Any advice appreciated

[Clueless]

hello to all, apologies re my loooong story

I feel a little stupid for even joining this forum. First off all, I’ll be upfront and explain that I am NOT diagnosed as diabetic. In fact my doctor (whom I’ve never spoken with) has marked me as ‘no further action required’ after my second set of blood results.
My problem is that a diabetes risk was discussed by the nurse who took my blood and after researching I do seem to have many symptoms? So I’m left a little frightened and confused….and wondering if I should accept no further action. I’d really appreciate what you all think. I won’t mind being told that I’m being silly and my figures/symptoms are nothing to be concerned about at all so please don’t worry about offending me. I’m just stressing about ignoring this and then losing a chance to avoid a diabetes diagnosis when I still had the chance.

First blood test was taken after calling for a doc app thinking that I possibly had long covid. After being asymptomatic at Xmas I later suffered from severe fatigue, blurry vision, severe sore heads at the front of my head, muscular back pain and really bad night sweats. My initial blood glucose test result was 7.4 so a second fasting blood test was requested. That returned a 5.6 result and I was marked as ‘no further action required’. I have asked for a second telephone appointment but had to fight for this. They explained and reassured me that I’m not diabetic and I’ve nothing at all to worry about (no mention of helping me with my symptoms). Am I right in thinking I am on the cusp of a prediabetes diagnosis? If so I don’t know what to change
I don’t ever drink alcohol, I don’t drink any fizzy drinks at all. I wouldn’t say I eat really clean but I never eat processed foods, only fresh whole foods. I did eat chocolate regularly after my dinner in the evenings and I would have a weekly fish and chips takeaway. I walk my dog 2-3 x per day for 30-50 minutes each time and I work on my feet running around for 6 hours 5 x per week. I’m 47, 5ft 3 and 9st 2lbs and generally pretty healthy. I believe this could only be due to prolonged stress in the recent past but I’m kinda stuck on what to change to fix it if need be. It concerns me reading about how high fluctuations can do more harm than good. Though I am trying to help myself and follow a diabetes type diet now.

 

[Lily123]

A fasting reading wouldn’t be used to diagnose you I don’t think but the test to diagnose you would be a HbA1C test. A HbA1C is a measure of you blood glucose over the past 3 months.There are probably other explanations for your symtoms

 

[Docb]

We have a thing on this forum about questions... nothing is considered silly so no problem with sharing your story.

The only comment I would make is that I can see why your GP does not think you have diabetes although normally a HbA1c blood test is used for diagnosis rather than spot blood tests. I am assuming that the 7.4 and 5.6 were taken from a drop of blood obtained by bodging a finger and would not ring any alarm bells.

If your GP does not think it is diabetes, then you need to ask them what they think is causing your symptoms.

 

[EmmaL76]

It really depends on which type of blood test you received. As mentioned above.
Was it a blood draw from a vein and sent off or a finger prick with a machine (sorry if that sound patronising but most of us don’t understand these test at the beginning ) most of us are given our hba1c (the vein blood draw) in numbers in 30’s 40’ 50’s etc but some doctors use the old units as mine does like 5.2 7.2 etc. the finger prick will be similar numbers like 5.2 etc. xx

 

[Inka]

Hi @Clueless 🙂 No question is silly and you’re not silly to worry about your health. The test to diagnose diabetes is generally an HbA1C test which gives an idea of your blood sugar over the preceding 3 months. It doesn’t sound like you had one of those done?

Most of your symptoms don’t sound ‘diabetic’. The tiredness is but, of course, can be caused by lots of other things. Blurry vision can be associated with diabetes, but you mention a severe sore head which sounds like migraine to me. That can cause vision problems. You also mention muscle aches. Those aren’t a ‘diabetic thing’. However, if you’re stressed and sleeping tensely, that can cause muscle aches and bad headaches too, so that’s another possibility.

I’m presuming you’re female - apologies if not. The night sweats and headaches/migraines could be due to hormonal changes. The sweats could also be a thyroid issue. Lots of possibilities.

I’m not a doctor, just a person with diabetes, but if your doctor has given you the ok, your symptoms don’t shout ‘diabetes’, and you don’t have obvious risk factors or family history, then I’d look elsewhere for a cause rather than diabetes.

What did the nurse actually say? Sometimes they test for things just to rule them out not because they think you’ve got them.

 

[Clueless]

Hello and thank you for your replies 🙂.

I should have pointed out that I am female and have my own business, very active and ran every day for charity during September just past. I’m generally quite capable and never need a doctor. Im very active and fit though I have had occasions of feeling that my cortisol or sugar levels were a little off in the past (tummy weight gain, feeling a little shaky on my feet and night sweats).
After not getting better and instead progressively worse and calling the doctors surgery for help, he (doctor), had a nurse call me in for a full blood test. So blood taken from my vein and sent off to be tested on both occasions.
She called after the initial results and told me my glucose was very high 7.4 and that I had to go back for the fasted blood test. She advised me I had to do this as diabetes could be what’s causing my symptoms. After this my communication was via a young staff member who advises of results. I asked to speak with the doctor who had been overseeing this…..the nurse called me back to explain I am not diabetic (I knew this from looking online), and I have nothing to worry about (I disagree and I’m still suffering) . She repeated that all of my blood tests came back within a healthy range and I have nothing to worry about. Which is really good news, but if I look online, 5.6 is the highest of a healthy range for a fasted blood test? With 5.7 being the lower of prediabetes. I can’t get my head around the fact that this is a really bad figure for me personally, given that I’m the least likely to have a health issue like this out of anyone I know. So it concerns me that I’m possibly missing a last chance to help myself if you get me?

