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What now? Definite diagnosis?

cherrydarling_

Well-Known Member
Messages
46
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Other
Evening all! So yesterday had call from gp "routine blood test shows you probably have diabetes, bring urine sample up asap" so i did as I was told, waited all evening for phone call and got nothing. Called this morning "the doctor hasn't put anything in your notes" so I requested a callback. Different doc calls me "yes you'e git diabetes, sugar in urine and sugar in blood. Come in next Tuesday to see diabetic doctor " so is this a definitive diagnosis?? I thought more bloods would have to be taken to be sure?! What do I do in the meantime? I've been testing my bg since yesterday and they're generally in the 10.6-11.8 range after eating, do I record the results and take them with me? I know when I had gestational diabetes I had to test everyday, would I need to do that now? And as I needed insulin then, would that mean I'd have to have it now? Sorry if these questions seem a bit silly but Im trying to get my head round it, and when they diagnosed the gd I only had three weeks before baby was due so didn't have to think about it too much! Thanks ☺
 

It depends what the routine blood test that showed you probably had diabetes was. A random blood sugar test of over 11.1 suggests diabetes. A hba1c over 48 is diagnostic of diabetes. 42-47 is pre diabetic, under 42 is normal.

You were on insulin for GD because blood sugar targets are much tighter in pregnancy and high blood sugar levels in mum puts baby at risk.

As a not pregnant type 2 the only person at risk from high blood sugar is you. So you have a bit of time to get used to things and figure out if you want to or are able to control blood sugars without medication or with oral medication only. There is a NICE algorithm of the treatment option for type 2 - and insulin is the last resort - https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng...apy-in-adults-with-type-2-diabetes-2185604173

It's unusual for people with type 2 diabetes not on medication which can cause hypos to be prescribed test strips. And if you aren't on medication that requires testing before driving then no one can make you test if you don't want to. You may however find it useful to test to help you control things and I'm sure some posters will be able to give some tips on self funded meters and strips.
 
please test in the morning pre meals and if you have enough test strips 2 hours post food and last thing at night. just doing after food does not tell us a lot. and HI congrats on the baby.
 
So sorry to read that things are not clearer for you yet.

Daisy's post in you previous thread is really a good way to start. As is reading as much as your can, testing to ensure things don't get out of control although you GP does not seem to think you are an urgent case.

Start a list of questions to ask at your appointment is good advice which I always forget.
 
You have to have a blood test to confirm a diabetes diagnosis. This will most likely be an HbA1c. This is a test that measures your average blood glucose over the previous 2 to 3 months. Anything above 47 is diabetic (or 6.5% if your surgery still uses the old method of measurement). If you are borderline it will be followed up by a second HbA1c. If you have been told to fast before the appointment you will probably also have a fasting plasma glucose test, which is just a snapshot of what you are at the time. There is also another test called the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) which aslo requires fasting.

It may well be that as you have been told you have sugar in your blood that you had one of these tests without realising what it was for. You need clarification from your doctor and should really ask him for a print out of all the tests you had, and also for any future tests. You need to know what the actual levels are, not just that you have sugar in your blood.
 
Thanks for the advice will phone docs to see of they will give me a printout. I will freely admit that I am a worrier! So until I see the specialist next week I shall be overly anxious! I am taking readings as soon as I wake, and before and after meals (one and two hours after eating) and recording the info on an app I got I guess I just worry that my readings are similar to those when I had gd( average 8.9 on waking, 11.5 after eating)and the metformin wasn't helping so had to have insulin (I'm a big wuss!) On the plus side today was shopping day, so swapped all my naughty stuff for wholemeal, no added sugar and sweetners
 

Not wishing to worry you more.. but the "diabetes specialist:" at the surgery may not be very special (ist) at all its usually just one of the docs who takes an overall responsibility or at least that is the case at my surgery. I usually just see the nurse.

Wholemeal I'm afraid has for most of us a very similar effect to regular (bread, rice, pasta - delete as applicable). The problem if you have Type 2 (which is most likely) is that you have developed a kind of allergy to carbohydrates of any hue. They are best avoided as much as possible.
 

I think print outs are essential (or on-line access to tests results, which many of us have)

Your levels are rather high if they are still around those same levels.

You may wish to go shopping again I'm afraid. It isn't just sugar that raises BS levels, it is all carbs, and that includes the wholemeal varieties. A wholemeal loaf has the same amount of carbs as a white loaf I'm afraid to say. All carbs turn to glucose once inside the system, and when we have a problem clearing this glucose from our blood stream (as all T2s do) then it makes sense not to put too much of it in. Have a look at all the nutrition labels on the food in your cupboards/fridge/freezer and look for the Total Carbohydrate amount. It will be shown as the amount of carbs per 100g. You can ignore the "of which sugar" bit as the sugar is included in the total. Sugar is just one type of carb. Most of us here limit our packaged foods to under 10g per 100g, many limit it to under 5g. per 100g. (although this can be relaxed if you are only going to eat a spoonful or tiny amount) If your product says it has 50g per 100g then every mouthful you eat will be 50% carb.
 

Blast! You beat me to it ... again.
 
Yes to the testing and taking the results with you. I would also reccomend investing in a good supply of test strips and using the same method of testing before and fter eating particular foods in order to find out the way they affect your body and to build up a dataset of ‘safe’ foods that do not spike your blood sugars out of range.
 
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