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

Going through diabetes testing and confused by glucose levels - please help!

D

Deb2202_

Member
Messages
7
Hi, I saw my GP last week about an issue with an irregular heartbeat. He did an ecg and reassured me all was well. He said he'd like to run a thyroid test just in case.

Turns out he did a sweep of loads of blood tests and one of them has flagged up what was described initially as a 'sugar level of 6.1' and I need to go back to have a fasting blood test.

I've since rang back for more details and the receptionist has confirmed they did a 'plasma glucose test' as I asked her to read the description to me - so I don't think it's a HBC1A? I did ask her directly.

Now with what I've read online if I had done a fasting test and got 6.1 then it would be cause for further testing but I had breakfast about 1 -1.5 hours earlier so I think it's classed as a random plasma glucose test?

Is there any kind soul who can explain the numbers to me? I'm really confused and the doctors aren't being very helpful.
 
A random test does not usually attract attention unless it is over 11. We know it's not a fasting test because of breakfast.

What makes you think it wasn't an Hba1c test? There is no need to fast for one of those and anything over 6 will attract attention.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/what-is-hba1c.html
 
Thanks for the reply, when I got the letter about going for a fasting test I looked online and saw the 11 cut off so I rang the doctors and asked what test they had taken and if it was a HBA1C test, she looked it up and said no it's a 'plasma glucose test' she read it from the screen which is why I'm a bit perplexed - unless they can both be referred to like that.
 
Could you get a copy of your blood results then you'd know for sure what they tested?

Or phone again? If it wasn't an HbA1C, my only thought is that there may have been some confusion somewhere and you were assumed to,have fasted when you hadn't.
 
I'm thinking the same.

I might ring again and see if a doctor will ring me back the receptionist wasn't happy about me asking questions.
 
Deb2202_ said:
I'm thinking the same.

I might ring again and see if a doctor will ring me back the receptionist wasn't happy about me asking questions.
Click to expand...
That is most likely because she doesn't know the answers and doesn't like to admit it.
 
This is what the other place says about it.

Methods and criteria for diagnosing diabetes
  1. Diabetes symptoms (e.g. polyuria, polydipsia and unexplained weight loss for Type 1) plus:
    • a random venous plasma glucose concentration ≥ 11.1 mmol/l or
    • a fasting plasma glucose concentration ≥ 7.0 mmol/l (whole blood ≥ 6.1 mmol/l) or
    • two hour plasma glucose concentration ≥ 11.1 mmol/l two hours after 75g anhydrous glucose in an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT).
  2. With no symptoms diagnosis should not be based on a single glucose
https://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_u...itoring/New_diagnostic_criteria_for_diabetes/

To my mind it looks like they are judging you on a fasting plasma glucose test only you didn't fast.
 
yes it looks like it, do doctors generally run HBA1C on a general screen?

I have no diabetes symptoms so it's not like I was being tested specifically if you see what I mean.
 
Deb2202_ said:
yes it looks like it, do doctors generally run HBA1C on a general screen?

I have no diabetes symptoms so it's not like I was being tested specifically if you see what I mean.
Click to expand...
They do spot checks on people if they suspect anything. That's how I was captured. A nurse I had an appointment with for a jab asked if I minded if she took a blood sample. I didn't know why. The next week I was in the diabetic clinic.
 
Maybe it was an A1C but if they show weeks worth of averages why bother doing a one off fasting test? Or repeating the test?

I'm gonna get onto them tomorrow, when I solve the mystery I'll let you know! Thanks for the help.
 
So managed to speak to someone sensible at the doctors surgery.

I had a random blood sugar test which came out at 6.1 probably due to eating before I took the test - I think I ate something about 1 - 1.5 hours before, I certainly could of eaten late the night before as well, defo in the last 12 hours. They insist this is borderline and I've given up arguing.

They have asked me to return on Thursday for a fasting blood sugar test and a hba1c.
 
Thanks for updating us @Deb2202_

I'm still confused why they're concerned about a random non-fasting result of 6.1. Hopefully, you'll get more answers and your mind put at rest when you have the additional tests.
 
Me too azure, she said they'd expect it to be between 3-6 I said yes if it was fasting but I ate, she said exactly your breakfast has caused it!

The doctor is probably just being thorough which is a good thing I was just getting stressed as I couldn't understand why they were calling me back. Now I know the actual facts I can draw my own conclusions!
 
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.…