Is my blood test high?

[blackops]

Hi everyone, M/28 I have been testing my blood glucose for around 2 years now since i gained weight and started diet and working out a month ago, I tested my blood glucose randomly I think it was around 5 hours after i ate and it was at 118 mg, and last week I checked postprandial glucose 2 hours after eating and it was 109 mg and last time I did A1C was last november and it was borderline high at 5.5% (I think that's 37? not sure), Is the random glucose that i measured at 118 a confirmation for diabetes? Thanks!

 

[bulkbiker]

A random glucose measurement is never and should never be considered a "confirmation" of anything it's just a random glucose measurement.

A series of measurements showing high blood glucose on a regular basis might be more informative though.

If you want to see how you are doing some more structured testing before and after meals could give you some helpful info.

Edit to add 37 is a relatively normal HbA1c .

 

[EllieM]

Is the random glucose that i measured at 118 a confirmation for diabetes? Thanks!

We can't diagnose here, and a single blood sugar does not tell you much. but not in my opinion. Have a read of this interesting article about what happened when 153 non diabetics wore a cgm

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Profiles in Healthy Nondiabetic Participants: A Multicenter Prospective Study - PMC (nih.gov)

 

[blackops]

A random glucose measurement is never and should never be considered a "confirmation" of anything it's just a random glucose measurement.

A series of measurements showing high blood glucose on a regular basis might be more informative though.

If you want to see how you are doing some more structured testing before and after meals could give you some helpful info.

Edit to add 37 is a relatively normal HbA1c .

I see, but isn't 118 considered high even for a random test even if it was just taken once? Thank you.

 

[EllieM]

Edit to add 37 is a relatively normal HbA1c .

I agree, but I think it's the bottom level of prediabetes in the US. (Edited to add, it's actually a little under, 5.7% is the US prediabetes cut off).

I see, but isn't 118 considered high even for a random test even if it was just taken once? Thank you.

Not really. It's just 6.5mmol/L. (A lot of the diabetics here would dream of those figures). Firmly in normal range, IMO.
A "high" test would be more like 200 or 300 mg/dL

 

[bulkbiker]

I see, but isn't 118 considered high even for a random test even if it was just taken once? Thank you.

It's what and how long ago you had eaten and a plethora of other factors.. that's why a random reading tells you nothing.

 

[EllieM]

last time I did A1C was last november and it was borderline high at 5.5% (I think that's 37? not sure)

My mistake, the US define prediabetes as 5.7% or above, or 39mmol/mol or above.

If you are worried, go get another hba1c test, or more blood tests.

 

[jjraak]

Hi everyone, M/28 I have been testing my blood glucose for around 2 years now since i gained weight and started diet and working out a month ago, I tested my blood glucose randomly I think it was around 5 hours after i ate and it was at 118 mg, and last week I checked postprandial glucose 2 hours after eating and it was 109 mg and last time I did A1C was last november and it was borderline high at 5.5% (I think that's 37? not sure), Is the random glucose that i measured at 118 a confirmation for diabetes? Thanks!

I'd fully agree with @bulkbiker here

It's like taking a close up snap shot of yourself, at say Disney world , on the rollercoaster, enthusing about how it is/was

All very nice, but...
Without any frame of reference, was it a particularly scary/exciting ride ?

How can you show how thrilling it was if pic doesn't show you at the top of the ride ?

Same as random test...tells you nothing of import with out the references @bulkbiker talks of

For most, because it's how food 'normally ' works for people without T2D...the pre food test then 2 hours after is a good gauge .

But what I have seen or heard on here is that some foods are slower release, and can still be working there way through hours after having eaten them.

Throw in stress, exercise, time of day, etc.

So random, imho doesn't really offer much to go on, sadly.

 

[blackops]

It's what and how long ago you had eaten and a plethora of other factors.. that's why a random reading tells you nothing.

I'd fully agree with @bulkbiker here

It's like taking a close up snap shot of yourself, at say Disney world , on the rollercoaster, enthusing about how it is/was

All very nice, but...
Without any frame of reference, was it a particularly scary/exciting ride ?

How can you show how thrilling it was if pic doesn't show you at the top of the ride ?

Same as random test...tells you nothing of import with out the references @bulkbiker talks of

For most, because it's how food 'normally ' works for people without T2D...the pre food test then 2 hours after is a good gauge .

But what I have seen or heard on here is that some foods are slower release, and can still be working there way through hours after having eaten them.

Throw in stress, exercise, time of day, etc.

So random, imho doesn't really offer much to go on, sadly.

My mistake, the US define prediabetes as 5.7% or above, or 39mmol/mol or above.

