To think it’s possible I have diabetes

[Dustlandcinderella]

I’ve been feeling poorly post Covid. Not I’ll enough to be off work but just a bit blah.

GP sent me for blood tests and at next appointment told me they were all fine last week

But today I got a letter from the GP telling me to contact the nurse for a fasting blood test.

I’ve never been asked to go for a second blood test: is it possible that they think I have diabetes

The fasting blood test may also be to see how you process glucose. Have you been asked to do a Glucose Tolerance Test? (GTT?) Your GP may be suspicious that you have pre-diabetes or insulin-resistance. If that happens to be the result, it is much better to find out now, as it is manageable with diet and exercise (and occasionally medication if needed)

If they suspected Diabetes they would label it a Glucose Tolerance Test not just a fasting test. You have to fast for most blood tests for most conditions, so it sounds like yours is just a 'general' blood test, probably a second run of the original tests.

@VelvetChairGirl

they check diabetes in your piss, you would be pissing sugar.

Don't be so dogmatic. Blood is the best indicator of glucose levels. Why do you think those with diabetes prick themselves 3-5 times a day or wear blood glucose monitors. Or go for regular HbA1c tests, which are also diagnostic...

Just a quick note - HbA1c is used to monitor type 1 and type 2 diabetes but should not be used on its own to diagnose type 1. The onset, particularly in children, is often so rapid that looking at what is essentially an ‘average’ blood glucose over several months could mask the diagnosis.

[quote Dustlandcinderella]@hazelnutlatte. I’ve just read the letter again! It just states “fasting blood test” I’ve just assumed it’s for diabetes.

I had gestational diabetes and my dad has type 2 diabetes despite never being overweight: I also take meds which increase the risk of diabetes so that’s why I’m a bit worried![/quote]
If you had GD, it's in your family and you haven't made significant lifestyle changes post partum then you will mostly likely develop type 2 diabetes at some point.
I say this as some with GD right now.

So it may well be t2 diabetes

Just clarifying regarding urine tests and diabetes - sugar in the urine means diabetes that is poorly controlled - so if we dip urine in a non diabetic and find glucose then we are going to suspect T1 diabetes, and we would need to investigate urgently. Diagnosis would still be via blood tests, and ongoing monitoring would be via blood tests too.
We do test urine in known diabetics too - we check for glucose but the main reason for doing this is to check for protein in the urine, as that indicates that the kidneys are struggling.

[quote MilkItTilITurnItIntoCheese]@hazelnutlatte

I’ve just had blood tests and my HbA1c came back at 5.7. Dr specifically said I’m not diabetic but (and I know I shouldn’t!) Googling suggests 5.7 May be on the cusp of pre diabetes. What would you say?[/quote]
We use a different numbering system for hba1c so I've just looked this up - this is equivalent to hba1c of 39 so top end of normal range. I would say that you are at risk of developing diabetes in the future. At this stage some dietary changes would be a good idea - cutting down on processed foods and processed carbs eg biscuits and crisps, pastries, ready meals and takeaways etc, and reduce bread especially white bread.

OP - this is what I think is happening with your blood tests.
You were unwell so had some blood tests. All were fine. Nobody checked your blood sugar or cholesterol - if feeling unwell they probably checked full blood count, b12, iron levels, thyroid.
The person who reviewed your blood tests spotted that you had gestational diabetes and thought it would be sensible to check blood sugar and cholesterol levels so they have invited you back for a further test.
Anyone who had gestational diabetes is at high risk of developing diabetes in the future. Until you get your blood test results there's no way of knowing any more than that.

I know whenever I’ve had full bloods at my GPS it’s automatically fasting bloods so they do a full check. I would think they found nothing remarkable in your results, spotted GD in your history when reviewing, figured they’d better check fasting bloods. (I do work in pharma so have a rough idea!)

Could be glucose, but could also be testing for lipids/cholesterol or Iron levels as well. They're probably just being thorough, but if you are diabetic then it's better to know than not!

You sound quite stressed.

I agree, and as any diabetic will tell you, stress can cause blood sugar levels to go up. That could quite easily account for a one-off test result of 5.7, which is only at the top end of normal, particularly if you had eaten fairly soon before.

Very well could be diabetes. They have to have at least 2 tests to make a diagnosis for type 2 at least, so could either be 2 checks of your hba1c (which give a rough average for the last 2-3 months but is more weighted towards the most recent month) or one of those and one other eg fasting or tolerance test.