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REALLY Worried! Any advice please?

tigerlily72

Well-Known Member
Messages
517
Location
South West, England UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I joined this forum a few years ago as I had a bit of a health scare due a higher than average blood sugar reading. But I've not been active on here for a long time as I wasn't actually diagnosed as diabetic. Since the "scare" I have an annual finger prick fasting test (I'm severely needle phobic and the finger prick is less stressful for me). I've had no reason to worry . . . . until today.

My reading from the finger prick test LAST year was 7.2 and I was tested on 6 November this year - it was 7.3. I wasn't contacted by the nurse or surgery last year and thought it was ok again for this year as it was virtually the same.

But, in the post today was a letter from the surgery asking me to contact a nurse to book a fasting blood test . There was no explanation as to why they wanted me to do this again. So now I'm really stressed about it all.

Can anyone advise me please.

Thanks for reading
 
Hi, I'm not the most experience on here to comment, except for the fact that I have fainted at the prospect of a needle. It doesn't appear that you are particularly high from your finger prick test, but I would advise that you go along and have as much courage as possible and take the fasting blood test. Better that diabetes is caught early than later. Caught early you will have an opportunity to reverse what you have and that there will be non of the effects that can occur from diabetes.

Tip, drink plenty of water before going for your blood test so that the nurse can easily find you viens, tell the nurse your fears, mine automatically put me on the couch and leaves me there until I feel fine.

This is something you must do, as leaving it I'm sure you would regret.

Go for it..........
 

Hi and please don't panic, easier said than done, I know. Stress will not help with your blood glucose readings.
I've quickly scanned the diabetes.co.uk site and found a chart which may answer why you've been called back in to the surgery. This is the link:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

NICE recommended target blood glucose level ranges
Target Levels:
Non-diabetic
Before meals - 4.0 to 5.9 mmol/L and after - under 7.8 mmol/L

Type 2 diabetes
before meals - 4 to 7 mmol/L
And after - under 8.5 mmol/L

There are some mixed opinions on what the ideal ranges are. I expect they probably just want to double check things.
 
I usually lie down flat if they have to do an actual blood test and it usually takes ages to find a vein (apparently I don't have good veins!).

I think I will phone the surgery tomorrow to ask why I'm being asked to re-test.
 
tigerlily72 said:
I usually lie down flat if they have to do an actual blood test and it usually takes ages to find a vein (apparently I don't have good veins!).

I think I will phone the surgery tomorrow to ask why I'm being asked to re-test.
Click to expand...
I really mean it, drink as much water as you can before going and it will help to swell your veins, they told me the same re my veins but then I got this advice and it worked, don't try and get out of it as you will regret it later.
 
Hi Keli

Thanks for the link - it makes sense. But I was 7.2 LAST year and nothing else happened. I HAVE been under a lot of stress for the past 3-4 months after a traumatic event and am currently on anti-depressants.

I'm really hoping that if I have to go back they can just do a finger prick test as they presumably only want to check blood sugar.
 
As for the blood test. My veins go into hiding the minute I see a needle therefore, I have to get my bloods done by the phlebotomist at my surgery. She is brilliant and because taking blood is the only thing she does, she's quick and always manages to get it first time around (it has been known to take several attempts ). If you are concerned you could request the phlebotomist to do it.

And do make sure you're lying down on the couch as you won't faint that way and they won't need to pull you up off the floor .
 
daddys1 said:
I really mean it, drink as much water as you can before going and it will help to swell your veins, they told me the same re my veins but then I got this advice and it worked, don't try and get out of it as you will regret it later.
Click to expand...

You must be able to read me! My fear of needles does mean I'll try to get out of it but being sensible I know I will have to follow up and through with it. . .
 

I have to take my husband with me. He can pick me up! He usually holds my hand and I have him well trained!
 

I expect it will your HbA1c they will want to check. A finger prick test gives a snapshot of your bloods at that time. The HbA1c will give them a 3 month picture of your glucose levels.

Please don't try to get out of it. I understand you are fearful but pre-diabetes and type 2 can be managed quite well by diet alone (as I do) when its picked up on early enough. I suffer with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) so fully understand what it's like to feel anxious and scared but you can beat it and push yourself to go to the surgery. Don't let your fear beat you. You can do it
 
I believe that in order to diagnose diabetes using fasting glucose counts two fasting glucose tests in excess of 7 mmol are required.

Strictly speaking the pin prick method of testing using capillary blood is not really the same as "proper" plasma fasting glucose test using blood taken from a vein using a dreaded needle, or anywhere near as accurate.

I expect/hope that you will be given an hba1c test to confirm or, better still, count out diabetes. This test measures your average glucose level over the last three months and for 99% of the people is a much more reliable diabetes diagnosis test than a plasma fasting glucose test; an hba1c above 6,5 is considered diabetes.

Fear or needles or not you must bite the bullet and go in for this test, being diabetic is bad but being an undiagnosed diabetic is infinitely worse.

Anyway going in and getting tested is the only way you will now get some peace of mind, one way or the other.

Good luck and I hope this proves just a false alarm.

Pavlos
 
The advice you've been given is spot on .. drink lots of water and it won't take long at all.

I don't like them either (not fear as such) but then again, I know I have to do it. Fortunately, I have a great capacity for taking my mind off it by engaging the nurse in conversation prior to it and I don't even notice it.
 
Hello tigerlily72, yes I understand the needle fear, and I too have very poor veins. Yes the phlebotomist's are really good. When the test is due to be taken, the tourniquet is put on and your arm in facing up, make a fist and squeeze it together to pump the blood through your veins, and yes fluids help a great deal. Look around the room and even read the posters on the walls, and don't look at what is going on, I never do as it makes me shake and go hot.
Take your time after, and if you can go for a cup of tea, and rest, (my old health centre, newly built had a cafe inside which was great to go to after blood being taken). May your bravery be a shining star for you, ttfn
 
 
Thanks to everyone that's responded. Just an update to say I've now made an appointment to have another "proper" fasting blood test in early December. My first was a finger prick test which was 7.3. I tried to get an appointment for this Friday to get it over and done with but they didn't have any appointments free. I'm not looking forward to it but I know I have to go and get it done. I will update again once I have the results.
 
Hi tigerlily, I am going for a fasting lipids blood test on Friday, as well as an arm full for the hospital specialist's follow up from January?, just cancelled the one from the other day had no diesel for the car. Well I will look the other way while the procedure is going on.
Well may your bravery be with you, while you face the needle on the cannula, but if you do have a brave moment, the speed the gizmo fills up and the way they can just change the different bottles, without spilling a drop is quite good, and all the different coloured lids for the different tests.
Tigerlily, may the test come and be done quickly, ttfn
 
Hopefully they will do an HbA1c as well. Fasting blood glucose level doesn't tell the enough of the story. Good luck.
 
They probably want to do a Hba 1C to check your average over the last 3 months I have it done twice a year it is a good pointer for your doctor to diagnose if you are Diabetic or not. Good luck with your blood test
 
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