Remember that the information presented here is not intended to replace the care of your own doctor. Before making any changes in the management of
your own illness, you should consult your physician or other qualified medical professionals.
Question
My recent blood test shows a
blood glucose level
of 238 mg/dL [13.2 mmol/L]. I
have cervical and spinal cord compression, I am in constant pain, and I was
on pain medication continually for 14 years. I have had three surgeries,
and I need at least two more. The elevated glucose was first observed
minutes before my second surgery and has been elevated since then. I was
hospitalized for 12 days at which time they again observed an elevated
glucose level of 300 mg/dL [16.7 mmol/L]. I do not have any of the other
symptoms of diabetes.
Dieting and medication while in the hospital and at home did not reduce my
blood sugar below 150 mg/dL [8.3 mmol/L]. Do I have diabetes? Should I
proceed with medication and daily testing again even though the medication
just made me sick and never really helped?
Answer
From the information you provide, with numerous high sugars, you have
diabetes. The diagnosis is based only on the elevated numbers and one need
not have symptoms. (See diagnosis of
diabetes.) It's unclear what medications you were on, or why, and
why you thought they didn't help. It'd be my suggestion that you ask your
usual physician for a referral to a
diabetes team that includes a physician specializing in diabetes, a
diabetes dietitian, and a diabetes nurse educator.
wwq
Return to DQ&A main page
Advertisement
|
Advertisement
|
|
|
|
