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Not yet diagnosed but concerned about blood test.

Pegi

Well-Known Member
Messages
84
Location
Wales
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
I do not have diabetes
Hi, not sure if this is in the right part of the forum. I have suffered with viral labyrinthitis since before Xmas, a few weeks later I began to feel very anxious and started waking up at 5am every morning which I still do. I was put on Prozac which didn't agree with me so I stopped, sleeping pills which again I couldn't tolerate. My GP decided on a blood test last week to rule out thyroid problems, results came back the following day with high sugar, I didn't ask the readings. I need to have a fasting blood test now which I'm dreading as I can't go long without food and because I'm also severely agoraphobic rely on the nurse coming to me to do the test, I don't know when yet but I don't want to be waiting long without my breakfast.
I'm really scared of having a hypo waiting for the nurse to call as I'm awake at 5am. In the meantime my husband bought a glucose monitor and I took a sample after fasting the other morning and it was. 6.2. I had a cup of decaf tea after with about quarter spoonful of sugar in and went back to bed. Just before breakfast at 8.35 am I did another test, it was 5.9. A good hour after breakfast it had risen to 9.9. This morning after waking at 5 again I had a cup of tea with half level spoonful brown sugar and an hour and half later my reading was again 6.2.
I know nothing about diabetes yet or the meanings of the readings. Please could someone explain ?
Thanks in advance, Pegi.
 
If a fasting test is done using officially approved equipment then anything over 7 is considered diabetic but two readings are necessary. Between about 5.5 (according to which authority is doing the testing) and 6.9 is considered pre-diabetic. Some authorities say between 6 and 6.9.

You do seem to be pre-diabetic but a home meter does not count in diagnosing it.

Your other readings taken after eating or drinking are not too bad. The only official guidance is that your reading should be below 8.5 two hours after a meal. Your reading of 9.9 should not concern you since you only allowed one hour after breakfast.

Having said all that many people use personal and more stringent targets for their own purposes.
 
 
Thank you so much for your reply Squire Fulwood, much appreciated. It gives me more of an idea now what the readings are.
 
Pegi said:
Thank you so much for your reply Squire Fulwood, much appreciated. It gives me more of an idea now what the readings are.
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Forgot to ask, does this mean I need two fasting readings, or do they count the first initial test showing high glucose as one, I didn't ask what the reading of that was.
 
Pegi said:
Forgot to ask, does this mean I need two fasting readings, or do they count the first initial test showing high glucose as one, I didn't ask what the reading of that was.
Click to expand...

For a formal diagnosis of diabetes you would need two readings of over 7 or preferably another kind of a reading known as an Hba1c.

In the case of pre-diabetes the doctor might take action on one reading or any other clues that convince him. In my case I ended up in the diabetes clinic after one random test of blood that was taken when I was in the surgery for another reason. In those circumstances readings over 11 gets their attention.
 
To confirm diabetes, it is generally necessary to have either TWO FASTING blood samples taken on TWO separate occasions (a few days apart) where the individual's blood glucose level is at or above 7.0 mmol/L (Plasma) or these days it is often confirmed by One Fasting Blood Glucose test and what is the HbA1c test (which doesn't) require fasting (the sample can be taken at the same time as the Fasting Blood sample.
Results for the Fasting Levels below 5.0 mmol/L (Plasma) show that the individual doesn't have diabetes, and results between the 5.0 - 7.0 mmol/L (Plasma) show that the individual is Pre-Disposed to going on to developing diabetes at some later stage but as yet they haven't quite crossed the level for diagnoses. In this group many individuals are able by a change in lifestyle and/or diet to reverse this and prevent themselves from crossing the diabetic threshold for their diagnosis. It's definitely worth avoiding should you get the wake up call.
 
Thank you so much for your reply, it has put my mind at ease, I can't think of anything that could have triggered these readings apart from the stress of trying to recover from labyrinthitis which is a horrible illness in itself. I'm not overweight, watch my diet, may tend to watch too much in case of hypos which I've had in the past so maybe my intake of complex carbs is more than what it should be, I don't eat junk foods sweets or cakes, don't drink or smoke. Total mystery but then that's the way it is isn't it unfortunately. Much appreciated, thanks again What is the HbA1c test, is it done from a blood sample ?
 

