So I got some really distressing news last Thursday from my GYN. I had taken a blood test to measure my hormone levels before I started on birth control pills. Her office calls me up to tell me that my insulin and C Peptide levels are high (my glucose levels are normal) and that I should go see an endocrinologist to have a more thorough assessment done for diabetes.

It's so frustrating...I got banded *precisely because* I wanted to turn the tide against possible onset of diabetes. I exercise 5 days a week for 30-45 minutes! 50 pounds later, and I'm getting *this* news?

Bah! Sometimes, life has a really freaking sick sense of humor. :cry

Hey, Stina, I had a similar piece of news handed to me about six months ago when my doctor informed me that I had to go on anti-hypertension meds. I didn't think of it as a failure of weight loss, though I can understand your feelings completely.

The way I see it, my weight loss is now no longer clouding any REAL health issues I might have had and which may have been written off in the past as being purely due to excess weight. My family has diabetes and high blood pressure in it even in non-obese members, so it's not all that surprising that my blood pressure needs medicating. But all my life I've been afraid/reluctant/resistant to discussing it, because it was always blamed on my weight. The advice was always "go on a diet" and it will go away.

Well it didn't go away and now I am HAPPY to take meds to keep my pressure in a healthy range. It's a real issue with me and now it's possible to focus on my health, rather than my weight.

StinaNYC....The thing about this "diagnosis" is you are fore-warned and fore-armed now! You now know that you must continue to try so it doesn't become full-blown diabetes! The Southbeach diet is a GREAT lifestyle change way of eating for anyone that has diabetes or pre-diabetes! Keep going and this can be a distant memory!!!!!!!!!!! You CAN DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

God Bless,

Melody

banded 3/20/06 -84lbs

yeah, that would really suck! I feel for you. That would be how I feel, 40 lbs lighter, and trying to avoid the big D. Hang in there and keep working, sometimes that's all we can do. good luck!

I was diagnosed with type II diabetes 2 years ago....our body is doing things on the inside (regardless of our weight) that we don't know about - your body 'may' have been harboring insulin issues for years and it is just showing up now...good to get it checked out --- you could even have been at goal weight and have it show up - just never know - is it in your family?

Thanks everyone...I'm still seriously bummed, but you all make a great point: this may be an issue that would have existed even without my excess weight. I have some family history of Type 2 diabetes (my maternal and paternal great grandmothers had it). I'm wondering if my previous attempts at very low-carb diets, then going off of them, contributed anything to my possible insulin resistence? I was on Atkins for about 8 months, then abandoned it abruptly, then started and stopped again for 2 years after.

South Beach *is* a great diet, but to be honest? I got this band so I wouldn't have to go on another diet again. I think what I'll do is follow the general guidelines around lower-carb eating: high Protein, good fats, veggies and slow-burning starchy carbs.

I still have to find an endocrinologist, tho, just to make sure I know what I'm dealing with exactly. My insurance company isn't making it easy for me...they don't distinguish b/w diabetes related endocrinology and other types, like thyroid.

Thanks, everyone! I'll keep you posted on what happens!