NOT Diagnosed. But worried

"2nd option used

Oral glucose tolerance test

This test may be done if the diagnosis of diabetes is in doubt. For this test, you fast overnight. In the morning you are given a drink which contains 75 g of glucose. A blood sample is taken two hours later. Normally, your body should be able to deal with the glucose and your blood level should not go too high. A glucose level of 11.1 mmol/L or more in the blood sample taken after two hours indicates that you have diabetes.

Best to see your GP

You really should see your doctor. If you make an early appointment - say 9.00am - you just have water after 9.00pm the night before. Now, I don't know about you, but I normally don't eat between about 8.00pm and 8.00am anyway, so it's really no big deal - though I'm hell to live with until I've had my first cup of coffee! :lol: I've been known to take a flask and a sandwich to the surgery with me, so I can break my fast as soon as the nurse has taken the sample. :lol:

"Normal" BG readings, according to NICE guidelines, are 4 to 7 mmol/l before meals, no more than 8.5 mmol/l 2 hours after meals. Slightly higher levels first thing in the morning aren't unusual, because of something called the 'Dawn Phenomenon'. Search this site for more info. If your ordinary fasting BG levels were high, the HbA1c would help confirm or disprove whether you are diabetic.

I've learned over the last few months that diabetes is nothing to be afraid of - you can take control of it and live as good a life as anyone else. The thing to be afraid of is sticking your head in the sand and NOT taking control of it! You may well not be diabetic, and you're probably worrying over nothing - only your doctor can tell you for sure. If you read round this forum and improve your lifestyle eg with a good diet and exercise, then you've a good chance of never becoming diabetic. Prevention is much better than 'cure'.

See your doctor, try not to worry - and the best of luck!

Viv

guyanxiety said:

I'm getting confused now.

Will a HBA1C find out if I'm diabetic or not? Or does it HAVE to be a fasting blood test?

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just speak to your doctor we are not medically qualified here and you need to be asking your doctor these questions but for the record an HBA1C can be used to diagnose diabetes but so can a fasting blood test or a glucose tolernace test

guyanxiety said:

Ok thanks for all the replys guys. I had an eye exam today and the optician said my eye health was fine, althought I did need glasses for computer use. I guess this is a good sign because diabetes can damage the eyes.

Going to try and make an appt with my doc tomorrow to get that HBA1C blood test.

One other question I can't seem to find online - Is hunger actually a symptom of diabetes and is weight gain aswell? From what I've read weight loss seems to be a symptom but I certainly haven't lost weight.

Cheers

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hunger can be a symptom of diabetes and weight gain goes hand in hand with the hunger and eating more.
undiagnosed diabetics can gain weight due to insulin resistance

You need to tell your GP about your fears, and that you have been so worried that you have been thinking about getting a blood glucose meter to test your blood sugar, and that you want reassurance that your blood sugar is OK what with the anaemia possibly effecting the results.

Get your GP to explain what the criteria for diagnosing diabetes is, and ask what the normal range for blood sugar is.

Also, you need to tell your GP about all this anxiety, if you haven't already. Worrying all the time is not good for you.