What glucose reading 2 hours after food shows need for insulin shots?

Question

Just wondering at what point do doctors prescribe insulin. Do the sugars need to still be high after 2 hours. Mine is high after 1 hour but lowering to safe limits by 2 hours.
I have been feeling very ill after eating and suspected something wrong. My glucose test was high on 1 hour but fell down to normal after 2 hours.
Do I need insulin and what number on my glucometer would show a need for insulin...???
I need something cos I cant cope anymore with this feeling after eating.
Thanks all. btw I am 28 weeks pregnant with no known history of diabetes but my mother got gestatioanl diabetes with last pregnancy!

Answer 1

Determining the need for insulin is more complex than looking at glucose levels after eating. Insulin generally comes after managing with diet no longer works. There are actually many other types of medications that are used by diabetics as well. When you go to your diabetic appointment, they will review your numbers and make changes to your diet before prescribing medications. Generally making dietary adjustments will take care of any problems. I had Gestational Diabetes with my 4th pregnancy 10 years ago. I do not have any known family history of diabetes. When I was 32 weeks, I began weekly visits to the diabetic high risk clinic. I had an appointment with the diabetic nurse plus a non-stress test, and an ultrasound every week. My baby was not born until 41 weeks and she only weighed 6 pounds 14 ounces. Not all babies born to moms with gestational diabetes are big, but there is an increased risk of that. It is important to closely follow the diet requirements as given to you by your doctor and dietician. Feeling ill after eating is not a symptom of Gestational Diabetes that I have heard of, so you may want to call your diabetic doctor's office. You may just need a tweaking of your meal plan. I had to have mine re-adjusted every couple of weeks, sometimes weekly. Nearly always, after the baby is born, the diabetes is gone. For moms who had Gestational Diabetes there is an increased risk of developing Type 2 (sometimes called Adult Onset) Diabetes. I was recently diagnosed with glucose intolerance, which is also called pre-diabetes. I am meeting with a diabetic educator and a dietician to try to manage the glucose intolerance before it becomes Type 2 Diabetes.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

Your OB/GYN should be monitoring all this. When I had gestational diabetes (3 out of 4 pregnancies!), they had me doing blood tests at the office every month, as well as going to the lab once a month. I tested at home before and after each meal. Mine was controlled by a strict diet. If they have not given you the paper work on the "diabetes diet", you can find it on-line. Try it for a few days, and see if your symptoms improve. I only felt the way you do when I strayed from the diet. Anyways, like I said though- they should be closely checking this- make sure you tell them about all your symptoms- I would call them today if possible. Gestational Diabetes can really have some negative effects on the baby if it is not controlled!

Answer 5

It really sucked. The drink you have to drink is "coke" flavored. The high amount of sugar nearly made me pass out. I was really dizzy for awhile, but calmed down after I got some water. Ask when you can have water because the water was the only thing that saved me. The woman I asked acted like I could have been drinking it all along. I passed the two hour test, but sitting there was hard. And, wondering about what would happen. I'd get up and stretch your legs while your waiting. Go visit the gift shop or take a good book with you. Or, some crossword or soduku puzzles...anything to keep you occupied! Good Luck! Sorry I couldn't be of help about the gestational diabetes part. But, I asked my doctor before the test and he did say depending on how my levels came back they may be able to control my sugar though diet. If that's the case it will be a lot easier for you. :)) Congrats on your little one :)) Be prepared for a larger baby if you are borderline, as I was. Nothing to be afraid of just don't buy any preemie or newborn clothes...they only wear it for a few weeks if that!!

Answer 6

Usually, docs do a GD screen at 28 weeks, so I'd check into that.

Instead of eating large meals, try smaller meals more often and combine protein/fat with carbs. Some of the worst offender foods are high carb snacks, potatoes and white rice. Most women who have GD don't get insulin. Instead they follow a diet that may/may not help.

You don't indicate what you mean by high. If your blood sugar is over 200 1 hour after eating, then you will likely need insulin and should contact your doctor now. High spikes can be a problem.