Do I have diabetes or not?

[daddys1]

One with correct date and time!

Clearly they are in mmol/l, I had presumed you had taken a printout or a list of the numbers as shown, to show the Doctor.

What can we say, you only have to look on here at all this information, and all the advice you have been given something ain't right.

Certainly, although it not something that you think of when starting out, but the getting a 24.5, a retest would have been appropriate just to make sure.
Some of your numbers are good, but so are some of ours, I'm currently out of the diabetic range by Low Carbing, if I had an HbA1c test now, I would not be diagnosed as Diabetic but I am.

You have to either, follow your in-stinks on the numbers thus far and the advice given and just follow a good lowcarb diet see how your numbers perform, or get another opinion.
Neil
Edit, That's not a Cake/Bun I see in the Photo is it.

 

[rosserk]

Clearly they are in mmol/l, I had presumed you had taken a printout or a list of the numbers as shown, to show the Doctor.

What can we say, you only have to look on here at all this information, and all the advice you have been given something ain't right.

Certainly, although it not something that you think of when starting out, but the getting a 24.5, a retest would have been appropriate just to make sure.
Some of your numbers are good, but so are some of ours, I'm currently out of the diabetic range by Low Carbing, if I had an HbA1c test now, I would not be diagnosed as Diabetic but I am.

You have to either, follow your in-stinks on the numbers thus far and the advice given and just follow a good lowcarb diet see how your numbers perform, or get another opinion.
Neil
Edit, That's not a Cake/Bun I see in the Photo is it.

I did do a second reading I liked the look of the first one better so I discarded the 2nd one! I even changed the battery on the device because I thought there was something wrong. Yes it's a picture of a cake on my tray lol ..

 

[daddys1]

I did do a second reading I liked the look of the first one better so I discarded the 2nd one! I even changed the battery on the device because I thought there was something wrong. Yes it's a picture of a cake on my tray lol ..

Thought the cake looked too perfect

I don't think you have a lot of choice, we cannot make your mind up for you, but now you have confirmed some very high numbers, there was or is something not right with your BS, and many have said there are situations where the HbA1c will not give the required result.

If your not going for a second opinion, you could eat what you normally do, but maybe test just before eating 1hr & 2hr. Fasting & Bedtime. Do this for a month and get the average of all readings. It wouldn't be a perfect average like the HbA1c does, (when it works) , but it would give you a good idea of where your average is.

Example approx.
you would be looking for an average mmol/l of between 5.4 & 6.8 = to an HbA1c of 31 to 41 for normal Non Diabetic.
Or Between 6.9 & 7.7 for pre diabetic = to an HbA1c of 42 to 47.
Or Anything Higher would be Diabetic that's an average of 7.8 or higher would give a strong indication of diabetes.

You could do this with your existing figures first. There is a mmol/l to HbA1c calculator on this site see link, scroll down to the second calculator. Type in your average it will give the = HbA1c

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/hba1c-to-blood-sugar-level-converter.html

Good luck
Neil

 

[Eurobuff]

Go get a second (or 4th in your case) opinion. One can have a "normal" HbA1c for a variety of reasons, yet have type 2 diabetes. Your home testing results sure seem to show you have diabetes. Someone without diabetes or some other serious health issue would never have a reading of 24.5 mmol/l.

I had a hba1c done last Friday (20th March), it was 5.4, the one before that was 5.5 (October 2014). If you look those results up it would tell you that I'm not diabetic (i think it says 6.0 and above is diabetic). But I am diabetic. There are plenty of diabetics on this forum who are getting non diabetic hba1c results, but we are all diabetic, it's just under good control. If I was to have even one Weetabix with lactofree milk (no sugar), my BG test after would prove I'm diabetic. I'm sorry if you've answered this previously, but what about going to Tesco, Boots or Lloyds Pharmacy, they all test. That will show as diabetic, maybe your doctor will take notice of that?

 

[rosserk]

Thought the cake looked too perfect

I don't think you have a lot of choice, we cannot make your mind up for you, but now you have confirmed some very high numbers, there was or is something not right with your BS, and many have said there are situations where the HbA1c will not give the required result.

If your not going for a second opinion, you could eat what you normally do, but maybe test just before eating 1hr & 2hr. Fasting & Bedtime. Do this for a month and get the average of all readings. It wouldn't be a perfect average like the HbA1c does, (when it works) , but it would give you a good idea of where your average is.

