• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Advice please

P

Petrus82_

Member
Messages
14
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi everyone,

I had some routine blood tests done a few weeks ago and the glucose came back as 6.5. This wasn't fasting. I've had a fasting test done today.

The nurse said that if this one comes back raised then "there will be a whole series of other tests".

Can anyone advise if my levels are really high? I'd had breakfast around 2 hours before the test. Also, what "series of other tests" will happen if the fasting test is high?

Thanks a million.
 
6.5 isn't especially high for a random blood sugar level. It falls within the normal range.

Diagnostic criteria for diabetes says a random blood sugar (i.e. not a fasting blood sugar) has to be over 11.1 to diagnose diabetes and one random blood sugar of over 11.1 on its own isn't enough to diagnose diabetes - https://www.diabetes.org.uk/Profess...itoring/New_diagnostic_criteria_for_diabetes/

I don't think there is a "whole series of other tests", just a hba1c which is just a blood test to measure how much glucose is stuck to you red blood cells, it give you an idea of your average blood sugar over the last 3 months. This page has info on normal blood sugar levels and hba1c results - http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html
 
Interestingly you don't have to fast to test the Hba1c so the fasting requirement suggests they are testing lipids (cholesterol and stuff). Maybe they have some other results in mind. Count the number of phials they fill with blood. If they take three then they are going for everything. Who knows where it might lead.

Don't worry though, we all get this done to us. Your result of 6.5 is so good I suspect they are just taking precautions.
 
Only one phial was filled. Cholesterol and kidney function were tested a few weeks ago and were fine.
 
Petrus82_ said:
Only one phial was filled. Cholesterol and kidney function were tested a few weeks ago and were fine.
Click to expand...
I don't know why you had to fast then. I suppose it could be a test of something entirely different but I don't have a clue.
 
It was definitely for glucose. I will wait and see what results come back as. The nurse wasn't very helpful suggesting a "whole series of other tests".
 
That does not appear too high to me. Either as general glucose levels or Hba1c. Wait and see what happens on the next test.
 
Any reading below 7.8 for non fasting are completely normal and not diabetic
 
Emile_the_rat said:
Any reading below 7.8 for non fasting are completely normal and not diabetic
Click to expand...

I had only eaten two slices of white bread and butter. Is 6.5 still ok?

Why would I be sent for a fasting blood test if this one was normal?
 
I am no expert but 6.5 does not look abnormal for a non diabetic having eaten highish carb grains particularly if you had say eaten it in the hour before blood being taken. So it all may come down to timing of eating the food.

So what you have been told looks a bit odd as normal is defined as under 11.1 for random , fasting under 6.1 and 2 hrs postprandial under 7.8. So if you ate bread was within 2 hrs of test then your test appears well within normal. However if had been fasting then 6.5 would have been a bit high and potentially put you in a the pre diabetic range. So maybe your nurse some how thought you had been you had eaten so long before that she should look at the fasting position? Or it could just be a mistake.
I suggest you try not to worry and await the answer of the more recent blood test. If you need further views when you get the results then there are lots of helpful people on this site .
 
Emile_the_rat said:
Any reading below 7.8 for non fasting are completely normal and not diabetic
Click to expand...

I had only eaten two slices of white bread and butter. Is 6.5 still ok?

Why would I be sent for a fasting blood test if this one was normal

It was about two hours after eating the toast. Would that make it a bit more worrying?
 
Hi. Fasting blood tests are of little value for blood sugar level testing but useful for lipids (cholesterol). The HBA1C which is a non-fasting test is the best test for blood sugar and diabetes diagnosis.
 
Petrus82_ said:
Is 6.5 still ok?

Why would I be sent for a fasting blood test if this one was normal?
Click to expand...

That's what I said. It is a little confusing and I am beginning to wonder if the nurse just got it wrong. You have no worries though.
 
Hi all thanks for advice.

Got fasting result back and it was 4.4
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…