The sore heads seem more like a dehydrated pressure feeling. Difficult to describe but it’s not a migraine. Though I’m drinking 3-4 coffee (weak coffee and never take any sugars) and around 4-6 glasses of water per day so i can’t be dehydrated.

I’m quietly blaming past high cortisol levels for my health woes. If only I could test mysejf

Thanks again everyone. This is my way of figuring out if I can trust my surgery to leave things or push them for further help/get a second opinion.

 

[Inka]

So you didn’t have an HbA1C test? That would have given you a more definite answer IMO. So if you go back to the surgery for more blood tests, you could ask that one be done.

It’s possible your 7.4 was just a one-off as you next test was ok. Sometimes stress can put blood sugar up.

 

[Leadinglights]

It can be very confusing with various numbers bandied around without the units being mentioned and what test it is from as they are different and will mean different things.
The result from an HbA1C test which is the test that should be used for diagnosis is usually given in mmol/mol and will be a number above 48mmol/mol, between 42 and 47 you would be termed at risk or prediabetic, that would be from a sample taken from the arm and sent to the lab. Sometimes the result is given in the old way which would be in % and then I think the diagnostic level is 6.8%. This does not need to be fasting as it gives an average over the previous three months.
The result form a finger prick is a spot test and the result is in mmol/l, this gives the blood glucose level at that moment in time and would not normally be used for diagnosis.
You need a bit of clarity as to what test those results you mention were from.

 

[Clueless]

So you didn’t have an HbA1C test? That would have given you a more definite answer IMO. So if you go back to the surgery for more blood tests, you could ask that one be done.

It’s possible your 7.4 was just a one-off as you next test was ok. Sometimes stress can put blood sugar up.

No I’ve only had a regular blood test. I believe prolonged previous stress (now gone 7 months past), has most probably been my enemy. That coupled with my recent bout of covid has most likely been too much for my immune system and sparked these symptoms. The fatigue is so annoying.
Whatever the issue I intend following a diabetic friendly diet to try and help myself.

 

[EmmaL76]

If you haven’t had a finger prick test and only a regular blood test then I’m sure you have had an hba1c. Can you access your results online through your doctors website ? Usually they need to grant permission for you to do this but that isn’t usually a problem

 

[Drummer]

No I’ve only had a regular blood test. I believe prolonged previous stress (now gone 7 months past), has most probably been my enemy. That coupled with my recent bout of covid has most likely been too much for my immune system and sparked these symptoms. The fatigue is so annoying.
Whatever the issue I intend following a diabetic friendly diet to try and help myself.

I was going to suggest that - from leaving home to the age of 65 I only ever felt right when eating low carb Atkins type diet, and dreadful when pushed to eat low fat with high carbs.
It definitely helped me deal with stress and gave me more stamina.

 

[Clueless]

It can be very confusing with various numbers bandied around without the units being mentioned and what test it is from as they are different and will mean different things.
The result from an HbA1C test which is the test that should be used for diagnosis is usually given in mmol/mol and will be a number above 48mmol/mol, between 42 and 47 you would be termed at risk or prediabetic, that would be from a sample taken from the arm and sent to the lab. Sometimes the result is given in the old way which would be in % and then I think the diagnostic level is 6.8%. This does not need to be fasting as it gives an average over the previous three months.
The result form a finger prick is a spot test and the result is in mmol/l, this gives the blood glucose level at that moment in time and would not normally be used for diagnosis.
You need a bit of clarity as to what test those results you mention were from.

Thank you very much for taking the time to help. Hopefully arming myself with some knowledge here, pre speaking with my doctor is the way forward.

 

[Clueless]

If you haven’t had a finger prick test and only a regular blood test then I’m sure you have had an hba1c. Can you access your results online through your doctors website ? Usually they need to grant permission for you to do this but that isn’t usually a problem

No I have no access to any results. I’m currently struggling to have an opportunity to speak with my doctor at all. I was only given an initial telephone appointment for next week after pushing for it.
Unfortunately I am aware of an ongoing investigation of my area due to problems with the care offered. I think this knowledge is at the root of this want to help myself.

 

[Clueless]

I was going to suggest that - from leaving home to the age of 65 I only ever felt right when eating low carb Atkins type diet, and dreadful when pushed to eat low fat with high carbs.
It definitely helped me deal with stress and gave me more stamina.

I must say I do always feel much better with this type of diet too. Fingers crossed I’ll be feeling a lot more like myself again soon.
One thing that I have realised is that stress in any form is just not worth it ❤️
Thank you for your help

 

[grovesy]

If you haven’t had a finger prick test and only a regular blood test then I’m sure you have had an hba1c. Can you access your results online through your doctors website ? Usually they need to grant permission for you to do this but that isn’t usually a problem

Permission isn't always granted. I have asked numerous times, last being the middle of last year, and not granted. Then suddenly in the middle of last month my tests and other records suddenly appeared!

 

[Inka]

No I’ve only had a regular blood test. I believe prolonged previous stress (now gone 7 months past), has most probably been my enemy. That coupled with my recent bout of covid has most likely been too much for my immune system and sparked these symptoms. The fatigue is so annoying.
Whatever the issue I intend following a diabetic friendly diet to try and help myself.

I’d also advise keeping other conditions in mind. If your doctor says your blood sugar is normal, then there could be something else going on. Don’t let a random mention of diabetes distract you from following up on your symptoms.

See if you can get an HbA1C to rule out diabetes for definite. The best diet is a healthy diet. There’s no need to change what you eat, just take an objective look to make sure you’re getting enough of everything (yes, including carbs), keep hydrated, and - usually most difficult of all - look after yourself and get enough rest, relaxation and sleep.

Do let us know how you get on with your appointment.