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Suggest Remedy For Irregular Blood Glucose Patterns
Question: Dear Doctor,
My co
ncern pertains to my irregular blood glucose patterns.
I Am
Age:22
height: 169
weight : around 60 kg
undiagnosed diabetes
quite severe anxiety
history of kawasaki disease caused heart artery aneurysm
Father diagnosed diabetic
few weeks ago i had a series of symptoms that highly suggested heart attack. fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, anxiety.
I consulted a cardiologist and was ordeeed an ecg and ech, both of which shown normal heart activity .
I then went to get a routine blood and urinalysis test at a lab. The fasting blood glucose after 18 hours of fasting shown 4.2 mmol/l. However i am concerned that the result might be falsely low because i fasted too long for 18 hours.
The urinalysis also shown trace amounts of ketones
The lab expert mentioned that the overfasting shouldnt affect accuracy of blood glucose too much and i have nothing to worry about.
But i went to purchase a blood glucose meter and did my own tests. Which shown worrisome results of glucose levels from 5.8 to 6.0 mmol/l after 8 hours overnight fasting after high carb dinners on 2 consecutive days.
my post prandial 2 hour blood glucose on both days after high carb lunches shown an average of 6.0 to 6.4 mmol/l.
I am worried if i may be prediabetic and if a second lab test should be warranted.
My co
ncern pertains to my irregular blood glucose patterns.
I Am
Age:22
height: 169
weight : around 60 kg
undiagnosed diabetes
quite severe anxiety
history of kawasaki disease caused heart artery aneurysm
Father diagnosed diabetic
few weeks ago i had a series of symptoms that highly suggested heart attack. fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath, anxiety.
I consulted a cardiologist and was ordeeed an ecg and ech, both of which shown normal heart activity .
I then went to get a routine blood and urinalysis test at a lab. The fasting blood glucose after 18 hours of fasting shown 4.2 mmol/l. However i am concerned that the result might be falsely low because i fasted too long for 18 hours.
The urinalysis also shown trace amounts of ketones
The lab expert mentioned that the overfasting shouldnt affect accuracy of blood glucose too much and i have nothing to worry about.
But i went to purchase a blood glucose meter and did my own tests. Which shown worrisome results of glucose levels from 5.8 to 6.0 mmol/l after 8 hours overnight fasting after high carb dinners on 2 consecutive days.
my post prandial 2 hour blood glucose on both days after high carb lunches shown an average of 6.0 to 6.4 mmol/l.
I am worried if i may be prediabetic and if a second lab test should be warranted.
Brief Answer:
OGTT and HbA1c
Detailed Answer:
My dear friend,
I guess you are too worried and anxious. The two fasting blood sugars which you mentioned are slightly above normal range, but the post prandial sugars are perfect.
You must understand that anxiety itself increase your cortisol levels which cause fating blood sugars to go high. So relax. Take a break.
You may do an Hba1c and 75 gram glucose tolerance test after few weeks. But in the interim, you may need to see a psychologist/psychiatrist to control your anxiety.
Regards
Binu
OGTT and HbA1c
Detailed Answer:
My dear friend,
I guess you are too worried and anxious. The two fasting blood sugars which you mentioned are slightly above normal range, but the post prandial sugars are perfect.
You must understand that anxiety itself increase your cortisol levels which cause fating blood sugars to go high. So relax. Take a break.
You may do an Hba1c and 75 gram glucose tolerance test after few weeks. But in the interim, you may need to see a psychologist/psychiatrist to control your anxiety.
Regards
Binu
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you Doctor,
Yes, i understand that i have been too stressed over the irregular blood glucose patterns. In a way it has helped me develop resistance against temptations for sweetened drinks and snacks which is probably a good thing if i can keep this up in the long run.
I am still confused how the lab test done just few days before i purchased the blood sugar meter can have such different fasting test results.
If possible, would you advice some other factors that may cause my home tests to be so much higher than the lab tests?
I will try to have a more balanced and earlier dinner to test my fasting blood sugar again in the next few days.
and schedule an OGTT in a few weeks.
Thank you very much doctor,
XXXXXXX
Yes, i understand that i have been too stressed over the irregular blood glucose patterns. In a way it has helped me develop resistance against temptations for sweetened drinks and snacks which is probably a good thing if i can keep this up in the long run.
I am still confused how the lab test done just few days before i purchased the blood sugar meter can have such different fasting test results.
If possible, would you advice some other factors that may cause my home tests to be so much higher than the lab tests?
I will try to have a more balanced and earlier dinner to test my fasting blood sugar again in the next few days.
and schedule an OGTT in a few weeks.
Thank you very much doctor,
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Difference in sugar values
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
thank you for the reply. Glucometer is not a tool for diagnosing diabetes. Diagnosis should always be made with a lab method and glucometer should only be used for monitoring sugars at home. It is quite possible for the sugar values to differ in lab method and glucometer and it is expected.
The initial test was after a prolonged fasting and you were starving enough to produce ketones. So that value can not be taken as a true fasting value. Fasting is defined as 8-10 hours of calorie free period.
Good luck with your OGTT and Hba1c tests
Binu
Difference in sugar values
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
thank you for the reply. Glucometer is not a tool for diagnosing diabetes. Diagnosis should always be made with a lab method and glucometer should only be used for monitoring sugars at home. It is quite possible for the sugar values to differ in lab method and glucometer and it is expected.
The initial test was after a prolonged fasting and you were starving enough to produce ketones. So that value can not be taken as a true fasting value. Fasting is defined as 8-10 hours of calorie free period.
Good luck with your OGTT and Hba1c tests
Binu
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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