New and terrified

[Wendyjoy18]

Hi. Just diagnosed and feeling very alone with this. Confused on variety of readings. I know I’m high (107) .... should I be on deaths door... what is that in mmol terms? Anyone know?

 

[Kaylz]

Hi there and welcome to the forum, the 107 is also a mmol value as well but a different test, the 107mmol of your hba1c results in around an average blood glucose reading of 16.4mmol

I see you've referred to yourself as being Type 2, how did your diagnosis come about?
xx

 

[Ljc]

Hello @Wendyjoy18 , welcome to the forum. It comes as an awful shock doesn’t it.
How did you come to be diagnosed, ie what symptoms drove you too the doctor.

Back in 1994 my Hb1ac was much higher than 107 and as you can see I am still here to tell the tale 🙂.
Fortunately With the right info , treatment if necessary and some effort by yourself diabetes is a condition that can be well managed. You have come to the right place for info from folks who live with this condition, we are also pretty good at cyber support too.



Feel free to ask all the questions you need to about diabetes, we’ll do our best to help.

 

[Wendyjoy18]

Hi there and welcome to the forum, the 107 is also a mmol value as well but a different test, the 107mmol of your hba1c results in around an average blood glucose reading of 16.4mmol

I see you've referred to yourself as being Type 2, how did your diagnosis come about?
xx

Thank you for the info... Jesus 16.4 is really high. My eyesight changed. I wear glasses for driving but could read perfectly close up. One day in July I woke up and couldn’t read my phone at all! Left it a week as I thought is was eye strain. (Reading a lot during lockdown).
Finally went to optician who confirmed by prescription had reversed! He suggested getting a blood test. I had test early August but it was only when I phoned doctors to arrange flu jab that they said the nurse needed to speak to me. She called, told me my count, prescribed Metformin, told me to look on line for more info and that’s it!
hence I’ve scared the hell out of myself reading what could go wrong!

 

[Wendyjoy18]

Hello @Wendyjoy18 , welcome to the forum. It comes as an awful shock doesn’t it.
How did you come to be diagnosed, ie what symptoms drove you too the doctor.

Back in 1994 my Hb1ac was much higher than 107 and as you can see I am still here to tell the tale 🙂.
Fortunately With the right info , treatment if necessary and some effort by yourself diabetes is a condition that can be well managed. You have come to the right place for info from folks who live with this condition, we are also pretty good at cyber support too.



Feel free to ask all the questions you need to about diabetes, we’ll do our best to help.

Thank you for your reassuring words. Have written a reply to someone else regarding what led to my diagnosis!

 

[Ralph-YK]

Welcome to the forum Wendy from a fellow T2.
Guessing the 107 is a HbA1c result, a number of people on the forum had an HbA1c of 100 and above, at diagnoses.
I never remember what the scale is for any of the diabetes BG levels (mmol?). I just work in the big numbers for the HbA1c (that what I get them in, when I manage to get the results); and the small numbers for the spot check (finger prick), as this is what meters in the UK give.
Diabetes UK website has a converter for the HbA1c results. It's half way down this page about HbA1c: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-diabetes/managing-your-diabetes/hba1c.

 

[Ralph-YK]

Thank you for the info... Jesus 16.4

Yes, a HbA1c of 107/16.4 is pretty high. There again, you've only just been diagnosed. And it is possible to reduce that.

 

[silentsquirrel]

Yes, a HbA1c of 107/16.4 is pretty high. There again, you've only just been diagnosed. And it is possible to reduce that.

Ralph, the 16.4 isn't the equivalent % Hba1c, it's an approximation to the average prick test readings in mmol/L.
Hba1c of 107 mmol/mol =11.9% in the older way of measuring.

 

[Wendyjoy18]

I’ve just gone on the websites calculator and put in 107 mmol that was converted to 11.9.
now I’m really confused ... which is right 16.4 or 11.9. ???

 

[Bruce Stephens]

I’ve just gone on the websites calculator and put in 107 mmol that was converted to 11.9.
now I’m really confused ... which is right 16.4 or 11.9. ???

There are two kinds of test. HbA1c gives something which we can take as an average over the past 3 months or so, and 107 mmol/mol and 11.9% are different units for that kind of measurement. There's also a "what's my blood glucose level right now" sort of test, and 16.4 mmol/l is that kind of thing. There's a natural (though tricky) comparison between the two, where you say if your average blood glucose reading were 16.4, you might have an HbA1c of 107 (or 11.9%).

 

[silentsquirrel]

I’ve just gone on the websites calculator and put in 107 mmol that was converted to 11.9.
now I’m really confused ... which is right 16.4 or 11.9. ???

The 107 mmol/mol and 11.9% are both your Hba1c - a measure of your bloods over the past 3 months. Just 2 different ways of measuring it, the 107 is the usual method in the UK now, but some still refer to the old-fashioned %s, and some other countries still use it.

The 16.4 mmol/L (note the slightly different units, so just saying mmol doesn't help!) is an estimate of the average "spot check" readings on your blood glucose meter you might get if you were measuring very frequently at all times of day and night. It's a bit rough and ready, but gives an idea.

I'm guessing you haven't been given a BG meter by your surgery? They usually say Type 2s do not need to measure, but many people here find it an invaluable tool. The cost of strips is the main factor - someone more techy than me will hopefully post a link to the 2 meters we recommend with the most reasonably priced strips!

