enlarged red blood cells

[perry1960]

Could this be attributed to T2 diagnosis? Just had a letter from my GP stating that the blood tests I had last week show enlarged red blood cells and I have to have additional tests to look for causes of this.
Worried enough as it is.

 

[Guzzler]

From what I can gather, enlarged red blood cells sometimes indicate a vitB12 deficiency. Metformin depletes vitB12. The other condition indicated is anaemia. Try not to worry, both can easily be treated.
I am not a medical professional and there may be other causes of enlarged red blood cells but you can only wait and see what the further tests reveal. Best of luck.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Do you know which of the red blood cell levels were raised? A print out will tell you this.
My levels are a bit raised, teetering on the edge of the top standard range, sometimes fractionally over, sometimes fractionally under, so I researched and came up with these:

MCH (Mean corpuscular haemoglobin) is a calculation of the amount of oxygen-carrying haemoglobin inside your RBCs. High MCH levels can indicate macrocytic anemia, which can be caused by insufficient vitamin B12. Insufficient folic acid can be another cause of macrocytic anemia.

MCV (mean corpuscular volume) could be a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency if raised. Diabetes and thyroidism can elevate MCV.

MCHC - mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration also mirrors MCV and MCH when an anaemia is present, if it sits towards the high end, this is indicative of B12 or folate deficiency, if it sits towards the the low end, this is indicative of an iron deficiency.

RDW - Red cell distribution width – range is 11 to 15 % although this can vary from lab to lab, the test calculates any change in size of the red blood cells. Along with the MCV, the RDW result if high, usually means a B12/folate deficiency.

Because of that I asked for B12 and folate (folic acid) blood tests, which both came back normal. Quite good, in fact. So I was nowhere nearer, but as my GP has never mentioned these to me, and they have been similar for many years, I put it down to them being normal for me.

 

[Struma]

Could this be attributed to T2 diagnosis? Just had a letter from my GP stating that the blood tests I had last week show enlarged red blood cells and I have to have additional tests to look for causes of this.
Worried enough as it is.

Enlarged Red Blood Cells are often found with iron deficiency anaemia, after a period of about 3 months.
The labs will often report 'macrocytic, hypochromic' cells.
Further tests are frequently in-depth iron studies, to begin with.
It probably is not diabetes related. Hope this helps.
P.S. Have you had the diabetes information that @daisy1 sends?

 

[perry1960]

Enlarged Red Blood Cells are often found with iron deficiency anaemia, after a period of about 3 months.
The labs will often report 'macrocytic, hypochromic' cells.
Further tests are frequently in-depth iron studies, to begin with.
It probably is not diabetes related. Hope this helps.
P.S. Have you had the diabetes information that @daisy1 sends?

yes thanks Struma

 

[perry1960]

Do you know which of the red blood cell levels were raised? A print out will tell you this.
My levels are a bit raised, teetering on the edge of the top standard range, sometimes fractionally over, sometimes fractionally under, so I researched and came up with these:

MCH (Mean corpuscular haemoglobin) is a calculation of the amount of oxygen-carrying haemoglobin inside your RBCs. High MCH levels can indicate macrocytic anemia, which can be caused by insufficient vitamin B12. Insufficient folic acid can be another cause of macrocytic anemia.

MCV (mean corpuscular volume) could be a vitamin B12 or folate deficiency if raised. Diabetes and thyroidism can elevate MCV.

MCHC - mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration also mirrors MCV and MCH when an anaemia is present, if it sits towards the high end, this is indicative of B12 or folate deficiency, if it sits towards the the low end, this is indicative of an iron deficiency.

RDW - Red cell distribution width – range is 11 to 15 % although this can vary from lab to lab, the test calculates any change in size of the red blood cells. Along with the MCV, the RDW result if high, usually means a B12/folate deficiency.

Because of that I asked for B12 and folate (folic acid) blood tests, which both came back normal. Quite good, in fact. So I was nowhere nearer, but as my GP has never mentioned these to me, and they have been similar for many years, I put it down to them being normal for me.

Thanks very much for the information has put my mind a bit more at ease.I can not stop worrying about the slightest thing at the moment.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Thanks very much for the information has put my mind a bit more at ease.I can not stop worrying about the slightest thing at the moment.

Do ask for a print out. You will see at a glance what your results were. It is never wise to accept a doctor's words that something is "high" or "OK" or "fine" or whatever. Seeing it in black and white for yourself and then either researching or asking questions here will help. You need to know these numbers and which tests they were, so if you are prescribed some medication you know why (and also if you actually need it!)

