Bllod test for something else , told Blood Glucose level of 14.3mol, what does this mean?

[IzzieD68]

I went for my annual medication review as I am on ramipril and bisoprolol to control high blood pressure, which it dZoe's.

I get very anxious about any type of medical visit and test, so when I saw the Health Care Assistant , I said I was there for just Liver and kidney function blood tests.

After she took the sample I just asked to check what she had done, and she had also done a blood glucose test. This was without my consent, and I was very upset . I didn't say anything at the time as I was too shocked about what the HCA had done.
I had gestational diabetes when my daughter was born in 2008 and have been tested since and have been told that I am pre diabetic.
I have known there was a risk of becoming diabetic but did not expect to be tested against my will on this occasion.
Today, the health centre have phoned to say my reading was 14.3 mol but that it was not a H1BC test . So what kind of glucose test was it? The receptionist didn't know. They now want me to have a fasting glucose test.
I would rather hold off from this to try and lose weight first before risking being confirmed as being officially diagnosed as Diabetic . Can I do this?

I am a little over weight but my main issue right now is anxiety and I think further testing is not going to help me. Is it possible that this 'test' I have had is showing a false result? And if 14.3 is a diabetic reading, as anyone successfully brought their levels down to non diabetic ones?

I am very stressed and confused about what to do as I don't want to start on a ladder of further interventions without trying to help myself first with lifestyle changes.

The HCa would simply be taking what the doctor or nurse had asked for, she wouldn’t be making the decision.
You had agreed with the doctor, nurse to have bloods done and there may be a clinical reason why they have requested them.
It is possible you may have diabetes or pre diabetes and given that it can sometimes go hand in hand with high blood pressure, being overweight and not to mention you had gestational diabetes, that may be why it was checked especially if maybe your blood pressure isn’t currently well controlled.

Your GP should check your hba1c level which is a test for diabetes. It measures how much glucose in the blood over a three both period. This will confirm whether you have diabetes or not.
The best thing you could do is exercise and lose weight to reduce your risks. Try to stay positive and focus x

NICE guidelines state that those who have had gestational diabetes should be checked annually. If you already have pre diabetes you should be being seen more than that.

This would have been a random glucose test and 14 really is quite high. An hba1c will give you a much better idea of what's going on. A fasting glucose test should not be used to diagnose and therefore I suspect that's why they want you to have one. I'm sorry to say that it will probably confirm type 2 diabetes and it's so important that you get these tests done.

Lifestyle changes can definitely help but it's a slow process and you may well need something else to help you. Like I said it's hard to tell on a random glucose (can you remember what you had eaten that morning?)

Hi WreckTangled
Thank you for your reply. I did return to the GP who wanted me to have the HBa1C test, but I have decided against having this done- for now. I know they will be looking to confirm that I have type 2 diabetes and rather than start on a path of ever greater interventions, I have started on a low carb , low calorie diet to try and improve my blood glucose levels.

I suffer greatly with health anxiety and find medical appointments extremely difficult. I also know from my husband's work in the Health Service, that GPs get paid for doing such tests and are less keen on anything preventative. Such is the system!

I have bought myself a blood glucose monitor, and even before my low carb diet started, (i.e. the next day!) my blood readings were less than half of those shown by the test at the practice, not 'normal' as such but in the pre-diabetic range and not in the diabetic . I was stunned at the reading of 14 mol as this was double what it should have been.

I also feel violated that this test was done, without my consent. I had gone in with one set of forms, to have a blood test done to check my kidney and liver function. I told the Nurse what I had come for and with out my knowledge, she did another test.

As a point of principle, whatever tests may or may not be necessary, it still comes down to patient consent. This was never given and I feel the Nurse stepped outside her remit. I feel very upset about it and it has unfortunately made my anxiety and trust levels far, far worse.

I have a young son, so want to look after myself and so if losing weight doesn't improve my blood glucose levels, I will of course take further action, As it is, I have said to my GP that I will return for a further blood glucose check on these levels in 6 months.

All this has left me reeling and feeling very down.

The nurse and the lab will only do the tests printed on the request forms. Handwritten additions will not be accepted. So the doctor who printed the forms must have included the blood glucose on there.
I have had the opposite happen to me when the doctor has made an omission and I have had to book a second test and have another sample drawn. It is annoying.

I can't really see the point of what you're doing. Not having the test doesn't mean you're not diabetic (if you are). It just means you won't get the help you need, the eye checks, the foot checks. All of which are very important. You can still work to improve things, it's not either or. But denial isn't the answer.

I’m sorry Op, but I agree with Rockbird - it sounds as if you are in denial

If you have it, you have it. Shitty genetics and the luck of the draw. But being an ostrich won’t help - and without the support of the dr, you might be tempted to slip or ignore it for longer than could be good for you.

You’re freaking out and focussing on the wrong things. This is your anxiety running the show.

Agree with everyone above. Also yes the GP's get paid for doing certain tests, it's how they make their money, how else would they continue to be open? It doesn't mean they won't be trying to help you at the same time, no medical professional goes into the job for the money believe me.

You need help.

5= ok. More than 8 and dh will take insulin to get it down fast to prevent damage.

I was visiting a friend in hospital. More than half the beds were occupied by diabetic complications, amputations, blindness. It was horrific. kidney function also strongly affected by diabetes.

You can avoid all that but not by going it alone. How to treat your diabetes can be tailor made for you.

Get all the help you can as soon as you can.

Also try diabetes uk.

And good luck ...my dad stayed off medication for years by diet and exercise,. He also did regular sugar tests though.

Burying your head in the sand is not going to help I’m afraid OP. Untreated diabetes can cause terrible complications and can ultimately kill. You may find that you can control your diabetes with diet and lifestyle changes but this should be done under medical supervision, let the doctors help you!

I was diagnosed as diabetic Just over three months ago, with a result of 11.2% (this equates to an Hba1c of 99) which is very high. I’m not sure why you have so much angst over the fact that this was tested but if you have been given a result of 14.2% I think you need to face the fact that you have been diagnosed diabetic and start on the path to changing things to deal with that, along with the medical interventions that will help.

I was shocked when I was given the diagnosis, it took a day to sink in then I started researching how to make diet changes alongside the medication offered. I started using an app to count calories, carb and fat intake and had a frenzied cupboard clear out of biscuits and cake which really got me in the right frame of mind!

I just got the results of of my first post diagnosis test yesterday - my level has come down to 6.8% (Hba1c of 51) in just over 3 months. I’ve also lost just over 2.5 stone. I was useless with dieting in the past so I wouldn’t say it’s been dead easy but it’s not been a struggle to do either.

The diabetes nurse I saw thinks I stand a good chance of getting down into the prediabetes levels (6-6.4%) and possibly into the non diabetic ones. So to answer your question, yes this is possible!

My best advice is to face it head on, embrace the idea that you have this condition but that you can do something about it right now. Good luck

There's not a lot a GP can do that's preventative of diabetes. They can give general healthy lifestyle advice, that's it. (And we all know how receptive most people are to that.) Executing it is your job.

You are sticking your head in the sand here and it is very dangerous. You cannot manage this on your own without testing. If you need to seek support for the anxiety to get you ready to go back for the proper blood testing, do it. But you are fooling yourself if you think you can just change your diet and go on the way you are.

Sorry should have added that if my level has reduced at the next check up, it looks like I’ll be able to reduce or stop the medication although obviously will need to maintain the changes I’ve made to how and what I eat.