Type 2 Non- Insulin Dependent Diabetes

[+ Gar1eth]

Does anyone on the Forum have experience with this- also was formerly called Adult Onset Diabetes? It was traditionally treated with pills of the sulfonyl- urea class as opposed to insulin. My question is did you have any overt symptoms aside from frequent urination or was it only picked up by persistently high blood sugar levels on routine testing?

 

Gman

[Guest]

It is now called Type II Diabetes Mellitus, because children or adults can get either type, and because both types may be treated with insulin. There are many different types of oral medication which can be used to treat Type II DM. ADA (and other) guidelines state that metformin is the first oral medication which type II diabetics should start with, unless there is a contra-indication, or unless the diabetes is so advanced that insulin must be used right away. Is there a question you want answered other than how one particular individual found out he had diabetes?

[Lohengrin1979]

Does anyone on the Forum have experience with this- also was formerly called Adult Onset Diabetes? It was traditionally treated with pills of the sulfonyl- urea class as opposed to insulin. My question is did you have any overt symptoms aside from frequent urination or was it only picked up by persistently high blood sugar levels on routine testing?

 

Gman

 

I myself do not suffer from this but my mother does. Her diabetes crept out of hiding when she turned 50, sadly after losing almost 140 pounds 5 years before that. The catalyst was her almost losing consciousness and being hospitalized with a blood sugar level over 400. Obviously being very heavy contributed to it but she did not experience the thirst or urination that most typically do.. Her symptoms manifested in occasional dizzy spells that finally became severe enough to hospitalize her as well as drastic mood swings for about a year long period. She also remembered that her sugar intake actually increased up to her actual diabetic crisis, as for some reason she craved it more. Thankfully she is doing very well now and manages her diabetes through minimal medication, diet, and exercise.

 

 

Lohengrin

[wisconsinguy]

Does anyone on the Forum have experience with this- also was formerly called Adult Onset Diabetes? It was traditionally treated with pills of the sulfonyl- urea class as opposed to insulin. My question is did you have any overt symptoms aside from frequent urination or was it only picked up by persistently high blood sugar levels on routine testing?

 

Gman

Unidentified Type II DM may not have these so called overt symptoms. Frequent urination often, but not always, occurs when sugars start to rise higher than the range in which Type II is treated. It is often one of the first symptoms with juvenile onset diabetes. They often are in state of ketoacidosis,

when diagnosed, as appears Lohengrin mom slipped into. Dangerously high sugar levels. What I'm trying to say is, frequent urination is not always an symptom indicator of Type II. Type II is most often discovered by a random check, during a physical, or individuals "just not feeling good," and going to an office visit. It is a generality in diabetic care, that the higher the blood sugar levels creep, the severity of symptoms do as well. I have cared for adults that have come into ICU's that I worked in with sugars over 1,000. Speculated they started out with Type II, undiagnosed. It all boils down to how long those little cells of the pancreas can produce insulin. Take care.

[Bosguy]

If you feel you may have Type II Diabetes, you should set up an appointment with your primary care physician and ask for the full series of tests which are usually done in the PCP's office. The new wave of treatment is centering on DIET and EXCERCISE in addition to an insulin regiment. There is also a wealth of information on the web, but the easiest and most effective answer to your concern is your PCP

 

Boston Bill

[Sixty]

I was diagnosed in 2002 when undergoing pre-op testing. The doctor doing my blood tests came in and asked me if I knew that I was diabetic ???????????? NO

Since then I've been on metformin and added nateglinide about 3 yrs ago. Of course my weight did not help things and eventually had to under go an angioplasty.

My internist told me to get to a gym (2005). Have been at the gym since then 4-5 times weekly, 2+ hrs at a time. Have lost nearly 70 lbs and trying for another

30.

My symptoms now tend to be pressure headaches for high or low blood sugar levels as well as diabetic neuropathy, thirst and urination at night that could

also be tied to my prostate.

Seeing my internist every three months, he does an A1C which is a good indicator of one's blood sugar levels.