 

[perry1960]

Just opened a letter from my GP with the results of my latest blood tests it reads
Your recent blood test results show that the red blood cells are larger than normal and the gamma GT liver enzyme is elevated,which can be caused by a number of factors,for example increased alcohol consumption or fatty change in the liver.
well I know it is not increased alcohol consumption (tea total for the last 15/20 years) could I please make another appointment so this can be discussed further and additional investigations considered.
So another appointment has been booked for next week and hopefully I will know more?which would not be hard as at the moment completely in the dark apart from the 3 letters stating that my red blood cells are enlarged (I think I have grasped that after telling me 3 times but nothing else lol)

 

[Bluetit1802]

Just opened a letter from my GP with the results of my latest blood tests it reads
Your recent blood test results show that the red blood cells are larger than normal and the gamma GT liver enzyme is elevated,which can be caused by a number of factors,for example increased alcohol consumption or fatty change in the liver.
well I know it is not increased alcohol consumption (tea total for the last 15/20 years) could I please make another appointment so this can be discussed further and additional investigations considered.
So another appointment has been booked for next week and hopefully I will know more?which would not be hard as at the moment completely in the dark apart from the 3 letters stating that my red blood cells are enlarged (I think I have grasped that after telling me 3 times but nothing else lol)

Does the letter include a print out of the actual results as reported by the lab? This is what you need. If it does, look at the levels for
haemoglobin
haematocrit (PCV)
mcv (mean corpuscle volume)
mch (mean corpuscular haemoglobin)
mchc (mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration)
rdw

Large red blood cells is a marker for B12 and Folate deficiency. Metformin can cause this.

The Gamma GT is a marker for a non-alcoholic fatty liver and should be under 65. (at least that is the case for women. Men could be slightly different) Fatty liver and T2 diabetes go hand in hand.

 

[perry1960]

Does the letter include a print out of the actual results as reported by the lab? This is what you need. If it does, look at the levels for
haemoglobin
haematocrit (PCV)
mcv (mean corpuscle volume)
mch (mean corpuscular haemoglobin)
mchc (mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration)
rdw

Large red blood cells is a marker for B12 and Folate deficiency. Metformin can cause this.

The Gamma GT is a marker for a non-alcoholic fatty liver and should be under 65. (at least that is the case for women. Men could be slightly different) Fatty liver and T2 diabetes go hand in hand.

Thanks for the reply, but no print outs have been given even from when first being diagnosed with diabetes on the 21st July I did ask the doctor for my diabetes readings from the hospital but they had been lost so had to go through all the blood tests again.when I was first diagnosed at the hospital I was kept in overnight given some tablets (metformin and dapagliflozin) and told to go to my doctors as mentioned above I have had no readings of any kind whatsoever.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Thanks for the reply, but no print outs have been given even from when first being diagnosed with diabetes on the 21st July I did ask the doctor for my diabetes readings from the hospital but they had been lost so had to go through all the blood tests again.when I was first diagnosed at the hospital I was kept in overnight given some tablets (metformin and dapagliflozin) and told to go to my doctors as mentioned above I have had no readings of any kind whatsoever.

Then you must get a print out of your second lot of tests. If you give your surgery a ring and ask for the test results print out, you should be able to have them. It would be good to see them before you see your doctor next week.

 

[perry1960]

Does the letter include a print out of the actual results as reported by the lab? This is what you need. If it does, look at the levels for
haemoglobin
haematocrit (PCV)
mcv (mean corpuscle volume)
mch (mean corpuscular haemoglobin)
mchc (mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration)
rdw

Large red blood cells is a marker for B12 and Folate deficiency. Metformin can cause this.

The Gamma GT is a marker for a non-alcoholic fatty liver and should be under 65. (at least that is the case for women. Men could be slightly different) Fatty liver and T2 diabetes go hand in hand.

HI just got the print out through the post do I take the numbers that are in the first Column? as there are three columns all with different numbers.Seeing the doctor at 17.30

 

[Bluetit1802]

HI just got the print out through the post do I take the numbers that are in the first Column? as there are three columns all with different numbers.Seeing the doctor at 17.30

I can't answer this as I don't know what it all says. Each lab has a different way of reporting things. Is it short enough to copy out here? Or can you post an image of it?

 

[perry1960]

 

[Bluetit1802]

OK. The first column are the names of the cells being measured.
The second column are your results
The third column are the measurement units used
The fourth column is the standard normal range followed by the measurement units.

Your Gamma GT is higher than normal. This is a marker for a fatty liver, which is part and parcel of being T2 diabetic and one of the things we need to reduce..

Your MCV (mean corpuscular volume) is raised slightly which is a marker for a deficiency in vitamin B12 and/or folate (folic acid) or it could just be your personal normal level of course!

 

[perry1960]

OK. The first column are the names of the cells being measured.
The second column are your results
The third column are the measurement units used
The fourth column is the standard normal range followed by the measurement units.

Your Gamma GT is higher than normal. This is a marker for a fatty liver, which is part and parcel of being T2 diabetic and one of the things we need to reduce..

Your MCV (mean corpuscular volume) is raised slightly which is a marker for a deficiency in vitamin B12 and/or folate (folic acid) or it could just be your personal normal level of course!

Thanks for all the info just got back from the doctor and she is sending me for ultra sound on my liver to see what the extent of my liver damage is?
Once again thanks for your help

 

[Bluetit1802]

Thanks for all the info just got back from the doctor and she is sending me for ultra sound on my liver to see what the extent of my liver damage is?
Once again thanks for your help

Hope all goes well with the scan.