If you are worried, go get another hba1c test, or more blood tests.

But would a number that high warrant the constant urination that i have been having? I've always complained of constant urination (sometimes every 15 minutes) even back when my A1C was 5.5 (37) or does my sugar need to be really high to have it?

 

[EllieM]

But would a number that high warrant the constant urination that i have been having? I've always complained of constant urination (sometimes every 15 minutes) even back when my A1C was 5.5 (37) or does my sugar need to be really high to have it?

Constant urination doesn't have to be caused by diabetes...

 

[bulkbiker]

But would a number that high warrant the constant urination that i have been having? I've always complained of constant urination (sometimes every 15 minutes) even back when my A1C was 5.5 (37) or does my sugar need to be really high to have it?

Please try to understand what I'm saying...

1. the number itself isn't especially high

2. it was a random reading so by itself is meaningless

3. if you are peeing a lot then you may have an issue and you should get another HbA1c test. T2 diabetes is a slow developing disease for most people until measures are taken to stop its development.

4. a structured programme of testing before and after eating meals allied with a fairly detailed food diary will give you a lot more information

 

[jjraak]

But would a number that high warrant the constant urination that i have been having? I've always complained of constant urination (sometimes every 15 minutes) even back when my A1C was 5.5 (37) or does my sugar need to be really high to have it?

That does sound very excessive.
And probably warrants a doctor's appointment to discuss & investigate.

I do remember needing the loo more at night before DX but more the case I had to get up once, when previously I never needed to

Not sure if that is less or more then others might have found.?

I think most undiagnosed issues become s detective novel, one where we need to be more rigorous in noting times, conditions, etc
In a process of eliminating possible triggers.

And this looks like one of those times, sadly.

And not knowing what you have or haven't done already on that front, I wonder if you've considered some of these that a quick look online brought up as possible reasons ?

A warning that anything we Google has the possibility to send us in to meltdown regarding life expectancy from even the simplest of conditions.

But once we can eliminate a lot of easy causes
(Limiting fluid intake, avoiding eating too late, certain foods or drinks )

What's left might narrow the field of potential
Causes.

https://www.webmd.com/urinary-incontinence-oab/functional-incontinence

 

[blackops]

That does sound very excessive.
And probably warrants a doctor's appointment to discuss & investigate.

I do remember needing the loo more at night before DX but more the case I had to get up once, when previously I never needed to

Not sure if that is less or more then others might have found.?

I think most undiagnosed issues become s detective novel, one where we need to be more rigorous in noting times, conditions, etc
In a process of eliminating possible triggers.

And this looks like one of those times, sadly.

And not knowing what you have or haven't done already on that front, I wonder if you've considered some of these that a quick look online brought up as possible reasons ?

A warning that anything we Google has the possibility to send us in to meltdown regarding life expectancy from even the simplest of conditions.

But once we can eliminate a lot of easy causes
(Limiting fluid intake, avoiding eating too late, certain foods or drinks )

What's left might narrow the field of potential
Causes.

Yeah I also developed a bad habit where sometimes I press/contract on my spinchter (if that makes sense) to see if i have to urinate and i always get up to pee even if my bladder is half full bc it makes me feel uncomfortable, i did went to a nephrologist but he suggested that i might have a larger prostate that might be pressing on my bladder and gave me medications for it but i still find myself having to pee.

When you mentioned night time urination do you mean waking up at night just to pee or suddenly waking up to check something and finding that you also have a full bladder and gotta relieve yourself?

 

[jjraak]

Yeah I also developed a bad habit where sometimes I press/contract on my spinchter (if that makes sense) to see if i have to urinate and i always get up to pee even if my bladder is half full bc it makes me feel uncomfortable, i did went to a nephrologist but he suggested that i might have a larger prostate that might be pressing on my bladder and gave me medications for it but i still find myself having to pee.

When you mentioned night time urination do you mean waking up at night just to pee or suddenly waking up to check something and finding that you also have a full bladder and gotta relieve yourself?

Oh..I thought you might but good to see you have sought medical advice.

Sort of get the sphincter movement .

And all I remember is something disturbing my sleep and a gradual awareness as I awoke from my slumber that I needed to pee.

But no, not the sort where I suddenly woke up and it was omg..I have to go NOW.

You have my sympathies that does all sound very unsettling.

A recent stay in hospital (4 weeks) and first time with a catheter, has left me 'wanting' to go more often & more urgently once I need to.

So I can imagine your distress .

( Before anyone advises me otherwise, I do however have other issues that take precedence for me at the moment, the idea I might need another specialist looking in to my health is something if rather put off, for now )

Best wishes you do find the root cause .