[gallahadesquire]

It is now called Type II Diabetes Mellitus, because children or adults can get either type, and because both types may be treated with insulin. There are many different types of oral medication which can be used to treat Type II DM. ADA (and other) guidelines state that metformin is the first oral medication which type II diabetics should start with, unless there is a contra-indication, or unless the diabetes is so advanced that insulin must be used right away. Is there a question you want answered other than how one particular individual found out he had diabetes?

 

Type I and Type II are defined by the tendency to go into ketoacidosis, of which I can't remember all the details, but it includes VERY high blood sugars (Over 1000 is not uncommon; normal range, 80-120). Hemoglobin A1C can check for an "average" blood sugar - the details are unnecessarily nasty. The old standby was the glucose tolerance test: A patient is given a glucose load (like 50 g, orally) and blood sugars are measured at baseline, 30, 60, and I think 90 or 120 minutes. A good friend of mine was always borderline high on the A1C but said he felt incredibly lousy after the Glucose Tolerance Test, and his sugar when into the high 200's / low 300's.

 

Mainstay of treatment, like everything else in the world, is diet and exercise, and watching consumption of "simply sugars" like sugar, fructose, etc. More complex carbohydrates (three or more sugars together in a chain) are better for you.

 

Any odd neurological symptoms like tingling in the extremities should be investigated by a physician.

[adannyboy]

"Overt" symptoms would be frequent thirst, which leads to the frequent urination (or vice versa) and an increased appetite. Some men catch it when they have trouble getting/sustaining an erection or are more tired than usual. I used to see guys who thought they had low testosterone come in and get tested only to find out their T was good, but their glucose was crazy high.

 

Diabetes is a progressive disease which can be slowed with things like diet management, exercise, meds, etc but cannot be cured. The truth is most people end up on insulin at some point.

 

I like everyone else's answers too, but they're too medical...

Testing is easy. Most docs will start talking management with a fasting blood sugar over 120 or a random (non-fasting) over 200. A hemoglobin A1C test shows you a long-term picture... how your BS has been doing over the last 3 months or so.

 

lol also at BS for blood sugar.

 

-Nurse Danny

[Daverwr]

For me, I had no symptoms. I was visiting my urologist for an "unrelated" issue. He did a battery of tests including an A1C (blood sugar average over 3 months). It showed a tendency for diabetes. Over months the diagnosis was confirmed. There were no overt symptoms. Through the few years I have had Type II DM I have progressed through various oral meds, to long-acting insulin at nighttime, to regular mealtime insulin as my pancreas gradually gave out. Now, I have some minor neuropathy issues, but they took a while coming.

 

My point to the OP - You can't rely on symptoms. Frequent visits to your PCP and consistent testing are your best bets.

[Bosguy]

"Overt" symptoms would be frequent thirst, which leads to the frequent urination (or vice versa) and an increased appetite. Some men catch it when they have trouble getting/sustaining an erection or are more tired than usual. I used to see guys who thought they had low testosterone come in and get tested only to find out their T was good, but their glucose was crazy high.

 

Diabetes is a progressive disease which can be slowed with things like diet management, exercise, meds, etc but cannot be cured. The truth is most people end up on insulin at some point.

 

I like everyone else's answers too, but they're too medical...

Testing is easy. Most docs will start talking management with a fasting blood sugar over 120 or a random (non-fasting) over 200. A hemoglobin A1C test shows you a long-term picture... how your BS has been doing over the last 3 months or so.

 

lol also at BS for blood sugar.

 

-Nurse Danny

 

Great advice Danny in LAYman's language. If I need "medical" assistance, can I call on you? I already know that your "BEDSIDE MANNER" is remarkable. :-)

 

Boston Bill

[tyro]

No punnin' there, Bill!

T

[edjames]

Your first step in seeking help for diabetes should be your primary care physician who should order a complete blood workup which will include your blood sugar level (normal is 100) as well as your AIC level (anything over 7.0 is a concern). Secondly, your primary care physician should recommend an endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes Type 2.

