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What Does This Blood Test For Diabetes Indicate?
Question: My question: My daughter's lab results just came back - her glucose is 126; report states "Diagnostic of Diabetes mellitus if confirmed on repeat testing - 6.4; Is she just .6 points from diabetes? Her family practice doctor ordered test at my request. Please advise as my daughter is disabled and requires monitoring of her physical well being. Thank you for time and comments. XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Diabetes
Detailed Answer:
I have noted your comments.
A fasting blood glucose level of 126 is diagnostic of diabetes, provided it is confirmed on a second occasion few days apart. I suggest repeat testing in a week with a systematic Oral Glucose Tolerance test which is considered the gold standard in order to make a diagnosis of diabetes. The HbA1c of 6.4 % is a useful screening test but has some shortcomings.
The recommended way to perform the Glucose Tolerance is as follows. This is what I give my patients when I advise they undergo such testing:
OGTT PROTOCOL FOR NON PREGNANT ADULTS TO SCREEN FOR DIABETES
1 OGTT = ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST
2 PLEASE FAST OVERNIGHT FOR 8 TO 14 HOURS
3 IT IS ALL RIGHT TO DRINK WATER AND TAKE ALL/ANY OF YOUR PILLS BEFORE THE TEST IN THE MORNING
4 DO NOT RESTRICT YOUR USUAL DIETARY CARBOHYDRATE INTAKE DURING THE 3 DAYS PRECEDING THE TEST.
5 AFTER THE FIRST BLOOD SAMPLE IS TAKEN FOR BLOOD GLUCOSE AT 0 HOURS, YOU WILL BE OFFERED A GLUCOSE DRINK THAT CONTAINS 75 GRAMS OF GLUCOSE IN WATER. PLEASE DRINK THAT WITHIN A FEW MINUTES AND BE SEATED FOR 2 HOURS.
6 DURING THESE 2 HOURS PLEASE DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING NOR SHOULD YOU WALK AROUND. WATER IS OK. NO SMOKING PERMITTED. YOU MAY READ SOMETHING IF YOU WISH, WHILE SEATED
7 EXACTLY 120 MINUTES AFTER YOUR FIRST BLOOD SAMPLE WAS TAKEN, YOU WILL BE CALLED FOR A SECOND BLOOD DRAW FOR CHECKING BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS
8 THIS CONCLUDES THE TEST
9 PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY URINE SAMPLE, EVEN IF THE LABORATORY INSISTS ON IT
10 FURTHER, THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE BLOOD SAMPLES TAKEN MORE THAN TWICE AT THE ABOVE RECOMMENDED PRECISE TIMES. REFUSE SUCH INCORRECT TESTING EVEN IF THE LABORATORY PERSONNEL INSIST
Diabetes
Detailed Answer:
I have noted your comments.
A fasting blood glucose level of 126 is diagnostic of diabetes, provided it is confirmed on a second occasion few days apart. I suggest repeat testing in a week with a systematic Oral Glucose Tolerance test which is considered the gold standard in order to make a diagnosis of diabetes. The HbA1c of 6.4 % is a useful screening test but has some shortcomings.
The recommended way to perform the Glucose Tolerance is as follows. This is what I give my patients when I advise they undergo such testing:
OGTT PROTOCOL FOR NON PREGNANT ADULTS TO SCREEN FOR DIABETES
1 OGTT = ORAL GLUCOSE TOLERANCE TEST
2 PLEASE FAST OVERNIGHT FOR 8 TO 14 HOURS
3 IT IS ALL RIGHT TO DRINK WATER AND TAKE ALL/ANY OF YOUR PILLS BEFORE THE TEST IN THE MORNING
4 DO NOT RESTRICT YOUR USUAL DIETARY CARBOHYDRATE INTAKE DURING THE 3 DAYS PRECEDING THE TEST.
5 AFTER THE FIRST BLOOD SAMPLE IS TAKEN FOR BLOOD GLUCOSE AT 0 HOURS, YOU WILL BE OFFERED A GLUCOSE DRINK THAT CONTAINS 75 GRAMS OF GLUCOSE IN WATER. PLEASE DRINK THAT WITHIN A FEW MINUTES AND BE SEATED FOR 2 HOURS.
6 DURING THESE 2 HOURS PLEASE DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING NOR SHOULD YOU WALK AROUND. WATER IS OK. NO SMOKING PERMITTED. YOU MAY READ SOMETHING IF YOU WISH, WHILE SEATED
7 EXACTLY 120 MINUTES AFTER YOUR FIRST BLOOD SAMPLE WAS TAKEN, YOU WILL BE CALLED FOR A SECOND BLOOD DRAW FOR CHECKING BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS
8 THIS CONCLUDES THE TEST
9 PLEASE NOTE THERE IS NO NEED FOR ANY URINE SAMPLE, EVEN IF THE LABORATORY INSISTS ON IT
10 FURTHER, THERE IS NO NEED TO HAVE BLOOD SAMPLES TAKEN MORE THAN TWICE AT THE ABOVE RECOMMENDED PRECISE TIMES. REFUSE SUCH INCORRECT TESTING EVEN IF THE LABORATORY PERSONNEL INSIST
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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