I have just been told I've got borderline diabetics and got to go back to see Dr next week she said she will do some more test what are they

[lynnstrange]

I have just been told I'm borderline diabetic and got to see Dr next week for some more test I'm worried what they involve thank you

[ceejayblue]

they will probably get you to do a fasting glucose blood test. This means fasting, going for a blood test where they give you a glucose drink then get you to sit quietly for 2 hours then have a further blood test. This will show how your body deals with glucose. They may do an HbA1c blood test which is non fasting to see how your blood glucose levels have averaged out over a 3 month period.

There's nothing to worry about, check your diet, reduce the amount of carbohydrates you eat (bread, cakes, biscuits, pies etc). You don't have to go very low just make changes to what you eat. Also get some exerise and if necessary try and lose some weight, every little helps.

Diabetes can be reversed if it is type 2 but technically it really means that you are in remission and in full control of your diabetes. Once you have it you have always got the possibility that your glucose levels will rise if you don't live a healthier lifestyle.

If you are diagnosed as being full Type 2 they will either try and control it with diet or put you on metformin and/or statins (depends on how high your blood glucose readings are). I always recommend that people have a look at diabetes.org.uk which is the website of the Diabetes UK charity and there are lots of useful hints and tips and information on being diabetic there. You can also ask about training courses like the xperthealth.org.uk ones which I found extremely useful.

Whatever you do, don't panic, its not the end of the world but make sure that you ask the doctor and the diabetic nurse lots of questions and never think you are asking a stupid question because you aren't.

If you are pre-diabetic you are in a good position to pull things back and I wish you luck in doing just that.

[sandybrown in reply to ceejayblue]

What is the difference between this test "2-hour glucose tolerance test (GTT)" and "fasting glucose blood test"?

The later one do not take any food for up to 12 hours before blood test!

[ceejayblue in reply to sandybrown]

The 2 hour one you fast for 12 hrs and are given a blood test then asked to drink the glucose drink and re-tested 2 hours later. The other one you fast for 12 hours and they just take your blood once.

In the GTT they are measuring how long it takes for the glucose drink to react in your blood and how much is still in there after the 2 hours. In the fasting glucose its just testing how much glucose you have in your body after fasting for 12 hours.

Hope that makes sense.

[DRWF Partner]

Please take a look at all the resources on the Diabetes Research & Wellness Foundation website. The leaflets are available as free hard copies or as PDF downloads. drwf.org.uk/diabetes-leaflets

We also offer Diabetes Wellness Events. The next one is in Southampton on 27th June which you would find extremely useful. drwf.org.uk/event_uk/7th-an... All the diabetes specialists are in attendance so you can ask lots of questions, and we are featuring the 9 essential healthchecks for diabetes.

There's lots of useful information about living with diabetes on the website as well as details of all our other events.

[Activity2004 Administrator]

How long have you been testing to check the numbers? If you're over 300, you might have to be put on insulin-- OR pills depending which type of diabetic you may be.