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 fasting
blood glucose
is consistantly above 110, and occasionally above 120. After meals it varies from 140-180
depending on quantity of food, carbs, etc. Five years ago it was
always 99. My weight is 130 pounds; 5'3 female, BMI approx 123;
% of fat taken on several different
scales at health clubs is consistantly around 31%. I have low to
very low triglycerides (40-60), total cholesterol 168, HDL and LDL are
good; low CVD ratio. In other words very healthy for a 54 year old. My doctor
tells me to stop worrying about diabetes. (I test FBG daily). I know
I don't have
Syndrome X or
insulin resistance,
but I keep saying that I am
pre-diabetic
therefore I should watch my diet and exercise. I also walk 10,000 steps/day and do aerobics/resistance training at least 3 times/week.
(I find it is almost impossible to lose weight.) My doctor says lighten up and forget it.
My question is:
how vigilant should I be and is diabetes in my future given the high FBG? What else can I be doing to prevent it? Is the low triglycerides a sign of
autoimmune
diabetes sneaking up? What other tests do I need? By the way, I was just diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis.
Answer
The only risk factor you have for diabetes from your description is the slightly high blood sugar. Other factors that
might affect your risk are:
- any history of diabetes with pregnancy (if you had children);
- family history of diabetes;
- whether you carry your weight more in the
abdomen than in the hips;
- any history of high blood pressure.
In any case, you are doing the things that we know will help prevent/delay the development of diabetes (exercise and maintaining a good weight — BMI
23) I agree with your doctor that you do not need to test sugars daily; once a year fasting sugar would be plenty unless you develop
some symptoms. I do not think other tests are needed at this time. It is important to realize that not everyone with "prediabetes"
based on fasting sugars will develop diabetes.
Autoimmune thyroiditis is not uncommon in women your age and is not likely related in any way to your blood sugar.
lbb
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