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Insulin level test

Cocosilk

Well-Known Member
Messages
818
Location
Australia
Type of diabetes
Gestational
Treatment type
Insulin
As someone who had gestational diabetes and is going for a GTT in a few weeks time, is it useful to try and find out what my insulin levels are at the same time?
If my doctor tells me I don't need to know, is that because there's a limited budget for who usually gets such a test or if you're only potential prediabetic, it's not important (at least as far as our health system is concerned)?
I just read somewhere about how having a lot of insulin floating around due to insulin resistance can sometimes mean that someone who really doesn't have great metabolic health can pass a GTT when really they should be flagged as having a metabolic problem.
 
Be very interested in knowing if Aus doctors are more amenable to testing insulin than those in the UK. You may want to ask for a c-peptide test which will also be a good test for endogenous insulin production and may be more likely to be available.
 
Self fund it.In USA Im seeing 69-109 dollars for the c-peptide test.

Im lucky,a local hospital in San Bernardino California,Dignity Health Care, does labs dirt cheap,like 10% of what the big chain Lab outfits charge.
 
bulkbiker said:
Be very interested in knowing if Aus doctors are more amenable to testing insulin than those in the UK. You may want to ask for a c-peptide test which will also be a good test for endogenous insulin production and may be more likely to be available.
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If I don't tend to get hypos though, could that mean I'm not too insulin resistant and perhaps the pregnancy hormones were the greatest contributor? But if I'm still reacting to dietary factors after the postpartum period (they say 6 weeks after birth), if blood glucose remains elevated, either fasting or after eating, that's already the next stage of metabolic disorder anyway, isn't it? I'm still a little confused of how it progresses.
 
Hi @Cocosilk and @bulkbiker,
Nothing in any Aussie hospital or medical guidelines about measuring insulin levels at the OGTTs testing of pregnant ladies art about 28 weeks if oregnancy.
Some doctors used to do GTTs including insulin levels + /- extended GTTs to check for hyperinsulinaemia with a view to early presription of Metformin to reduce insulin resistance. But ... I found this:
Diabetologia: 2016:59 1089-1094 The fetal glucose steal: an underappreciated phenomenon in diabetic pregnancy Doseye and Nola.
Apparently the baby's pancreas starts working from about 14 weeks gestation and can be measured in the amniotic fluid surronding baby. And it has been shown that if mother's bsls are high before the routine GTT at 28 weeks that the baby's insulin levels are raised. The glucose in the mother's blood gets taken up by baby as that is where the insulin is highest. This can sometimes cause a mother with GDM to actually have a normal GTT at 28¶weeks. And baby iwith high insulin levels s more likely to be affected by worst outcomes. Also improvement of mother's bsls in the third trimester dies not reverse this esrly trend. But early treatment with insulin does..
So the better question might be, does the amniotic fluid need sampling for baby!s insulin level.
And the question about mother's insulin level. What do you do with the result?
 
Forgive me, I am in limbo at 4 weeks postpartum waiting for next GTT at 6 weeks so I'm no longer pregnant. Sitting here since 3:35am with my new little bundle in my lap. He's been okay with his blood glucose. Just a little jaundice and very sleepy. I was just curious about an insulin level test after hearing maybe Ivor Cummins or someone from the diet doctor website talk about how you can get a clearer picture of your metabolic situation if you do both GTT and insulin levels. I asked a GP today when they were checking over baby and even though I am not indicated for an insulin test, the doctor might be able to do me a favour and help me get one just so I have a benchmark if I end up being prediabetic and stick to a low carb diet. But I'll have to see if I get lucky when I go back in a few weeks time.
 