There are many drugs on the market used to treat diabetes but Metformin is the most common. Many have side effects, so you will have to do your research on which drugs can be harmful and talk to your doctor about any drug that is prescribed. if you have cardiac problems be careful.

Everyone reacts differently to diabetes. Yes, frequent urination, thirst, increased weight gain are all symptoms but it is the unseen side effects that are the real killers. Watch your feet. Report any signs of numbness or nerve pain (neuropathy) to your doctor. Carefully monitor any foot cuts or abrasions for infection. See a doctor immediately if you detect any.

Diabetes can affect you kidneys, liver, eyes, and other body organs, so quarterly blood and urine tests are recommended.

Go to the American diabetes website: http://www.diabetes.org/

Also, diabetes is a genetic disease, so check your family history for others who may have been afflicted. I had no choice, both dad and granddad had diabetes.

Finally diet and exercise are critical factors in your fight against diabetes. Start reading about how dangerous carbs, sugars, and starches are to your health. A modified exercise program can benefit greatly, even if it's only walking 20 blocks a day.

 

Trust me, I know all this. I am currently sitting home recovering from foot reconstructive surgery! I am "non-weight bearing" for 90 days! I am halfway through my recovery. So far, so good but I now have more hardware in my foot than Home Depot. AND, I just checked my health insurance for the hospital bill (I was there overnight!) and the total came to $120K!!!!! I still have to wait until things get finalized but I don't even think it includes the surgeons fees.

 

My foot surgery was the result of something I had never heard of in all my research and doctor visits related to diabetes. Charcot's foot. Charcot's foot is a complication of diabetes that almost always occurs in those with neuropathy (nerve damage). When neuropathy is present, the bones in the foot become soft, the foot weakens and becomes deformed. I swear, aside from some minor swelling in my foot, which the podiatrist said was the result of arthritis, this came on quite suddenly and was very painful.

 

So you have a lot of research to do but my first step would be to see your internist and get a blood workup. Remember the A1C test is a fasting blood test, so don't eat for at least 12 hours before the test.

 

Good luck.

 

ED

[+ Gar1eth]

Your first step in seeking help for diabetes should be your primary care physician who should order a complete blood workup which will include your blood sugar level (normal is 100) as well as your AIC level (anything over 7.0 is a concern). Secondly, your primary care physician should recommend an endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes Type 2.

There are many drugs on the market used to treat diabetes but Metformin is the most common. Many have side effects, so you will have to do your research on which drugs can be harmful and talk to your doctor about any drug that is prescribed. if you have cardiac problems be careful.

Everyone reacts differently to diabetes. Yes, frequent urination, thirst, increased weight gain are all symptoms but it is the unseen side effects that are the real killers. Watch your feet. Report any signs of numbness or nerve pain (neuropathy) to your doctor. Carefully monitor any foot cuts or abrasions for infection. See a doctor immediately if you detect any.

Diabetes can affect you kidneys, liver, eyes, and other body organs, so quarterly blood and urine tests are recommended.

Go to the American diabetes website: http://www.diabetes.org/

Also, diabetes is a genetic disease, so check your family history for others who may have been afflicted. I had no choice, both dad and granddad had diabetes.

Finally diet and exercise are critical factors in your fight against diabetes. Start reading about how dangerous carbs, sugars, and starches are to your health. A modified exercise program can benefit greatly, even if it's only walking 20 blocks a day.

 

Trust me, I know all this. I am currently sitting home recovering from foot reconstructive surgery! I am "non-weight bearing" for 90 days! I am halfway through my recovery. So far, so good but I now have more hardware in my foot than Home Depot. AND, I just checked my health insurance for the hospital bill (I was there overnight!) and the total came to $120K!!!!! I still have to wait until things get finalized but I don't even think it includes the surgeons fees.

