Blood sugars non diabetic

[Questionsquestions121]

Hi,

I had hba1c done in March and it was ok. I have been feeling unwell and yesterday fasting my level was 8.7 and today 9.8 after food 10.9

im wondering if I should just monitor or pay for a private hba1c (doctors pretty hopeless).

DH keeps an eye on his blood sugars because his DM had T2 diabetes. A while ago we both did the zoe thing and so has a continuous glucose monitor - we both have the same ok HbA1c value but his peaks and troughs on the CGM were much more extreme than mine. The trouble with the HbA1c is that it detects a sort of average.

you might want to consider using a CGM to see how eating what and when affects your levels.

Go get it rechecked, are you washing your hands before you check?

Problem with CGMs is that you must still use a glucometer alongside as they arent always accurate. Many diabetics have died due to not checking cgms.

Yes I wash my hands. I have family members with diabetes they were the ones that said to get in checked in March. Can anyone recommend a private blood test? The doctors are a bit hopeless at the moment.

Since its been nearly 9 months you can request the GP to do another.

I did attempt to ask last week but they booked my thyroid as said it was fine last time. It’s hard work with the size of the practice at the moment. Hence me thinking it’s easier to arrange myself.

Or try Boots:
https://onlinedoctor.boots.com/hba1c-home-test-kit

If you suspect your blood sugar is out of control, cut out carbohydrates (sugar) for a few days and see how you feel.

True, but they might give the op a better idea of what’s going on than an HbA1c which seems like a very blunt diagnostic measure. According to that the op isn’t diabetic (or presumably prediabetic)

Yes but a lot can change in the space of nine months…

Infections raise blood sugar, so if you feel unwell it is unsurprising if it is raised. What are you monitoring it on?

A glucomen aero. I haven’t been well for months so 🤷‍♀️

Have you been on steroids recently? These can mess up bloods. Also have you sent a urine sample to the GP for a dip test?

I haven’t been on steroids and no I haven’t sent a urine sample. The doctors only do it if you book an appointment (they don’t have any for 2 weeks) 😳

I just went into the doctors and told to contact 111 if it’s an emergency (it isn’t) as doctors have no other appointments 🙈

I am diabetic, I have a CGM and take insulin. Your fasting sugar levels are very high for a non diabetic. My advice qould be to makw a gp appointment ans they should then refer you for an updated HBA1C test. The high sugar levwls are likely making you feel unwell.

Ordered a test from boots. Thanks for the suggestion. It’s just waiting for the clinician to check :)

Thank you. I have ordered one from boots. I have my thyroid test next week so I’ll have the result back by then.

I’m so silly just checked and expiry on the strips was this June so probably not correct readings 🙈 I ordered the test yesterday anyway so guess worth doing anyway 🤷‍♀️

You can get a free HbA1c done in lots of pharmacies OP
It's not that unusual to have an occasional raised glucose levels after food as someone without diabetes. Up to 11.1mmol/l

You can also order a freestyle libre device as a one off from their website which will give you continuous glucose monitoring for 15 days

This was morning fasting I had 11.4 today. I just used the control solution and it is within that range on the strips. I did ask at the pharmacies yesterday but they don’t do tests where I live. I guess worth sending the boots one off and seeing when it arrives :)

At least if the Boots HbA1c comes back as over 48 you will be type 2 diabetic and this will give you leverage to get a GP appointment as you might need medication. I am on Metformin slow release as I can't take the normal Metformin. Good luck and keep us updated.

I was feeling very unwell last summer (2024j but couldn’t get a doctors appt for love nor money, I bought a freestyle Libre sensor on Amazon for about £50 and downloaded the free app,

when it arrived I stuck it on and an hour later it was showing me very very high blood sugar readings, thought it might just need some levelling time so gave it a few hours and it kept telling me I should seek medical advice, called 111 and the GP who called me back told me to get to A&E asap.

4 hrs, an ECG, several vials of blood and enough finger prick tests to leave me bruised and sore and I was officially diagnosed with T2 diabetes, referred to the virtual diabetes clinic, trained on how to give myself injections and sent home with a big back of insulin pens, metformin, testing stuff, an extra free style Libre sensor, a sharps box and a big box of needle tips.

I hope you’re feeling better now and your diabetes is under control?

The boots test is coming tomorrow :) my Dad has the device you mentioned it’s been really good for him. He’s T1. My sister said her levels were similar to the ones I’m getting before her treatment she’s T2 but doing really well now.

I just guess it will be a box ticked to hopefully rule it out or know what’s going on.

I did try and talk to the doctor and she said “why do you drink so much” I said it was due to my mouth being so dry and thirst 🙈 she just recommended electrolytes (I also have very low blood pressure).

I’ll let you know when I get the result. It says 2-3 days after receiving on boots site.

Have you tried adjusting your diet? High in carbs will affect blood sugars.

I am doing so so so much better.

when I first put the CGM on, I was getting readings between 21n/mol and 30n/mol, you are advised that it should be between 6 and 10 - 2 hrs after a meal. My HbA1C was 11.7%, they diagnose diabetes at 6.5%.

I was initially put on insulin and metformin, it helped a bit but did not get my sugars under control, even with basically eliminating carbs from my diet, I was only eating the carbs in green veg and I was still high constantly. So I was put on Mounjaro, which was bloody amazing. Within 6 weeks I dropped the insulin completely, 6 weeks after that I was down to 1 x metformin a day from 4, then I dropped that completely too, I’ve gone from obese to healthy BMI, and my HbA1C is 5.2%, I’m still on Mounjaro and probably will be indefinitely because it is so good at controlling my sugar levels.

my symptoms before being diagnosed were:

• Absolutely knackered all the time
• waking 2-3 times a night to pee
• urgency to pee frequently throughout the day
• swollen feet/ankles
• darkened skin around neck, underarms and groin area
• thirst
• brain fog, I felt dulled like every thought was hard work