prediabetes?

[clairegra]

Hi

Please excuse me if I am being a nuisance, or if this is the wrong place for me...

I have posted on the newly diagnosed forum a couple of times, but am wondering if someone here might have some advice/been in a similar situation.

Three weeks ago, I was picked up on a NHS health check with a FBS of 6.8. A repeat showed 7.8 and I saw the doctor a couple of days later, and he told me I was definitely a Type 2 diabetic on that result. He told me to have an HBA1c test before seeing the practice diabetic nurse, and I duly did that last week. The result was 40, which the lab reported as normal.

Having the initial diagnosis was a shock, but not really a surprise. I was about 5 stone overweight - have lost 10lbs since diagnosis three weeks ago - and a carb addict. Since the diagnosis, I have been following a low carb diet and testing my blood sugars as advised on here. Those results (especially the fasting bs) kind of put me in or close to the type 2 'borderline', and I was reasonably convinced that was where I should be.

However, yesterday, seeing the DN, she is not sure that I do have type 2, and has arranged for me to see the doctor again next week for a further 'review' before she does the paperwork....

Whatever the final decision, there's no going back for me now. The low carb diet has been a revelation - no longer ravenously hungry all the time, and digestion much improved. But I would be grateful if anyone has had a similar experience, and can give me some advice about what to say/ask the doctor when I see him

Thanks in advance (and again, apologies if this isn't the right place to be!)

Claire

 

[pavlosn]

Your fasting glucose levels on diagnosis, although definitely diabetic, were not particularly high. Between taking these and giving a sample for your HbA1c you had two weeks of low carbing which will have reduced your counts further.

Your Hba1c is supposed to reflect your average glucose levels for the last three months but your more recent glucose levels ( of the last two weeks low carbing for instance) will influence your score to a higher degree than your glucose levels three months ago which will contribute to your score to a lesser degree.

So your hba1c may be in the non diabetic range, because of your recent low glucose level from low carbing, but this may be because you are a well controlled diabetic. For instance my latest Hba1c was 33 mmol but I most definitely am still diabetic as my glucose counts will reflect if I risk a high carb meal.

The way to resolve the question of whether you are a diabetic or not is by having a glucose tolerance test. Basically your levels after having a high carb drink like lucozade will be monitored to see how quickly they come down to non diabetic levels.

A word of warning if you do take this test you will have to stop low carbing for at least a week before. If you do not do this then your results will be adversely affected as you need to get your body ready to deal with a higher carb intake before the test.

Having set all that, here's hoping that the diagnosis proves wrong.

Pavlos

 

[cold ethyl]

Although your HbA1c came back as normal, at 40 it is at top of range as 41 is classed as pre- diabetes. I'm not sure how kong between being told you were type 2 and having the test and changing diet took place but the test is weighted towards last three weeks I think so dietary changes may have controlled it as it were. With those fasting results, I'd be wanting a repeat HbA1c running in few weeks or so and an oral glucose tolerance test as mentioned above.

 

[LizFrog]

I also had a fasting bg of 6.8 about 8 weeks ago. My hba1c was 38 which my doctor said was normal but he said that my fasting blood test was in the pre diabetic range. He told me that I needed to cut out sugar, do more exercise and lose weight and change my diet but no other action need be taken apart from a yearly blood test. He told me that he has hundreds of patients like me and providing I take his advice, it is likely that I will not develop type 2. I have a friend who is a haematologist so I double checked that my doc's advice was correct, he agreed and said that the doctor was correct. I have lost over a stone and am exercising for at least half an hour a day, my morning bloods seem to be getting lower and my random tests are all within normal non diabetic range.

 

[clairegra]

thank you for your replies. I'm still guessing they will keep my 'label' of Type 2, although LizFrog's experience is somewhat like mine and may indicate otherwise...

suppose I'll just have to wait and see!

Whatever, I know that this is the way forward for me... for my health's sake, whatever the label, low carb is definitely my new lifestyle!