Pre-Diabetes and Menopause

Hello -

I am 53 years old with a strong history of diabetes in my family. I have known for about 20 years that I was pre-diabetic. I have worked hard over the years to eat a good diet and maintain my weight but my A1C test (this is what we call the 90 day blood sugar blood test to show average numbers in the states) is creeping up and my doctor is suggesting it may be time for me to start on medication. I have often used a chinese doctor and herbalist for health issues and she is suggesting this could be due to menopause and that once I get through it my numbers may level out again. She says some people stay pre-diabetic their entire lives. Has anyone else noticed this during menopause or have any information regarding this?

Also, if I do start on medication, I'd like to know the experiences of others and what they found works best. I have an inherent distrust of the power the drug companies have in my country and their influence on doctors and often look to regulation in the UK to add to my research on issues.

This is hitting at a difficult time (menopause) and my feelings and mood about it swing wildly from thinking "not a big deal, I'll just deal with it" to feeling like there is a dark cloud hanging over me.

Thanks for any information you can give me. I am thrilled I found this informative site.

Re: Pre-Diabetes and Menopause (Toeing the Line)

Thanks very much for your responses.

My A1C has always been around 6.0 over the years give or take a point or two. My last one was 6.6. That is the highest it has every been. My doctor wants me to see if I can manage it over the next few months and have another test done. Yes, I am monitoring my blood. Sometimes it is in what they call the normal range two hours after eating (120) other times it's quite a bit higher (160 - 190).

My doctor wants me to stay off medication as long as I can because she said I will start fighting hypoglycemia if I go on something, but from what I am reading in this forum, there are drugs that don't give you hypoglycemia.

I don't know if it makes a difference in what drug they might give me, but I am, and always have been, very thin. With my new carb-counting diet I have lost weight that I really didn't have to give but am still in the phase of not being always being sure what I can/cannot and should/should not eat.

Any ideas you have for me is much appreciated.

Thank you.

Thank you. I will check out the two references you mentioned.