Please read, a bit worried????

Diseases & Conditions Diabetes
1
HI there I am not sure what to make of this, but I would appreciate if someone could enlighten me.....
 
I have kind of been on the run with this whole fasting glucose testing...I have had a couple of tests come out my "normal" range....HIgh 6's, now I know that is not alarming, but I have also hit as high(for me) 8.1.....
 
NOw here is my question,,,I have to get bloodwork done monthly and everytime I get "fasting glucose" and for the first time ever I am also gettign  HBA1C done ,,,now I googled it and it is now concerning me, why would I need that doen now ALL of a sudden????
 
Kind of freaked.
Cyndi confused
2

I'm sure someone will give you more info, but the A1c was part of the first bloodwork my doctor ordered.  He wants it checked at the hospital lab once a year - I use the OTC kits midyear.

If you know you've had an 8.1 reading, and another at 6.?, then why is this "all of a sudden?"

No need to freak .. chill out till you get more info.

:-) Martha
3

Hi there,

            Are you a diabetic?This may seem a pretty naive question to ask a veteran member like you.The point is,if you have been a diabetic then HbA1c will tell the doctor the past 3 months average glucose control,specifically because you have been mentioning only your fasting values,and a normal human spends 2/3rds of the day in the prandial state and only 1/3rd in the true fasting state.HbA1c is a pretty good indicator of post-prandial control and probably that's why the Doc' ordered this test.

           HbA1c is not a diagnostic test but only an indicator of glycemic control and a pretty good one at that provided you haven't cheated in the 1 month prior to the test.It is now a routine test and as advised no need to press the panic button.

           Non-diabetics average around 5.6 with HbA1c and we are considered to be under pretty good control if we touch below 7(ADA guidelines),but now everyone's getting stricter with the numbers, as the American Endocrinologists soceity accepts only a value below 6.5 as adequate control.I have not gone into the actual scientific mumbo-jumbo,but i will if you want me to!Hope this helps.

           

4
Hey there Spooky,
I am not ( at least I don't think) a diabetic...I am a veteran member for another site.....
 
I have been dealing with really low glucose numbers all my like, was actually admitted for 2 weeks when I wsa a kid, cause I passed out and they discovered that my level was really low, had to drink sugar water for 1 wekk every day, it was horrible....but as of now my doc has been watching my numbers,cause I was also recently on Predisine and she is concerned with everything I guess, I am havigna very hard time with side effects from that drug, my cholesterol levels just went haywire, really bad and now I am on meds to hopefully straighten that one out...
 
I guess I am just nervous cause I get bloodwork done every month and all of a sudden she wanted this test done....Is this something that I should be concerned about???? Do docs usually suggest this type of test if they ARE expecting maybe bad results????Am I at a higher risk because of the PRed and high Cholesterol????
 
I was originally diagnosed with Crohn's colitis and now Gi says IBS, so I don't know, rhumey is having my thyroid reavulated now as well....SO my like is kinda upside down and the steroid made me gain 40 pounds in 3 weeks, nasty (ARRRRRGHGGGGG)..
Anyway any input I would greatly appreciate
 
And MArtha , thank you for your input as well, maybe I shouldn't freak, but heck it is my nature...I have so many illness and conditions happening right now, I could open my own pharmacy, lol
thank you
CYndi
 
5
Hi there,
gosh!am sorry to brand you a diabetic.Predisine can temporarily increase your blood glucose levels.These high values usually return to normal once the drug is stopped.Your physician probably wanted to know your HbA1c,because predisine typically increases your "after meal blood glucose".HbA1c is a good indicator of this value over 2 to 3 months.
Doctors order this test to check whether your HbA1c is elevated or not.Hang on and just wait for the results!You are not a diabetic as of now!Kindly keep us posted.Thumbs up!
6
Thanks Spooky,
And no need to apoligize......I realy appreciate your knowledge of this and look forward to receiving further advise and guidance along the way, and heaven forbid if I do end up "diabetic" in what ever shape and or form it may take I hope you will be here, and I am also looking forward to meeting more of you out there...
I will let ya know what the levels come back as...

Thanks again,
Cyndi
7
Cyndi,
The test you will have is called a glycohemoglobin and it's a reading of glucose molecules that cling to the iron rich red blood cells in the blood. It kind of gives an overal average of what your blood sugars have been for the last 90 days. If blood sugar readings were a financial report then morning or fasting glucose readings are like a 'checking account balance' of what your blood is doing today. The HbA1c test is like a 'quarterly report'. Both of them are important and both of them give a different view of what is going on. Hope this helped... (and didn't confuse you even more!)

~ Jeannie

"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."

- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

8
Hey Jeannie,
NO confusion here at all, thank you as well, it makes sense to me, I guess I just have to sit and wait, something I am horrible at....I read that the level should be below 7??????Is that accurate, so if mine is above 7, what does that mean????

cyndi
9

Hi there cyndi,

                     normal people average around 5.6 and 6.Number 7 is for people like me who are diabetics.A value below 7 indicates good control over the past 3 months,and a value above 7 is not so good.Since you have not yet been tagged as a diabetic these numbers should'nt really bother you.Waiting is always painful,but as Confusius said"patience is a virtue!".

10
Hey Spooky,
Nice to hear from you again, and confusius obviously never met ME, lol...I hatethe waiting game and I hate the unknown, which I have seem to have become to my docs...real great for me hey....
Anyway I will definitely let you know how the numbers crunch and thanks again....You know I haven't been in this forum all that long, but you have offered me some real great advise , maybe you should look into the Moderator stuff????????
Cyndi
11
Cyndi,
I have a special prayer I say for patience... "Lord, please send me the virtue of patience and SEND IT TO ME RIGHT NOW!!!

~ Jeannie

"People are like stained glass windows: They sparkle and shine when the sun's out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is light within."

- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

12
HI..is the steriod prednisine or predisone. ARe they the same drug?? I just started 10 days of prednisone and am praying that the weight gain will somehow manage to skip me...LOL. I have recently lost 23 lbs on Byetta and sure dont want to gain it back, but something has got to help this cough!
13
Hi there,
Both are the same--prednisolone.Gaining weight depends on how long and on how high a dose your doc' intends to advise!Are you suffering from cough?
14
VERY BAD COUGH. Severe...horrible and awful! Have coughed so hard I have pulled muscles in my ribs and have thrown up from the coughing and gagging. Having to use albuterol inhaler 3/4 times a day. I'm starting to freak out here thinking it might be a byetta reaction! Anyone heard of anything like this??