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Back in November I had a blood test, one of the results, the Hba1c level, was 37, within normal range and I didn’t think anything of it. Glucose was a healthy 4.8
Just reviewed some old bupa medical reports however and it was 32 in 2019, and the same again in March of last year. That’s a fair old jump to 37 in nov given I’ve not changed my diet at all. I started taking a low dose 10mg statin in may 2021, not sure if that’s had an impact
Clearly I’m wanting to get on top of this asap. Whilst the GP clearly wouldn’t flag a result of 37, he didn’t have the context of it being a stable 32 previously. I don’t particularly want to bother the nhs with this either, as I expect they have far better things to do with their time.
So what are my options? Should I buy one of these freestyle libre kits, just leave it and test again in 6 months, or pay to speak to an expert for advice?
You have had expert advice and ignored it. You can keep shopping around until you get the advice you want if you want. This is why most medical professionals without a vested interest in getting money off you will not advise blood tests without symptoms.
Its probably the stress and worry that you have created for yourself that caused the rise and you are not in the "pre diabetes" range
https://www.dietvsdisease.org/normal-hba1c-range/
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/crp-test-results-any-docs-around-to-explain-this/
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/angina-or-something-more-benign/
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/bubbles-in-pee-whats-normal/
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/garmin-variaa-health-risk/
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/ectopic-beats-palpitation-during-exercise/
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/oh-shitliterally-bloody-pop-content/
https://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/neck-pain-and-generally-feeling-off/
I reckon that not enough folk pay attention to their health. I can likely include myself in that. However, I do wonder if perhaps you have taken things to the opposite extreme. This pattern looks like a specific type of anxiety and maybe that's something you could ask for help with? Either that or it's Cat Aids.
You have had expert advice and ignored it
@tjagain Sorry what expert advice have I had on this? Or are you talking about just the general advice not to try interpret your own results?
This pattern looks like a specific type of anxiety and maybe that’s something you could ask for help with? Either that or it’s Cat Aids.
I think this is a fair comment. Basically between my 30s and 40s I never visited the doc, once had a bupa health screen with work and ignored all the warning signs…and paid the price. so now I do the complete opposite. And yes it’s definitely causes anxiety, but don’t worry I’ve seen the doc about that as well 😉
Now you have worried me about cat aids though
Sorry what expert advice have I had on this?
Maybe not explicit enough for you but I'd take
the GP clearly wouldn’t flag a result of 37
as a starting point. The reading's gone from within the normal range to somewhere else within the normal range.
Have a cup of tea and a sit down.
Expert advice from your GP. Not me. I am not an expert
Anyone else screen-shotting that? 👆
Fair enough
I think in context, (full blood screen with about 100 different things on it, I wasn’t there to be checked for diabetes, I went in as I was pissing bubbles) and the GP had no idea of my previous results) means the GP wouldn’t flag it and I wouldn’t expect him to mention it
That said, I appreciate I’m a hypochondriac. Either way it’s now at the very high end of normal and probably something I want to keep an eye on in future
I started taking a low dose 10mg statin in may 2021, not sure if that’s had an impact
Statins can sometimes increase blood glucose levels, but could be any number of reasons so it's good that you are monitoring it if concerned.
Not suggesting this as a cause but just flagging for awareness - https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/medicines/does-grapefruit-affect-my-medicine/ - relevant for statins.
Could be variations between the 2 devices that took the readings.
37 is a good result, equates to an average BG of 5.5mmol/L according to the online calculator whereas 32 is 5.1mmol/L.
Normal BG is 4-8mmol/L but can spike higher after rapidly-absorbed carbohydrates.
The difference between the two numbers is trivial. As a T1 diabetic I'd be delighted with results like those!
If you want to look at your BG more closely, you could try a Libre sensor for two weeks and see how much your BG is spiking after food.
If it is, the spikes can be reduced by buffering the carbs with vegetables etc, or reducing/avoiding some foods