 

My foot surgery was the result of something I had never heard of in all my research and doctor visits related to diabetes. Charcot's foot. Charcot's foot is a complication of diabetes that almost always occurs in those with neuropathy (nerve damage). When neuropathy is present, the bones in the foot become soft, the foot weakens and becomes deformed. I swear, aside from some minor swelling in my foot, which the podiatrist said was the result of arthritis, this came on quite suddenly and was very painful.

 

So you have a lot of research to do but my first step would be to see your internist and get a blood workup. Remember the A1C test is a fasting blood test, so don't eat for at least 12 hours before the test.

 

Good luck.

 

ED

 

Thank you all for the information. This is all basically what I thought. One thing in reference to anyone else reading out there-the A1c test IS NOT a fasting test.

 

Gman

[+ Funguy]

Your first step in seeking help for diabetes should be your primary care physician who should order a complete blood workup which will include your blood sugar level (normal is 100) as well as your AIC level (anything over 7.0 is a concern). Secondly, your primary care physician should recommend an endocrinologist who specializes in diabetes Type 2.

There are many drugs on the market used to treat diabetes but Metformin is the most common. Many have side effects, so you will have to do your research on which drugs can be harmful and talk to your doctor about any drug that is prescribed. if you have cardiac problems be careful.

Everyone reacts differently to diabetes. Yes, frequent urination, thirst, increased weight gain are all symptoms but it is the unseen side effects that are the real killers. Watch your feet. Report any signs of numbness or nerve pain (neuropathy) to your doctor. Carefully monitor any foot cuts or abrasions for infection. See a doctor immediately if you detect any.

Diabetes can affect you kidneys, liver, eyes, and other body organs, so quarterly blood and urine tests are recommended.

Go to the American diabetes website: http://www.diabetes.org/

Also, diabetes is a genetic disease, so check your family history for others who may have been afflicted. I had no choice, both dad and granddad had diabetes.

Finally diet and exercise are critical factors in your fight against diabetes. Start reading about how dangerous carbs, sugars, and starches are to your health. A modified exercise program can benefit greatly, even if it's only walking 20 blocks a day.

 

Trust me, I know all this. I am currently sitting home recovering from foot reconstructive surgery! I am "non-weight bearing" for 90 days! I am halfway through my recovery. So far, so good but I now have more hardware in my foot than Home Depot. AND, I just checked my health insurance for the hospital bill (I was there overnight!) and the total came to $120K!!!!! I still have to wait until things get finalized but I don't even think it includes the surgeons fees.

 

My foot surgery was the result of something I had never heard of in all my research and doctor visits related to diabetes. Charcot's foot. Charcot's foot is a complication of diabetes that almost always occurs in those with neuropathy (nerve damage). When neuropathy is present, the bones in the foot become soft, the foot weakens and becomes deformed. I swear, aside from some minor swelling in my foot, which the podiatrist said was the result of arthritis, this came on quite suddenly and was very painful.

 

So you have a lot of research to do but my first step would be to see your internist and get a blood workup. Remember the A1C test is a fasting blood test, so don't eat for at least 12 hours before the test.

 

Good luck.

 

ED

 

Excellent information. One thing, though, the Hemoglobin A1C is NOT a test that you need to fast for if it is done as an individual test. It measures your blood sugar average for the PREVIOUS 3 months. The rest of the blood work, esp. the blood sugar, should be fasting.

[Guest]

I just want to correct a few slight inaccuracies from some prior postings. These are the current ADA criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, which assume that the patient doesn't have a temporary medical reason for high blood sugars (such as taking prednisone, having pancreatitis, etc.):

A1C ≥6.5%*†; or

FPG‡ ≥126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L)†; or

 

2-hr plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) during an OGTT (75-g); or

 

Random plasma glucose ≥200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L)**

 

Above recommendations are for nonpregnant adults.

 

*Perform in lab using a NGSP-certified method standardized to the DCCT assay; †In the absence of unequivocal hyperglycemia result to be confirmed by repeat testing; ‡Fasting defined as no caloric intake for ≥8 hours. **In persons with symptoms of hyperglycemia or hyperglycemic crisis.

