Which is the true reading

Troyt

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi guys, I've read a bit about fasting and bringing your numbers down which I find very interesting. The Dr diagnosed me as t2 diabetic and put me on metformin, I refused the metformin as I have always been prone to low sugar and they diagnosed me on 1 random blood test after I'd eaten a honey and peanut butter sandwich in the last half hour, mmol 12.9, anyway... I've started a low carb program and in the morning 1st thing my mmol is in the region of 5.5 - 6.9. If I don't have breakfast and take it again around 11am it's round 4 - 5 mmol. So my question is which reading should I go with?
 

Books1

Well-Known Member
Messages
153
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Both readings are 'correct' - not sure what you're trying to find out?
 
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rom35

Well-Known Member
Messages
431
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
12,9 is over 11 and that means you are diabetic. You should start to measure your BG to find out how much of carbs you can take to not cross 8 pints two hours after meal - best to be under 5.6 again.

My personal target is to not go over 7.7 one hour after meal and to be under 5.7 two hours after meal again.

I’ll tag @daisy1 for first pack of information for you.
 
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Troyt

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Both readings are 'correct' - not sure what you're trying to find out?
Books 1 thanks for the reply, I guess I'm not too sure what I'm asking but am going to have to go back to my dr with figures as she just wants me on metformin and there are no other options according to her. Obviously I want to give her the lowest readings but it's no good trying to cod myself that everything is ok if it isn't
 

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Which test was it that was a random reading of 12.9? Was it an HbA1c ? Was it a finger prick test? Was it a plasma glucose test? The type of test matters because if it was an HbA1c what you just ate had no significance. This test measures your average glucose over the previous 2 to 3 months. The other two types of test do matter as they are snapshots of your glucose level at the time of the test, so after that sandwich it would be high. The correct diagnostic test is the HbA1c.
 
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Troyt

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
12,9 is over 11 and that means you are diabetic. You should start to measure your BG to find out how much of carbs you can take to not cross 8 pints two hours after meal - best to be under 5.6 again.

My personal target is to not go over 7.7 one hour after meal and to be under 5.7 two hours after meal again.

I’ll tag @daisy1 for first pack of information for you.
Rom35 hi, what is a BG? Or if it just a typo for BS, blood sugar? I've been measuring my sugar. Can you be diagnosed with 1 random test? I seen to get quite big fluctuations, to my uniformed brain anyway, today for instance I had porridge and fruit for breakfast, a couple of mugs of coffee, lamb and veg for lunch, felt very light headed with headache and blood reading at 4:30 was 2.9, took it twice to make sure, ate a honey sambo, it went up to 3 after half an hour, still felt the same, ate a cream egg (luscious ultra sugar heavy chocolate egg) and a bowl of cornflakes and a few mugs of tea, bloods at the moment are 4.2. I guess it's going to take time to sort out but honestly don't think metformin is the answer.
 

Troyt

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Which test was it that was a random reading of 12.9? Was it an HbA1c ? Was it a finger prick test? Was it a plasma glucose test? The type of test matters because if it was an HbA1c what you just ate had no significance. This test measures your average glucose over the previous 2 to 3 months. The other two types of test do matter as they are snapshots of your glucose level at the time of the test, so after that sandwich it would be high. The correct diagnostic test is the HbA1c.
 

archersuz

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,213
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi @Troyt BG is blood glucose an alternative way of saying BS. However with your readings that low there is something else going on! Don't try to 'cheat' on your readings - the Dr needs you to be honest in order to give you the correct diagnosis and treatment.
 

Troyt

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Bluetit hi, it was a finger prick test, I imagine the plasma glucose are the blood tests? I get those done because I have high cholesterol and they have measured my sugar then and last one was only 5.4, that's why I'm so anti the diagnosis.
 

Troyt

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi @Troyt BG is blood glucose an alternative way of saying BS. However with your readings that low there is something else going on! Don't try to 'cheat' on your readings - the Dr needs you to be honest in order to give you the correct diagnosis and treatment.
Of course, BG, that makes sense, thanks, no I won't try pull the will over my Drs eyes but want to try and be as informed as possible when I do talk with her, she's a bit conservative when it comes to non drug treatment
 

archersuz

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,213
Type of diabetes
Type 2
With a reading of 2.9 I would be surprised if the Dr prescribed metformin. In my humble opinion that is not a T2 reading. You need to have an HbA1c done before a proper diagnosis and medication. You need to go back to your GP asap urgent.
 

Troyt

Member
Messages
8
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
With a reading of 2.9 I would be surprised if the Dr prescribed metformin. In my humble opinion that is not a T2 reading. You need to have an HbA1c done before a proper diagnosis and medication. You need to go back to your GP asap urgent.
When I was prescribed the metformin my finger prick test was 12.9. I had gone in with high BP and was put on meds for that as well as a prescription for the metformin. Up until about 2 years ago my BS had been on the low normal side
 

DCUKMod

Master
Staff Member
Messages
14,298
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
When I was prescribed the metformin my finger prick test was 12.9. I had gone in with high BP and was put on meds for that as well as a prescription for the metformin. Up until about 2 years ago my BS had been on the low normal side

When the doctor did the finger prick test that was over 12, had you gone to him/her with any diabetes symptoms? If not, why did he do the finger prick test?
 

4ratbags

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,334
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Getting the finger prick done at the Drs that soon after eating honey may have skewed the number slightly or it may have had no effect. Do you test your BS as soon as you get up in the morning as this will give you a good indication whether or not you may be diabetic.
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@Troyt

Hello Troyt and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask more questions when you need to and someone will help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why

  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 

lovinglife

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
4,539
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
I may be barking up the wrong tree, but as others have said there is something going on with those numbers you're getting, there is a condition called reactive hypoglycaemia but my knowledge is very limited on this so have tagged @Lamont D who is extremely knowledgeable on this condition, also one of our mods @Brunneria has a lot of knowledge on it also :)
 
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Lamont D

Oracle
Messages
15,796
Type of diabetes
Reactive hypoglycemia
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
Hi, and welcome to our forum.
I have no idea what is going on but something is.
All your readings you have given is either type two or if not, if you continue to get low blood sugar readings some type of hypoglycaemia.

Only more tests can diagnose you properly.
For those tests, only a specialist endocrinologist can organise them.

Do read our forum about reactive hypoglycaemia. It might ring some bells.

Best wishes