Insulin Resistant or Type 2 Diabetes, Which Do I Have?

[Cindi W]

I had a Glucose Tolerance Test and it showed 2 hours afterward my blood sugar went to 180.
I then had an A1C which was 6.
My doc put me on 2000 XR Metformin.

Now I am always tired and my blood levels are always around 95. After a meal, it rises to about 125.

I feel like I am being overmedicated. First this doc tells me I have Insulin Resistance and then it is Type II Diabetes. She is an Endocrinologist.

[Mr. Peachy®]

Monica is right... type two diabetes is just a bad case of insulin resistance. It's also known as impaired glucose tolerance and a few other things, too. You are overmedicated. I never had to take more than 500mg (twice a day). Bottom line, you need to learn what I have learned. Since working my way off the Metformin, my energy is back, and I feel great. Here's a synopsis: http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/Type_II_Diabetes.html

[ssnova197304664]

Sounds like your borderline type 2.Watch your sugar levels very closely because if you are getting over medicated your sugar can drop to low and you will go into diabetic comma which is very deadly.

[sue]

Insulin Resistance and Type 2 diabetes are one and the same thing!! Be glad the Endo declared that you are officially diabetic. Insurance does not pay for testing strips or meds if you are not officially diagnosed and these can be very expensive.

A lot of doctors treat the beginning stages of Diabetes very aggressively now. It saves the other systems in the bod: heart, liver, kidneys, eyes, nervous system, circulatory system; from being severely damaged early.

You were used to having high levels and are now back to normal levels. The bod reacts to this by being all tired and sluggish for quite a while. You will get used to feeling good again, I promise!!

You might be able to decrease the meds if you follow a very low carb food plan and do a lot of exercising!! But you have to work very hard at the exercise to burn off sufficient carbs.

Metformin will never cause Hypos!! It is also Rx'd for PCOS in girls who are not either insulin resistant or diabetic.

By the way, I am very very insulin resistant, I take both insulins and Metformin XR. Type 2 diabetic for 11 years.

[Monica]

Saying you're insulin resistant, and type 2 are the same thing.

I don't know much about the medications ... it does sound like you're over medicated to me, but there are others here that know a lot more about this than I do )

An endocrinologist is a person who specializes in problems of the endocrine system, one of which is diabetes.

[whitefay]

The GTT showing 180 after 2 hours is indicative of Insulin Resistance. Also the A1c of 6 could be lower, but it is not alarming.

That sounds like a pretty large dose of Metformin to start out with for Insulin Resistence. These are dosages you see for Type II Diabetes.

Your doc should try diet (meet with a nutrionalist/dietician) and increase exercise.
Then repeat the blood work in 6 months.

If the levels continue to remain as they are, then a dose of Metformin may be tried to bring the levels to a more normal level.

95 blood sugar is still quite within the normal levels. However, if you have become accustomed to the low to mid-100's, you will indeed feel tired.

See if your doc thinks about dosing at night.

[simbaxcat]

Insulin Resistance is the pre-Type II Diabetes. My mom has this. Her doctor made her lose weight--had to go to a dietician and she joined a gym.

Her doc told her that with the 40lb weight loss and the increased exercise,her IR is now well within normal range.

Everything else should be tried first before medication is used.

[CARLA G]

Being insulin resistance and having type 2 diabetes is not the same. I am consdered a borderline diabetic. I take metformin 500mg once a day in the morning. That is enough for my blood sugar to be stablized.