 

[silentsquirrel]

Bruce types much faster!

 

[Ralph-YK]

Hi there and welcome to the forum, the 107 is also a mmol value as well but a different test, the 107mmol of your hba1c results in around an average blood glucose reading of 16.4mmol

I’ve just gone on the websites calculator and put in 107 mmol that was converted to 11.9.
now I’m really confused ... which is right 16.4 or 11.9. ???

Ralph, the 16.4 isn't the equivalent % Hba1c, it's an approximation to the average prick test readings in mmol/L.
Hba1c of 107 mmol/mol =11.9% in the older way of measuring.

Ugh. I'd forgotten how much of a pain a conversation about HbA1c AND finger prick tests can be. Darn it. 😡
If you're given your HbA1c test in big numbers, just go with that for the HbA1c.
Keep your meter reading separate, and use the (small) figures from the meter.
And say which test you're talking about.

 

[Ljc]

I was going to try and explain the different measurements 😱 fortunately others already have and done so, far better than I would have done.

So how about a little light reading 😱🙂😱.
This one is very good but it was written when fats were believed to be enemy number 1. Many of us no longer believe this , I never have.
Maggie Davies letter.

Test review adjust .
If you de ide testing is for you (recommended) it’s best yo test just before eating too, as it’s the differbetween the two reading which is important
ie if you only test two hours after eating and have a reading of say 14.0 you would assume that tat meal was bad for you , however if you had tested pre meal with a reading of say 12.0 the difference is only 2.0 , though both readings are high the final one shows that meal wasn’t bad for you. As your BG pre meal (blood glucose) falls so will you post meal levels.

It’s highly unlikely you will be provided a glucose meter as you are not on medications that can cause hypo’s ( low blood glucose)
Many here use this Gluco navii and it’s test strips as it’s one if the cheapest ones to self fund £8 for a pot of 50:
We use the mmol/l measurement in the U.K. and you are entitled to claim VAT relief

Which reminds me, as you are on medication for diabetes , you are now entitled to free nhs prescriptions for all your medications, but your nurse or Gp needs to have sent off the form for you , doo check this has been done

 

[Wendyjoy18]

Thank you. This is all a mine field. Diagnosis came out of the blue. Have started my low carb, low sugar diet.... slowly but surely losing weight.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Wendyjoy18

Sorry you have to be here, but glad you have joined us.

Hopefully you will get some reassurance and support from the members here, along with some practical pointers, hints and tips.

Hope the new diet works well for you.

Interesting that your diabetes seems to have come on quite rapidly and unexpectedly. It may be worth bearing this in mind over the next few weeks and months, just in case your diabetes type may need further investigation (if oral meds and dietary changes seem to have less effect than expected).

But do try not to worry - Diabetes is a serious condition, but it’s also one that can usually be managed well with a few changes and adaptations - it’s something that you can learn to live well with, and it shouldn’t stop you doing things you enjoy. In fact you may end up feeling more energised, active and ‘healthier’ than you have in years once you have begun to make some changes and adaptations to your menu.

 

[Loobyloo]

Hi. Just diagnosed and feeling very alone with this. Confused on variety of readings. I know I’m high (107) .... should I be on deaths door... what is that in mmol terms? Anyone know?

I was where you are in July, the blurry eyesight was one of the things that made me aware i may be diabetic. I too got a high reading similar to yours but have worked hard at losing weight and cutting right back on carbs. At my 3 month check i got a reading within normal range. This site is really useful and there are lots of lovely members there to support you and give advice. I found getting a monitor very helpful so i can test which foods i can tolerate without too much of a spike in sugars. I must say i feel better than i have in a long time.

 

[pm133]

Thank you for the info... Jesus 16.4 is really high. My eyesight changed. I wear glasses for driving but could read perfectly close up. One day in July I woke up and couldn’t read my phone at all! Left it a week as I thought is was eye strain. (Reading a lot during lockdown).
Finally went to optician who confirmed by prescription had reversed! He suggested getting a blood test. I had test early August but it was only when I phoned doctors to arrange flu jab that they said the nurse needed to speak to me. She called, told me my count, prescribed Metformin, told me to look on line for more info and that’s it!
hence I’ve scared the hell out of myself reading what could go wrong!

Yep 16.4 is very high but you are in good company. When I was diagnosed I had reached 35 mmol/L and my Hb1ac thingy was around 142 which apparently is very impressive. I also had the eye problems for a few weeks which finally went away last week.

I wouldn't worry too much about the scare stories you are reading.
You do need to get your levels down to avoid complications but you shouldn't panic about potential disasters. If you can initially get below 13.3 mmol/L, that takes you into a safer area and from there aim for 10 mmol/L etc. Before you know it you'll be back in control of things.

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Wendyjoy18]

Thank you.

 

[Wendyjoy18]

I was where you are in July, the blurry eyesight was one of the things that made me aware i may be diabetic. I too got a high reading similar to yours but have worked hard at losing weight and cutting right back on carbs. At my 3 month check i got a reading within normal range. This site is really useful and there are lots of lovely members there to support you and give advice. I found getting a monitor very helpful so i can test which foods i can tolerate without too much of a spike in sugars. I must say i feel better than i have in a long time.

T