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What Do My Blood Sugar Levels Indicate?
Question: I had a blood sugar test Friday of 344. I was diagnosed diabetic and started on 500mg Metformin. My waking blood sugar is around 160 to 170 and after an apple and walnuts for breakfast it goes to 130. By the afternoon it is around 100. I was NOT given a glucose tolerance test but diabeties runs in my family. My question, do I need to have the test and is Metformin a safe med. He recommended the Mediterranean diet but being new to this all, I am searching and studying info to get myself better and am dieting. I have not taken the meds yet until I found out this information. Thanks, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
No need for GTT. Metformin is safe.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Good day. Thanks for writing to HCM. Read your query and noted the contents. I am Dr Praveen and I will be answering your question today.
Being newly diagnosed to have diabetes most certainly takes anyone aback. Its good to see you are reading and understanding about diabetes well. Write down all the questions - simple/complex and clarify them. Knowledge and understanding about the disease itself is empowering.
Well, your random glucose was 344 which qualifies you to be diabetic. Similarly the fasting sugars are also on the higher side (more than 126) which shows diabetes. If you have not done a Hba1c I would suggest you do that. A glucose tolerance test is needed only if the fasting and Hba1c results are in the pre diabetic range.
Well, you have been given metformin which is a wonderful drug. Its a time tested and safe medication. It works by decreasing insulin resistance in your body and thus controlling the sugars. You need to take it after food. Please make sure you follow the diet that has been prescribed, loose about 10 percent of your current weight and exercise for 45 mts daily.
Have you started taking metformin? What was the Hba1c result?
I will be happy to answer if you have any more queries.
Warm regards.
No need for GTT. Metformin is safe.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Good day. Thanks for writing to HCM. Read your query and noted the contents. I am Dr Praveen and I will be answering your question today.
Being newly diagnosed to have diabetes most certainly takes anyone aback. Its good to see you are reading and understanding about diabetes well. Write down all the questions - simple/complex and clarify them. Knowledge and understanding about the disease itself is empowering.
Well, your random glucose was 344 which qualifies you to be diabetic. Similarly the fasting sugars are also on the higher side (more than 126) which shows diabetes. If you have not done a Hba1c I would suggest you do that. A glucose tolerance test is needed only if the fasting and Hba1c results are in the pre diabetic range.
Well, you have been given metformin which is a wonderful drug. Its a time tested and safe medication. It works by decreasing insulin resistance in your body and thus controlling the sugars. You need to take it after food. Please make sure you follow the diet that has been prescribed, loose about 10 percent of your current weight and exercise for 45 mts daily.
Have you started taking metformin? What was the Hba1c result?
I will be happy to answer if you have any more queries.
Warm regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
I have not. I lost my brother at the age of 66 back in January due t o diabetic complications and am educating myself. I am also worried that the med would force my sugar too low and I would have an event. I am going to start it tomorrow, any thoughts on which meal to follow ??Thanks so much for your response.
Brief Answer:
metformin wont cause hypoglycemia
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to hear about your brother. Its good that you are being very proactive with this. Dont worry about hypoglycemia with metformin. It doesn't cause very low sugars. It brings the blood glucose to the normal range but never lower than it should be when taken alone. Metformin also has a very proven and favourable outcome in terms of cardiovascular medications among all anti diabetic agents. A Mediterranean diet plan given by your health care provider is considered to be the best among the whole lot. So please follow it. Please do a hba1c test and a fasting lipid profile once the sugars are stabilised in a week or so. It will helps us stratify the risk better and determine the need for additional cholesterol lowering drugs as well. Kindly keep me updated about your progress. I will be happy to advise if you have any further doubts anytime. Take care. Warm regards.
metformin wont cause hypoglycemia
Detailed Answer:
Sorry to hear about your brother. Its good that you are being very proactive with this. Dont worry about hypoglycemia with metformin. It doesn't cause very low sugars. It brings the blood glucose to the normal range but never lower than it should be when taken alone. Metformin also has a very proven and favourable outcome in terms of cardiovascular medications among all anti diabetic agents. A Mediterranean diet plan given by your health care provider is considered to be the best among the whole lot. So please follow it. Please do a hba1c test and a fasting lipid profile once the sugars are stabilised in a week or so. It will helps us stratify the risk better and determine the need for additional cholesterol lowering drugs as well. Kindly keep me updated about your progress. I will be happy to advise if you have any further doubts anytime. Take care. Warm regards.
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
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