Blood sugars

[redcarpet123]

Does anyone know how to keep a tab on blood sugars.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Yes - it is very easy. Go to your local chemist and buy a BG (blood glucose) meter. They come with full instructions - it is a simple finger prick test. Ideal times for testing are before meals and two hours after.

If you suspect they are out for range (you may message me if you wish) ask you GP for an HbA1c test which indicates the average over the previous three months.

I have been Type I for over 50 years and know a number of Type Is and IIs. In addition I was also on the committee of a support group for over a decade.

[redcarpet123 in reply to MichaelJH]

Thank you. I'm not diabetic but when I had heart attack and came out of hospital senior cardiologist said we've got to watch yr blood sugars but didn't indicate how loosing a lot of weight now and trying to think what it could be.

[MichaelJH Heart Star in reply to redcarpet123]

The stress of a heart attack can sometimes tip someone into diabetes (seen this with Type I and II). An HbA1c test now and every year or two thereafter would be a sensible idea. Lifestyle changes, particularly losing weight, will reduce the risk.

[Chappychap]

What's your motivation for testing glucose? I have heart disease (atherosclerosis) and wanted to know if I also had type 2 diabetes, or if I was pre-diabetic.

I bought one of the glucose meters that Michael recommended and it was just as straightforward as he said. The results I got (for fasting glucose, so the first test of the day before I'd eaten anything) were encouragingly low. However, there's a quote from a pioneering heart doctor called JR Kraft who said, "anyone with cardiovascular disease who hasn't been diagnosed with diabetes is simply undiagnosed".

So I'm now wondering if I need a more robust glucose test? Either the HbA1c that Michael mentioned, or an "Oral Glucose Tolerance Test" where you're given a sugary drink and your glucose level is measured over the next two hours?

[NorthantsSteve in reply to Chappychap]

Thanks for asking the question redcarpet123. I’ve been wondering the same myself and will get a kit (thanks Michael). I get my blood sugars checked as part of my annual check up with an HbA1c. Have just found out I’m border-line pre diabetic. Worth keeping an eye on if you take Statins as this is a rare side effect.

All the very best for 2019.

[redcarpet123 in reply to Chappychap]

I was told by cardiac seniormnurse watch your blood sugars. I'd been for a birthday check and had blood taken which showed 4.2 dr likes you to be 4.0 4.5 it's too high. Just wondered if there was an easy way to check blood sugars.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

A quick self test with a meter is to have a large bowl of high sugar cereal for breakfast. If two hours later it is 7.8 or over you probably have pre-diabetes and if 11.1 or over you are probably diabetic. In either case go to see your GP

Note this is slight crude but a reasnoble indicator. Also no cooked breakfast before as this can slow absorption of the sugars markedly. If your waking BG is over 7.5 go to see your GP anyway!

[Chappychap in reply to MichaelJH]

Thanks for that Michael, I'll give it a go. My waking/fasting blood sugar is pretty consistent at 4.5 or 4.6 mmol/L. However, when I first got the meter I gave myself a fright with occasional results over 10 mmol/L. It turned out I was forgetting to wipe away the first drop of blood and test only the second!

Incidentally, I've also found another recommendation for self administering the "Oral Glucose Tolerance Test"

forum.diabetes.org.uk/board...

Sounds good, but I haven't a clue if this is reliable or just more internet tosh! I think I'll start with Michael's recommendation as I can ask questions if necessary.

[Hidden in reply to Chappychap]

Your comment "It turned out I was forgetting to wipe away the first drop of blood and test only the second!" requires some more clarification for if you have a professional BG meter from a chemist this just cannot happen - unless you are doing something grossly wrong.

I am also constantly surprised to hear when someone has been diagnosed with a heart problem and advised to discuss with family doctor to do something positive about it - that the new patient should come here for advice. Not that people should not get as much advice as possible however, if advised to discuss with doctor - then one should discuss the issue with the doctor.

To be grossly blunt I think, had I seen your question first, "Does anyone know how to keep a tab on blood sugars" I would have probably replied simply - "Why" for without a bucket load of information, no one could possible reply with any certainty.

Even after all the discussion here, I do not believe anyone is any the wiser for if you have a recurring BS level of 4.5, on face value you have nothing to worry about

[Handel]

Hi redcarpet. I'd agree with everyone on this forum. Get a glucose monitoring gadget. They are really easy to use. Local pharmacies can supply these and they'll even check you glucose levels for free if you ask! However, if you've not long eaten, these readings could be misleading.

I noticed on the TV that there were recent ads connecting diabetes and heart disease.

I've been Type 1 for almost 40 years now so need to inject insulin. You'll see that expectant mums can sometimes develop diabetes but it disappears after the baby is born.

Hormones can play their part along with stress, changes in routines (if you exercised or walked a lot and then slowed down, blood sugars can go up a little).

Michael makes a brilliant point about cooked breakfasts and I'd make a similar suggestion about high sugar cereals.

I find porridge (no sugar!) keeps blood sugars stable(ish)!

If you check sugars when you wake up (before that first cuppa with milk in), they should be in a normal range i.e. 4.5 to 7.5.

Don't stress over this though. Keep an eye on things and see the GP if you're concerned.

Happy New Year redcarpet xxxx

[redcarpet123 in reply to Handel]

My daughter found out near the end of pregnancy that she had diabetes and needed insulin. Fault of the hospital but with her other 2 children they knew they had to look out for this and had diabetes with each one of them. After my heart attack my son and daughter had to be checked out and they found diabetes but are controlling it by food and she is now also going to gym etc to loose weight. I have told her diabetes is linked with heart attack so be careful. She is taking my advice. Thank you for info.

[Handel in reply to redcarpet123]

All the very best to you and your family redcarpet xxxxx