Have I stopped too much, too soon ?

[Brunneria]

Thank you.

No, it was a full blood panel so needle in the arm, painfully and not the arm I asked them to use either. It took 48 hours for the result. My doctor was a bit dubious about the result as it had gone up to unparalleled levels but the hospital were insistent there was too much infection risk if my sugar wasn’t below 7.0.

So you don’t know what units the test was in. How frustrating!
Could easily have been an HbA1c, because there isn’t much point doing a snapshot mmol/l test 2 days beforehand, whereas a pre-op HbA1c is pretty standard procedure.

I think, if I were you, I would give them a ring and ask for more details.
You could pitch it as ‘I’m a bit concerned, and really need to understand if I’m ever going to have this op, because I need to get my glucose down...’

 

[Brunneria]

I meant to add that my last “proper” reading had been about 9 months previous. I certainly didn’t think it had been that long since I’d had one.
Even so, since my diet barely varies I can’t explain why it’s gone up. I don’t have a massive range of foods.
My hba1c was at its best when I ate meringues with lots of fruit and yoghurt ...which is bizarre as they’re full of sugar. I’m so confused.

This is why i get so frustrated with the NHS’ dependency on occasional HbA1cs.
Yes, it saves money, but things can go seriously pearshaped in between tests, and when they do, there is no way to know - unless the patient is doing their own tests.

Unfortunately, a diet with a lot of fruit and sugar may seem OK for a while, but it strains the body. Insulin resistance rises. And one day, the body just can’t cope any more and bg rises to unacceptable levels - and then only tighter dietary control or medication gets things back under control.

I’m really sorry you are going through this, but it is a pretty inevitable consequence the majority of NHS health advice for T2s
- progressive deterioration.

 

[Patrick66]

So you don’t know what units the test was in. How frustrating!
Could easily have been an HbA1c, because there isn’t much point doing a snapshot mmol/l test 2 days beforehand, whereas a pre-op HbA1c is pretty standard procedure.

I think, if I were you, I would give them a ring and ask for more details.
You could pitch it as ‘I’m a bit concerned, and really need to understand if I’m ever going to have this op, because I need to get my glucose down...’

Well I have the full test again, Hba1c, on 22nd January. So, I hope it’s down or on the way.

 

[Patrick66]

This is why i get so frustrated with the NHS’ dependency on occasional HbA1cs.
Yes, it saves money, but things can go seriously pearshaped in between tests, and when they do, there is no way to know - unless the patient is doing their own tests.

Unfortunately, a diet with a lot of fruit and sugar may seem OK for a while, but it strains the body. Insulin resistance rises. And one day, the body just can’t cope any more and bg rises to unacceptable levels - and then only tighter dietary control or medication gets things back under control.

I’m really sorry you are going through this, but it is a pretty inevitable consequence the majority of NHS health advice for T2s
- progressive deterioration.

Yes.

I do feel very unsupported and uneducated. It was, “You’re diabetic. Now get on with it” and no diet advice, no exercise advice, nothing about blood testing. Frustrating.

 

[DCUKMod]

Ah HbA1c of 7.8 would result in an op being cancelled, whereas the random test would be less significant.

Do you have a new date for your op yet?

Sounds like you're making good progress. Some things are a means to an end, which in your case is the op, but you might just get to like it, I hope.

 

[Patrick66]

Ah HbA1c of 7.8 would result in an op being cancelled, whereas the random test would be less significant.

Do you have a new date for your op yet?

Sounds like you're making good progress. Some things are a means to an end, which in your case is the op, but you might just get to like it, I hope.

No.

I have to test below 7.0 on the 22nd before they will accept a re-referral. I would suggest the chances of me doing so are nil to non-existent. Then it will be another 6 week wait for another test..and round and round it will go.

 

[Bluetit1802]

What time of day was this test of 7? How long since you last ate or drank anything (except water)? Did the nurse make you wash your hands before she did the test?

 

[Patrick66]

What time of day was this test of 7? How long since you last ate or drank anything (except water)? Did the nurse make you wash your hands before she did the test?

The test was about 10.30..ish.

I’d had a cup of tea at about 7.30. Last eaten the day before.

No hand washing, I suppose because the needle went in the crook of my arm.

 

[Bluetit1802]

No hand washing, I suppose because the needle went in the crook of my arm.

So it wasn't a finger prick then. It was a venous glucose test presumably, but could have been an HbA1c. Perhaps you should find out. They are not measuring the same thing.

