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Diabetes or Not

S

Shaz69

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I had a four hour fasting test and the first bloods sent to the Lab were over seven. The ones taken from my finger actually started going up whilst I was sitting there. I returned the next day after fasting and the Lab test blood was over 8. The Endocrine nurse told me I have type 2 Diabetes but the consultant is telling me I don’t as an Hba1c test was normal but I take Colesevelam which can affect the level. Do I have diabetes or not. I thought anything over 7 is a diagnosis.
 
The HbA1C is the usual means of diagnosis @Shaz69 A random one-off blood sugar of 7 or 8 is normal. The diagnostic test for diabetes used to be two random blood tests over 11.1. An HbA1C of 48 or above means diabetes. Were your 7 and 8 morning fasting tests? Or was this an oral glucose tolerance test over the four hours? If they were fasting tests, then yes, they’re a little higher than desired so maybe this is where the ‘you’ve got diabetes’ came from?
 
Last edited:
Inka said:
The HbA1C is the usual means of diagnosis @Shaz69 A random one-off blood sugar of 7 or 8 is normal. The diagnostic test for diabetes used to be two random blood tests over 11.1. An HbA1C of 48 or above means diabetes. Were your 7 and 8 morning fasting tests? Or was this an oral glucose tolerance test over the four hours? If they were fasting tests, then yes, they’re a little higher than desired so maybe this is where the ‘you’ve got diabetes’ came from?
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One was a four hour fasting test and during this one the levels actually started rising which the nurse said was not normal as they should have been dropping as I wasn’t eating. The second test was an overnight fast. The results were 7.6 and 8.4 but I’m not sure which one was in what day. They also checked it with the finger prick and on 2 occasions it was 8.8
 
Get the actual result @Shaz69 as that would be informative. It might be on the NHS app.
 
Sorry to hear about your slightly confusing results @Shaz69

HbA1c is the most common result used for a diabetes diagnosis these days, because it tracks glucose content in the bloodstream over the previous 3-4 months so gives a steadier picture.

The body has stores of glucose in muscles and the liver which it can release at various times, so it’s not all that surprising for your levels to go up and down a bit even if you aren’t eating. For example you could run late one morning, leave the house without eating breakfast and have to make a dash for the bus, but your body would be able to fuel that activity from stores rather than insisting you ate something first.

It might put your mind at rest to get the actual number the next time you have an appointment (your GP or nurse would be able to look it up on their screen). Lots of us on the forum find the terms used like ‘fine’ or ‘no action needed’ or ‘normal’ infuriating! Give us our actual numbers. We can learn to understand them!

An HbA1c less than 42mmol/mol would usually be counted as being in the non-diabetes range. Between 42-47mmol/mol is termed at risk of diabetes, and 48mmol/mol or above is generally considered the diagnosos point.

Hope you are able to get to the bottom of things and understand your situation.
 
Shaz69 said:
I can’t get them on the NHS app I would need to request them from medical records which could talke a month
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Was it your GP who did the HbA1C test? If so, it should be on the app, or you should be able to ring up and request that test result over the phone. If it was your consultant who requested it, then they’d have informed your GP of the result by letter. This letter would be under Documents in the NHS app.
 
Inka said:
Was it your GP who did the HbA1C test? If so, it should be on the app, or you should be able to ring up and request that test result over the phone. If it was your consultant who requested it, then they’d have informed your GP of the result by letter. This letter would be under Documents in the NHS app.
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It was the hospital and in Scotland we can’t go on the app and see medical files.
 
Hi looking for advice. I have had 3 fasting glucose tests with results of 7.6.twice and 8.3. I had a mixed meal test and one of the results came back at 3.4 which the lab marked as abnormal. The Endocrinolgy Nurse says i have Tyoe 2 Diabetes but the doctor is saying no as an A1C test was within the normal limits. I tried to explain i am on a medication which lowers the A1C levels so this would not be an accurate reading and my Gastro consultant says as in taking Vitamin D prescribed by the hospital then this also gives a falsely lower reading. I have read that the A1C is not always reliable and a fasting glucose test can be used to diagnose if the person is symptomatic. Can anyone offer advice.
 
Shaz69 said:
Hi looking for advice. I have had 3 fasting glucose tests with results of 7.6.twice and 8.3. I had a mixed meal test and one of the results came back at 3.4 which the lab marked as abnormal. The Endocrinolgy Nurse says i have Tyoe 2 Diabetes but the doctor is saying no as an A1C test was within the normal limits. I tried to explain i am on a medication which lowers the A1C levels so this would not be an accurate reading and my Gastro consultant says as in taking Vitamin D prescribed by the hospital then this also gives a falsely lower reading. I have read that the A1C is not always reliable and a fasting glucose test can be used to diagnose if the person is symptomatic. Can anyone offer advice.
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You posted a while ago asking about this, did you find out the actual result of your HbA1C as that is the definitive test to determine if someone is diabetic?
You mention being on medication which lowers the HbA1C, what would that be, were you prescribed it because your HbA1C was high.
Have you made any changes to your diet?
What advise are you looking for?
 
Here’s your previous thread @Shaz69 :

S

Thread 'Diabetes or Not'

I had a four hour fasting test and the first bloods sent to the Lab were over seven. The ones taken from my finger actually started going up whilst I was sitting there. I returned the next day after fasting and the Lab test blood was over 8. The Endocrine nurse told me I have type 2 Diabetes but the consultant is telling me I don’t as an Hba1c test was normal but I take Colesevelam which can affect the level. Do I have diabetes or not. I thought anything over 7 is a diagnosis.

Those answers still apply, but I will add that I don’t think Vitamin D would affect your levels. I’ve both had a deficiency of D and taken D supplements at a high dose and there was no effect on my blood sugar.

Did you find out your HbA1C?
 
Sorry to hear your worries about your risk of diabetes are continuing @Shaz69

I’ve merged your two threads to keep all your responses in the same place.

Perhaps it would be worth considering making some menu changes, and adjustments as if you have already officially been told you are at risk of T2D? That way if your HbA1c is hovering near the 42-47 mark, and you are getting occasionally slightly raised fasting levels, you’d be giving your metabolism a chance to steer things away from the ‘at risk’ / prediabetes levels?
 
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