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How good are GP blood tests

jim1951

jim1951

Well-Known Member
Messages
562
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
This is all a revelation to me.

My late afternoon readings are always in the fives and morning fasting in the eights (apart from this morning).

Many years ago before I was diagnosed my GP would do a random sample late afternoon. As the years went by this switched to morning fasting and I saw an increase in my levels. I was worried that I was rapidly deteriorating because my fasting level was now higher than non fasting.

But it appears that my readings, and that of many others, will always give a higher fasting than random?

There is obviously something I am missing but how can a GP compare your progression using totally different scenarios?

jim
 
One of the tests that most doctors do is a fasting bold glucose level, this is always in the morning.
There is a condition called dawn syndrome, I'm sure someone will be along to explain it.
There is also part of your sleep pattern that restores your body, hence, no need to get up and eat during the night. The body produces everything you need including your current blood glucose level.
Hence the need for testing, with a meter. Before eating and two hours after, you keep a record to see if you getting your blood levels down. If it's consistently too high you will be given medication to help lower them.
On this site the recommendation is to lower your carb and sugar intake.
Have a look around the site and learn about your condition and start your new lifestyle.
Ask any questions, the help on here is great!

Welcome Jim.
 
nosher8355 said:
One of the tests that most doctors do is a fasting bold glucose level, this is always in the morning.
There is a condition called dawn syndrome, I'm sure someone will be along to explain it.
There is also part of your sleep pattern that restores your body, hence, no need to get up and eat during the night. The body produces everything you need including your current blood glucose level.
Hence the need for testing, with a meter. Before eating and two hours after, you keep a record to see if you getting your blood levels down. If it's consistently too high you will be given medication to help lower them.
On this site the recommendation is to lower your carb and sugar intake.
Have a look around the site and learn about your condition and start your new lifestyle.
Ask any questions, the help on here is great!

Welcome Jim.
Click to expand...

Nosher, thanks for the welcome. The bit I don't understand is that years ago my GP was testing on a random basis not fasting. Even now, as a confirmed type 2, my late afternoon levels are within normal limits. So a random blood test doesn't necessarily disclose an underlying condition.

Of course one could assume I am managing my levels, that would be good, but I think it is too early for that!

jim
 
someone taught your GP how to do a diabetes blood test:D, but you can do a random test and if over 11 it's diabetes
the sugar drink is the gold standard in testing
 
Well, in my case the fasting BG test in the morning is a nonsense

(sorry if other people have read this before, but I keep saying it, because I am sure that I'm not the only person with this, and how many people are there out there who miss getting diagnosed, because they have a low fasting Bg at the time of the test...?)

When I wake up, my BG is anywhere between 5.8 (normal) and 7.5 (diabetic)
If I don't eat anything, my BG will then rise steadily for several hours, and has reached as high as 9.
Then it will plummet sharply, and I usually experience hypo symptoms - if I haven't eaten!
If I eat as soon as I wake up, this process stops, and my BG levels out at whereever my low carb breakfast takes it...

This means that I could manipulate my fasting BG test results with precision - or mess up my diagnosis, completely by accident (as happened 3 months ago)!

I failed to be diagnosed diabetic, yet again, because the only appointment available for my fasting BG test was at 10.45.
That morning I had peaked (8.5 at 10am) but by my appt it had dropped to 6.5.
By 11am it had dropped far enough to give me the beginnings of hypo symptoms.

Of course, my surgery do not listen when I try to explain, because a prediabetic shouldn't be testing, should they? I must be some kind of hypochondriac self obsessed weirdo, mustn't I?

Luckily I have a BG meter at home, and manage my diabetes with diet and exercise.
 
jack412 said:
someone taught your GP how to do a diabetes blood test:D, but you can do a random test and if over 11 it's diabetes
the sugar drink is the gold standard in testing
Click to expand...

Yes @jack412 is right - the oral glucose tolerance test is the best way of diagnosing diabetes, but it is worth bearing in mind that if you follow a LCHF diet, your BG results from an OGTT will be exaggerated.

It is also more expensive than a fasting test (two appts, extra tests, lab and nurse time), so I think uk doctors only do it if your fasting test looks diabetic - which is 7 or above...
 
I couldn't believe my eyes!
I am the opposite to you, if I fast my bloods remain constant at just over 4. If I eat any carbs or sugar, even low GI, I spike then drop rapidly into a hypo.
And you call yourself weird!!!!
 
nosher8355 said:
I couldn't believe my eyes!
I am the opposite to you, if I fast my bloods remain constant at just over 4. If I eat any carbs or sugar, even low GI, I spike then drop rapidly into a hypo.
And you call yourself weird!!!!
Click to expand...

Yeah, but remember that I used to be you.
I was a reactive hypoglycaemic before my pancreas wore out its insulin producing oomph (partly because of all the hypos!) so now my BG levels stay too high because I can no longer produce enough insulin to cope with carbs.

I'll never know if the process was inevitable, or caused by eating too many carbs, or caused by insulin resistance... or whether Somebody Up There just fancied a giggle.

Hopefully, you won't develop type 2, if you keep your carbs low and don't wear out your insulin production.

Sorry @jim1951 didn't intend to derail your thread!
Back to normal programming now:
 
I was initially diagnosed T2. My specialist believes that I am still diabetic, but also have reactive hypoglycaemia.
My meds are really helping and stop the pancreas flushing insulin. Wether I too will stop producing later in life, who knows?
Back up the hospital again tomorrow to report how I'm doing. I'm still reticent to try anything that is high in carbs. I have tried low GI foods and I believe I am quite happy to continue the way my diet has been these past few months. Salad at christmas????

I honestly believe that if there is someone who is sugar and carbohydrate intolerant and would be an example to those who set the standards on the NHS advice on diet. It would be me!
 
Sorry, jim! What was your initial question?

Ha,
 
Brunneria said:
Well, in my case the fasting BG test in the morning is a nonsense

(sorry if other people have read this before, but I keep saying it, because I am sure that I'm not the only person with this, and how many people are there out there who miss getting diagnosed, because they have a low fasting Bg at the time of the test...?)

When I wake up, my BG is anywhere between 5.8 (normal) and 7.5 (diabetic)
If I don't eat anything, my BG will then rise steadily for several hours, and has reached as high as 9.
Then it will plummet sharply, and I usually experience hypo symptoms - if I haven't eaten!
If I eat as soon as I wake up, this process stops, and my BG levels out at whereever my low carb breakfast takes it...

This means that I could manipulate my fasting BG test results with precision - or mess up my diagnosis, completely by accident (as happened 3 months ago)!

I failed to be diagnosed diabetic, yet again, because the only appointment available for my fasting BG test was at 10.45.
That morning I had peaked (8.5 at 10am) but by my appt it had dropped to 6.5.
By 11am it had dropped far enough to give me the beginnings of hypo symptoms.

Of course, my surgery do not listen when I try to explain, because a prediabetic shouldn't be testing, should they? I must be some kind of hypochondriac self obsessed weirdo, mustn't I?

Luckily I have a BG meter at home, and manage my diabetes with diet and exercise.
Click to expand...

Does that mean you still aren't officially diagnosed, Brunneria? So you just have to manage yourself without support?

Ow.



Newbie T2. Age 55, from London living in Denmark, 3 children in teens.
Diagnosed T2 13 June 2014 with fasting BG level 16 :-(
LCHF with metering + ex + Metformin: from 13 June 2014
 
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