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

is it diabetes?

Phil gf

Newbie
Messages
3
Location
Manchester
Type of diabetes
Family member
Treatment type
Diet only
Could I be developing diabetes? I've bought a testing kit and measure fine throughout the day (4.5 pre meal. 5.7 two hours post meal). My only issue is the occasional morning high of around 6 which comes down to around 5 after 30 minutes. I understand that these readings are in the normal range but don't understand why my morning reading isn't the same my regular fasting ones. I don't eat for at least 2 hours before bed.
 
Someone with more knowledge than me will be along shortly but a couple of things to ask
What else prompts you to suspect diabetes why buy a testing kit ?

It's my understanding that we have a rise in sugar levels when we get out of bed, kook around the forums for morning phenomenon or liver dump.
 
I have an identical twin who has been having symptoms and is awaiting lab results from the docs.
 
Fair enough but please don't get worried about this I would think that you are ok but as I say I'm pretty new to all this myself.

Regarding higher readings in the morning I've just done mine,
I went to bed on 3.6 at twelve last food at nine , my current reading is 5.4 and the only thing I've had is a cup of coffee .

I hope your twin comes back clear
 
Have a google for 'dawn phenomenon' which is something that affects a lot of diabetics. I didn't think it affected people with normal BG levels - but I may be wrong!

Oh, and have a look at bloodsugar101.com (see link in my signature). It gives some excellent info on what normal BG levels are, and the ways in which normal glucose tolerance breaks down.

Good luck to your twin with the testing. It may be interesting for them to go to the 101 site too.
 
Thanks for the info/support guys. I've read a little on the dawn phenomenon but can only see it related to diabetes and would expect other high readings or symptoms.
 
I'm no expert but those readings look fine, a quick Google search says:

" A normal fasting blood glucose target range for an individual without diabetes is 70-100 mg/dL (3.9-5.6 mmol/L)."

As ever, if at all concerned best to see your own gp.
 
I suspect what your are seeing is the dawn phenomenon which anyone can experience as it is believed to be the liver getting the body ready to start the day. It doesn't look like you have diabetes?
 
You are worrying over nothing, your blood readings are fine and normal, fasting readings are taken at the dr and at least an hour after you wake up. Your 6 going to 5 is perfect.
 
For your peace of mind, ask your doctor if you can have him order oral glucose tolerance test or hba1c. Those are the tests that will conclude if you have it or not. It's hard to conclude using a home meter because of the variance. If it turns out to be nothing, then even better
 
Sounds like normal non diabetic levels to me...why do you feel the need to test when you are not even prediabetic
 
Your readings are perfectly normal. The 6 in the morning is the liver dump. The NICE guidelines for a non-diabetic fasting reading is up to 5.9. With meter discrepancies, you are all but 5.9. Everyone gets these liver dumps, diabetic or not. It is your body's response to waking up. Your liver knows you need glucose to get you going before you next eat, so provides it for you. It is a natural event and not a lot you can do about it. However, we can't diagnose you, only your GP can do that, so if you are concerned, then pay him a visit.
 
What you haven't said (and nobody so far has asked) is if you have any of the indicators which suggest that you might be at a higher risk of developing diabetes, apart from a close relative having or developing it. Or if your twin has any of these indicators where you don't.

These include:

age (well, yes, you and your twin are likely to have this in the same amount )
racial origins (for example, some indicators which are 'normal' for a European may be 'high' for an Asian)
weight above the top end of normal BMI,
a waist measurement (true measurement around the belly button not trouser waistband size) of more than twice your height,
lack of general fitness,
a diet heavy in carbohydrates and especially heavy in sugar,
high blood pressure

Your fasting BG over night looks to be inching towards pre-diabetes but without knowing what it was over the last 5 years there is no way to tell if it is on an upward trend or just the way your body works.

Remember that the ranges quoted are only a guide. If you are in the middle of all of them then it is reasonable to suppose that you are normal in your BG regulation.
If you are at the edge of a range then you are more likely to have an issue.

Realise that there isn't a magic switch where one day you are entirely normal and the next day you have a problem just because a value has increased by one decimal point.

Like weight - a BMI of 25 is the top of the 'normal' range.
[Please ignore the edge cases for people who have a non-standard body composition which falls outside the 'normal' as used for BMI.]
You don't put on a pound and become 'fat' then take off two pounds and become 'slim'.
At that weight you are surfing the boundary between "average not at risk" and "average at risk".
Middle of the range is much safer.

So as suggested it is wise to ask for an HbA1c test to see if your long term BG is well into the middle of 'normal' or if it is at the top end of 'normal' and close to pre-diabetes.

That will give you some guidance, and either reassurance or the golden opportunity to nip any problems in the bud before damage is done.

From the parent site to this forum:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/pre-diabetes.html

"
Testing for prediabetes
Either a fasting plasma glucose test or an HbA1c test may be used to diagnose type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.

The following results indicate the presence of prediabetes:

  • Fasting plasma glucose: 5.5 mmol/L to 6.9 mmol/L
  • HbA1c: 42 to 47 mmol/mol (6.0 to 6.4%)
If your results are above the upper limits for prediabetes, your GP may either diagnose you with type 2 diabetes or take another test in the near future to confirm whether you have diabetes.
"

As you can see, your fasting BG fall within this range.

As an aside, I had a blood test as part of a health check with BUPA (paid for by work) the year before I was diagnosed, which was flagged with BG being a potential issue.
My GP had me tested and said "no, you look to be non-diabetic".
That was seven years ago and perhaps at the time there was less focus on pre-diabetes and the opportunity to treat before full blown diabetes developed.
The practice was a very good diabetes aware practice and were very good indeed with my initial treatment.

Anyway, get yourself checked if only for your own peace of mind.
The fact that your twin is undergoing testing should be more than enough justification for your GP to check you as well.

Hope this helps.

LGC
 
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…