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Sugar level 51??

B

Belinda lou

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8
Hi, I hope someone can advise me on a recent test. I’m 62 and had a recent stand blood test for liver function bone density sugar etc. My sugar level came back as 51, I don’t have a clue if this is high or low or if it means I’m probably diabetic or pre diabetic or what, I would just like some idea as have to wait 2 weeks for the dr to call me and I would like to have some idea in my head. thank you so much
 
Presumably that 51 is the result of an Hba1c test which suggests you are diabetic.

Indications of diabetes or prediabetes are given under the following conditions:

  • Normal: Below 42 mmol/mol (6.0%)
  • Prediabetes: 42 to 47 mmol/mol (6.0 to 6.4%)
  • Diabetes: 48 mmol/mol (6.5% or over)
 
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Squire Fulwood said:
Presumably that 51 is the result of an Hba1c test which suggests you are diabetic.
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I’m not sure it was just a normal test which also did a sugar level test and the receptionist at the drs told me I had to speak to the dr and nurse (appt in 2 weeks)
I wanted to prepare my self a bit, I have put on weight in the past 18 months but put it down to Ovid and staying home.
 
It cannot have been a simple prick the finger test with a result like that. It only makes sense if a blood sample was taken and sent off to a lab in which case it is an Hba1c test. That would make sense but it is a little high.
 
Welcome to the forum
Below 42 is considered normal, 42 to 47 is pre diabetes, 48 and over is diabetes. You will probably need another test to confirm the diagnosis.
Don't panic, 51 is only just into the diabetic range, a few tweaks of your diet will probably get you back to normal levels
The HbA1c test measures how much glucose has stuck to your red blood cells over the life of the cells, about 12 weeks. The more trouble you have handling carbohydrates the more glucose sticks to the cells, so reducing the carbs in your diet will reduce your glucose levels
 
Squire Fulwood said:
It cannot have been a simple prick the finger test with a result like that. It only makes sense if a blood sample was taken and sent off to a lab in which case it is an Hba1c test. That would make sense but it is a little high.
Click to expand...
Oh yes it was a proper blood test from the arm vein to test tubes at the hospital. It was for liver function but they did loads of other tests at the same time and yes it came back at 51.
 
catinahat said:
Welcome to the forum
Below 42 is considered normal, 42 to 47 is pre diabetes, 48 and over is diabetes. You will probably need another test to confirm the diagnosis.
Don't panic, 51 is only just into the diabetic range, a few tweaks of your diet will probably get you back to normal levels
The HbA1c test measures how much glucose has stuck to your red blood cells over the life of the cells, about 12 weeks. The more trouble you have handling carbohydrates the more glucose sticks to the cells, so reducing the carbs in your diet will reduce your glucose levels
Click to expand...
 
Belinda lou said:
Oh yes it was a proper blood test from the arm vein to test tubes at the hospital. It was for liver function but they did loads of other tests at the same time and yes it came back at 51.
Click to expand...

In that case you qualify as a diabetic. Welcome to the club. Don't panic or worry about it at this time since there are things you can do about it and nothing bad is going to happen in the short term, or even long term if you watch what you eat/drink.
 
Thank you, it just all seems so confusing for me. Hopefully I can adjust diet and exercise and get it down a bit like you suggest. I always believed you lost weight not put it on with high sugars?
 
Belinda lou said:
Thank you, it just all seems so confusing for me. Hopefully I can adjust diet and exercise and get it down a bit like you suggest. I always believed you lost weight not put it on with high sugars?
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There are different kinds of diabetes. Unfortunately you have the one that is associated with overweight very often and is sometimes called metabolic syndrome as a result.
 
Belinda lou said:
. I always believed you lost weight not put it on with high sugars?
Click to expand...

If you don't produce any of your own insulin (type 1) your body has to burn all the fat store and even muscle to get any nutrition. Type 2's on the other hand produce lots of insulin, they just can't use it very well, it's called insulin resistance. Quite a lot of the sugar in our blood gets converted to fat and stored because we're not good at using it for energy. So being overweight is a symptom not the cause of T2
 
catinahat said:
If you don't produce any of your own insulin (type 1) your body has to burn all the fat store and even muscle to get any nutrition. Type 2's on the other hand produce lots of insulin, they just can't use it very well, it's called insulin resistance. Quite a lot of the sugar in our blood gets converted to fat and stored because we're not good at using it for energy. So being overweight is a symptom not the cause of T2
Click to expand...
Some might say being overweight is the cause not the symptom of T2 as the deposited body fat causes insulin resistance which in turn results in the high BS? The glucose in the blood isn't mainly what is deposited. It's the excess glucose often from having too many carbs that the liver stores as body fat if not immediately used and the insulin can't metabolise glucose so it ends up giving high BS
 