Apparently the baby's pancreas starts working from about 14 weeks gestation and can be measured in the amniotic fluid surronding baby. And it has been shown that if mother's bsls are high before the routine GTT at 28 weeks that the baby's insulin levels are raised. The glucose in the mother's blood gets taken up by baby as that is where the insulin is highest. This can sometimes cause a mother with GDM to actually have a normal GTT at 28¶weeks. And baby iwith high insulin levels s more likely to be affected by worst outcomes. Also improvement of mother's bsls in the third trimester dies not reverse this esrly trend. But early treatment with insulin does..
So the better question might be, does the amniotic fluid need sampling for baby!s insulin level.
And the question about mother's insulin level. What do you do with the result?[/QUOTE]
I'm with you as well on this. I think I'll have to watch my kids to see how fast they grow. I wonder if having extra insulin floating around early in life causes more hunger. Or is it mostly hypos you have to look out for?
 
Thank you for the clarification about you being postpartum. I had forgotten¡ ¡ And congratulations again!
Yes, i agree that insulin levels sound like a great idea for a post partum check. Not seen it recommended here in Oz but makes sense.
I see my endocrinologist in a few weeks time so you ask him.
My guess is that baby woukd be more hungry with a ' turbo-charged' pancreas. 'tis a good question, i will have to look up the literature and get back to you.
Meantime please enjoy him to the upmost !!
 
Hi again @Cocosilk,
I trust your day and night have not been too arduous!
It seems that babies born to mothers with GDM are at some risk of hypoglycaemia early on as might be expected but not to the degree of mothers with T2DorTID.
Low calcium levels in the blod can also happen and make it difficult to work out from appearance and behaviour whether liw bsl ir calcium is the cause until blood tests are done.
It appears that part of the problem is that some mothers with GDM are more prone to low vitamin d levels during pregnancy, particularly in the third trimester.
The other risks to baby are near to normal for general popukation except if the mother starts pregnancy overweight.
Ref: World Journal of Diabetes 2015 Jun 10 6(5) 734-743
What neonatal complications should the paediatrician be aware of in the case of maternal gestational diabetes?
Mianchez, Yzydosczky, Simeonl
Best Wishes, Joy and special thanks to your hubbie for his support and unstinting changing of the nappies.
 
Good to know about the calcium too. Have to check bub out. Thanks!
 
Cocosilk said:
Good to know about the calcium too. Have to check bub out. Thanks!
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Apologies for the typos and low calcium is not the culprit.
At this stage It may be more yours and bub's vitamin D levels that need looking at or supplementing if i am interpreting the article correctly.
 
kitedoc said:
Apologies for the typos and low calcium is not the culprit.
At this stage It may be more yours and bub's vitamin D levels that need looking at or supplementing if i am interpreting the article correctly.
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Okay. I take Vit D and try to give bubs time in the sun, when it bothers to shine Hopefully that is doing something to help.
 
Cocosilk said:
Okay. I take Vit D and try to give bubs time in the sun, when it bothers to shine Hopefully that is doing something to help.
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Hi again,
From what i gather from others like @Brunneria, taking some vitamin K in addition to D works better.
The beneficial U sun's rays are better in early to mid morning and mid to late afternoon apparently.
 
kitedoc said:
Hi again,
From what i gather from others like @Brunneria, taking some vitamin K in addition to D works better.
The beneficial U sun's rays are better in early to mid morning and mid to late afternoon apparently.
Click to expand...
I always wondered what the newborn Vit K shots were for. He's had one of those so that should be covered!
 
Cocosilk said:
I always wondered what the newborn Vit K shots were for. He's had one of those so that should be covered!
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Hi, that will depend on which type of Vit K he was given.

K1 affects blood clotting, and is often the only type of Vit K that your doc has heard of.

K2 is the one that works with D3, magnesium and calcium, that grows strong bones and teeth and makes sure that the circulating calcium in the blood goes to where it is needed - and not to form atherosclerosis. Not that your baby will be formin atherosclerosis for several decades. If ever.

Dietary sources for K2 are pretty sparse in the western diet. Although good quality stinky cheese is a good source. In the Eastern diet natto is popular, and more K2 is eaten as a result. I would rather chew my own arm off than eat natto. So I supplement.
 
Kale anyone?
 
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