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Non diabetic high blood sugars

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Ruben-Finn

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At risk of diabetes
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Hi

Some years ago I was told I had pre-diabetes so purchased a blood glucose monitor, I didn’t get any unusual results at the time so stopped checking, the last check I did check must be 1-2years ago and it was ok.
Recently over the last 2 weeks I’ve been feeling crappy due to having a cold/flu and sore throat, my mouth is so dry in the night it wakes me up and I have no saliva to swallow so I’ve been taking drinks to bed with me, anyway this prompted me to do a sugar check yesterday morning before eating and the reading was 12.8, I then had some toast and rechecked it a few hours later and it had gone up to 18.
So you think my sugars are just high due to a possible infection? Or maybe now have diabetes?
Appreciate any advice, I’ve not seen the doctor as it’s the weekend so shut and now Xmas holidays are here too so they’ll be shut then too.
Thanks
Regards
Mark
 
As its the weekend try 111 see wot they say as your BG sugars sholdt be that high
 
Are your test strips in date, if you have not used them for 2years they will be out of date.
 
@grovesy …. Thanks, I ordered some more yesterday and will be delivered today so will recheck it later, I’m hoping I’m worrying about nothing.
@gail2 thankyou, I’ll check it again later and then if it’s still high will seek professional advice.
 
Hi @Ruben-Finn and welcome to the forum.

For me the best thing is to see a GP as soon as it can be arranged, explain your symptoms, and I would expect them to organise an HbA1c test. That will tell you whether the readings you have are something short term or indicative of a longer term problem. Once you have that you can work out where to go. Better than fretting in my book.

Week-end/holidays will slow things down and there is not a lot (unless you are very privileged) you can do about it.
 
May be worth cutting back on the carbs until you can get tested?
 
Hello @Ruben-Finn, T2 risk is not my strong "field", but having seen your post I'll offer a thought.

Good questions. Either an infection or a drift towards a positive confirmed Diabetes is possible. You could help yourself and your GP in due course by continuing to do some structured fp testing and depending on those results adjust your diet if appropriate. A reading of 18 isn't great (my understatement) but needs to be seen in context, rather than one of a couple of isolated readings.

I agree with @grovesy's comment, check that you have in date strips and be pretty scrupulous initially in making sure you have clean hands (or fingers, at least). It's surprising how one can get rogue results from a casual one-off test. If your strips are too old, sometimes it can be much more cost effective to buy a new meter which uses better value strips; the strips can be continuously costly in relation to the meter cost. Other T2s can advise on the cost effective way of managing fp testing and best value names. I am lucky enough to get my (Rolls Royce) meter with strips in cassettes from prescriptions.

Returning to structured testing: some like to take a daily fp very shortly after waking to get a sense of what your regular daily fasting status is. If you are consistently above 7 or 8 then some response from you and your regular eating patterns would certainly help. How much response will depend on how much above 7 or 8 you regularly are. Then testing immediately before a meal and 2 hrs later gives a good indication of how well your metabolism is managing each meal. You are looking (ideally) to start a meal below 7 and arrive at the 2 hr point within 2.5 to 3 mmol/L higher, but also (ideally) not greater than 8. My experience after almost 5 years is that a single meal result should be repeated and confirmed - good or bad. One-off results give a hint at a potential favourable or unsatisfactory outcome, but not a guarantee.

A different thought is "don't panic". Stay calm, but observant and see what a period of structured testing tells you. I suspect a call to 111 might be premature. You would be better placed to make that call, or contact your GP, if you have some meaningful data that you need to tell them about. Yes, as @Docb says, ultimately you need an HbA1c blood test to get an answer; this test looks at your glycated haemoglobin levels over the last 3 months and is the defined standard for a diagnosis of Diabetes, from a result over 47 mmol/mol. 42 - 47 is the range for prediabetes - an early warning signal that D is possible, but not yet an official diagnosis. Note the HbA1c units are different to fp tests and fps only give a result at one moment of how much glucose is in your blood, not the level of glycation.
 
