Daily Column

April 29th, 2008

DEAR DR. GOTT:
My recent NON-fasting glucose was 102 and my A1C was 6.21. My physician wants to repeat the A1C in three months and if it is still elevated, he will recommend oral diabetic medication. What is your opinion? I am 82.

DEAR READER:
Your blood tests do not unequivocally indicate diabetes. Even if these numbers were based on a fasting glucose and A1C I would not recommend medication. Non-fasting blood tests for diabetes, cholesterol and other disorders, are not reliable enough on which to base diagnosis. First, the tests measure not only what your body is making and storing, but also whatever fats, sugars, and so forth, were in the food you ate in last 6-12 hours. This is why most physicians order blood work when a person has not eaten anything since dinner the night before the testing.

I urge you to request a retest after fasting. This will give a more accurate result. If your numbers are similar, you do not need medication. I believe that your numbers, however, will be even lower in the normal range.

If your numbers are abnormal, don’t take any medication before trying alternative treatments, such as increasing your exercise, losing weight if you are stout and cutting back on sugar and sweets.

Given you age and the normal blood tests, I’d simply follow up with blood sugar testing once or twice a year.

To give you related information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report “Living with Diabetes Mellitus”. Other readers who would like a copy should send a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 to Newsletter, PO Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title.