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Gad test

C

chocaholic

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Hi to you all, just wanted to let off steam. Ive just rang my surgery for blood results. was losing lot of weight so had (thyroid, FBC and GADA). receptionist said thyroid was fine, even though blood was taken for gad, this test is no longer available. I need to have FBC done again in 4 months but she said she wasnt medically trained to say why i need it done again. even tho im diabetic, docs only think im type 2. I was supposed to have this gad done last sept, doc requested in his notes but never bothered to tell me. in may when i went for my 3 monthly bloods, i asked the nurse and she looked in his notes and sent my bloods but now im told they dont do the test anymore. Im so frustrated and scared as to why I need to have FBC done again, ive got to wait until next week to speak to a doc regarding my result. thanks everyone for listening to me rant on.
 
The FBC is done every time they take your bloods for HbA1c testing, nothing to be worried about it just checks out all the electrolytes (sp) of the blood which include Potasium etc..

I assume you mean GAD as in the anit-body test? I've always been under the impression that this due to it's cost could only be requested via a consultant (as in my PCT)... If you are concerned that your GP isn't typing you probably I would ask to be referred to the diabetic consultant at the hospital...

Problem with GAD test if you've been using insulin it can mask the results, better to ask for C-peptide test if there are concerns to what type you are!
 
If you are diabetic and loosing weight I'd hope one of the first things they test for is type 1 diabetes, I'm shocked that they didn't bother to with you. Insist on a referral to a consultant if the GP won't do the tests (GAD antibodies and c-peptide like jopar says).

FBC is full blood count, it measures levels of red and white blood cells, and platelet cells.
U&Es is urea and electrolytes, to measure kidney function.
Both are very standard tests, whatever they suspect might be wrong they will probably do these tests. Each time I've had an hba1c they've also done FBCs and U&Es.
 
Hi Chocoholic!

Insist on seeing a consultant. In some areas, the GPs cannot order a GAD test, it has to be the consultant. I had a big fight to get the test done despite being very ill, losing weight and unable to eat any carb without my BG going into double figures. They still insisted I was Type 2. About 8 weeks ago, I finally won the battle to get the GAD test done - the results came back last week and was positive. I only know because the consultant sent a letter saying my diabetes is well controlled and he wants to discharge me after my next appointment in September. He wrote on the letter 'p.s. your GAD results indicate Type 1 diabetes'. No apology for misdiagnosis, no explanation, just a 'p.s'! I now have to fight to stay on the hospital's books and not be returned to the care of the surgery nurse who misdiagnosed me in the first place. I know it's tough, but you have to fight for the care you need - fight for the GAD test, because if they've misdiagnosed you and you need insulin, you will become very ill until you get the proper treatment.

Good luck

Smidge
 
Hi everyone, thank you all for your support and advice. I don't know what the next step is to get the GAD test done because im not under consultant care and I have no idea whether they will refer me to consultant. My next review apt with doc is in oct. I went to the doc today for a sore throat, was put on antibiotic for 2 weeks. I asked about the FBC and apparently my platelet is a little low so i have to go back in 2 weeks when antibiotics finish to have FBC and B12 test done. I cant help worrying especially after googling low platelet causes. Im not on insulin, I've been on metformin, 1tablet a day for about 3 months now. HBa1c used to be 7.1 but has come down to 6.7.
 
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