Could someone please give me some advice?

[RhubarbAndRoses]

I had gestational diabetes last year. It was very bad, I was on a lot of insulin and my DD had to be delivered 5 weeks early.

Three months after she was born I had my HbA1c test. It came back fine. Result was 22. Since Christmas I haven’t been feeling so great. Night sweats every night, dry mouth, thirsty all the time. I started checking my sugar levels at home a few weeks ago. My fasting levels have been consistently over 7 every morning for weeks. I contacted my GP two weeks ago and we did the HbA1c test again. It was 36. I was told that’s fine and that home testing isn’t reliable.

The last week has been awful. I am exhausted, the night sweats are horrendous. My last four fasting levels first thing in the morning were 10.4, 13.1, 9.9 and 12.0.

This isn’t normal is it? My GP has told me I’m fine and that I should stop testing at home. We’ll repeat the HbA1c in 6 months.

What should I do?

Anyone?

Hi @RhubarbAndRoses

I think you need to keep pushing with the doctors. Could you see a different one at the practice? Glucose monitors aren’t necessarily 100% accurate but will only be 15% out either way so taking this into account your levels are still high.
Your HB1AC also seems to have gone up a lot in quite a short time so I would see this as a flag along with your symptoms.
I hope you get some help.

Insist that the GP investigate further.
I had Gestational Diabetes with my second child, and a year later I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

A fasting BG of 13 in the morning is NOT normal.

And as for home testing kits being "unreliable" ...what they hell does he think we T1s base all of our insulin decisions on - they're pretty reliable! Perhaps consider buying another BG monitor and compare the readings? I expect they'll be pretty similar.

I’m another one who had GD and was later diagnosed as T1. Antidotally, it isn’t uncommon.

No, your waking blood glucose shouldn’t be 13 or even 7. And home testing is what I do 8 or more times a day, it better bloody not be pointless!

You need a blood test for antibodies to confirm whether you are T1. It is entirely possible to have a normal hb1ac and have T1 antibodies. In adults the progression of T1 can be gradual - have a look at LADA or T1.5.

@RhubarbAndRoses

I had gestational diabetes last year. It was very bad, I was on a lot of insulin and my DD had to be delivered 5 weeks early.

Three months after she was born I had my HbA1c test. It came back fine. Result was 22. Since Christmas I haven’t been feeling so great. Night sweats every night, dry mouth, thirsty all the time. I started checking my sugar levels at home a few weeks ago. My fasting levels have been consistently over 7 every morning for weeks. I contacted my GP two weeks ago and we did the HbA1c test again. It was 36. I was told that’s fine and that home testing isn’t reliable.

The last week has been awful. I am exhausted, the night sweats are horrendous. My last four fasting levels first thing in the morning were 10.4, 13.1, 9.9 and 12.0.

This isn’t normal is it? My GP has told me I’m fine and that I should stop testing at home. We’ll repeat the HbA1c in 6 months.

What should I do?

Drop out the carbs and see if it makes a difference to your numbers.

I'd be pushing everyday! Those numbers are not good for fasting and as a PP said , how unreliable are they claiming BG meters are? Is t1s are using them all the time to make really important dosing decisions!

I heard a GP say recently that those who have had gestational diabetes have a 1:2 chance of becoming type 1 diabetic, so I’d keep pushing your GP. Perhaps see a different one.

Are there any NICE guidelines around testing/diagnosis/referral parameters? I read so often about GPs refusing to engage or listen and often the advice on here is to look up the NICE guidelines and quote them.
I am so thankful I have a really good GP. I have friends and neighbours who have had awful problems with a neighbouring practice.