• Guest, the forum is undergoing some upgrades and so the usual themes will be unavailable for a few days. In the meantime, you can use the forum like normal. We'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

how do i know my pre and post meal numbers are on track ?

bulkbiker said:
This was the one I had
https://www.medichecks.com/diabetes-tests/insulin-resistance-test
You get fasting insulin, fasting blood glucose and they calculate HOMA Insulin resistance from that.
You get a little explanatory note from their consultant by e-mail with the results usually the day after they receive the sample through the post. I'm very impressed with their level of service.
The only problem I found was getting the sample taken so I used my surgery when I was having other blood tests done and asked the phlebotomist to fill the vial. If you bleed easily from lancet pricks then you could probably fill the required sample but I don't so couldn't fill the DIY sample bottle they asked for.
Click to expand...
Thanks very much. Unfortunately my next round of blood tests will be in June, but I'll almost certainly go for it then. I read a painful account of DIY blood sampling somewhere and I don't fancy that at all.
 
HSSS said:
No I haven’t, as I’m sure most here haven’t also. But it does sound like a good idea. Might well look into it.

Due to my own issues and those of family members I think a broad ranging blood test , bgl, insulin, thyroid, vitamin, sex hormones, cholesterol at a young adult age whilst healthy would be such a good baseline to have to base any subsequent decisions about what is “your normal” and which way numbers have moved. Never going to happen on the nhs but it could short cut a lot of later problem solving.
Click to expand...

I think the thing about all of that is many of those values vary during the day, never mind on a day to day basis, and how do we know when we're healthy?

I do agree a fasting insulin/insulin resistance test would be incredibly valuable at the point of diagnosis.
 
bulkbiker said:
I just took the medichecks vial in when I had my last HbA1c and asked her to fill it up.. no pre-arrangement .. after all it's your blood and she already had the needle in my arm. I also explained to her that the NHS didn't seem able to perform the fasting insulin and insulin resistance test that I wanted so she was quite interested in why I was having it done.. although with that slightly dismissive tone that most HCP's seem to have when you are taking control of your own health!
Click to expand...
I bleed fairly easily. Is it the same vial whichever method? I could try the phlebotomist and if she refuses diy fill instead if it is. I’m hoping it’s a smaller amount required than the typical vials they fill for me on the standard tests.
 
I have not had it tested at any time, but once my HBa1c had been normal for about 6 months I noticed that my ability to put on weight had returned to normal too.
I have always been told that my weight gains were impossible - that the foods used to fatten livestock should have the opposite effect on me, but the numbers are pretty plain - I have even managed to put on a couple of Kg over Christmas by having ordinary crackers with cheese - back to home made ones but only when back below 100Kg.
 
HSSS said:
I bleed fairly easily. Is it the same vial whichever method? I could try the phlebotomist and if she refuses diy fill instead if it is. I’m hoping it’s a smaller amount required than the typical vials they fill for me on the standard tests.
Click to expand...

No the DIY vial is much smaller I haven't got one as I sent it back or I'd take a picture for you but this video has some pics so you can see if you can do it yourself at home.
If you go for the proper blood draw the vial is the usual size for NHS tests.
Hope that helps.
 
Jim Lahey said:
Or ten years earlier so that there never has to be a diagnosis :)
Click to expand...

Whikst that might be the case, in reality the number given a shot across the bows who do anything about it is modest.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a bad idea, but what percentage of those who are or were carrying poundage actually do anything about it and sustain it? Not apersuasive amount.

Whilst se can debate "they weren't given the right information", people just don't want to bother changing. Human nature is to continue to do what we always did.
 
DCUKMod said:
Whikst that might be the case, in reality the number given a shot across the bows who do anything about it is modest.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying it's a bad idea, but what percentage of those who are or were carrying poundage actually do anything about it and sustain it? Not apersuasive amount.

Whilst se can debate "they weren't given the right information", people just don't want to bother changing. Human nature is to continue to do what we always did.
Click to expand...

All true :)

The point that I failed to put across was that diagnosis always hinges on blood glucose. People could have a dozen HbA1c tests over a dozen years which might all come up “clear” irrespective of how much work the pancreas is having to do in order to keep on top of things. At least with the correct insulin tests when presented with the opportunity at regular checkups, the alarm would be raised and diabetes could be stopped before it ever took hold. Whether or not the patient does anything about it is of course a different matter.

But I’m sure you know this and I’m probably at risk of drifting off topic, so anyway...:D
 
HSSS said:
Blimey that’s an awful lot of blood from a finger prick even for a bleeder. Think I’ll be trying the venous draw method if I go for it.
Click to expand...
I think it was only up to the yellow marking on the vial.. I'll tag in @Brunneria who I think has done a few home tests for a different company who could maybe compare how much blood is actually needed for a home sample.
 
HSSS said:
Do you just turn up for the nhs test and ask them to fill your vial, or do you prearrange it? Not sure how I’d get hold of the the phlebotomist beforehand to ask and seriously don’t think the surgery would agree it if I asked the receptionist. Not sure how else I’d get the blood though
Click to expand...

I tried 12 months ago. I showed my nurse the pack Medichecks sent me with all the equipment. She was enthusiastic but went away to ask if she were allowed to do it. The answer was no due to insurance issues. She did, however, give me the details of a private GP in the town who would certainly draw the blood for me. For a fee of course. Events overtook me before I could go ahead with this as I ended up in hospital a day or two later. I still have the Medichecks kit but haven't done anything with it.
 
