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

Blood Test Tomorrow

halfpint

Well-Known Member
Messages
109
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi all. Although I am not as yet officially diagnosed with anything, I thought that I would give you an update and see if anyone has any views.
I've had two blood tests HbA1c that have come out at 6.2, I have also suffered over the past year with intermittent blurred vision, excessive thirst and total chronic fatigue after eating what seemed like a perfectly normal dinner (normal for a permantly dieting non-diabetic that is). I am 5'4" and 54Kg, so not particularly huge. After the first test that came back as 6.2 I cut out all obvious sugar. Three months later I had another test with the same result, after which I began to really look more closely at what I was eating and have reduced my carbs by 30-50%, so now have about 60-90 gms carbs a day. Normal day would be greek yog for breakfast, meat, lots of low carb veg, plus small (and I do mean small) helping of either spud or rice, for dinner midday, then possibly low carb crackers and egg or something similar for tea.

Been testing fairly regularly for the past month, was quite surprised when 2 slices of toast and 2 poached eggs midday gave a 10 ! I know bread can put it up dramatically, but nevertheless I was surprised at the increase.

I have today finally managed to get a morning reading down to 5.5 - feel fantastic, clear head, loads of energy etc. not felt this good for years ! (its usually up to 8 or more by bedtime and only drops a bit overnight)

But I feel very divided in response to the results. If everything is normal then surely I shouldn't be getting low teens on something fairly ordinary? If my blood test tomorrow comes back as normal it will be all too easy to fall into denial and pretend that everything is hunky dory, which as its taken a month of quite hard work to get to 5.5 (most readings were in the 6.6-10 range) I presume that it isn't!

So I feel as though I should have perhaps eaten normally for the past 3 months (normal by most ordinary folks standard would have seen me pile on Kgs like no tomorrow), got a high reading, then at least my doctor would feel more inclined to monitor. If I get a normal result, should I ask for a glucose tolerance test - would it be worthwhile? I do not particularly wish to be diagnosed as pre- or diabetic, but I do feel as though something is definitely not quite as it should be and would really like to get to the bottom of it.
 
Hi Halfpint, :)

It quite interesting that you are using a BG meter and controlling what you eat.

This is probably wise yet difficult for the Doctors to understand what you want from their results.

I would let your Doctor know exactly what you have been doing since the last results and your concern ( also take a copy of own readings).

Good luck and well done for being a step ahead.

Roy. :)
 
If you are receiving readings above 7.8 at any time then you are definitely not "normal" as non diabetics never go above that level, even after a very high carbohydrate meal.

It will be interesting to see what difference you have made to the A1c with the dietary changes you've made. A GTT would definitely prove that your levels aren't normal, as it would be impossible for the increase at 1 and 2 hours after ingesting pure glucose not to occur if you are still obtaining 10's by eating bread. Here are the instructions for Jenny Ruhl's "DIY" GTT:

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14046889.php

If you have been eating a low carbohydrate diet, please read the "Special Consideration" section as it may apply if you're going to have a formal GTT test done.

Good luck in getting your diagnosis sorted.
 
Thanks Roy and Indy51, it will be interesting to see if anything has made a difference. As we've got diabetes well and truly in the family, plus strokes and heart problems, heart attacks and angina, plus glaucoma, it just seemed daft to ignore the possible warning signs that I was getting and hoping for the best, so I am a bit pro-active.
 
Thing is, the HbA1c result of 6.2 you got is diagnostic of pre-diabetes, so you're in the club! Welcome!dont know why the doc didn't tell you that. 5.9 to 6.5 is pre diabetic, over 6.5 is diabetic. Because of your diet, I'd bet your HbA1c is down to near-normal, but so Is mine and I'm definitely diabetic. Just well controlled. I'd try and demand an oral glucose tolerance test, and stick to diet as if I was diabetic. That way you'll know, and the diet could stop it progressing to full diabetes.
 
Back
Top