post prandial readings

[dingbat]

Hi, i'm type 2 taking gliclazide,statins,sitagliptin,thyroxide. HBA1c - 7.5

I went to my GP to discuss being tired, hypo symptoms and stuff and was advised by my gp to record bg levels for a 2 or 3 weeks after meals to show the consultant at my 5 monthly visit because I've been feeling a bit ****.
Almost without fail levels are around 9 in the morning (fasting),16 after toast and around 9 after lunch dropping to 6-7 around 7.00pm before dinner.
Readings all taken 1-2 hours after eating.

The consultant almost mocked me, saying post prandial readings are meaningless and impossible to interporate. And because HBA1 is okay. My symptoms dont tally with the test results , (hes very results driven) However thats what I was advised to do by my GP.
I asked why this was so and he replied " because the doctor is only a GP and I am a specialist "

Sorry to waffle, does anyone agree/disagree, have an opinion because I felt like an idiot after the consultation.

 

[cugila]

First of all what sort of Consultant was he ? Is he an Endocrinologist ? Was he an actual Consultant or just a Junior ?

Secondly the HbA1c is a test which gives you an average over the last 8 - 12 weeks. See here:
Red cells live for 8 -12 weeks before they are replaced. By measuring the HbA1C it can tell you how high your blood glucose has been on average over the last 8-12 weeks. A normal non-diabetic HbA1C is 3.5-5.5%. In diabetes about 6.5% is good.
An average is an indication, nothing more. Many GP's rely on this.

If you want to have tight control of your Diabetes then readings taken 2 hrs after a meal are a far better indicator as to your Bg levels on a daily basis. Test on waking, if trying a new food before the meal, then 2 hrs after food. My Endo and DSN look at these results and can see exactly where and how my Bg levels are progressing. Improvements, spikes and downturns are all recorded. They think my records are great.

Your symptoms all sound like your Bg levels are all over the place. You need to keep the records and perhaps a food diary to relate one to the other.

As a T2 your Bg levels should be as follows:
Fasting (waking)......................between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals.....................no more than 8.5 mmol/l.

There could well be some interactions between medications too. This all needs to be discussed with your GP in the first instance. As for the Consultant, he might need to be changed ?

Ken.