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

Diagnosis procedure

Andy-Sev

Andy-Sev

Well-Known Member
Messages
303
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi,

For the last few weeks I have noticed that I have various symptoms of diabetes such as excessive thirst, frequently needing the toilet, hunger, feeling shaky and tired so decided I will go to the doctors to get it checked out. As I know little about diabetes I was wondering do the doctors run a test on your first visit and you get an immediate diagnosis or is it a case of several visits and a different test each time before you get a diagnosis? Apologies if this information is elsewhere on the forum and many thanks in advance for your responses.
 
Hi Andy, I was diagnosed T2 a month ago. I'd been having symptoms at work which I'd put down to menopause (headaches, sweating, nausea) but then I developed the thirst, need for the loo, shaky and tired the same as you. I rang GP surgery and got a phone consultation and was asked to go for a fasting test 2 days later. I got the results back the same day and I was 19.1. Was booked to see diabetes nurse after that weekend and had an Hba1c test which came back as 13.2. From first ringing GP surgery to diagnosis was 2 days then a further week till I had Hba1c results and treatment regime, so about 10 days in all. I asked if I could have a meter to help educate myself and find out what helps and what doesn't. My DN was brilliant and agreed it would be useful and I've found now that I recognise the feelings of going high or lower that I don't need to test as often.
This forum is brill by the way!
 
The diagnosis process varies quite a bit.

They often do a finger prick test at the appointment (gives them a ballpark figure)
If high, they may consider immediate diagnosis or treatment
If not-so-high, they may arrange for a fasting glucose blood test (see what your glucose levels are before breakfast)
or an oral glucose tolerance test (see how your glucose levels react when you ingest glucose or lucozade)
They may also take a blood test (at any time, fasting not needed) called an HbA1c which will tell them what your glucose levels have been (an approx average) over the last 3 months.

Depending on the results of any of those tests, you may get a diagnosis on the day or have to come back later for the fasting tests.

Blood results come back in a few days, and usually the receptionist is not allowed to answer your questions, so you will either need to speak to a doc or nurse on the phone for the results, or make an appointment for the results.

Having said ALL of that, there really is no hard and fast process. Different doctors, Trusts and practices handle things a bit differently. So you may end up dealing with the nurse throughout, or a doc, or both.

Good luck. Hope they get to the bottom of it whether the result is a diagnosis of diabetes, or something else.
 
Thanks to you both for the information. I guess it will be just see how my doctors go about doing the tests and hoping for not too many return visits.
 
kjsmith said:
Hi Andy, I was diagnosed T2 a month ago. I'd been having symptoms at work which I'd put down to menopause (headaches, sweating, nausea) but then I developed the thirst, need for the loo, shaky and tired the same as you. I rang GP surgery and got a phone consultation and was asked to go for a fasting test 2 days later. I got the results back the same day and I was 19.1. Was booked to see diabetes nurse after that weekend and had an Hba1c test which came back as 13.2. From first ringing GP surgery to diagnosis was 2 days then a further week till I had Hba1c results and treatment regime, so about 10 days in all. I asked if I could have a meter to help educate myself and find out what helps and what doesn't. My DN was brilliant and agreed it would be useful and I've found now that I recognise the feelings of going high or lower that I don't need to test as often.
This forum is brill by the way!
Click to expand...

Gosh - That's quick! I wish I could have got the hang of my bloods that quickly. What sort of range are your bloods running in now?
 
Have only been asked to record twice daily, fasting and 2 hours after main meal. Managed to crack the evening meal one - usually between 5 and 7 ( target was 4 to 9), having a bit more of an issue with fasting which is running between 8 and 10 instead of target 4 to 7. It has been a struggle with the symptoms though as my DN said I'd probably been walking round hyper for months and have had quite a bit of leave from work.
As soon as I was diagnosed I consulted my friend Google and read as much as I could find that was relevant. Have found this forum a minefield of useful information to help me and am hopefully back at work on 5th Oct :)
 
kjsmith said:
Have only been asked to record twice daily, fasting and 2 hours after main meal. Managed to crack the evening meal one - usually between 5 and 7 ( target was 4 to 9), having a bit more of an issue with fasting which is running between 8 and 10 instead of target 4 to 7. It has been a struggle with the symptoms though as my DN said I'd probably been walking round hyper for months and have had quite a bit of leave from work.
As soon as I was diagnosed I consulted my friend Google and read as much as I could find that was relevant. Have found this forum a minefield of useful information to help me and am hopefully back at work on 5th Oct :)
Click to expand...

Well done on the main meal post-meal readings.

If it's any consolation, most people find their fasting reading is the one that takes longest to come into line, but it usually does.

Really, though, you do need to test around your other meals too, or you could have no idea what's h\ppening with those; particularly as the sorts of things you eat for breakfast and, presumably, lunch could be very different from your main meals.
 
I do test at other meal times as well, I only record the 2 as requested. I generally bob around between 5 and 8.5 throughout the day depending on how much walking I do. I eat at more or less regular times which I have learned by testing to the way I felt in the early days and have learned to recognise when I should eat as well as what sends me too high.
I'm a firm believer in trying to get in tune with your body. I had to learn that pretty quickly when faced with my heart condition,
I'm expecting a few ups and downs when I go back to work as I don't do a regular 9-5 but I'll cross that bridge when I come to it. I know that if I need to shout for help I have you good folk here to pick your brains :D
 
Well I went to the doctors this morning and he did a bloodsugar test which was followed by a dip test and before I knew it I was on my way to hospital due to high keytones. 11 hours later and feeling a bit battered and bruised as well as exhausted I am home having been diagnosed as T1 with enough leaflets to make your head spin alongside a blood sugar monitor and insulin pumps. I guess a different life starts today.

Anyway many thanks again for those who repesonded to my original question
 
Sorry to hear you've had to join this exclusive club......

Take one step at a time. Read what you can slowly, as there's an awful lot to take in. Your priority is to get your bg level down and rid yourself of ketones. Follow the advice you've been given, but do come back here and ask as many questions as you like. The professionals know the theory, but the forum members know the practical side and will be able to help you.

There are all sorts of things you can do to manage this condition, but I'm not going to list them as you have enough to take in for the moment. Good luck :)
 
I am so glad you reached out for help and ended up with what you needed.

Please keep reading the forum. It is a mine of useful info, and will he,p you adjust to your new life much more easily that trying to cope alone.

Welcome to the club that no one wants to be in.
 
Hi. As others have said the approach for diagnosis varies greatly. I had the complete set of symptoms and my diabetes GP said you've got it having dunked a urine stick in a sample at the consultation. After that I had an HBa1C 3 months later. The best test remains the HBa1C and some surgeries do this early on.
 
Back
Top