FPG means fasting plasma glucose (before breakfast). The FPG of over 125 has to be repeated for the diagnosis to be "official," whereas the other diagnostic criteria do not. A normal FPG is between 70 and 99. If the FPG is between 100-125 inclusive, the diagnosis of Impaired Fasting Glucose (or IFG) or "pre-diabetes" is given, although the patient may also have full-blown diabetes if the other tests (glucose tolerance test or HgbA1c) give the diagnosis. Most people these days get diagnosed because of screening rather than because of symptoms. High blood sugars cause many symptoms other than frequent urination, and frequent urination is a symptom of a massive number of diseases other than diabetes mellitus (bladder or prostate infection, overactive bladder, prostate enlargement, prostate cancer, diabetes insipidus, interstitial cystitis, bladder cancer, just to name a few). Obviously if you have any symptoms you can't explain, you should see a doctor.

In terms of screening for diabetes, these are the ADA recommendations:

Recommendations Evidence grading*

Evaluation for type 2 diabetes should be performed within the health care setting. Patients should be screened at 3-year intervals beginning at age 45; testing should be considered at an earlier age or be carried out more frequently if diabetes risk factors are present. E

Diabetes risk factors include a family history of diabetes; overweight defined as BMI ≥25 kg/m2; habitual physical inactivity; belonging to a high-risk ethnic or racial group; previously identified IFG or IGT; hypertension; dyslipidemia; history of GDM or delivery of a baby weighing >9 lbs; and polycystic ovary syndrome. B

The FPG is the recommended screening test. The OGTT may be necessary for the diagnosis of diabetes when the FPG is normal. The FPG is preferred for screenings because it is faster and easier to perform, more convenient, acceptable to patients, and less expensive. C

Diagnostic testing should be performed in any clinical situation in which such testing is warranted; health care providers should not consider whether a person meets screening criteria in such cases. E

Screening outside of health care settings, or community screening, has not been shown to be beneficial and may result in some harm; this type of screening is not recommended. E

 

If the DM2 is caught early (or especially before full-blown DM2 is present, i.e. IFG), changes in diet (avoiding simple carbs such as glucose, sucrose, and fructose), exercise, and weight loss will bring the sugars down to normal, and the sugars can stay normal indefinitely. Once symptoms appear, treatment will usually require medication as well. Symptoms typically appear with a FPG of around 180, although that's quite variable. Some patients have glucoses in the 200s and are blissfully unaware. High blood sugars damage a number of major organ systems, including nerves, blood vessels (to the brain, heart, penis, extremities, for example), kidneys, eyes, and, unfortunately, the cells that make insulin themselves. So the earlier and the quicker one treats DM2, the better off the patient will be, and the simpler the treatments. Complications are largely avoidable with early and aggressive treatment.

[Guy Fawkes]

A translation to English would be appreciated.

 

In my case, discovered when I had a serious leg infection. Currently controlled with metformin and a low carb diet (I've lost about 20 pounds since coming to Las Vegas). Exercise limited by Diabetic Leg Pain and heavy duty arthritis which is mostly controlled by gabapentin .

The only reason I mention what I consider to be private information is that this is something you want to catch sooner than later. As you get older, it's very important (IMHO) to occasionally have A1C checked even if your in reasonable shape.

 

I just want to correct a few slight inaccuracies from some prior postings.

[Guest]

A translation to English would be appreciated.

