How bad is blood sugar level 65? Is that very high?

[Greensleeves]

Just had a call about blood results, the receptionist who called said she'd been asked to call because the sugar is too high, she's not clinically trained but she said the number is 65. Earliest appointment available is mid-February so I won't get any more information until then.

Is 65 worryingly high?

I think normal blood sugar levels are between 4 and 8

If you are in the UK then yes I believe that’s high.

Can you get a test from your local pharmacy? Tonight?

It can’t be 65 unless they have changed how they measure it in the last 10 years since I left nursing! Maybe 6.5? 4-7 is normal.

That is dangerously high - you need to be seen much much sooner than that.

Where are you from OP?

6.5 or 65?

65, not 6.5?

65 is dangerously high, you would be seriously ill and need to be in hospital if you aren't there already.

6.5 - she's just telling you the result.

She said "I'm not clinically trained, but the number is sixty five"

Could she just be reading the wrong number?

If it was 65 you would feel very ill indeed. I think you've misheard.

You would be in hospital with a BS of 65. My DS almost died and was in high dependency at 37.

Are you in UK Greensleeves?

I am in the UK. I have T2 diabetes which was very mild and well--controlled with Metformin, had my annual check and blood taken yesterday

There are different diabetic measurements. That is from a blood test which will look at past couple of months of blood sugar. Over 48 mmol is considered an issue. Don't panic, it's not a reading that you'd be in immediate danger but it is elevated. Diabetes Uk offer good blood results info and advice. The mention above of between 4 and 8 is a totally different scale, usually taken on an instead reader blood sugar test. I hope that helps!

Definitely not misheard - she said sixty five

I would guess it's a case of them using mg/dL rather than mmol/L?

It completely depends.

65 elephants?

If it’s nmol/l it’s incredibly high. If it’s mg/dl it’s on the low side.

65 without units is utterly meaningless. If they don’t want to see you urgently i very much doubt it’s nmol/l. You’d likely be in a hyperglycaemic coma anyway.

Was it a HBA1C test? In which case 65 is high, ideal is 42-47 but nit dramatic as in hospitalization.

It’s glycated haemoglobin which is a measure of long term blood sugar control. A normal one is 38 or below. So clearly there is something up. I’d insist on an earlier appointment. Do you have any symptoms? Peeing a lot, drinking more, blurry eyes?

Probably an hba1c result. 48 and under is pre diabetes, 49-55 managed diabetes, above needs work/meds/change of med. Don't panic, but do see he doc. In the meantime, low carb it and up the activity.

Oh! Cross posted! It’s too high, you need different medication.

It’s glycated haemoglobin which is a measure of long term blood sugar control

How do you know that? Without units or reference range there’s know way to know.

My personal bugbear, no units! Could be 65 flying monkeys :)

When the receptionist says “not clinically trained” what she means is “i don’t know enough to even realise units are necessary when giving results”

Is it your hb1ac result?

That's from a HBA1C test.... anything over 48 and you'd be considered diabetic. Mine was around 75 when I was first diagnosed, and I managed to lower it with diet for around 3 years but I'm now on Metformin. Don't panic, you're not in any immediate danger with it - that's the average reading from your last 3 months. Google the test and you should find out more.

My last one was 42 on medication.

As a pp has said this is a test called HbA1C which gives a more long term (~3 month) picture of what blood sugars are doing. Normal is less than 48 so 65 is higher than ideal. I suspect they will review your medications and see if dose of metformin needs changing