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Had a skin prick test on a whim at Lloyd Pharmacy - accuracy?

T

TheGreatGateway

Active Member
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25
Hello, we're not sure if I have diabetes yet. I'm looking for a new doctor as I keep getting written off with "just being anxious."

I was in my local supermarket which had a Lloyd's Pharmacy. I noticed by chance they do a diabetes screening test so I requested one be done. They first gave me a sample pot for urine so I can measure that in the morning. I advised I had just eaten a simple bowl of Shreddies cereal about an hour before arriving - the pharmacist said normally people fast before a test but in this case we can find out how I react after a meal.

I explained my symptoms: tired, migraines, thirsty, bubbly urine and restless. I have asthma but I honestly didn't know if diabetes could mimic its breathlessness symptoms so I thought to have the test to rule things out.

The pharmacist had a little trouble finding the blood! I don't know if that would affect anything?

The result was exactly 5.0, though I'm afraid I don't recall the unit. I was advised to return for a fasting test if I'm unconvinced, after I expressed my problem with the GPs.

My question is how accurate are these skin prick tests please and what factors make false negative results? I'm planning to request my skin orick tests done by paramedics to find out those results too, as I remain unconvinced but for now I must have go along with the test saying I do not have diabetes.
 
Your result was perfectly normal.. maybe even very normal after shreddies..
I wouldn't bother a paramedic for another test but if you are seriously worried then ask your GP for an HbA1c.
The unit of your finger prick test was mmol/l and the meters are usually accurate to within 15% so your blood theoretically could have been between 4.25 and 5.75 mmol/l still completely normal.
If you manage to get an HbA1c and it is in the 20's or 30's mmol/m (note the difference in units) then you are also fine.
If it's 40 or over then you may need further advice.

Hope that helps.
 
Last edited:
TheGreatGateway said:
I explained my symptoms: tired, migraines, thirsty, bubbly urine and restless. I have asthma but I honestly didn't know if diabetes could mimic its breathlessness symptoms so I thought to have the test to rule things out.
Click to expand...

Your bloods do sound moe then ok..i doubt the pharmacy would be far out, so as @bulkbiker , and @Daibell concurs, says the margin still means your good.

Some of the symptoms COULD POSSIBLY be caused by high carbs, ?
( many on here seem to suggest that various secondary illnesses improve on the Low carb diet. )

and maybe you just don't tolerate them as well as you used to.? though at 27, you have lots of time to get the diet in order.if needed.
that 'lack of tolerating carbs' is also the progression from 'healthy' to prediabetic, it seems..so worth considering & keeping an eye on

You didn't state if your asthma was of particular concern or i misread it,

but My asthma since lowering my carbs, while rarely dangerous, (thankfully) was an issue most years, and now seems to have gone away.
(sure to bite me, now i've said that )..but while i still take my inhalers, the wheezy, chestiness, has gone away,
and rarely..if ever causes me any issues...
.
I would add that i did have one bad attack at the doctors a few years back, which scared the bejesus out of me, and then proceeded to use ginger tea on a regular basis which also helped., but i still had some symptoms of asthma.

Now like i say, i'd struggle to tell you the last 'event' i had that was asthmatic driven.

Hope that helps.
 
TheGreatGateway said:
I thought to have the test to rule things out.
Click to expand...
I think you’ve probably ruled out diabetes as a cause of your symptoms.

I’d be asking your new dr for a broad ranging blood test to rule other issues in or out though. Tiredness covers almost every illness out there. Migraine may or may not be caused by other illnesses. I’ve no idea about bubbly urine but you’d hope a gp might
 
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