 

[Patrick66]

So it wasn't a finger prick then. It was a venous glucose test presumably, but could have been an HbA1c. Perhaps you should find out. They are not measuring the same thing.

Yes it was an Hba1c. The nurse mentioned it had been 9 months since my last test. Not sure that was correct though.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Thanks for clarifying that. So your HbA1c is currently 7.8. That is high enough to stop any operation.

It looks like it is time to seriously address your diet. If you apply yourself, reduce the carbs to as low as you can, up your fats, eat normal protein, and also cut down on fruit. (stick to berries, and only a few at a time), you can get this level down by the time of your next test. The increased Metformin may help a bit, but not that much. Diet is the key.

 

[Patrick66]

Thanks for clarifying that. So your HbA1c is currently 7.8. That is high enough to stop any operation.

It looks like it is time to seriously address your diet. If you apply yourself, reduce the carbs to as low as you can, up your fats, eat normal protein, and also cut down on fruit. (stick to berries, and only a few at a time), you can get this level down by the time of your next test. The increased Metformin may help a bit, but not that much. Diet is the key.

There’s a lot of disagreement about what is “high” enough to stop an operation and it’s the first time anyone ever mentioned it to me.

And since I’ve always been 5.7-6.7 there was no obvious diet or lifestyle change that had boosted it. I’ve given up trying to work out why it happened although being suicidal, severely self harming and suffering from constant stress probably didn’t, or doesn’t help.

 

[Alison Campbell]

So, usual readings between 5.7-6.7.

Hi Patrick just wanted to say this is excellent, please keep going as you are giving yourself every chance to get an improved HBA1C with those readings.

 

[Patrick66]

Hi Patrick just wanted to say this is excellent, please keep going as you are giving yourself every chance to get an improved HBA1C with those readings.

Thank you. We live in hope..

Although I think there’s a bit in there about “dying in despair” ..

 

[donnellysdogs]

Never known a hospital to cancel op for bloods in 7’s. My orthopaedic surgeons I worked for said they never had any T2’s less than 9 when they operated..

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

Yes, I was told 30 minutes before they did the test.

So the decision to cancel wasn't based on any readings taken that day. I sometimes think that operations are cancelled as a routine, possibly because of emergencies, possibly other reasons. A friend has just had surgery after 3 cancellations, wouldn't be so bad except for putting his work on hold for the three months he's expected to be off his feet.

 

[Patrick66]

Never known a hospital to cancel op for bloods in 7’s. My orthopaedic surgeons I worked for said they never had any T2’s less than 9 when they operated..

It’s never been mentioned before. And it certainly wasn’t mentioned at the pre-op. Nobody said “if you’re over X we can’t operate”. Very frustrating

 

[Patrick66]

So the decision to cancel wasn't based on any readings taken that day. I sometimes think that operations are cancelled as a routine, possibly because of emergencies, possibly other reasons. A friend has just had surgery after 3 cancellations, wouldn't be so bad except for putting his work on hold for the three months he's expected to be off his feet.

They cancelled that day because my pre-op and surgery date were too close together.

They cancelled again when my reading, on the day of my pre-op came back as too high for them to operate on my re-arranged date.

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

They cancelled that day because my pre-op and surgery date were too close together.

That's a good one, I've had a pre-op before going into theatre, probably because there are different levels of risk depending on the procedure. Sorry, I'm not trying to make your life more difficult than it is and I hope that you get your op as soon as possible. Try not to get too despondent, don't let the b@$t@rd$ get you down, stay strong and keep up the good work on carb moderation.

 

[ickihun]

There’s a lot of disagreement about what is “high” enough to stop an operation and it’s the first time anyone ever mentioned it to me.

And since I’ve always been 5.7-6.7 there was no obvious diet or lifestyle change that had boosted it. I’ve given up trying to work out why it happened although being suicidal, severely self harming and suffering from constant stress probably didn’t, or doesn’t help.

I'm so thankful to you for posting. Your thread reminds me that if my pre-op hba1c isn't good that my op will be cancelled too.
I havent been strict with my insulin taking so mine is in the 9s on average.
Maybe we can do this together as I've waited nearly 3yrs for my op.
Seeing bariatric team in February so I have time to improve my 9s.
What helped me was logging my fbgs on the appropriate thread.
Should we make a new thread for pre-op diabetics? To encourage each other.
Let me know and I'll encourage a few others who may benefit.
You are not alone.
However this is possible. Don't think it won't be because it is.
I too have op worries but I'm going to focus on its benefits and for me I'm hoping my op will improve my hba1c even more.
You can do this. Defo.