Worried I might be pre-diabetic

[Ceriane]

I have had recurring yeast infections for years to the point where Boots will no longer sell me flucanazole because I have had it too often, and more recently I have also had oral thrush for which I am on nystatin. I have heard about Candida overgrowth and I think I definitely have it, although I don’t know why I have got it. I have been feeling extremely tired lately and have noticed that if I eat anything sweet I quite often feel really tired and unwell and my heart races about an hour afterwards. I also often feel dizzy and off balance and just generally not that well. I have regular blood tests and have always been reassured that I am not diabetic. However I went for a wellness check a couple of weeks ago and had a fasting blood test. My blood sugar level was 6 and the nurse said that was normal and because of my BMI and lifestyle questions I was very low risk for diabetes. She told me this quite confidently. I am 41, and I weigh 8 and a half stone and 5 foot 3. However I have since read that anything over 6 is pre diabetes so now I’m really worried??? Am I pre diabetic or just the high end of normal?

Why would you believe strangers on the internet and not the health professionals that know you, your lifestyle and your medical history, and have the actual result from the tests ?

Diabetes isn’t diagnosed based on fingerprick tests. It’s only diagnosed based on a1c (3 month average tests from your arm not finger and tested in a lab).

so if you’ve had that test and it’s normal then you don’t have pre diabetes

@newname
It's not just random strangers on the internet, according to diabetes uk a fasting glucose level should be under 5.5, between 5.6 and 7 is considered to be prediabetic or a sign of impaired glucose tolerance.

Op, have you had an hba1c test? That's a more accurate indicator. If you're really concerned you can get yourself a glucose monitor for not very much and test yourself over a few days.

I'm pre-diabetic and we were told at the course I went on that you shouldn't rely on instant tests like that for T2 as the figure can fluctuate wildly from day to day and even from hour to hour.

The best test for you to have would be HbA1c as a pp says. That looks at the long-term picture and not a snapshot of a moment in time.

You can definitely be of normal weight and have type 2 diabetes.

I think you need to focus on other causes for your poor immunity rather than diabetes, have you been checked for anaemia?

Regardless if you are or aren't, cut out sugar from your diet for a period and see how you feel, I'll warrant you will feel miles better.

Thanks for your replies. It wasn't strangers on the internet, it was diabetes UK website that said that between 5.6 - 7 is pre-diabetic....however the nurse said it was normal, so I'm really confused. I am planning to cut out sugar as much as I can because of the candida. I have blood tests once a year due to ongoing health issues, and it always includes a hba1c test, which they have always said is normal. My issues with candida started years ago following glandular fever/recurring strep infections for which I was on a lot of anti-biotics. I also have issues absorbing vitamin D and B12 and have been slightly anaemic on a couple of occasions. The candida I manage to clear it for a while, but it comes back. I have high strength vitamin D and regular B12 injections. It would make sense why I would have candida, but not why I would have pre-diabetes?

Hi OP i can't help on the pre diabetes, but you can buy 3 packs of flucanazole on amazon for £10 which is much more cost effective than buying branded.

I've used about 9 of them this year plus a handful of pessaries, I totally sympathise.

I am having a load of gynae investigation where they have to use lubrication and every. Single. Time I get thrush a few days later.

Have you had long term treatment for it? I was prescribed a three month course in my 30s which kept it away for a few years very effectively. (I developed it all over after childbirth).

Back again now I'm in peri. I don't like sugary stuff generally apart from fruit. So it's not that. I also feel shaky and heart racing after sugar (such as milk chocolate) which I think is a normal response if you don't often eat sugar.

Have you tried the capsules for balancing your PH https://www.chemist-4-u.com/balance-activ-bv-gel-hygienic-single-use-applicators-7-x-5ml?gclid=Cj0KCQjwsaqzBhDdARIsAK2gqnfxOjBLFlTmJz5CFNom0hh33czls5ZF9rn6I7wIVGL5_z-Ah85UdwsaAh-wEALw_wcB can help with thrush too.

I also wonder if you've checked your thyroid with your bloods? Can make you crave foods and feel tired etc?

