My Physician,the one who makes Patients feel like stupid idiots told me there is no such thing as Pre-Diabetic.You either are or aren't..
Actually this is kind of how I feel about not so much my doctor, but health insurance and the medical community. I've been pre-diabetic (insulin resistant? borderline? whatever the terminology of the second is today) for years. Despite doing most of the "lifestyle changes" I am still prediabetic.
But until I actually fall off the cliff and become full blown I can not get even any diabetes education, diabetes testing supplies, anything.
Yes, because apparently in this world an ounce of prevention isnt worth jack.
I'm really surprised your doc hasn't given you a blood glucometer - they give 'em like candy at my doc. But maybe you should be glad. I had gestational diabetes with both my kids and afterwards, I had a 6.0% A1C, so she "diagnosed" me as diabetic without further testing and put me on metformin (glucophage). It didn't change my A1C much, but it did seem to help with the weight loss, so I stayed on it.
Well, to make a long story short, I've been laid off and my COBRA health insurance coverage ran out and because I take a diabetes medicine, no one will cover me - I mean they won't even take my application for health insurance.
BTW - weight training really reduced my insulin resistance. I had like no muscle tone at all before though.
Well, to make a long story short, I've been laid off and my COBRA health insurance coverage ran out and because I take a diabetes medicine, no one will cover me - I mean they won't even take my application for health insurance.
This is one of the major reasons I don't take the Metformin recommended by my OB/Gyn for PCOS...I'm not diabetic OR insulin resistant according to tests, but the medication really helps some people with PCOS control symptoms...but I won't consider it because of the insurance ramifications.
I'm really surprised your doc hasn't given you a blood glucometer - they give 'em like candy at my doc. But maybe you should be glad. I had gestational diabetes with both my kids and afterwards, I had a 6.0% A1C, so she "diagnosed" me as diabetic without further testing and put me on metformin (glucophage). It didn't change my A1C much, but it did seem to help with the weight loss, so I stayed on it.
Well, to make a long story short, I've been laid off and my COBRA health insurance coverage ran out and because I take a diabetes medicine, no one will cover me - I mean they won't even take my application for health insurance.
BTW - weight training really reduced my insulin resistance. I had like no muscle tone at all before though.
How much are glucometers? I will probably just buy one when the one I am borrowing has to go back. In my case exercise has made very very little difference. The only time my FBS was below 100 was when I was <130 lbs.
Either way I am not interested in medication at this point, but I think it is stupid that I have to remind them to test me each year and I would love to speak to someone about how best to deal with marathon training carbohydrate needs.
Well, to make a long story short, I've been laid off and my COBRA health insurance coverage ran out and because I take a diabetes medicine, no one will cover me - I mean they won't even take my application for health insurance.
I know I am going to get slammed here but doesn't anyone else smell a scam with the latest diabetes numbers? I know that just a few years back diabetes was considered 150 and over because I wrote a letter to my mom's doctor about it and recently saw it in my file.
Ok so fine they want to get more proactive but the level just keeps dropping and my mom's doctor continues to justify ALL her excessive medications on my mom being "diabetic". (she is from 115 to 123 and her 3 month test is generally around 6.0 to 6.1) Including non diabetes meds like cholesterol meds even though her cholesterol is very good. As people get older they lose the ability to control their blood sugar as well and the numbers slip... but that doesn't mean they are in any danger. My mom has had this blood sugar for 10 years or longer. It is normal for her. Something to be watched... yes.
So the majority of the population is aging, at the same time they keep lowering the *diabetic* numbers and giving them increasingly scary names like "pre-dibeates" where a few years ago they called it "insulin resistance."
My blood sugar is usually around 90 and has almost always been. The line between 90 and 100 is super slim.
I see a correlation between Dr. Oz and the rest of the medical community... my mom's doctor and my doctor use that diabetes *card* for almost everything. To scare me to do what they want, to scare my mom into staying on likely unnecessary meds, to judge me and my mom ... "oh you are a diabetic" you are bad... so you must take this new drug and your medical insurance used it as a pretext to deny you coverage.
I do have a problem with meds being prescribed for pre-diabetes (insulin resistance/borderline fasting blood sugar - yes the name keeps changing) because for most people the path from preD to full blown is years in the making, diet and exercise can prevent it from progressing in about 75-80% or at least slow the process dramatically. Officially the only treatment recommended for pre-D is increased frequency of testing. I think diabetes counseling should be added at least at some level before active damage is being done to internal organs.
However, I also have a problem with the fact that when I asked my doctor "oh hey, does that blood sugar number indicate a higher diabetes risk?" (since my dad died from it and all) and was told "Oh, yes it does, but we usually dont say anything until it gets to 120". Why not? If I had been told the first time I had a 110 FBS I might have made the changes before I got pg and got GD etc ( I WAS able to prevent GD with pg#2). Why not give a person 5-10 years extra of "this is something you should keep an eye on". Especially since my doctors often have forgotten to order an FBS with my routine physical. Until you are 40 in this country you are not screened for Diabetes outside of pregnancy. Regardless of family history, or even weight. Knowledge is power and they actively withheld knowledge that I was at risk for nearly a decade. Until I asked on my own. Had I never had GD, I would not be on the alert.
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To scare me to do what they want, to scare my mom into staying on likely unnecessary meds, to judge me and my mom ... "oh you are a diabetic" you are bad... so you must take this new drug and your medical insurance used it as a pretext to deny you coverage.