 

 

You didn't mention exactly what it was that wasn't clear, but to summarize, the ADA recommends that people be screened (which means to be tested even without any symptoms) if (1) you're 45 or older, (2) you're fat, (3) you're lazy, (4) you're not white, (5) DM2 runs in your family, (6) you have high blood pressure, (7) you have high triglycerides (a blood fat), (8) you have fatty liver (which usually means you're either fat or lazy), or (9) have other conditions which pertain to women only (GDM means diabetes in pregnancy and PCOS refers to polycystic ovaries). Yes, the HgbA1c can be done instead of the fasting glucose, but, as mentioned in the ADA guidelines above, the fasting glucose is preferred. The American Academy of Clinical Endocrinology (AACE) does not actually recommend using the HgbA1c for diagnosis because a number of other medical conditions and medications (including aspirin) can affect the values. In fact, having diabetic kidney damage can falsely lower the Hgb A1c, which could make it seem like your glucoses were lower than they actually were. For references, see these tables:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3401751/table/T1/?report=previmg

 

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3401751/bin/IJEM-16-528-g002.jpg

 

The World Health Organization does give the green light to using the Hgb A1c for diagnosis, because if you're going out to a village in Africa, it's difficult to get the whole village to come in fasting (or the crew to get blood draws of everyone in the early AM). Nothing terribly wrong with using the Hgb A1c for diagnosis (as long as one is aware of the limitations), but in my experience, if I have a patient who considers it a sacrifice to hold off on breakfast for a single morning, getting long-lasting changes in diet and exercise behavior is rarely successful. If there's anything else unclear about my prior post, feel free to let me know. Thanks for the testimonial that the earlier you get diagnosed, the better off you'll be.

Just to clarify on the drug table above, the term "antiretrovirals" refers to HIV medications, which might concern some of the readers of this forum--many of them falsely lower Hgb A1c.

[adannyboy]

well, mine was pretty english I think. Since this is a forum and not a doctor's office, excuse my inaccuracies.

 

Mine was also thousands of dollars less than alla that^^

 

Also, Thank you Boston Bill. <3

[Guest]

In mid-20s, I was tested for insulin resistance when I thought I saw some hair fallout. The test showed that I had some IR. They sent me for an ultrasound to test for PCOS, but the ovaries looked fine. I was on the high side of normal weight then, but after I lost weight, the insulin resistance disappeared. The weight remains off.

 

 

Should I get tested? Thanks in advance.

 

To answer your question briefly, yes, if you have a history of insulin resistance in the past, I would be screened annually for diabetes. I'm going to take a guess that there's a risk factor that you didn't divulge in your response, because it's quite unusual for a woman in her mid 20s to really have insulin resistance just because her BMI is on the high side of normal. Perhaps you were chubby as a kid, you have a family history, or you're not white. That being said I'm not quite certain what you mean when you say "I had some insulin resistance." Unless there's some important missing information, your doctor sounds like a bit of a weirdo.

Diabetes mellitus does not cause hair loss (nor does insulin resistance). PCOS can certainly lead to hair loss, and PCOS is a major risk factor for diabetes, but the reason PCOS can cause hair loss is because it causes elevations in male hormones, not because it is associated with insulin resistance (PCOS is associated with insulin resistance, but that has nothing to do with the hair loss). If your test for "insulin resistance" was a fasting glucose or a Hgb A1c, then the doctor (he or she) is perhaps only a bit of a weirdo. It's certainly appropriate to check an overweight cough potato for diabetes, but that would have nothing to do with the hair loss. If the test for insulin resistance was a fasting insulin level, that's kind of nutty and not recommended by any guideline (and actually dis-recommended). Now if he really tested directly for insulin resistance by doing either a hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp or a modified insulin suppression test (you would have had IV's running and been there for hours), then your doctor is a complete whacko, and you should avoid diabetes by running away from him or her as fast as you can.

It would certainly have been reasonable to check the male hormones DHEA-S and free testosterone, especially if you were having a loss of your menstrual periods (or very few or light periods). However, the ultrasound didn't add anything. The NIH criteria don't even have an ultrasound as part of the diagnostic criteria of PCOS: In 1990 a consensus workshop sponsored by the NIH/NICHD suggested that a patient has PCOS if she has all of the following:

oligoovulation

signs of androgen excess (clinical or biochemical)

other entities are excluded that would cause polycystic ovaries

 

Oligo-ovulation refers to the loss or lightening of the menstrual periods.