Thank you again for replying, at least I know what to expect now, like yourself this was discovered during routine blood test for other conditions. Are you on medication or is yours 'lifestyle changes ' controlled ? Hope you don't mind me asking.
 
The Hba1c test is a test which can give the average blood sugar level for the las 2-3 months. Although you needn't fast for this one it may be that blood is taken for this test at the same time as a fasting blood test.
 
Pegi said:
Thank you again for replying, at least I know what to expect now, like yourself this was discovered during routine blood test for other conditions. Are you on medication or is yours 'lifestyle changes ' controlled ? Hope you don't mind me asking.
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I don't mind you asking. I was on medication for a time but when I learned what to do vis-a-vis lifestyle changes I was sufficiently successful to be taken off medication. Stay with this forum and in time the members will teach you how to do it too.
 
Squire Fulwood said:
The Hba1c test is a test which can give the average blood sugar level for the las 2-3 months. Although you needn't fast for this one it may be that blood is taken for this test at the same time as a fasting blood test.
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Thank you again, you've no idea how much the information you've given is such great help in alleviating my fears , let's hope I get my test soon.
 
Squire Fulwood said:
I don't mind you asking. I was on medication for a time but when I learned what to do vis-a-vis lifestyle changes I was sufficiently successful to be taken off medication. Stay with this forum and in time the members will teach you how to do it too.
Click to expand...
Squire Fulwood said:
I don't mind you asking. I was on medication for a time but when I learned what to do vis-a-vis lifestyle changes I was sufficiently successful to be taken off medication. Stay with this forum and in time the members will teach you how to do it too.
Click to expand...
I will do Squire, very kind of you to be of such great help, thank you again
 
hi and welcome, everyone has already answered so just saying hi and try not to worry
 
Hi there, can I ask why you are concerned about hypo's (low blood sugar)? As it would appear that you are not a type one diabetic (if indeed you do end up being diagnosed as diabetic, it is far more likely to be as a type 2), it is extremely unlikely that you would experience a hypo unless you are on a glucose lowering medication.

Or do you mean Hyper (high blood sugar)?


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Hi. I;m one of those annoying people that insist on testing just to make sure they're in the safe zone with regard to their Blood Glucose levels. I'm almost in the pre-diabetic range and as there is a lot of Diabetes in my family history I'm making an effort to control my sugars now, out of choice rather than necessity. It was very good of your hubby to buy you a meter for you to check. Well done for getting on to the case before it spirals upward. On a side note, I've noticed some welcome health benefits just by keeping my levels on an even keel. It's gotta be good!
 

Hi Thommothebear, it's a fear that has stayed with me since I had a low blood sugar attack a few yrs ago in the morning, my Dr said I wasn't giving myself enough sugar at the time, I was advised to drink some lucozade or eat a Mars bar and see how I was in 3/4 of an hour. I had neither so had lots of sugar in tea, I did indeed feel better. If I go any length of time in between meals, usually over four hours and last week I was doing some housework and felt extremely depleted but better after eating something. I'm paranoid that when the nurse calls to see me for a sample, I'll have gone over my breakfast time by a little, depends on what time she calls. How on earth do I cope with this, it's my main worry at the moment silly as it may sound. I'm awake at 5 am recently and unable to sleep after that so I get up, it'll be a long time to go until around 9am with no cup of tea with a bit of sugar in.
 

Hi Diamondash, have you been tested ? I understand your concerns, I have no family history of diabetes at all. At this stage ( undiagnosed ) I really don't know what I'm looking for when it comes to keeping levels on an even keel apart from the two hour after meals readings which I will be doing for the first time in about fifteen minutes. My initial high reading test was done not quite an hour after breakfast. Well done you for taking control now. Thanks for your reply.
 
Please could anyone advise.
I tested just now, just over 2 hours after breakfast, it's 4.9.
Is this an acceptable reading ?
What I can't understand is that when I test myself after sleeping and gone about 9 hours almost without food it's 6.2.
Would welcome any advice.
Thanks in advance .
 
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