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

Blood Reading of 6.8 - Is This Normal?

A

Azzy1

Newbie
Messages
2
Hello all,

I am after a bit of advice on an issue. If anyone can give me any information that would be great as I know nothing on this subject.

I have just spoken to a doctor’s receptionist with regard to blood tests I had last week (no doctor available). What she has told me has given me concern. Apparently I need to redo one of my tests and have a ‘fasting’ blood test as the figure which I registered was 6.8.

Is 6.8 high?

I had the blood test at 08:20 AM just 30 minutes after eating two Weetabix for breakfast. I also had a cup of coffee. No additional sugar was added to the Weetabix or coffee.

I am a 39 year old male who weighs 11st 10lbs. I play football once per week, mountain bike once per week and eat and drink quite healthily.

My father has diabetes and hypertension and I have been on medication for hypertension since being 29 years old, hence why I try to keep relatively fit and keep my weight down.

Any advice or reassurance would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Craig
 

6.8 in a fasting blood test would be high ...ish and indicate that you were pre diabetic but you seem to have lost the plot a bit in the fasting department. It usually means that you have nil by mouth for 14 hours before the blood test. The Weetabix and coffee would ****** up the results entirely which is, presumably why they want to do a proper fasting test this time.
 
Azzy1 wrote
Apparently I need to redo one of my tests and have a ‘fasting’ blood test as the figure which I registered was 6.8.
Click to expand...

I'm wondering whether 6.8 is an HbA1c result, Some will use 7.0 as a diagnosis of diabetes. This would explain why a follow-up of a glucose tolerance test is being used to confirm diagnosis. Some surgeries use these. Mine never did.

HbA1c does not need to be fasting, and measures how much glucose has 'stuck' to your blood cells, which die off over 120 days.
The 'average' is weighted more to the last month's results.

Good luck with the test :thumbup:

Geoff
 
If your 6.8 was a blood glucose taken 30 minutes after eating then it means nothing. The figure for a random glucose test that signifies diabetes is a level above 11mmo/l. Many people would have 6.8mmol/l soon after eating.
If it was a HbA1c of 6.8% (basically a test that looks at the average blood glucose level over the last three months)then that would indicate diabetes. (above 6.5%) without another test.
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/Our ... r_diabetes
Whatever the reason for the new blood test, it suggests that your doctor is being pro active.
 
Last week I had a 'fasting' blood test where the result came back as 5mmol/l.

As I put in my original email, I knew nothing about diabetes but having read about it in the last week or so I am beginning to realise what kind of ailment it is and how much time and effort people have to spend to maintain their health.

Many thanks for your answers.

Cheers

Craig
 
hi,
i cannot understand why your fasting in my opinion this is quite a dangerous thing to do by all means test before eating and test again after to see difference i have had diabetes for over 15 years and inject insulin up to four times daily my reading fluctiates between 4.8 and 13.9 before eating depending on how much exercise i take.
i used to fast for cholesterol checks until i started having hypo's and stopped on advice of doctor
 
I would respectfully ask whether 14 hours is necessary for fasting as one poster has suggested? I have been tested many many times both in the UK and abroad and the average time requested by specialists has been between 10 and 12 hours. Some have allowed the taking of water throughout and others to refrain from taking water for the last three hours. Opinions gratefully received.
 
I thought you only had to fast for cholesterol tests, if thats the case and 6.8 is a cholesterol test result then it would indeed be high. My GP and the DN never request fasting for HBA1C.
 
Firstly fasting for a short period for a type I isn't at all dangerous if your on basal/bolus and your background insulin is correct. You should be able to go periods of time without food and your blood glucose should remain stable. On a mixtard this might prove a little more complicated and advise should be sort.

Reference cholesterol tests I didn't think that fasting had much effect at all save perhaps the triggs?

For HbA1c fasting is not necessary... however they also tend to check blood glucose at the same time so a high reading after 12 hours of fasting is more cause for concern.
 
You will all be pleased to know that I found the corkscrew and before I opened the bottle I found my NHS file. The first document I found in it says amongst other things.

"If your diabetes is controlled by diet or tablets you should fast for 14 hours before your appointment with the Practice Nurse which includes your blood test .....".

There. I knew I had seen it somewhere.
 

Hello Craig

I'm recently diagnosed T2 and when I had my first blood tests I was asked to have
1 x NON-FASTING BG Test
then I was recalled to do a
1 x FASTING BG Test
and then a week later I was called in again for another
1 x FASTING BG Test
my levels were around the 12.9 mark and then as 2 of my tests had shown high levels I was confirmed as T2.

I'm not sure but I think anything above 7 indicates diabetes but it may vary from doctor to doctor, some may diagnose at a lower level.

I think daisy has some information about what levels are prediabetic and what are diabetic so you could check with her on that.
 
GraceK said:
I'm not sure but I think anything above 7 indicates diabetes but it may vary from doctor to doctor, some may diagnose at a lower level.
Click to expand...


No, it is a NICE standard and I think they got it from the W.H.O.

Providing it is a fasting blood test done with approved equipment at the surgery or hospital.

5.5 to 6.9 is pre diabetes and anything higher is diabetes.

On the other scale,

100 to 125 is pre diabetes and anything higher is diabetes.
 

Yes, I agree ... I did say I wasn't sure, I was giving approximations based on information I've read on here and online.
 
Don't worry GraceK, I wasn't criticising or being a smart arris. I just had the information to hand.
 
A NHS website - 'Choices' states that a fasting period of 8-10 hours for various Diabetic tests, including cholesterol, is necessary. Water can be taken during this period.
 
It never occurred to me to question it before but all the letters in my file inviting me for a starving blood test say 14 hours. They use boiler plate letter writing at my surgery so it is no surprise that all the letters are identical apart from the date.

I have looked at a couple of sites and 8-10 hours seems to be the norm elsewhere.

The opportunity to ask my nurse about it has passed since I saw her last Monday and probably won't see her again for another six months.

Maybe they just don't like me and this is their way of showing it.

If I have such a blood test at 10 am then it's nil by mouth from 8 pm the previous evening. No problem since I don't eat after that time normally. Breakfast is delayed of course but then that would be the same for an 8 hour period. As I said, I have never had cause to question it.
 

Does the letter actually invite you for a STARVING BLOOD TEST OR A FASTING BLOOD TEST?
 
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.…