Jim Lahey said:
All true :)

The point that I failed to put across was that diagnosis always hinges on blood glucose. People could have a dozen HbA1c tests over a dozen years which might all come up “clear” irrespective of how much work the pancreas is having to do in order to keep on top of things. At least with the correct insulin tests when presented with the opportunity at regular checkups, the alarm would be raised and diabetes could be stopped before it ever took hold. Whether or not the patient does anything about it is of course a different matter.

But I’m sure you know this and I’m probably at risk of drifting off topic, so anyway...:D
Click to expand...

My last on this, as I agree we are pulling the thread very off-track (Apologies from me, @Charis1213 ), but isn't that warning exactly what people get when they are diagnosed pre-diabetic? Then, even with a full diabetic diagnosis, how many people do yo know of who just want to carry on as ever they did, and of course a goodly proportion simply do carry on as before.
 
DCUKMod said:
My last on this, as I agree we are pulling the thread very off-track (Apologies from me, @Charis1213 ), but isn't that warning exactly what people get when they are diagnosed pre-diabetic? Then, even with a full diabetic diagnosis, how many people do yo know of who just want to carry on as ever they did, and of course a goodly proportion simply do carry on as before.
Click to expand...

Yes indeed. Not disputing anything you’re saying. Merely adding that hyperinsulinemia is potentially detectable several years before a HbA1c test would pickup any metabolic dysfunction. Whether or not anyone would do anything with the information is, in my opinion, secondary. But, if they chose to, they would at least have the opportunity to act looooong before a HbA1c said “what’s going on here then?”.

In summary HbA1c is an indicator of hyperglycaemia. Hyperglycaemia is caused by years or even decades of hyperinsulinemia. Hyperinsulinemia cannot be reliably detected by a HbA1c test until it’s already too late. Again only in my opinion and I’m responding only through politeness. Let’s leave it there then for fear of derailing. Fascinating stuff though. I could, and mostly do, blather on all day about it :hilarious:
 
Yes @bulkbiker
I use Thriva for my private blood tests.

Two things:

Firstly, each vial holds (I am guessing) less than 1mm of blood and I filled two vials in less than 10 mins with blood drops. No hassle.
They supply 3 stabbers, so you can use multiple stabs (as it were) and they are significantly more stabby than a glucometer’s stabber. So the drops are bigger too.
No problem at all for me, and I am confident I won’t need to get a nurse to do it in future.

Secondly,
This last set of tests Thriva offered a few optional extras. One of them was a fasting Insulin for a mere £8.
What a bargain!
Kind of makes a mockery of NHS where most docs don’t even know that fasting insulin is available, and then I have read of people being refused on the grounds of cost.

I think I will be getting the following list done for around £70 with 2-3ml of blood, through the post. Results in 48 hrs or so
Test kit arriving next week, I think.
  • B12
  • Ferritin
  • Folate
  • HbA1c
  • Lipid Profile
  • Liver Function
  • Vitamin D
  • Thyroid Profile
  • CRP
  • Fasting Insulin
Because of malabsorption issues, I am highly motivated to monitor several of those, and my bg dysregulation makes the rest v useful.

My doc doesn’t monitor any of them, since he doesn’t consider me even prediabetic nowadays.

Amazing what Low Carbing can achieve, eh?
 
Brunneria said:
Yes @bulkbiker
I use Thriva for my private blood tests.

Two things:

Firstly, each vial holds (I am guessing) less than 1mm of blood and I filled two vials in less than 10 mins with blood drops. No hassle.
They supply 3 stabbers, so you can use multiple stabs (as it were) and they are significantly more stabby than a glucometer’s stabber. So the drops are bigger too.
No problem at all for me, and I am confident I won’t need to get a nurse to do it in future.

Secondly,
This last set of tests Thriva offered a few optional extras. One of them was a fasting Insulin for a mere £8.
What a bargain!
Kind of makes a mockery of NHS where most docs don’t even know that fasting insulin is available, and then I have read of people being refused on the grounds of cost.

I think I will be getting the following list done for around £70 with 2-3ml of blood, through the post. Results in 48 hrs or so
Test kit arriving next week, I think.
  • B12
  • Ferritin
  • Folate
  • HbA1c
  • Lipid Profile
  • Liver Function
  • Vitamin D
  • Thyroid Profile
  • CRP
  • Fasting Insulin
Because of malabsorption issues, I am highly motivated to monitor several of those, and my bg dysregulation makes the rest v useful.

My doc doesn’t monitor any of them, since he doesn’t consider me even prediabetic nowadays.

Amazing what Low Carbing can achieve, eh?
Click to expand...
I use thriva too and have never had issues with getting my blood sorted even though I’m squeamish! My IR test was only 8 quid add on to my cholesterol and great to get the good results too so quickly and with GP comments.
 
shelley262 said:
I use thriva too and have never had issues with getting my blood sorted even though I’m squeamish! My IR test was only 8 quid add on to my cholesterol and great to get the good results too so quickly and with GP comments.
Click to expand...

Yes.
I have paid upwards of £20 for a single HbA1c, and £28 for a vitD test, so getting ‘a job lot’ seems like a no brainer to me. Certainly less aggro than trying to get my doc to run the same extensive panel.
:D
 
Back
Top