So, in short, I'm not quite sure what you meant when you said "I had some IR," but if by that you meant you had IFG (fasting glucose over 100), then you are at high risk and should be tested annually. Also, if you have symptoms, you should be tested regardless of prior risk factors. If your doctor checked a fasting insulin level, that's a little nutty. If he truly directly measured your insulin resistance, he's really off kilter.

[Guest]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/545938440b4f405748086b234f9d76da/tumblr_mukiliBsIc1sbhemuo1_500.jpg

[+ FreshFluff]

To answer your question briefly, yes, if you have a history of insulin resistance in the past, I would be screened annually for diabetes. I'm going to take a guess that there's a risk factor that you didn't divulge in your response, because it's quite unusual for a woman in her mid 20s to really have insulin resistance just because her BMI is on the high side of normal. Perhaps you were chubby as a kid, you have a family history, or you're not white. That being said I'm not quite certain what you mean when you say "I had some insulin resistance." Unless there's some important missing information, your doctor sounds like a bit of a weirdo.

 

So, in short, I'm not quite sure what you meant when you said "I had some IR," but if by that you meant you had IFG (fasting glucose over 100), then you are at high risk and should be tested annually. Also, if you have symptoms, you should be tested regardless of prior risk factors. If your doctor checked a fasting insulin level, that's a little nutty. If he truly directly measured your insulin resistance, he's really off kilter.

 

The hair loss may well have been breakage; since I didn't see any scalp thinning. But I decided to go to my dermatologist to be sure. He tested me and found that my total testosterone level was right above the high end of the normal range. So he recommended that I go to an endrocrinologist. The doctor I went to was considered a top guy at that time.

 

As for the test, he did that test in which you go in, get some sugar water (can't remember if I drank it or had an IV), wait a while, have blood drawn, etc.

 

I still have the test results but need to dig them up.

 

Risk factors:

-Chubby as a kid? No, I was very skinny. I was only on the high side of the normal range only from about age 20-27, then went back.

-I am white/Eastern European.

-Family history? None in my immediate family, including parents, uncles, grandparents, and so on. Not sure about histories of anyone outside of that.

 

Thanks for the warning. I will go get tested.

[Daverwr]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/545938440b4f405748086b234f9d76da/tumblr_mukiliBsIc1sbhemuo1_500.jpg

 

This image is like a stand-in for Steven_Draker! Made me LMAO!

[Guest]

The hair loss may well have been breakage; since I didn't see any scalp thinning. But I decided to go to my dermatologist to be sure. He tested me and found that my total testosterone level was right above the high end of the normal range. So he recommended that I go to an endrocrinologist. The doctor I went to was considered a top guy at that time.

 

As for the test, he did that test in which you go in, get some sugar water (can't remember if I drank it or had an IV), wait a while, have blood drawn, etc.

 

I still have the test results but need to dig them up.

 

Risk factors:

-Chubby as a kid? No, I was very skinny. I was only on the high side of the normal range only from about age 20-27, then went back.

-I am white/Eastern European.

-Family history? None in my immediate family, including parents, uncles, grandparents, and so on. Not sure about histories of anyone outside of that.

 

Thanks for the warning. I will go get tested.

 

OK. That makes a lot more sense. So they checked your glucose tolerance as a follow-up for the abnormal testosterone, not as part of the workup for your hair loss. What they should have checked, though, was a free testosterone, not a total testosterone. An oral 2-hour glucose tolerance test would be a reasonable test as a workup of why your testosterone was elevated (i.e. was it "pre-PCOS," although if there was no menstrual irregularity, it wasn't PCOS), although if your free testosterone were normal, that's the more important reading. It would be interesting to know your glucose readings. If they were really abnormal, and you were never really fat, then you may have gotten a very bad roll of the genetic dice, especially given your lack of family history. It means you're going to have to keep an eye on your glucose tolerance, and try to be conscientious about your exercise and diet habits. Bummer.