Diabetes or CFRD

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LeneSouthAfrica

New member
From what i gather CF diabetes can be different than normal diabetes. In normal diabetes sugars go up and stay up. In CF sugars can go up, sometimes quickly and very low thereafter, and then eventually settles to normal until you eat again (my whole 'cycle' takes about 2 to 3 hours). This 'see saw' is very tiring on the body. The more severe your diabetes the longer sugars stay up, i think. My dr told me that spells of low blood sugar can be an indication of diabetes, which i didn't understand at first but now do. The only way to stop it is to use insulin or not eat the wrong stuff. If it goes high "sometimes", something is still not right...rather have it checked out.
 
L

LeneSouthAfrica

New member
From what i gather CF diabetes can be different than normal diabetes. In normal diabetes sugars go up and stay up. In CF sugars can go up, sometimes quickly and very low thereafter, and then eventually settles to normal until you eat again (my whole 'cycle' takes about 2 to 3 hours). This 'see saw' is very tiring on the body. The more severe your diabetes the longer sugars stay up, i think. My dr told me that spells of low blood sugar can be an indication of diabetes, which i didn't understand at first but now do. The only way to stop it is to use insulin or not eat the wrong stuff. If it goes high "sometimes", something is still not right...rather have it checked out.
 
L

LeneSouthAfrica

New member
From what i gather CF diabetes can be different than normal diabetes. In normal diabetes sugars go up and stay up. In CF sugars can go up, sometimes quickly and very low thereafter, and then eventually settles to normal until you eat again (my whole 'cycle' takes about 2 to 3 hours). This 'see saw' is very tiring on the body. The more severe your diabetes the longer sugars stay up, i think. My dr told me that spells of low blood sugar can be an indication of diabetes, which i didn't understand at first but now do. The only way to stop it is to use insulin or not eat the wrong stuff. If it goes high "sometimes", something is still not right...rather have it checked out.
 
L

LeneSouthAfrica

New member
From what i gather CF diabetes can be different than normal diabetes. In normal diabetes sugars go up and stay up. In CF sugars can go up, sometimes quickly and very low thereafter, and then eventually settles to normal until you eat again (my whole 'cycle' takes about 2 to 3 hours). This 'see saw' is very tiring on the body. The more severe your diabetes the longer sugars stay up, i think. My dr told me that spells of low blood sugar can be an indication of diabetes, which i didn't understand at first but now do. The only way to stop it is to use insulin or not eat the wrong stuff. If it goes high "sometimes", something is still not right...rather have it checked out.
 
L

LeneSouthAfrica

New member
From what i gather CF diabetes can be different than normal diabetes. In normal diabetes sugars go up and stay up. In CF sugars can go up, sometimes quickly and very low thereafter, and then eventually settles to normal until you eat again (my whole 'cycle' takes about 2 to 3 hours). This 'see saw' is very tiring on the body. The more severe your diabetes the longer sugars stay up, i think. My dr told me that spells of low blood sugar can be an indication of diabetes, which i didn't understand at first but now do. The only way to stop it is to use insulin or not eat the wrong stuff. If it goes high "sometimes", something is still not right...rather have it checked out.
 
L

LeneSouthAfrica

New member
From what i gather CF diabetes can be different than normal diabetes. In normal diabetes sugars go up and stay up. In CF sugars can go up, sometimes quickly and very low thereafter, and then eventually settles to normal until you eat again (my whole 'cycle' takes about 2 to 3 hours). This 'see saw' is very tiring on the body. The more severe your diabetes the longer sugars stay up, i think. My dr told me that spells of low blood sugar can be an indication of diabetes, which i didn't understand at first but now do. The only way to stop it is to use insulin or not eat the wrong stuff. If it goes high "sometimes", something is still not right...rather have it checked out.
 
