How many tests do I need?

[Lindle]

Hi all
I has a fasting blood test a few weeks ago and my blood sugar was 7.9. The nurse intended to send me for a glucose tolerance test at the hospital but they declined to do it as they thought I was 'probably already diabetic'. At this point I took advice on this forum and started to follow the GL diet and take more exercise. Two weeks into this regime my nurse did another fasting test and the result was 7.0. After this I received and appointment for the glucose tolerance test at the hospital. When I phoned to ask why they said my GP had insisted that they do it. I wonder how long this will continue before I get a definite diagnosis?
I have also bought a 'Codefree' glucose monitoring system and after a few attempts I managed to get a result after breakfast this morning. It was 12.5
I'm new to this testing business so I'm not sure how good or bad that is, but I think it is probably too high. Any advice about the professional or home testing process / resultswould be most welcome.

 

[Northerner]

Hi, do you have any symptoms such as excessive thirst, hunger, need to pee? If you do then a fasting test of over 7.0 mmol/l would be sufficient for a diagnosis of diabetes. If not, then they would normally do either another fasting test or a glucose tolerance test to confirm the diagnosis. It seems in your case that, even though they have given you two fasting tests at 7 or over, they also want to make absolutely sure by giving you the GTT! I really don't know why. Your post-breakfast test would indicate that you are not processing glucose well. When did you do the test i.e. how long after eating, and what did you eat? Do you know what your level was before eating? It's important to know the before and after (usually one or two hours after) so you know the extent of the rise.

Ideally, you would want to be between 4 and 7 prior to eating and no more than 8.5 two hours after eating, but the post-meal level can be hard to achieve and takes time, patience and experience to work out what you can tolerate well.

Have you read Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter? Also Test,Review, Adjust by Alan S should give you a good idea of how to test efficiently.

I hope you get a definite diagnosis one way or the other very soon, please let us know how you get on and if you have any questions or concerns, please ask! 🙂

 

[Katieb]

Hi Linda - nice to see you keeping in touch. Northerner has given you some great links which will tell you how to use home testing to help your control. When is your OGGT? I know it's a pain to have to go for one (not to mention the fact that it tastes yucky!😱)! However, at least you will then know for sure what you are dealing with and hopefully get a bit more support. I have my HbA1c and other checks on Monday (I go back to see the doc for the results on 9th November for a full review). Hopefully I too will be a little clearer! Well done on taking the intiative re the low GI eating and self-testing! These will definitely help! Best wishes Katie

 

[Lindle]

Thanks Northener
No sign of any excessive thirst, hunger, need to pee etc. I'm also not sure why I need another test - I think my GP has overridden the nurse / hospital.
I did the home test about an hour after eating a small bowl of home-made muesli (oats,sunflower, pumpkin & linseeds, walnuts & dried apple) with small amount of semi-skimmed milk on this and in a mug of coffee. I didn't take a pre-meal level, as this was the first time I had managed to get a successful reading.
I didn't do a great job of testing - left small bruises on my fingertips, so I was obviously a bit too rough. Thanks for the links - I will follow them up. I still have a lot to learn!
Katie
My OGGT is on 30th October and I have a follow up appointment with the nurse on 5th November. So, with any luck, we will both be clearer in a couple of weeks 🙂
I do feel that the uninitiated (like me) need a single source of reliable advice - so many thanks for this support.
Best wishes
Linda

 

[Northerner]

Hope the test goes OK on Tuesday Linda 🙂 Some tips on testing:

Make sure your fingers/hands are warm - run them under warm water to warm them up if cold.

Prick the side of the pad of your fingertip, not the front, as this will be less painful. Don't use your index fingers or thumbs.

After you have pricked, wait a couple of seconds before squeezing blood out. Your finger will react to the lancet by trying to close the wound, but if you wait a couple of seconds it will have relaxed. Sometimes hanging your arm down helps.

Rotate the finger you use so they get a chance to heal.

Make sure that your fingerpricking device is set to the correct depth for you (if it is variable)

🙂

 

[mcdonagh47]

Hi, do you have any symptoms such as excessive thirst, hunger, need to pee? If you do then a fasting test of over 7.0 mmol/l would be sufficient for a diagnosis of diabetes. If not, then they would normally do either another fasting test or a glucose tolerance test to confirm the diagnosis. It seems in your case that, even though they have given you two fasting tests at 7 or over, they also want to make absolutely sure by giving you the GTT! I really don't know why. please ask! 🙂

Because she might not be Type 2 Diabetes but IFG (Impaired Fasting Glucose) or IGT (Impaired Glucose Tolerance).

OGTT don't just test for T2 - OGTT give four outcomes - T2, IGT, IFG, "normal".