Example approx.
you would be looking for an average mmol/l of between 5.4 & 6.8 = to an HbA1c of 31 to 41 for normal Non Diabetic.
Or Between 6.9 & 7.7 for pre diabetic = to an HbA1c of 42 to 47.
Or Anything Higher would be Diabetic that's an average of 7.8 or higher would give a strong indication of diabetes.

You could do this with your existing figures first. There is a mmol/l to HbA1c calculator on this site see link, scroll down to the second calculator. Type in your average it will give the = HbA1c

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/hba1c-to-blood-sugar-level-converter.html

Good luck
Neil

The software I am using does an average of the last ten readings I have kept an eye on it and it averages 8.5 but then again I have over tested. Some times I have tested after one hour and other times again after two hours to see if it's gone down.

 

[rosserk]

I had a hba1c done last Friday (20th March), it was 5.4, the one before that was 5.5 (October 2014). If you look those results up it would tell you that I'm not diabetic (i think it says 6.0 and above is diabetic). But I am diabetic. There are plenty of diabetics on this forum who are getting non diabetic hba1c results, but we are all diabetic, it's just under good control. If I was to have even one Weetabix with lactofree milk (no sugar), my BG test after would prove I'm diabetic. I'm sorry if you've answered this previously, but what about going to Tesco, Boots or Lloyds Pharmacy, they all test. That will show as diabetic, maybe your doctor will take notice of that?

No please don't apologise, I am so grateful for everyone's help. Is the test they do in boots a HbA1c test? Or a fasting one? Or do I need to go and ask about it ?

 

[donnellysdogs]

Over testing as you called it actually gives a better clue to whats going on with your bloods than one off infrequent testing.

If you go to a Lloyds chemist and have a free test done and yourl level is raised they will give you a note to take to GP advising GP of the recorded level. Same with Boots etc I believe.

If you went to all your chemists and got readings and advisory notes from all of them... Photocopy them... And then give to GP they couldn't ignore.

Do make sure you go to chemists at peak time after you have ate...

 

[donnellysdogs]

You do not have to fast..my hubby got tested by a gp for cholesterol and normal finger prick test.. In B&Q year before last when they had a week of a GP there.
It isn't an hba1c. They do go through a form with you
Do not tell them of your GP troubles...

 

[rosserk]

Over testing as you called it actually gives a better clue to whats going on with your bloods than one off infrequent testing.

If you go to a Lloyds chemist and have a free test done and yourl level is raised they will give you a note to take to GP advising GP of the recorded level. Same with Boots etc I believe.

If you went to all your chemists and got readings and advisory notes from all of them... Photocopy them... And then give to GP they couldn't ignore.

Do make sure you go to chemists at peak time after you have ate...

Thank you that sounds like a great plan. I almost convinced myself that the Doctor must be right and to stop testing as suggested but I did my blood sugar at 5:20 and it was 5.8 (I haven't eaten since breakfast) I have just done it again it is 9.2. I had sausage, egg, bacon, black pudding and a small wholemeal roll (13g sugars, I checked) I thought everything else was low in carbs so I am surprised to be at 9.2 after 3 hours! I thought your blood sugar only went up after you ate 'carbs'! I am starting to feel like a bit of a hypochondriac!

 

[rosserk]

You do not have to fast..my hubby got tested by a gp for cholesterol and normal finger prick test.. In B&Q year before last when they had a week of a GP there.
It isn't an hba1c. They do go through a form with you
Do not tell them of your GP troubles...

No I won't tell them of my problems, but my GP said they will only accept the HbA1c test. I have read all the comments from people and I am convinced everyone on here has a lot more experience than most doctors do. I was also totally convinced my doctor was wrong as soon as he mentioned normal BS levels in non diabetics can go up to 11+ and still be normal because it goes against everything I've been told and read. I found the following chart and it does go against what he told me. I really don't know what to do, am I really putting myself at any great risk by doing as he said. It says on the attached that different experts have different opinions on what is the correct range. Surely there is a national standard?

 

[Eurobuff]

No please don't apologise, I am so grateful for everyone's help. Is the test they do in boots a HbA1c test? Or a fasting one? Or do I need to go and ask about it ?

