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Diabetes Nurse told me just now I need medication

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0110

Well-Known Member
Messages
305
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
So I called my medical centre just now and ordered a prescription for some more test strips. She said am I diabetic I said well in MARCH my HBac1 was 82 so I assume I am. She asked me what my levels have been today, I told her 5.6 on fast, around 6.8 after gym and around 6.4 before I ate my first meal (1pm) and the result of that meal 1hr 6.8, 2hr 6.1, 3hr 5.4.

She blew her top, those numbers are too high "why are you not on medication", you need to make an appointment ASAP with the DR and start medication. I said why? She told me my number should always be in the 4s and maximum 5s even after I eat.

So I told her please prescribe the strips and I will make an appointment (however I do not intent to do so at this stage), Going by the above are my numbers that horrendous that the smart folks here seem to think I need medication ASAP? She also gave me a ticking off for testing so much and said one container of strips need to last 1 month,
 
I think you are doing really well. I’m puzzled as to why she expects you to go as low as 4. Surely that’s bordering on a hypo. Is she confusing glucose readings with cholesterol levels? I am no longer taking medication, was told not to test, (I do) and my last HbA1c was 49. I was told my cholesterol was too high at 5.3, and should be below 4. (I refused the statin.)
 
0110 said:
Going by the above are my numbers that horrendous that the smart folks here seem to think I need medication ASAP?
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Your original hba1c of 82 means your average BG was likely close to 13.
I have a feeling she's going by that hba1c and has forgotten what BG levels should look like.
Looks like you're doing great!
 
0110 said:
So I called my medical centre just now and ordered a prescription for some more test strips. She said am I diabetic I said well in MARCH my HBac1 was 82 so I assume I am. She asked me what my levels have been today, I told her 5.6 on fast, around 6.8 after gym and around 6.4 before I ate my first meal (1pm) and the result of that meal 1hr 6.8, 2hr 6.1, 3hr 5.4.

She blew her top, those numbers are too high "why are you not on medication", you need to make an appointment ASAP with the DR and start medication. I said why? She told me my number should always be in the 4s and maximum 5s even after I eat.

So I told her please prescribe the strips and I will make an appointment (however I do not intent to do so at this stage), Going by the above are my numbers that horrendous that the smart folks here seem to think I need medication ASAP? She also gave me a ticking off for testing so much and said one container of strips need to last 1 month,
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I dont know what they expect surely to go lower would mean more problems. I can only say that I would love my levels to be like yours and I think you are doing really well - what on earth is her problem. A maximum of 5s after eating would be a miracle for me!
 
0110 said:
So I called my medical centre just now and ordered a prescription for some more test strips. She said am I diabetic I said well in MARCH my HBac1 was 82 so I assume I am. She asked me what my levels have been today, I told her 5.6 on fast, around 6.8 after gym and around 6.4 before I ate my first meal (1pm) and the result of that meal 1hr 6.8, 2hr 6.1, 3hr 5.4.

She blew her top, those numbers are too high "why are you not on medication", you need to make an appointment ASAP with the DR and start medication. I said why? She told me my number should always be in the 4s and maximum 5s even after I eat.

So I told her please prescribe the strips and I will make an appointment (however I do not intent to do so at this stage), Going by the above are my numbers that horrendous that the smart folks here seem to think I need medication ASAP? She also gave me a ticking off for testing so much and said one container of strips need to last 1 month,
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I think the nurse you spoke to is badly mistaken. I have never seen anything in official guidance that suggested anything remotely similar.

The top end of "normal BG" is usually taken to be high 7s. I've just checked with the textbook and it confirms that normal ie non-diabetic, capillary blood glucose two hours after eating would be indicated by a result of less than 7.8mmo/l. All your readings are below that.
 
This might help if the discussion with the nurse continues - it's Table 3.1 from Bilous and Donnelly's "Handbook of Diabetes" page 9.

I've typed it up and hope the formatting survives: edit, it didn't, so I've converted to an image.

 

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Thank you for the Re assurance guys. I thought the same that she is over reacting. I didn't even mention the Hba1c I had done last month was 30 which was done in a private hospital not NHS. I. didn't want her to refuse the strips. Last final check revealed 6.3 2hrs after my dinner and that included 2x Ferro Rochers as a treat :)
 
0110 said:
Thank you for the Re assurance guys. I thought the same that she is over reacting. I didn't even mention the Hba1c I had done last month was 30 which was done in a private hospital not NHS. I. didn't want her to refuse the strips. Last final check revealed 6.3 2hrs after my dinner and that included 2x Ferro Rochers as a treat :)
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Ask the nurse for another HbA1c test before considering any medication or any other intervention suggested by Dr or nurse.
Or show them evidence of the private HbA1c.
 
Pipp said:
Ask the nurse for another HbA1c test before considering any medication or any other intervention suggested by Dr or nurse.
Or show them evidence of the private HbA1c.
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The funny thing is the Dr already knows the private result. She was the nurse. My Dr suggested another Hba1c in 6 months (Oct time)
 
Here is a table of the figures I aim for - She must have misheard you, or forgotten the correct range?

www.diabetes.co.uk

Normal and Diabetic Blood Sugar Level Ranges

Normal blood sugar ranges and blood sugar ranges for adults and children with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and blood sugar ranges to determine diabetes.
www.diabetes.co.uk www.diabetes.co.uk
 
TriciaWs said:
Here is a table of the figures I aim for - She must have misheard you, or forgotten the correct range?

www.diabetes.co.uk

Normal and Diabetic Blood Sugar Level Ranges

Normal blood sugar ranges and blood sugar ranges for adults and children with type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and blood sugar ranges to determine diabetes.
www.diabetes.co.uk www.diabetes.co.uk
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Thanks for that I had a quick glimpse it looks good. Sounds like your doing v good as well.
 
I've sometimes had similar results and I've regularly had lower end pre-diabetic HbA!cs without any diabetic medications for several years now which pleases my GP no end, so IMO you're doing extremely well, and Madame Nursey is talking through her - errm - nether regions... Just keep up your good work - and congratulations if you got those prescription strips out of her too.. :D
 
Robbity said:
I've sometimes had similar results and I've regularly had lower end pre-diabetic HbA!cs without any diabetic medications for several years now which pleases my GP no end, so IMO you're doing extremely well, and Madame Nursey is talking through her - errm - nether regions... Just keep up your good work - and congratulations if you got those prescription strips out of her too.. :D
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Thank You for your reply I appreciate it. You mentioned you had similar results and you had lower end pre-diabetic HBA1c’s. That is great I can see from your signature early 40's results for you. Thing is I managed to go from 82 to 30 in 2 months only.... All a bit weird because you mentioned my results likely to be early 40s (pre-diabetic range). I have no issues with that I would be happy if they are between 42-46 this October.
 
I wasn't convinced that the first diabetes nurse I saw even understood what finger prick BG readings meant and she (and the doctor) ignored everything except the hb1ac results. Given the last time I spoke to both of them there was only a single data point (my initial hb1ac of 106) they were talking about increasing my medication despite the fact my own BG tests were indicating my levels had dropped by a half from that.

I've since had another hb1ac test which came in at 53 but it's another couple of weeks before my scheduled call with the diabetes nurse and I'm hoping that'll mean they'll have parked any plans to increase my meds.
 
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