 

[robert@fm]

After you have pricked, wait a couple of seconds before squeezing blood out. Your finger will react to the lancet by trying to close the wound, but if you wait a couple of seconds it will have relaxed. Sometimes hanging your arm down helps.

I've always found that pulling on the skin, rather than pushing it, helps open the puncture to get a good-size sample. Thank goodness the Ascensia Contour USB requires a far smaller drop than the old Accu-chek meter I had in 2000. 🙂

 

[Katieb]

Because she might not be Type 2 Diabetes but IFG (Impaired Fasting Glucose) or IGT (Impaired Glucose Tolerance).

OGTT don't just test for T2 - OGTT give four outcomes - T2, IGT, IFG, "normal".

That's correct - it's how I got my IGT diagnosis🙂 Katie

 

[Lindle]

Thanks everyone.
I'm getting better at the testing - not wasting so many test strips now!
Fingers crossed for tomorrow
🙂

 

[Northerner]

Thanks everyone.
I'm getting better at the testing - not wasting so many test strips now!
Fingers crossed for tomorrow
🙂

Fingers crossed for you - hope all goes well 🙂

 

[Lindle]

Results!

I saw the nurse at my GPs on Monday and she said the GTT indicated that I have Impaired Glucose Tolerance. The fasting count was 6.9 and the one after the sugary drink was 10.9.
The nurse told me to continue with the diet and exercise and she will call me in for a blood pressure check in 6 months and a fasting blood test in a year. I asked about getting a glucose monitor or at least the strips on prescription and was told that there was 'no chance' due to 'NHS financial constraints'.
She was adamant that monitoring is not viable or necessary because it won't make any difference to the diet & exercise advice / regime.
As it happens I have already bought a monitor, but the strips are pretty expensive, especially when using several each day.
To be honest I found the whole appointment quite disappointing - I thought a diagnosis one way or the other would at least mean a care plan with regular monitoring i.e. positive action and plenty of advice.
However I just got the usual 'go away and lose weight' message. I have lost 10 lbs and got my fasting glucose down from 7.9 to 7.0 and then 6.9 after a month on the GL diet. This is the first time I have stuck to a diet /exercise regime for more than four weeks and I was fairly pleased until she referred to it as 'a little bit' of weight loss.
It felt quite demoralising and a bit of a let down. Glad I have you people to talk to 🙂

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I saw the nurse at my GPs on Monday and she said the GTT indicated that I have Impaired Glucose Tolerance. The fasting count was 6.9 and the one after the sugary drink was 10.9.
The nurse told me to continue with the diet and exercise and she will call me in for a blood pressure check in 6 months and a fasting blood test in a year. I asked about getting a glucose monitor or at least the strips on prescription and was told that there was 'no chance' due to 'NHS financial constraints'.
She was adamant that monitoring is not viable or necessary because it won't make any difference to the diet & exercise advice / regime.
As it happens I have already bought a monitor, but the strips are pretty expensive, especially when using several each day.
To be honest I found the whole appointment quite disappointing - I thought a diagnosis one way or the other would at least mean a care plan with regular monitoring i.e. positive action and plenty of advice.
However I just got the usual 'go away and lose weight' message. I have lost 10 lbs and got my fasting glucose down from 7.9 to 7.0 and then 6.9 after a month on the GL diet. This is the first time I have stuck to a diet /exercise regime for more than four weeks and I was fairly pleased until she referred to it as 'a little bit' of weight loss.
It felt quite demoralising and a bit of a let down. Glad I have you people to talk to 🙂

First of all congratulations on your fantastic weight loss 🙂
Testing......... have a look on amazon there are very cheap meters on there plus test strips.
With your test result of 10.9 after 2 hours and diabetic is 11 I would count that as diabetic and treat yourself as such.
Was the nurse called Nurse gloom or doom?

 

[Northerner]

...I asked about getting a glucose monitor or at least the strips on prescription and was told that there was 'no chance' due to 'NHS financial constraint'.
She was adamant that monitoring is not viable or necessary because it won't make any difference to the diet & exercise advice / regime.
It felt quite demoralising and a bit of a let down. Glad I have you people to talk to 🙂

Well done on your great weight loss! 🙂 I think it is such a shame when the people who are supposedly looking after us act like in this manner Little wonder tat so many people are left feeling down and worried when they are given such scant advice. Of course testing makes a difference, how else would she suggest you learn your tolerance of different foods and in what quantities? And she's wrong about the financial aspect too - better control gained through better knowledge leads to much lower risk of complications which can be far more complicated and expensive to treat.

The SD Codefree Meter has test strips that are only ?6.99 for 50 - a few of our members have used it and found it to be OK.

Keep up your good work! 🙂