Diabetes or hypochondriac?

[Toothspots]

I will preface this by saying I have major health anxiety, all my stresses manifest as health issues
I’ve had some quirky symptoms recently but I’ve been under a lot of stress
drinking a lot
weeing a lot
feeling wiped out
a weird almost fainting episode at work
aching feet

i put the symptoms into ChatGPT (nightmare for a hypochondriac) and it said diabetes. Low and behold i go to buy a glucose monitor.

last night the reading was 7.8 (3 hours after eating) reading this morning is 6.2.

Can anyone who is actually diabetic or knowledgeable about diabetes tell me this isn’t a cause for concern please?

Those blood glucose readings are absolutely fine.

Those readings are fine.

Thank you, apparently those are outside of the normal range

If you were diabetic, without treatment, those values would be a lot higher. Worry not!

Nope both in normal range, 7.8 is high normal range.

You may be becoming prediabetic though for type two, just keep a eye on it

If you're concerned about these symptoms, go and see your GP. Stop googling and testing yourself, you need proper medical advice!

Put it this way on diagnosis my blood glucose was 23. You’re fine. BG readings fluctuate in non diabetics but your pancreas will sort it out for you.

Ask ChatGPT if that's your goto for medical advice or your pharmacist or better yet get checked by your GP for your symptoms.

No they aren't.

Do you genuinely understand when to test bloods and how the time, food and drink your had etc can affect readings? If not, step away from this as you're not going to get the outcome you're seeking.

They are pretty perfect readings, you can reassured you don’t have diabetes, go see your doctor about the symptoms and ask for a referral to a therapist to address the heath anxiety.

A fasting glucose of 6.2 is not fine at all. OP was your morning reading before having eaten or drunk anything overnight? If so you’re outside of normal range and it’d be worth speaking to your GP.

Thank you all - I do realise I’m being ridiculous

@bumblebeedum it was first thing this morning after not eating for 11 hours

So, the reassuring part is these readings are not scary and you are definitely not in an urgent problem or about to be diagnosed with Type 1 (which can be an emergency).

The less reassuring part is that these levels are just a little high. Not a lot at all, and actually I am surprised a bit that you are feeling thirst symptoms at this level. But I would say it is possible you could be inching your way into type 2 diabetes and hence it might be worth a check up with your GP. But not in a stressed out way!

Agree with this. It's not right to say the readings are absolutely fine. Blood glucose shouldn't be elevated three hours after a meal. Fasting glucose should be lower than around 5.5 in a non-diabetic.

Of course these are not Type 1 diabetes numbers. I caught my DD's type 1 really early and she was sitting at 14 mmol/L on her first test at the GP.

However I'd take it a sign of insulin resistance potentially developing, lose weight and reduce carbs.

@PostmanPatAlwaysRingsTwice i probably should have mentioned, I’m 5’7, 9.5 stone around a size 8/10. Do HIIT workouts at least 3 times a week, lots of walking and also eat very healthily. I don’t really eat sugary food or bread/pasta. The only thing I eat a lot of is rice. Could that still be a sign of type 2?

The way to find out whether someone has T2 or is pre-diabetic is to have a blood test for HbA1c levels. Testing for T1 is a bit more involved I think.

I'm pre-diabetic and have none of the symptoms you describe.

It sounds like your weight and lifestyle aren’t putting you at high risk of T2 but the only way to know is to go to the GP. You’d need an HbA1c which shows blood glucose over the last three months.

For T1 diagnosis as well as a high BG there is an antibody test to show the immune system has damaged the pancreas.

T2 can just happen regardless of lifestyle, it can be genetic and largely is. My kid on diagnosis was 110mmol so your readings are definitely normal.
Either way you’re not diabetic so no need to worry maybe your just coming down with something.

Why on earth are you asking medically unqualified people on mumsnet instead of your own doctor? Go and ask for proper blood tests if you are concerned.