Needing placed on medications before insurance will approve surgery

I am attempting to have the VSG done.  My Hbg Alc was 6.1 but my two fasting glucose levels were 143 and 154 so they are considering me diabetic.  I had gestational diabetes with my daughter's birth in 2003 and my mother, sister, and grandparents on both sides were diabetic so it is in my genes. 

My insurance company has denied my surgery based on the fact that I am not on medication for the diabetes and that the medication is not controlling the diabetes.  Family doctor doesn't want to place me on medication unless he has to at this point but this is the only way insurance will approve and then I have to hope it doesn't work.  Any suggestions???

Ask your doctor for lowest dose of metformin. It is (supposedly) the cheapest and safest and oldest diabetes drug out there and apparently does not have too many side effects (long term) - especially if you will only be taking it for a short time pre surgery. Metformin is also prescribed to non diabetics for other reasons like PCOS. It has been known to help in slight weight loss. Would that work for your insurance?

 what is PCOS?

Polycistic ovary syndrome.

I think your primary doctor and/or surgeon should assist you in whatever appeal process there is for your insurance.  If they can make the case for why medication is not appropriate for you, but surgery is, you might be able to get the decision reversed.  However, I think that documentation is going to have to come from a medical professional in order to be persuasive.  Do you meet the criteria for surgery because of other factors (bmi, co-morbidities, etc.)?

Yes, I do meet the qualifications for surgery otherwise.  It seems the medication thing is the only hold up.  I am going to try to fight it because the way it is worded in our policy through my employer states > 40 BMI or > 35 to 40 with 2 co-morbidities uncontrolled by medication and/or sleep apnea which I have along with hypertension and diabetes.  Wish me luck in my appeal.  Getting the paperwork together now.  I'm a fighter and refuse to roll over and play dead like the insurance company wants me to do.  I have an appointment with my family doctor to discuss all of this next Wednesday.  Hopefully we can win this!!!  Thanks for your support and input.

Best of luck with the appeal.  I think it's important to keep advocating for yourself as calmly and professionally as you can, and to utilize your medical team to do the same.