I dont see that there is a judgment factor or a statement of "you are bad" with diabetes. Nor is diabetes unique in medical coverage. Anytime you let insurance lapse for even a second you will be denied new coverage for ANY kind of condition you have.
This is one of the major reasons I don't take the Metformin recommended by my OB/Gyn for PCOS...I'm not diabetic OR insulin resistant according to tests, but the medication really helps some people with PCOS control symptoms...but I won't consider it because of the insurance ramifications.
I just wanted to say that merely taking a commonly prescribed diabetes medication doesn't mean that you will be treated as though you are diabetic. Metformin is now a recognized treatment for PCOS. I have PCOS and have been taking Metformin for 8 years. When I applied for life insurance, the quote came back absurdly high. I asked why and found out that they said that I have diabetes. I fought it after getting my doctors office to contact them and verify that I had never been diagnosed with diabetes and that I was being treated for PCOS and that I had never even had gestational diabetes (which shocked me as well as my OBGYN). They came back with a quote that was less than half the original quote. Please don't let insurance bureaucracies keep you from receiving treatment if you need it. It really didn't take very long to straighten it all out, and it was worth it.
Ok~I will be unpopular on here for this but Got take up for Dr. Oz.
I watch his show about 1 time a week or so ~not a daily watcher, cause I have no time But I do think he is very helpful to getting out there to people just how unhealthy being overweight or obese is...He shows a new exercise daily And something new usually of healthy ways to eat. I Praise him for that cause I think that some people need scared into things...May just be the boost they needed to get them started. Although I will say I think everything is reality t.v. And they all play there parts.
As far as the diabetics ~I do not know anything personally about them.
So I will not comment to that other than to say I hope everyone on here who has it or has a loved one that does Manages it best they can and Remains in good health from choosing wise & doing there best.
As far as Carnie Wilson...
I was a huge Fan of Wilson Philips band when I was a kid(which included Carnie wilson) Loved the song "Hold on" It was very inspirational to me as a teenager. Although I have noticed she is on alot of reality shows here lately(like GONE Country,Celebrity ghost stories,Ect.) and trying to make a comeback of some sort ~So I think anything to help her get attention is what she is doing & they are all more or less actors so It's an act....to get people talking And it worked cause everyone is talking about it.
I look at shows for entertainment only~I do not even trust the local news for total Real life things ~I am sure they add some false stuff in daily to make it interesting for us. ~HUGS TO ALL~
I don't think he's a quack -- his credentials are VERY legit and impressive -- but I do think he gives a lot of advice out of his area of expertise. A cardiothoracic surgeon probably hasn't dealt with something like telomeres, or medical afflictions that are not directly related to surgery, since way back in medical school.
It IS surprising that his staff isn't doing their research thoroughly -- or maybe he's just dumbing things down for the audience? In any case, NOT a fan here either, although I think he is doing a public service by getting people (the Oprah crowd in particular) to worry about their health/weight/diabetes status, even if his methods are a bit alarmist.
You took the words right out of my mouth! I'm sure he is a fabulous cardiothoracic surgeon but that does not mean he knows about some of this other stuff. I worked in a multispeciality clinic and most physicians who have practiced a long time basically just stuck with what they did, especially surgeons! (grins) While sure they all have learned general medical illnesses in medical school...if thats been a while and I'm sure it has for Dr. Oz then you just arent up on the current information. Then again, I'm sure he does a quick internet search before his shows on topics he doesn't know much about! haha! I like some of his shows but mostly not...he should really spend one entire show on one topic and not jump around. Also, I really hate it when he brings out the organs ....gross !
With that said...I DO feel he does some good as lots of people watch his show and there are some good topics. I watched it one day about gluten and it was a great segment with Elisabeth Hasselbeck from The View and her doctor there but I wish they would have spent more time on it and not jumped onto something else. Oh well....thats TV for ya
I watch Dr. Oz every day. I like the methods he uses for losing weight. He believes in eating the kinds of foods I do. So I am always interested in hearing what he has to say about foods.
I see him very differently. He seems very calm and kind, and some things we really should be more active about. True, the person may not be pre-diabetic, but I think he does those things for effect. Also, how many shows are out there that really inform people about health the way he does?
Also, the stuff he talks about tends to be more researched and current than I find on other shows when they discuss health and he seems far more advanced and knowledgeable than I have found other tv health shows to be. Dr. Oz isn't perfect, but he is awesome.
Last edited by milliondollarbbw; 02-11-2010 at 12:09 AM.
AnnRue,
"Including non diabetes meds like cholesterol meds even though her cholesterol is very good."
A few Years back,a Step-Aunt who recently turned 72 received a Letter from Medicare telling her she MUST take a Statin (Cholesterol lowering) Drug because she is Diabetic,when her Cholesterol is NORMAL!
CJZee,
My Doctor is a "dip" who doesn't treat Diabetes in the first place!At age 22 (1995),I was Diagnosed with Reactive Hyperglycemia after a 3 hour GTT.My FBS was like 91,if I remember correctly.At hour 1 and 2,it elevated,yet dropped to 59 at hour 3.Took the Results from the GTT and showed my Doctor.He browsed and said,"Those numbers are fine!".Couple Month's before my 36th Birthday in 2008,I'm Diagnosed Type II Diabetic.
Hiya. Fancy meeting you here.
