Am I diabetic?

[mom2lankc]

Hi, this question is actually for my mom. She has an appt with the dr on Jan 2nd but I wanted to see if any of you have any input. Do you think going on Atkins could 'show' that my mom has diabetes? We have always believed she has had something medical going on as she is so resistant to losing weight no matter how little she eats and how much she exercises.

She started Atkins with me and has had the metallic taste in her mouth ( a good think I know), but now 1/2 of her tongue is numb. I haven't read about this anywhere else and I know it could be several things.

My question is since she took the sugar out of her diet, could it be easier to see if she has diabetes? Would the tests show levels better now that she doesn't have all of the sugar in her system? Her father was diabetic and had to do insulin injections.

Thanks for any advice!

[Labarum]

Re: Am I diabetic?

We cannot offer medical opinions here. Wait and see what her doctor says.

[Desertthorn]

Re: Am I diabetic?

I think that I would certainly tell the doctor that she is doing Atkins and for how long and how carefully she is with it. The doctor should know she is restricting her carb intake. ALSO, we had this great Mod last year who use to advise all Diabetics to read Dr Bernsteins books on the subject. I am sure you can find them at the library.
Let us know what your Mom found out, as it would be helpful to others.

[Coop2004]

Re: Am I diabetic?

Hi mom2lankc!!

On page 97 of Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, (2002 Version), he refers to the Glucose Tolerance Tess (GTT) as being a relevant test to take.

In addition, on page 98 of Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution, (2002 Version), he states the following when going for the Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT):

Note: The GTT results are not considered accurate unless you are consuming 150 grams of carbs a day for at least four (4) days before you take the test. Therefore, doing it after you start Atkins would mean you'd have to go back temporarily to eating a high-carbohydrate diet (and almost certainly regain some of the pounds you have just successfully lost).

Of course, it's up to your Dr. to have you go for the test. As Labarum stated, we don't and can't give medical advise here on ADBB.

http://www.diabetes-normalsugars.com/

The above is a link to Dr. Bernstein's (or Dr. B. as we call him here) site. It will provide you (and your Mom) with a link to some passages of his book until you are able to get the book.

Please let us know how it goes.

Linda (Coop2004)

[RunAwayMichelle]

Re: Am I diabetic?

When I was first diagnosed with diabetes my doctor had me modify my diet to see if diet alone could control it. So going on Atkins could have helped your mothers diabetes IF she has it. It has been my exerience that Atkins has helped to improve my diabetes.

I suggest that your Mom brings her food and exercise diary with her to her doctors appointment. If she is not keeping a daily diary they she might want to do one for the 5 or 10 days before her appointments. Only her doctor can give her advice on this but it will help if she brings information on her diet with her.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Am I diabetic?

your mothers doctor will first do a blood and urine test to see what her blood sugar reading is, and see if she is producing antibodies related to type 1 diabetes. He can also do a test that will check her blood sugars for the last 3 months and if it comes back high them he would consider a GTT. GTT isn't the first test he will order. low carbing and doing a GTT will give bad results as Dr Atkins stated BUT those bad results are that you will show very high blood glucose in an immediate spike and have a false positive for diabetes so let him do the usual work up first.

as to the lack of weight loss
If your mother is insulin resistant as Dr Atkins talks about in DANDR then eating low carb atkins will actually help her fix that too which will lower the amount of insulin running around in her body allowing her cells to be sensetized to it better. Once she has done 14 days of Atkins clean induction you will know from her weight loss results based on the charts in DANDR if she is metabolically resistant or not.

What does the doctor say about the numb tongue?
Happy low carbing.

[Coop2004]

Re: Am I diabetic?

......He can also do a test that will check her blood sugars for the last 3 months and if it comes back high them he would consider a GTT.....

