Diabetes Tests - How Often if High Risk Due To Genetics ??

[rockinhippy]

I'm just wondering if anyone knows if there is a rule/guideline on this & type of tests best to diagnose as I've had problems getting my GP to test me even though both my parents have type 2 & all the women on my mothers side bar myself & a younger cousin.

I do have a lot of health problems & some symptoms keeping coming back to diabetes, I do eat well so probably mostly eat a low GI diet, as I have always known it was on the cards for me, especially as tests I had with my previous GPs some 20 years ago came up as positive, borderline etc.

My GP insists that as I'm not officially over weight & that I haven't lost weight I can't be diabetic, she has only tested me once in over 10 years & that was a basic blood test years ago - in the past it was a glucose tolerance test that showed up as positive etc - I'm realising lately that more symptoms I have complained to her about are potentially diabetes too, so want to go back & push for testing, but expecting a battle again

Neither of my parents lost weight before being diagnosed, they both put weight on, but not technically overwieght in my Dads case - I have put quite a bit of weight on, but as I was always tiny, that still means I am considered to be an ideal weight to the medical powers that be[rollseyes]

Should my GP be testing me more regularly ?? & if so what test, surely with a healthy diet the GTT makes more sense ??

TIA

[BerthaTheMangerBurglar]

Nothing to eat after 10pm other than water
First thing in the morning, test your blood glucose with a meter purchased from Boots or similar for £10 - £15
drink 400ml original Lucozade quite quickly
Wait two hours (nothing else to eat or drink) and test again

The pre-drink reading should be < 6.0 and at 2 hours

[BerthaTheMangerBurglar]

Yes, sorry, typed and ran!

I think if you test first thing in the morning and you're over 6.0, you may be heading for diabetes. And on a random test, if it is over 11.0.

Other than that, watch out for feeling very thirsty.

[tazzle22]

I have been testing my blood sugar last couple weeks as I have diabetes in the family too ........ I bought a meter and strips and found I am certainly prediabetic ( higher than the normal limits but not over 11).

Its not just the fasting sugar that diagnoses one as diabetic as one can be glucose intolerant at a lower but still potentially harmful level than the officially diabetic level as I am .... and that often shows up before the fasting blood sugar is high enough for a diagnosis.

I am glad I have done it as its given me wake up call to lower my intake of carbohydrates and delay (and maybe even avoid) becoming officially diabetic.

Lots of info on the website mentioned above

Given the current epidemic of diabetes one would think it woud be in the gps interest to catch us all before we get to that state so that lifestyle and diet alterations could be put in place so that we can acvoid developing it.... by the time its diagnosed there is a lot of damage done to various organs in the body........

Its one thing to have a theoretical chance which most of us, being human, ignore...... but if we have definate pointers that we are developing higher blood sugars then we can be much more proactive and motivated !

[sonsmum]

firstly great that you are aware and trying to avoid diabetes. My son has Type 1 so I have become pretty knowlegable in this field through experience. The one thing that has most effect on the glucose levels and metabolism of insulin is exercise, or being active : if playing sport etc isn't your thing, even a daily walk makes a difference. So if you are trying to stave off diabetes, don't just concentrate on lowering your carb level (though that will help) but also increase your level of activity.
Diabetes is a hideous and silent condition, do anything to avoid developing it if you can.