J

JustDucky

New member
In my hospital, the OGTT did involve blood draws from the arm in half hour increments, one prior to ingesting that very sweet stuff. I believe mine was orange flavored, the amount of carbohydrate was 70g. I hate sweet things so I thought it was gross. Before my sugars reached 500, I did yo yo too...high low and anywhere in between. Made me nuts. I am on insulin now and feel better, I cover only once in awhile. BTW, the needles that I use are very very thin, almost as thin as a mosquito's. I don't feel a thing when I inject the insulin, actually the fingersticks hurt more than the insulin.
I wish you luck on your OGTT, hopefully it will shed some light for you! Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

JustDucky

New member
In my hospital, the OGTT did involve blood draws from the arm in half hour increments, one prior to ingesting that very sweet stuff. I believe mine was orange flavored, the amount of carbohydrate was 70g. I hate sweet things so I thought it was gross. Before my sugars reached 500, I did yo yo too...high low and anywhere in between. Made me nuts. I am on insulin now and feel better, I cover only once in awhile. BTW, the needles that I use are very very thin, almost as thin as a mosquito's. I don't feel a thing when I inject the insulin, actually the fingersticks hurt more than the insulin.
I wish you luck on your OGTT, hopefully it will shed some light for you! Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

JustDucky

New member
In my hospital, the OGTT did involve blood draws from the arm in half hour increments, one prior to ingesting that very sweet stuff. I believe mine was orange flavored, the amount of carbohydrate was 70g. I hate sweet things so I thought it was gross. Before my sugars reached 500, I did yo yo too...high low and anywhere in between. Made me nuts. I am on insulin now and feel better, I cover only once in awhile. BTW, the needles that I use are very very thin, almost as thin as a mosquito's. I don't feel a thing when I inject the insulin, actually the fingersticks hurt more than the insulin.
I wish you luck on your OGTT, hopefully it will shed some light for you! Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

JustDucky

New member
In my hospital, the OGTT did involve blood draws from the arm in half hour increments, one prior to ingesting that very sweet stuff. I believe mine was orange flavored, the amount of carbohydrate was 70g. I hate sweet things so I thought it was gross. Before my sugars reached 500, I did yo yo too...high low and anywhere in between. Made me nuts. I am on insulin now and feel better, I cover only once in awhile. BTW, the needles that I use are very very thin, almost as thin as a mosquito's. I don't feel a thing when I inject the insulin, actually the fingersticks hurt more than the insulin.
I wish you luck on your OGTT, hopefully it will shed some light for you! Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

JustDucky

New member
In my hospital, the OGTT did involve blood draws from the arm in half hour increments, one prior to ingesting that very sweet stuff. I believe mine was orange flavored, the amount of carbohydrate was 70g. I hate sweet things so I thought it was gross. Before my sugars reached 500, I did yo yo too...high low and anywhere in between. Made me nuts. I am on insulin now and feel better, I cover only once in awhile. BTW, the needles that I use are very very thin, almost as thin as a mosquito's. I don't feel a thing when I inject the insulin, actually the fingersticks hurt more than the insulin.
I wish you luck on your OGTT, hopefully it will shed some light for you! Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
J

JustDucky

New member
In my hospital, the OGTT did involve blood draws from the arm in half hour increments, one prior to ingesting that very sweet stuff. I believe mine was orange flavored, the amount of carbohydrate was 70g. I hate sweet things so I thought it was gross. Before my sugars reached 500, I did yo yo too...high low and anywhere in between. Made me nuts. I am on insulin now and feel better, I cover only once in awhile. BTW, the needles that I use are very very thin, almost as thin as a mosquito's. I don't feel a thing when I inject the insulin, actually the fingersticks hurt more than the insulin.
I wish you luck on your OGTT, hopefully it will shed some light for you! Hugs, Jenn <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">
 
A

AnD

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>JazzysMom</b></i>

OK Now I am confused! The GTT I get at the hospital doesnt do a finger stick. It draws blood from my arm like my annual labs or anything else unless I am checking my own sugars.



SO the bigger needle does apply where I go!</end quote></div>


Huh. I wonder why the difference? I got my done in the ob/gyn's office/lab...maybe that's the difference in my case? (Didn't make it past the second check, either- they gave up and sent me to the diabetes center to sign up for class <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ).
 
A

AnD

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>JazzysMom</b></i>

OK Now I am confused! The GTT I get at the hospital doesnt do a finger stick. It draws blood from my arm like my annual labs or anything else unless I am checking my own sugars.



SO the bigger needle does apply where I go!</end quote></div>


Huh. I wonder why the difference? I got my done in the ob/gyn's office/lab...maybe that's the difference in my case? (Didn't make it past the second check, either- they gave up and sent me to the diabetes center to sign up for class <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ).
 
