE 1.5/LADA DIABETES. There a lots of frequently asked questions on there and if you're able you could see if any of the symptoms sound like how you feel. There also the PRE-DIABETES and NEWLY DIAGNOSED forums that answer many themes and experiences. Why not have a look at some of them rather than just asking a question and you may find some of the answers you seek. If I genuinely had your symptoms and habits I would be concerned rather than blindly drinking on. Good luck, I hope you get a conclusive answer.
 
I'm still stunned your doc didn't go through his suspicions. Maybe uncle kahlua was in town that day? :/
 
I suspect, you live somewhere other than the UK and your doctor has said that you have a blood glucose level of 140mg/dl .To be sure, call your doctor and ask what unit was used.

If it was in mg/dl

The significance of this level depends on whether it was taken in the morning before eating, whether it was just a random test or if it was the level, 2hours after drinking a glucose drink (a special test done at the doctors)

If it was a fasting reading and a repeat test confirms it, then that is sufficient to diagnose diabetes. A level of 126mg/dl is sufficient to diagnose diabetes.
If it was 140mg/dl, 2 hours after a glucose drink then that is considered to be, impaired glucose tolerance , sometimes called pre diabetes.

This is the information on Wikipedia* about diabetes diagnosis. It is accurate and has both possible units, I've made bold the ones in mg/dl

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by recurrent or persistent hyperglycemia, and is diagnosed by demonstrating any one of the following:
Fasting plasma glucose level ≥ 7.0 mmol/l (126 mg/dl)
Plasma glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/l (200 mg/dL) two hours after a 75 g oral glucose load as in a glucose tolerance test
Symptoms of hyperglycemia and casual plasma glucose ≥ 11.1 mmol/l (200 mg/dl)
Glycated hemoglobin (Hb A1C) ≥ 6.5% (48mmol/moll)

A positive result, in the absence of unequivocal hyperglycemia, should be confirmed by a repeat of any of the above methods on a different day. It is preferable to measure a fasting glucose level because of the ease of measurement and the considerable time commitment of formal glucose tolerance testing, which takes two hours to complete and offers no prognostic advantage over the fasting test.[22] According to the current definition, two fasting glucose measurements above 126 mg/dl (7.0 mmol/l) is considered diagnostic for diabetes mellitus.

People with fasting glucose levels from 110 to 125 mg/dl (6.1 to 6.9 mmol/l) are considered to have impaired fasting glucose.[23] Patients with plasma glucose at or above 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L), but not over 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L), two hours after a 75 g oral glucose load are considered to have impaired glucose tolerance. Of these two prediabetic states, the latter in particular is a major risk factor for progression to full-blown diabetes mellitus, as well as cardiovascular disease
Click to expand...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diabetes_mellitus (I've added the mmol/mol for HbA1c, doubt if its this since at 140mmol/mol there would be absolutely no doubt of it being diabetes)
 
jrsitman said:
I'm 95% sure it is because I drink sugar high alcohol.
Click to expand...

Sugar and alcohol both contribute significantly to increasing triglycerides. These lipids help the bidirectional transference of adipose fat and blood glucose from the liver, ie they can lay fat down in the liver or put glucose in the blood plasma. If your liver triglycerides get too high, they then get depositied in the pancreas, block the insulin producing eyelets and then you get type 2 diabetes.

If you haven't yet got diabetes, cutting back on either the alcohol or the sugar will help. Cutting back on both would of course be best.
 
I got some corrected numbers from my Dr. My blood sugar level is 103, which she said fine. My A1c is 5.7, which she said, I just need to watch my sugar intake. She said I am "not" diabetic, but need to be aware of what I eat.
 
You've now answered your own question. The question now is can you be bothered to look after yourself in order to reduce the risk of developing T2 diabetes. Only you can answer that.
 
Good for you. Just eating and drinking less rubbish would also help. :)
 
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