catinahat said:
If you don't produce any of your own insulin (type 1) your body has to burn all the fat store and even muscle to get any nutrition. Type 2's on the other hand produce lots of insulin, they just can't use it very well, it's called insulin resistance. Quite a lot of the sugar in our blood gets converted to fat and stored because we're not good at using it for energy. So being overweight is a symptom not the cause of T2
Click to expand...
Thank you xx
 
catinahat said:
If you don't produce any of your own insulin (type 1) your body has to burn all the fat store and even muscle to get any nutrition. Type 2's on the other hand produce lots of insulin, they just can't use it very well, it's called insulin resistance. Quite a lot of the sugar in our blood gets converted to fat and stored because we're not good at using it for energy. So being overweight is a symptom not the cause of T2
Click to expand...
Thank you xx
 
catinahat said:
Are you saying that I gave myself T2 because I'm fat ? There are millions of overweight people who don't have T2. I wonder what their secret is
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I personally think there is a bit of a chicken and egg situation going on here. For people who have a genetic susceptibility to T2 it's easy to consume more carbs than their bodies can cope with. (Modern diets promote "healthy carbs", and replace fat with carbs in many items eg low fat fruit yoghurts). This leads to weight gain which leads to increased insulin resistance, so once you are over your body's personal carb limit, you are in a vicious circle of increasing weight and insulin resistance. And given the typically long length of time for increasing insulin resistance to lead to significantly high blood sugars, the weight gain is likely to be there by the time you get a T2 diagnosis.

And then there are T2s out there who aren't overweight at all, so there are no hard and fast rules here.

And I'm certainly not saying that you gave yourself T2, though maybe modern dietary advice and the modern food industry did???
 
Hi and welcome. Your HbA1c is above the level where the medics are happy to diagnose diabetes. It's about where mine was. You might have had symptoms as well. Many people have symptoms for years prior to diagnosis. .You can fairly quickly get back to normal blood glucose levels - it took me about four months, others have been quicker, but this doesn't of itself mean that any symptoms you have will immediately go away - that can take longer.

Anyway, this attached is a retrospective of what helped me in my first year. It might be of some use to you.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog/kennya.517579/

Good luck!
 
catinahat said:
If you don't produce any of your own insulin (type 1) your body has to burn all the fat store and even muscle to get any nutrition. Type 2's on the other hand produce lots of insulin, they just can't use it very well, it's called insulin resistance. Quite a lot of the sugar in our blood gets converted to fat and stored because we're not good at using it for energy. So being overweight is a symptom not the cause of T2
Click to expand...
Daibell said:
Some might say being overweight is the cause not the symptom of T2 as the deposited body fat causes insulin resistance which in turn results in the high BS? The glucose in the blood isn't mainly what is deposited. It's the excess glucose often from having too many carbs that the liver stores as body fat if not immediately used and the insulin can't metabolise glucose so it ends up giving high BS
Click to expand...
Whichever is true in this chicken and egg scenario (and I’m inclined to believed it is possible to be either or even both depending on the person not a simplist either/or in every case the same) the way to break the cycle is to cut the carbs. This will lower blood glucose levels and lose weight addressing both issues that cause the underlying insulin resistance and improving outcomes.
 
Belinda lou said:
Hi, I hope someone can advise me on a recent test. I’m 62 and had a recent stand blood test for liver function bone density sugar etc. My sugar level came back as 51, I don’t have a clue if this is high or low or if it means I’m probably diabetic or pre diabetic or what, I would just like some idea as have to wait 2 weeks for the dr to call me and I would like to have some idea in my head. thank you so much
Click to expand...
You call it a sugar level. Please note that it’s actually the glucose being referred to.

Glucose is created in the body whenever sugar and all the other carbohydrates get broken down in digestion. So it’s not just table sugar to be aware of. It’s anything that causes glucose in your body. That’s bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, parsnips, cereals including oats, all grains and to some extend beans and pulses and other veg. It also doesn’t much matter what colour they are. Brown red multi and whole grain all contain pretty much the same carbs. They might slow a rise down a little but it lasts for longer instead.
Click on the links in red below under this message. There’s explanations and links to more sources of info to explain it more fully. And then come back and ask questions. And there’s no such thing as a silly one if you don’t know the answer.
 
HSSS said:
You call it a sugar level. Please note that it’s actually the glucose being referred to.

Glucose is created in the body whenever sugar and all the other carbohydrates get broken down in digestion. So it’s not just table sugar to be aware of. It’s anything that causes glucose in your body. That’s bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, parsnips, cereals including oats, all grains and to some extend beans and pulses and other veg. It also doesn’t much matter what colour they are. Brown red multi and whole grain all contain pretty much the same carbs. They might slow a rise down a little but it lasts for longer instead.
Click on the links in red below under this message. There’s explanations and links to more sources of info to explain it more fully. And then come back and ask questions. And there’s no such thing as a silly one if you don’t know the answer.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much, that’s makes so much sense
I will look at the links thank you
I’m sure I will have lots more questions
 
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