Thank you. I think I probably do need to be on more of a long term plan for my constant thrush problems. I think the nystatin has done the job now and cleared up my oral thrush, however I still have vaginal thrush and still feeling tired so I plan on taking some treatment for this. Thank you for the advice on fluconazole, however I am going to ask GP first. I have tried the gels, when I overtreated the yeast infections and ended up with BV for a while (which was 10x worse than thrush.).

You should be able to see your full test results in the nhs app so you can see for yourself what the hba1c level was. If it's normal though, you probably don't have impaired glucose tolerance.
My mum has prediabetes and she's been given fairly shocking advice from the nurse at her practice so I don't think it's unwise to double check what they say!
Have you asked the gp about the recurrent thrush?

As others have said, anyone can have an individual high reading on a finger prick test. An HBA1C gives your average blood sugar over 3 months. If that is above 6 you would be prediabetic not because you have a single reading over 6.

OP from long term expeircne the gels are awful. I prefer the old style chalk pessary.

My gynae said he'd refer me to STI team (private) if I couldn't get on top of the thrush. Might be worth asking for a referral.

Yes, it's higher than it should be so definitely see your GP. I think people are misreading your post and not realising this was a fasting glucose blood test not a finger prick test. I've attached my random glucose blood test result for comparison that shows the range. Mine wasn't a fasting glucose and is lower than yours and I eat a good amount of added sugar. Did you get an HbA1c blood test done that looks at your glucose levels over the past 3 months? That's what your GP needs to do.

I would definitely ask for an hba1c blood test. It is possible that the nurse said that 6 was within normal range because anything between 4 and 7 is considered normal before and after meals, but after fasting, it should be lower. The only way to tell is with an Hba1c.

I am not diabetic but I had gestational diabetes and am at higher risk of getting type 2. When I had to check my blood glucose, my fasting levels were always 4 or less.

I know GD is different from diabetes but I know when my sugars were spiking, I felt the same as you, heart racing and dizziness. Is there any way you could buy a testing kit and check your own levels throughout the day when you feel like this?

You could also buy urine test strips from amazon, if it shows glucose in your urine then that can be an indicator as well.

It sounds like you have candida which can be terribly debilitating but can be calmed/ cured with a strict diet. Please look more into this as well as the diabetes possibility. Candida diet would be good for pre diabetes too so could be a win win.

Thank you. It was a fasting finger prick test if that makes any sense. I'm really worried now.

I have had a look at my results it was 6.4 on a fasting finger prick test. Not sure about Hba1c as it’s been over a year since I last had that done.

There are lots of reasons why you can get a single higher than average reading. If you are feeling stressed for instance your body releases glucose as part of the fight or flight response.
Don’t freak yourself out over one reading but do try and request a HBA1C to put your mind at rest.

Don't freak out about a finger prick test. They aren't especially accurate. A venous blood sample would be better. I've never heard of a fasting finger prick test. Finger prick can be affected by you being anxious as per pp post, hands not washed and dried thoroughly, newspaper print, Don't worry just get your recurrent thrush sorted at the GP and perhaps ask if they can do bloods for HbA1c to put your mind at rest.

Maybe my anxiety could be pushing my blood sugar levels up....and the candida....I have noticed it all seems to come back when I'm going through anxiety or if I've been really stressed? My plan is.....get my yeast infections sorted out....plan a healthy diet and stick to it....reduce sugar and only have it occasionally....eat loads of live yoghurt....and get a hba1c test to reassure myself about diabetes. Whether pre-diabetes or just plain candida....all this will help for both. :)

I've had tests recently and this is what is on my GP notes

I then googled and saw this

I had similar symptoms to you and my HBA1c was 37 so within the normal range. However when I got a cgm to check my reactions to sugar I could see I was getting very large spikes and dips after eating bread and other starchy carbs and the dips corresponded to the symptoms of dizziness.

I reduced starchy processed carbs and now feel much better. I no longer have any carb cravings and have much more energy. I like you was not overweight 8.5 stone at 5'4" but with no restriction of calories went to 7.5 stone mainly loosing fat around my waist.

I think when women get to a peri menopausal age many loose the ability to handle high levels of glucose so dietary changes are needed to improve symptoms.