@Proud to be erratic thank you for the help and information, I’ve got some new fp strips coming today, I’ll do as you say and maybe keep a note of food intake as well as fp results, at least then I’ve got some info to present to my GP.
Thanks again
Regards
Mark
 
Ruben-Finn said:
@Docb , thank you for the advice, I will try and get booked in asap.
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Hope you have a well organised surgery!

Let us know what results you get from your new test strips. If they show BG's in double figures don't panic. Ups the probability that you have moved up the diabetes scale but you need the Hba1c to see where you are. If it turns out that you have done so then we are around to help you work through the things you might do.

Personally I would not be worrying 111 or trying diet adjustments in the middle of a festive holiday. Get the HbA1c as soon as it can be done bearing in mind the holidays and go from there would be my plan.
 
Ruben-Finn said:
@Tdm …. But is Xmas lol
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Yes but just because it is Christmas, it's not worth putting yourself at risk by overdoing on the carbs which could result in even higher blood glucose and causing you to feel even more thirsty and unwell.
You could also get some ketone urine dip sticks from the pharmacy as high blood glucose and ketones put you at risk of DKA.
 
I think it is worth considering that whilst Type 2 is the most common type of diabetes, this could be Type 1 developing and perhaps the illness has been a trigger. I would keep testing and if you are regularly seeing levels in the mid teens then I would certainly moderate your carb intake until after the holiday season, when you can get a GP appointment. If your levels head up into the mid 20s or above and won't come down with plenty of water and whatever walking or other gentle exercise you can do, then you should certainly consider emergency medical assistance. Uncontrolled Type 1 diabetes could well land you in hospital and DKA (Diabetic KetoAcidosis) can develop fast and if not treated fast, can result in organ damage and coma or in worst case scenario, death, although that is rare. Whilst it is unlikely that it is Type 1, if it is even diabetes at all, as we don't know at this stage, you should not rule out the possibility and try to keep yourself safe. If you are able, it might be useful to get some Ketostix which you can dip in your urine to test for ketones when your Blood Glucose (BG) levels are persistently mid teens or above. They are about a fiver for a pot of 50 and can be bought over the counter at pharmacies. If ketones develop with BG levels in the mid teens then it is important to seek urgent medical assistance. If you start to feel ill with any of the symptoms of DKA.... nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain or respiratory difficulties and particularly if your breath starts to spell fruity or like pear drops.... get to A&E pronto. This might be overkill info, but at Christmas when we are often tempted to splurge on high carb foods, this could easily push your system over the tipping point, especially if you are already ill. The fact that you have the extremely dry mouth thirst is concerning but with levels mid teens (assuming your test strips are giving accurate readings) your kidneys will start to work overtime to remove glucose via urine and as a result you feel thirsty and need the loo more. Please avoid high carb drinks in this situation and stick to water as much as possible to help your body flush the excess glucose out.

We are here to answer any questions or concerns you have if things don't get better and you are genuinely getting such high readings when checked with new test strips or they go higher. I think it is difficult for anyone who hasn't experienced DKA to appreciate how quickly it can come on and how serious it is, but in a situation like this where you have symptoms and apparently high BG levels and you are unwell with an illness, it can happen and you need to be prepared or at least aware of what to look out for.
Hope this info is overkill and you have a wonderful festive season, but forewarned is forearmed.
Another thought might be to try your test strips out on a non diabetic friend or family member to see if they give normal "in range" readings for them. Ideally do a fasting test on them rather than after a big meal, so that you can hopefully see if the strips will give readings of 4-6 and then check yourself again straight after.
 
The thirst and dry mouth could be associated with BG readings over 10mmol/L which is the point at which your kidneys would usually start to try flushing out the excess by making you wee more, which can result in dehydration ans a pretty raging thirst.


It’s really unfortunate timing with the festive season, but do keep an eye on things @Ruben-Finn, and keep yourself safe :care:
 
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