They do a finger prick test (like you're doing) but if you've got someone "officially" telling you your blood sugar is high the doctors might take notice of that. You can also have your own hba1c test done through the post, but I don't think that'll help. If you wanted to do that you can buy the kit of Amazon

 

[Mike d]

Hi someone's wrong. "and its normal to have blood sugars above 11.1 and above after food" if it's normal to have Blood sugars at this level, then we would all (that's everybody) be diabetic, as the average on a HbA1c would most certainly be in the diabetic range! You have to find someone to give you a GTT (glucose tolerance test) even if you pay for it privately.
Neil

Great advice @daddys1

 

[donnellysdogs]

The extract you copied I think is from NICE.. Who give the National guidelines to GP's and nurses.

 

[rosserk]

Obviously not according to my doctor....

 

[NoCrbs4Me]

I had a hba1c done last Friday (20th March), it was 5.4, the one before that was 5.5 (October 2014). If you look those results up it would tell you that I'm not diabetic (i think it says 6.0 and above is diabetic). But I am diabetic. There are plenty of diabetics on this forum who are getting non diabetic hba1c results, but we are all diabetic, it's just under good control. If I was to have even one Weetabix with lactofree milk (no sugar), my BG test after would prove I'm diabetic. I'm sorry if you've answered this previously, but what about going to Tesco, Boots or Lloyds Pharmacy, they all test. That will show as diabetic, maybe your doctor will take notice of that?

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say. I was trying to say that one can have a "normal" HbA1c even though their blood glucose levels are high (i.e. in the diabetic range). A person could also have an HbA1c in the official diabetic range, yet have plasma blood glucose levels that are normal. Of course, for most people this is not the case, but it is possible. In other words, having a "normal" HbA1c does not categorically 100% rule out a diagnosis of diabetes. The following graph illustrates this (from http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/25/2/275.long):

 

[rosserk]

I think you misunderstood what I was trying to say. I was trying to say that one can have a "normal" HbA1c even though their blood glucose levels are high (i.e. in the diabetic range). A person could also have an HbA1c in the official diabetic range, yet have plasma blood glucose levels that are normal. Of course, for most people this is not the case, but it is possible. In other words, having a "normal" HbA1c does not categorically 100% rule out a diagnosis of diabetes. The following graph illustrates this (from http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/25/2/275.long):
View attachment 12650

Thank you, I understood what you said. I actually said to the doctor today that the HbA1c could be wrong and I thought I gave him a number of valid reasons. An infection can screw with the results and I've had a sinus infection for 8 weeks. I am now on my third set of antibiotics, it clears up for a few days and comes back with a vengeance. High blood sugars can also cause sinus infections. Also the HBa1c test records blood sugars across the previous three months and it is possible that during the three months period I was tested my blood sugars only started to go high over a shorter period, hence why they recommend repeating the test again after a further two months. I'm afraid I gave up in the end I was starting to sound like someone desperate and he wasn't having any of it. I took my iPad with me and tried to show the readings I had done but he said he didn't need to look at them and I needed to stop testing and forget about it. I think the only way I will be diagnosed is if I suddenly get rushed to hospital!

Can I ask, there's is one thing I haven't been able to find out researching. If your blood sugars are 5.2 and you don't eat or drink why would they suddenly go up to say 6.8, or is that just normal?

 

[Indy51]

Personally, I would be asking for a referral to an endocrinologist and/or paying for an appointment to see a specialist. Your doctor sounds like a complete incompetent. I'd also be making a complaint - I'm not in the UK, so don't know the procedure there.

 

[jack412]

One with correct date and time!

any random over 11.1 anytime is an indicator of diabetes.
https://www.google.com.au/#q=random+blood+glucose+11.1

you need to eat 150+g of carbs a day for a week before the OGTT [sugar drink test]



*edit..you were told the same thing on the last page..

 

[Worrierfrog]

Okay I am new and I find this thread so hope ok to ask here. I think I'm diabetic. Fbg is over 7 towards 8 . All other readings are normal. Well A1c is 6.1 so that's high
I walk daily
I eat low carb. No white. Nothing. I barely eat. Eggs bacon tuna chicken salad......
I need to lose weight put on over year after bad fall.
Would metifor in help the fasting highs?
Help lose?
My family dr who's now retired suggested metiformin years back. I lost weight. He said cured.
But now oh oh ....

 

[Mike d]

I would not be going on to metformin unless I had to. What do you mean by all other readings are "normal"?