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Prediabetes Hba1c Test

K

KetoIFYouDare

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3
Hi there,
I am 54, male, in the Obese range but am busy with bringing my weight down with a LCHF diet.
Previous blood tests from my local GP either didn't show any problem or they didn't follow up. When I asked if I would get results back, their reply was NO, but I would hear from them if there was a problem! Is this normal now for NHS GPs?
After suffering some health problems, I decided to pay private for a health screening blood/urine test.
I asked for the HbA1c test to be done but they refused, saying I would need a referral from my local GP. I expected my blood sugars to be high, after many years of bad diet and lifestyle and I have now received the findings of my health screen indicating I am indeed Hyperglycaemic. That has angered me because I wanted to know what the average from my blood sugars were over the last 3 months. My questions are:
  1. Can I now take this private report to my local GP and ask them to perform a A1c test and get the result?
  2. I have researched here and am confused as to whether Hyperglycaemia and Prediabetes are the same diagnosis?
  3. What tests are available to test if my body insulin is working as it should be?
  4. I have a SD Codefree blood glucose home test meter. The strips are quite expensive, would I now be able to get them supplied on the NHS if I have been diagnosed as Hyperglycaemic? Or will they want me to be type 2 before they will consider helping me?
Maybe I am being unfair, but the NHS seems to want to only deal with the later stages of diabetes with a multitude of drug prescriptions rather than help with early detection and support?
I look forward to any input, this is my first time to comment on this forum.
Derek
 
1. Yes you can take your report to your GP and ask for an Hba1c test but if they are of the old school who do not give feedback then there is no guarantee of success.

2. Hyperglaecemia means too much sugar. If there is a moderately high sugar level then it is pre diabetes but if there is a lot of sugar then you are diabetic.

3. I don't know.

4. You are not likely to get test strips even if you are a type 2. The only people who get strips are those likely to go hypo and type 2's tend not to do that unless on powerful medication.
 
Are you using the code to get a discount for CodeFree strips?

I f you download the mySugr app, enter your readings along with the food you eat, in around 6 or 7 days it will give you an estimated HbA1c number. The app is free.
 
KetoIFYouDare said:
Hi there,
I am 54, male, in the Obese range but am busy with bringing my weight down with a LCHF diet.
Previous blood tests from my local GP either didn't show any problem or they didn't follow up. When I asked if I would get results back, their reply was NO, but I would hear from them if there was a problem! Is this normal now for NHS GPs?.....

.....I have a SD Codefree blood glucose home test meter. The strips are quite expensive, would I now be able to get them supplied on the NHS if I have been diagnosed as Hyperglycaemic? Or will they want me to be type 2 before they will consider helping me?
Click to expand...

Your surgery are wrong (if you are in England at least) in not allowing you access to your results. All surgeries are now supposed to allow online access. Do you have on line access to make appts or repeat medication? If so you can request access to your results too. If you don’t have any on line access request it. Some people have struggled to get this sorted but with my surgery I just went to the surgery with ID to request it from the receptionist, and by the time I got home it was done.

About your second point that I have quoted, you are extremely unlikely to get prescribed strips if you are pre diabetic and about as unlikely to if you are type 2 (unless on certain meds). Be sure to use the discount codes @xfieldok mentioned, here they are:

5 packs 264086
10 packs 975833

Also as this is your first post I’ll tag in @daisy1 for her useful intro post
 
What is normal is that they only contact you if there is an issue - but if you're in England then you have the right to see your results. I will pop in to my surgery when I know reception is quiet and ask for a print out of any latest blood tests.
 
As others have said, if you are in England you have the right to have either a print out of your test results (and these can include historic ones), or to see your test results on-line, although you do have to provide ID and register for these.

Yes, take your private lab test results to your GP and ask for an HbA1c test.

When you test yourself with the Codefree, what sort of levels do you see:
first thing in the morning before eating/drinking
before eating each meal
two hours after each meal (after first bite)

How do you know you are hyperglycaemic? Did you get an actual figure for this?
 
@KetoIFYouDare

Hello and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why

  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 
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