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Original poster

Blood sugar levels - what's normal?

31 replies

hunkerpumpkin · 27/10/2005 21:04

Booking blood sugar level was 5.5 - a bit high, apparently, but not sure what normal is?

Am going for GTT tomorrow - had one last time with DS as have PCOS, but wasn't thought necessary this time.

Would search the archives, but it's not working

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misdee · 27/10/2005 21:05

think thats a biot high. remember to fast from now till gtt.

FrightfullyPoshFloss · 27/10/2005 21:07

Thats not bad IMO. 4-6 is the normal range I work with. When had you eaten?

Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 27/10/2005 21:14

Can't remember when I'd eaten before the test. Midwife said I only needed to fast from midnight for this one, just sips of water between then and test. Just hope they can get blood from me - is usually a total nightmare. They look at me as if they're not sure whether I'm alive or not!

And I bloody hate Lucozade

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misdee · 27/10/2005 21:15

its not lucozade tho......

Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 27/10/2005 21:17

It was last time I had it?

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misdee · 27/10/2005 21:18

wasnt when i had it. it was glucose, mixed with water.

Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 27/10/2005 21:19

I def Lucozade (remember the gagging I did - drama queen or what? ).

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FrightfullyPoshFloss · 27/10/2005 21:25

Here you go Hunker info on diabetes and normal blood levels

hoxtonchick · 27/10/2005 21:26

5.5 is a bit high for fasting blood sugar, but not terrible. though they do tend to be lower in pregnancy. i guess you take the gtt & go from there.

FrightfullyPoshFloss · 27/10/2005 21:29

HC, the booking one wasn't a fasting sugar.

karmamother · 27/10/2005 21:30

hunkerpumpkin, I've had gestational diabetes for the last 7 weeks & this is the info I was given. My GTT was 8.7 & the limit was 7.8, so I wasn't outrageously over it. I was told that some women have levels of 10 & 11. Occasionally they pick up undiagnosed (true) diabetes & their levels are in the 20s!

Once I was put on the protocol I was told to have my fasting levels in the morning less than 6 & my post-meal levels (2 hrs later) to be less than 8.

I've just looked through my AN notes & my random blood sugar done at 20 wks was 5.5 (last ate >2 hrs) & this was deemed ok. Don't know what it was at 28 wks but whatever it was, it lead to me having the GTT. I didn't have lucozade either.

Good luck!

Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 27/10/2005 21:30

It wasn't a fasting blood sugar level last time - I'd had breakfast before I went to the booking appointment.

Thanks, Floss, good to see those figures. My results were read wrong by the midwife last time - she said I'd definitely got gestational diabetes, which I hadn't.

But the midwife today described this baby as "a nice chunky child" so am not expecting a weeny one DS was 8lb 10oz - hmm, perhaps I'll follow the low-sugar recommendations this time and aim for an 8lber

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Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 27/10/2005 21:32

Thanks, KM!

I love MN There's always someone around who knows their stuff!

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hoxtonchick · 27/10/2005 21:34

oh, well if it wasn't fasting i don't know what they're worrying about then!

Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 27/10/2005 21:42

Obv they just enjoy trying to get blood from me - lol!

And tomorrow they get to do it twice...

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hoxtonchick · 27/10/2005 21:45

yay . not having to have a gtt is the single benefit of having pre-exisiting diabetes & being pregnant.

Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 27/10/2005 21:47

LOL! It's funny, I feel sorrier for the people trying to get blood out of me than I feel for myself (usually both arms and hands get pretty well butchered!). They are always so apologetic and sweet to me (am going to get a nightmare misery with psycho tendencies after saying that tomorrow aren't I?!).

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hoxtonchick · 27/10/2005 21:49

just make sure it's a proper phlebotomist (sp? love the word though), not a junior dr. i have nightmare veins too, they like a challenge...

Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 27/10/2005 21:51

Yes, had to go over to phlebotomy last time after the midwife got three drops before the vein hid again.

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FrightfullyPoshFloss · 27/10/2005 21:54

Can they not even get it with a butterfly line in a hand vein?

Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 27/10/2005 21:55

Sometimes, Floss - but usually it'll fill half a tube thing, if that, then just stop.

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karmamother · 27/10/2005 21:56

Hoxtonchick, spot on with the spelling! Are you a real diabetic, then? I work with a guy who has insulin-dependant diabetes & he reckons my GD is just attention seeking behaviour.

When I had my GTT, the MW took the blood & since I'd known her for years there was a certain amount of anxiety on both sides! The first sample was perfect, hardly felt it. The second one, she missed & on the second attempt was really painful!

When you go, make sure you're not cold, especially your arm/hands. You can always run your arm under warm water to help dilate the vessels.

FrightfullyPoshFloss · 27/10/2005 21:57

Freak

Hope it goes ok tomorrow. You don't need anything else to worry about! Hope everything feels a little more comfortable again today. xx

hoxtonchick · 27/10/2005 21:59

yes karmamother i'm a real one! 2 perfect small babies & we're stopping now . i have been known to mutter about people with gd, but only when pg & hormonal. good luck with the rest of your pregnancy.

Original poster
hunkerpumpkin · 27/10/2005 21:59

Still sore pelvis and throat, but had a marvellous lie-in this morning

Midwife says she'll refer me for physio if pelvis doesn't get better.

Am definitely a freak

KM - I already do the warm hands and arms thing - just have very hidey veins!

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