Thank you, 2big, as always. Now that you mentioned it, in July, 2003, one of the tests my Dr. sent me for was this test (commonly referred to as "A1C" or "HA1C"). When I went back in August, 2003, the resulting number was 7.9 (initially, in the US, anything above 6.5 was the basis for sending someone for the GTT, now, in many areas in the US, it's anywhere between 5.7 and 6.0). My Dr. then sent me for the GTT and, in September of 2003, he confirmed that I have Type 2 Diabetes. NOTE: My last a1c was 5.7 - I am due, shortly for another test.

Also, keep in mind, that a Diabetic is never completely cured. At the present time, the best option is having it under control.

I've seen a commercial with Patti LaBelle on TV and I believe that she said something to the effect that "I'm in control of Diabetes, Diabetes is not in Control of me!!"

[canuck]

Re: Am I diabetic?

Hey coop does that mean the USA finally lowered their levels then to under 6.
Thats a good thing, So what did your moms tests reveal.

[Coop2004]

Re: Am I diabetic?

Hey coop does that mean the USA finally lowered their levels then to under 6.
Thats a good thing.

I don't know if it's nation wide thing as of yet, but at least my Dr. is on top of it!! Hopefully it will go nation-wide here in the States!!

[Swimmom]

Re: Am I diabetic?

I don't know if it's nation wide thing as of yet, but at least my Dr. is on top of it!! Hopefully it will go nation-wide here in the States!!

Well, the Air Force can't seem to get it together. One base clinic we were at in Maryland had "normal" only going up to 5.7 (I remember because I got down to 5.9 and was so excited until I found out that is wasn't "normal" any more!). The clinic here in Germany lists "normal" as going up to 6.1. Of course, their goal for me as a diabetic is to get below 7.0 which seems like kind of a weenie goal if you ask me!! The only way I'm going to avoid all the complications of diabetes is to get my sugar into a NORMAL range for a NORMAL person. I don't get why they seem to resist helping me achieve that.

[fluffyman]

Re: Am I diabetic?

Swimmom,

I'm in Germany, too. The docs at Landstuhl want me below 7.0. I think that's too high personally. I'm shooting for below 6.5 at least. This WOE has certainly helped me stabilize my blood sugar and use less insulin. Hopefully the A1C in March will be near or below 6.5.

Rick

[Swimmom]

Re: Am I diabetic?

Swimmom,

I'm in Germany, too. The docs at Landstuhl want me below 7.0. I think that's too high personally. I'm shooting for below 6.5 at least. This WOE has certainly helped me stabilize my blood sugar and use less insulin. Hopefully the A1C in March will be near or below 6.5.

Rick

Rick,

My last A1C was 6.9 (the move over here and some personal issues were involved during the range of that test). I freaked out!! They were so lackadaisical about it!! "As long as you keep it below 7.0, we won't worry too much about that." Okay, but I like my feet where they are: attached! I'm still waiting to hear about the one I had drawn by the vampires on 12/13.

Good luck with your test in March! Let us know how it goes.

[Coop2004]

Re: Am I diabetic?

Rick,

My last A1C was 6.9 (the move over here and some personal issues were involved during the range of that test). I freaked out!! They were so lackadaisical about it!! "As long as you keep it below 7.0, we won't worry too much about that." Okay, but I like my feet where they are: attached! I'm still waiting to hear about the one I had drawn by the vampires on 12/13.

Good luck with your test in March! Let us know how it goes.

Don't know if it's the military or the standards in Germany, but I know that high number in the U.S. was between 6.5 and 7.0. And Canuck will probably vouch for the fact that Canada's high number is 6.0!!

[fluffyman]

Re: Am I diabetic?

DOD docs are usually not internal medicine docs or endocrinologists. The guidelines they use are probably nowhere near as stringent as you would see in a specialized practice.

Even the OB docs are less than stellar. My wife got a book for our 2nd child. The doc rarely measured or did any U/S. The visits were "Do you have any questions? OK, see you in a month". Luckily we had a very helpful OB team at our last base.