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What does this mean anyway??

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Purplerain2108

New Member
Hi all,

I had a fasting blood test today as I was worried that I have diabetes (type 2)
The results are back already and the go receiptionisr rang me and said that my hba1c levels are normal but my glucose isn’t so I need to have a nurse appointment
She couldn’t give me any more info than that, how is this possible? I am
So confused lik
 
Welcome to the forum Purple Rain.
Purplerain2108 said:
go receiptionisr rang me and said that my hba1c levels are normal but my glucose isn’t so
Click to expand...
That confuses me. HbA1c is your glucose levels. Well, an average covering 8 - 12 weeks.
 
Well the HbA1c test finds out how much glucose has become stuck to your red blood cells over the last 3 months - so if you had to high blood glucose for too long during those months, it would have adhered itself to the red blood cells - which apparently it hasn't done.

However, the Blood glucose at the time the blood was physically removed from your arm, was not OK. Had you eaten or drunk anything not long before having that blood taken?
 
They often do a BG as well as an HbA1c, Ralph - it's the same as a spot check we do ourselves from a fingerprick amount of blood on a 'meter' at home - but done in the lab rather than at home, and using (Obviously!) a larger amount of blood.

As you know and @Purplerain2108 doesn't yet, having one 'spot check BG higher than normal does NOT mean you have diabetes - so requires further checking to see if it was a one-off event - or what?
 
Diabetes causes your levels to be constantly high, without some form of treatment, because you are either not producing enough insulin or resistant to it. The HbA1c test reveals your average levels, with diabetes usually diagnosed on the basis of this.

You are unlikely to be diabetic if your levels are not usually high, as this means you must be both producing and using insulin properly.

However things like infections, illness, and various medications can all cause temporary high glucose levels. Why were you being tested? I would guess it is not too serious if you need to see a nurse instead of a doctor. There may be something in your medical history that would explain having current high levels.
 
Purplerain2108 said:
my hba1c levels are normal but my glucose isn’t so I need to have a nurse appointment
Click to expand...

Did they specify whether ‘not normal’ was high or low?
What symptoms had led you to worry you might have diabetes?
 
It was the receptionist that told me, and said that that all my bloods my normal I sure she said the hc1ab was normal but the glucose was high... I rang her back then to ask the exact numbers but said she couldn’t give them as she only a receptionist.. so I will be ringing my go tomorrow to ask,.. I had the bloods as I suspected diabetes so that’s what they were looking for... and no I hadn’t eaten anythig for 12 hours before the blood test. I tested my own blood glucose this morning before the blood test and it was 9 after 12 hour fast, and I’ve been checking them several time’s a day for a month and the lowest they been on my home monitor is 8 ( hence why I was having the blood test) so I am a little confused right now..
 
Hmm, will be interesting to see what the actual results were and what the GP thinks. Do let us know how you get on tomorrow.
 
LucyDUK said:
Did they specify whether ‘not normal’ was high or low?
What symptoms had led you to worry you might have diabetes?
Click to expand...


they said they high.

I am overweight and have thyroid issues so my endocrinologist alwaystells me to keep a close eye on myself incase of diabetes.well the last couple months I had a cut that took ages to heal and that coupled with waking more often in night to use bathroom sparked myconcern.. so started testing with a at home meter, and I have done thisconsistently for 4 week on waking, before watching , 2 hours after eating and before bed and they are always high so that’s why the doctor asked for a blood test xx
 
LucyDUK said:
Hmm, will be interesting to see what the actual results were and what the GP thinks. Do let us know how you get on tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Yes I will let you know, I’m wondering now if I misheard the hcba1 and maybe she said that hb levels? Lol is that a thing,?? Also it is a diabetic nurse I have been booked in with thays whts confusing me more than anything xx
 
Oh yes, interesting that is DSN you’re seeing. I wonder if levels were in pre-diabetes range which could sort of explain it. If the receptionist wasn’t quite clear with what she was telling you, which is possible as will be relaying information given rather than knowing too much about that information herself.
 
Are you anaemic at all? That could mean your HbA1c is lower than one-off results would suggest.
 
An Hb level is a thing, and it is a very common test. It is given as part of a full blood count (FBC) test.

Hb refers to haemoglobin, the proteins in red blood cells which contain iron and carry oxygen. They are what glucose attaches to, as trophywrench described.

And anaemia, which can have many causes, is a deficiency of haemoglobin. So it is diagnosed by having a low Hb level.

Incidentally, HbA1c breaks down into two parts. HbA is Haemoglobin A, which makes up the majority to all of someone's haemoglobin. The 1c means those HbA proteins which have been been glycated (combined with a sugar) specifically with D-glucose, which is also known as dextrose.
 
I get so bored with purples and yellows all the time that it is nice to provide a serum glucose level, as it means I get to enjoy a grey top for a change.

When I was diagnosed I remember having to do a urine ketone test at the surgery, to determine my type, as my fasting glucose level came back high. What I only just discovered is they tested it as part of a C-peptide and GAD test. I guess they did that because I was not overweight, as it came after two HbA1c tests. The first as part of a panel to diagnose joint pain, then a second immediately to confirm the first one.

I had always assumed the glucose level was done as a routine part of the original panel.

Incidentally, and sorry to divert purplerain2018's thread, the blood tests never did diagnose the pain. And nor did x-rays, so I was feeling very paranoid when I had to return to the rheumatologist. But they did an ultrasound and I felt so happy when they said they were finding damage! But now I am feeling the same paranoia about my upcoming appointment with the diabetes clinic, because I feel like I did not fail my latest C-peptide test by enough to properly settle things one way or the other.
 
Becka said:
An Hb level is a thing, and it is a very common test. It is given as part of a full blood count (FBC) test.

Hb refers to haemoglobin, the proteins in red blood cells which contain iron and carry oxygen. They are what glucose attaches to, as trophywrench described.

And anaemia, which can have many causes, is a deficiency of haemoglobin. So it is diagnosed by having a low Hb level.

Incidentally, HbA1c breaks down into two parts. HbA is Haemoglobin A, which makes up the majority to all of someone's haemoglobin. The 1c means those HbA proteins which have been been glycated (combined with a sugar) specifically with D-glucose, which is also known as dextrose.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this info Becka. I had never questioned what the letters and numbers stood for before all I wanted was my result. Very interesting.
 
I'd check anything the receptionist tells me with someone who's medically qualified before panicking about it.
Let us know what the DN or the GP says.
 
Welcome to the forum @Purplerain2108

Hope you get to the bottom of your conundrum, and that it doesn’t cause you too much anxiety and worry in the meantime 🙂
 
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