A

AnD

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>JazzysMom</b></i>

OK Now I am confused! The GTT I get at the hospital doesnt do a finger stick. It draws blood from my arm like my annual labs or anything else unless I am checking my own sugars.



SO the bigger needle does apply where I go!</end quote></div>


Huh. I wonder why the difference? I got my done in the ob/gyn's office/lab...maybe that's the difference in my case? (Didn't make it past the second check, either- they gave up and sent me to the diabetes center to sign up for class <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ).
 
A

AnD

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>JazzysMom</b></i>

OK Now I am confused! The GTT I get at the hospital doesnt do a finger stick. It draws blood from my arm like my annual labs or anything else unless I am checking my own sugars.



SO the bigger needle does apply where I go!</end quote></div>


Huh. I wonder why the difference? I got my done in the ob/gyn's office/lab...maybe that's the difference in my case? (Didn't make it past the second check, either- they gave up and sent me to the diabetes center to sign up for class <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ).
 
A

AnD

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>JazzysMom</b></i>

OK Now I am confused! The GTT I get at the hospital doesnt do a finger stick. It draws blood from my arm like my annual labs or anything else unless I am checking my own sugars.



SO the bigger needle does apply where I go!</end quote>


Huh. I wonder why the difference? I got my done in the ob/gyn's office/lab...maybe that's the difference in my case? (Didn't make it past the second check, either- they gave up and sent me to the diabetes center to sign up for class <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ).
 
A

AnD

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>JazzysMom</b></i>

OK Now I am confused! The GTT I get at the hospital doesnt do a finger stick. It draws blood from my arm like my annual labs or anything else unless I am checking my own sugars.



SO the bigger needle does apply where I go!</end quote>


Huh. I wonder why the difference? I got my done in the ob/gyn's office/lab...maybe that's the difference in my case? (Didn't make it past the second check, either- they gave up and sent me to the diabetes center to sign up for class <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"> ).
 
L

lightNlife

New member
Here's an article about what's involved in the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://understandingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com/2007/06/diabetes-screening.html">Diabetes Screening</a>

When you mention that your doctor thinks it's diabetes, are you talking about a CF specialist, or just your basic doc? I had a lot of trouble communicating to one of my past doctors that I was not diabetic, even though I needed insulin when being on prednisone. They sent me to "diabetes school" where they forced me to count carbs, and so forth. I knew what they were saying was completely wrong for CFRD, even a transient case of steroid induced CFRD like mine, so I stopped going.

Also, the only needle you need to worry about is a finger stick for the OGTT, and possibly a blood draw if your doc says you need a <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://understandingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com/2007/07/blood-draws-hemoglobin-a1c.html">Hemoglobin A1c test done. </a> This is probably the "big needle" situation that Jazzy's Mom and others were talking about. It's another measure of the amount of sugar in the blood.

If you are diagnosed with CFRD, the needles used to administer insulin are VERY small. Honestly, I can't even feel them unless I do something stupid like try to reuse it.

Worrying about what might be going on with your sugars may be far more frustrating and exhausting than simply having the OGTT done and finding out once and for all what is going on.

Best wishes. I hope it goes well for you.
 
L

lightNlife

New member
Here's an article about what's involved in the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://understandingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com/2007/06/diabetes-screening.html">Diabetes Screening</a>

When you mention that your doctor thinks it's diabetes, are you talking about a CF specialist, or just your basic doc? I had a lot of trouble communicating to one of my past doctors that I was not diabetic, even though I needed insulin when being on prednisone. They sent me to "diabetes school" where they forced me to count carbs, and so forth. I knew what they were saying was completely wrong for CFRD, even a transient case of steroid induced CFRD like mine, so I stopped going.

Also, the only needle you need to worry about is a finger stick for the OGTT, and possibly a blood draw if your doc says you need a <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://understandingcysticfibrosis.blogspot.com/2007/07/blood-draws-hemoglobin-a1c.html">Hemoglobin A1c test done. </a> This is probably the "big needle" situation that Jazzy's Mom and others were talking about. It's another measure of the amount of sugar in the blood.

If you are diagnosed with CFRD, the needles used to administer insulin are VERY small. Honestly, I can't even feel them unless I do something stupid like try to reuse it.

Worrying about what might be going on with your sugars may be far more frustrating and exhausting than simply having the OGTT done and finding out once and for all what is going on.

Best wishes. I hope it goes well for you.
 
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