RE: Re: Oral Meds v. Insulin

[Guest guest]

Hi, Carol...a GAD antibody test will tell you if you have beta cells. It's

not a routine test but can tell whether you're a type 1 (LADA) or type 2. If

you're a LADA, pills probably won't do much good, insulin is required. I had

a GAD test about a year after my diagnosis. The lab normal was 0 to 4 and my

score was 35 so obviously my score was abnormal.

I'm not sure but I think the C-peptide test may tell whether you have beta

cells or not. Or maybe I'm confused here, maybe someone else can check in.

BTW, in order to be effective, Glucophage needs to be taken on a regular

basis, NOT just when your BGs are a little high. Its effect is cumulative,

and it takes a couple of days before its effect is seen.

Tell me...are you apple shaped? Overweight? Most (but not all) type 2s are

" apple shaped " - thicker in the middle. One signal that an adult may be LADA

instead of type 2 is if you're not overweight and don't have apple shape.

Another sign is if pills don't do anything to lower BGs (although they must

be taken properly ,which from you post, sounds like you're not).

Vicki

In a message dated 01/26/2003 9:32:49 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

croberts@... writes:

>

> How can you find out the state of the beta cells? Other than by autopsy,

> of

> course. Are there some kind of tests that measure that?

>

> Yesterday I had bg at 138 at 2:30 a.m. and took 500 mg metformin, thinking

> maybe that would help with the dawn effect. Nope, at 8:00 a.m. it was at

> 173. Today, up at 2:30 (this is while I wait for coughmeds to kick in

> again), 145, took no metformin and at 8a.m. up to 147. I can't see what

> these meds are doing for me. I'm eating no more than 30 carbs per day, so

> where is this blood sugar coming from?

>

> CarolR

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Another marker that you may be LADA instead of type 2 is the fact that you're

really low carbing and your BGs are still unacceptably high.

OTOH, if I remember correctly, you've recently been ill. Infections will

raise BGs...as will stress.

Insulin will solve all these problems (well, it won't cure your infection...)

In a message dated 01/26/2003 9:32:49 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

croberts@... writes:

> I'm eating no more than 30 carbs per day, so

> where is this blood sugar coming from?

>

[Guest guest]

Makes sense to me, Sandy. And since a great many type II's are overweight,

once they start losing the weight, getting on an exercise program, and

making better food choices, they become less insulin resistant, requiring

less and less insulin, so going off insulin is a realistic goal, depending

on the state of their beta cells, of course.

Barb

> I wonder if that's an " old rumor " based on T1 protocol, i.e., once the

> pancreas is dead (and you must substitute injected insulin), it is always

> dead (and you will always have to use injected insulin)? rather than

> addressing the increasing use of insulin in T2 therapies.

[Guest guest]

How can you find out the state of the beta cells? Other than by autopsy, of

course. Are there some kind of tests that measure that?

Yesterday I had bg at 138 at 2:30 a.m. and took 500 mg metformin, thinking

maybe that would help with the dawn effect. Nope, at 8:00 a.m. it was at

173. Today, up at 2:30 (this is while I wait for coughmeds to kick in

again), 145, took no metformin and at 8a.m. up to 147. I can't see what

these meds are doing for me. I'm eating no more than 30 carbs per day, so

where is this blood sugar coming from?

CarolR

[Guest guest]

Vicki - my dr. told me to take the Glucophage 1000 a.m. and 1000 p.m., which

is what I do. The little experiment the other day was just that. I'm also

taking Avandia, and even without the cold/infection I've been getting very

inconsistent results. So I guess when I see the dr. Tuesday I'm going to

have to press for tests instead of more meds that don't seem to work. I've

been taking both meds for three months. Thanks,

CarolR

----- Original Message -----

> BTW, in order to be effective, Glucophage needs to be taken on a regular

> basis, NOT just when your BGs are a little high. Its effect is

cumulative,

> and it takes a couple of days before its effect is seen.

[Guest guest]

I think c-peptide tells if you have excess circulating insulin in your

system, as in you are insulin resistant.

GAD antibody is for betal cell function..........I think. I'm math and tech

impaired, so am never sure.

Barb

> Hi, Carol...a GAD antibody test will tell you if you have beta cells. It's

> not a routine test but can tell whether you're a type 1 (LADA) or type 2.

If

> you're a LADA, pills probably won't do much good, insulin is required. I

had

> a GAD test about a year after my diagnosis. The lab normal was 0 to 4 and

my

> score was 35 so obviously my score was abnormal.

>

> I'm not sure but I think the C-peptide test may tell whether you have beta

> cells or not. Or maybe I'm confused here, maybe someone else can check

in.

[Guest guest]

What I know about Glucophage is that you have to take it consistently.

If you are on regular Glucophage (Metformin), not the extended release

(XR) variety, it should be taken in the morning and at night, roughly 12

hours apart and typically in approximately equal doses according to my

endo. I'm on 1000 mg. AM and 1000 mg. PM. If you take the XR, you only

have to take it once a day. In either case, you have to take it

regularly and consistently to get to the point where it works. I'd say

it was 2-4 weeks before my body adjusted past the gastro-intestinal side

effects and about six months before (sorry, guys...) I started seeing

other hormonal changes including regular periods. In addition to

Diabetes, I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), and Glucophage is

like a miracle drug for that. My HbA1c's have all come back at 4.5-4.7

since I started taking it.

Anne

> Re: Re: Oral Meds v. Insulin

>

> Vicki - my dr. told me to take the Glucophage 1000 a.m. and 1000

p.m.,

> which

> is what I do. The little experiment the other day was just that.

I'm

> also

> taking Avandia, and even without the cold/infection I've been

getting

> very

> inconsistent results. So I guess when I see the dr. Tuesday I'm

going

> to

> have to press for tests instead of more meds that don't seem to

work.

> I've

> been taking both meds for three months. Thanks,

>

> CarolR

>

> ----- Original Message -----

>

>

> > BTW, in order to be effective, Glucophage needs to be taken on a

> regular

> > basis, NOT just when your BGs are a little high. Its effect is

> cumulative,

> > and it takes a couple of days before its effect is seen.

[Guest guest]

Rainbow Farm wrote:

>I think c-peptide tells if you have excess circulating insulin in your

>system, as in you are insulin resistant.

>

>

>>I'm not sure but I think the C-peptide test may tell whether you have beta

>>cells or not. Or maybe I'm confused here, maybe someone else can check in

>>

If you're thinking of the C-reactive Protein test (high sensitivity, aka

hs-CRP), it is a measure of inflammation in the body. The inflammation

can be caused by any number of things, including heart, blood vessels,

liver, and plain old arthritis. I've read that diabetics tend to have

high hs-CRP, which may be why our risk of heart disease is so much

higher than normal. But I don't think the beta cells cause the rise in

CRP levels (although I could be worng!).

--

el (andrea at oro dot net) Nevada City, CA, USA

" ...wake now! Discover that you are the song

that the morning brings... "

" One is taught by experience to put a premium

on those few people who can appreciate you

for what you are. " - Gail Godwin