Hubby went to the Dr a few days ago, 2:30 in the afternoon. Blood work was ordered to check his electrolytes. The Lab called today and want him to come in for a fasting blood draw because his blood glucose came back at 120. Why would they even check his sugar that late in the afternoon? I have been researching prediabetes and he is at high risk and that doesnt surprise me, but he doesnt have any of the COMMON symptoms. should I be overly concerned?
2006-12-01 12:48:34 · 5 answers · asked by grapelady911 5 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Diabetes
he had pizza and Coke for lunch, his appt wast @ 2:30 so I figure the blood draw was sometime after 3.
2006-12-01 13:32:39 · update #1
First, a fasting blood sugar level has to be done FASTING, not after someone's eaten something. If he hadn't had anything to eat (or nutritional drinks or sugary drinks), it wouldn't matter what time it was. But few people wait until 2:30 PM to eat, and as I understand it, he did have a meal before the blood was drawn. In that case, a blood sugar of 120 is perfectly understandable, and normal. What has to be done to be sure is to get a fasting blood sugar test (not having had anything to eat for the past 12 hours) AND a 2 hour post-prandial blood test. (That's when you eat a normal meal, or one that's even high in carbohydrates, and sweets, and then wait 2 hours after finishing to test the blood.) That's the most accurate way to tell if he's diabetic or pre-diabetic. (A fasting blood sugar level over 100, or a 2-hour blood sugar over 160, is suspicious, and should be investigated further.)
I suspect that the lab, seeing the blood sugar at 120, and not knowing when or what the patient (your husband) had to eat, they just want to be sure that he's not diabetic. Since he had eaten, I doubt that there is anything to worry about.
2006-12-01 15:41:19 · answer #1 · answered by Dr. Dave 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
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2016-05-20 18:31:06 · answer #2 · answered by Afton 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A 'random' (not fasting) glucose of 120 is normal although the goal for a fasting glucose is around 100. It is nice that he does not have symptoms but bear in mind that diabetes is often diagnosed in folks without symptoms on the basis of blood work done for another reason. In addition the disease process of diabetes starts a decade prior to diagnosis so the earlier it is identified the better. Personally I am not fond of the term pre diabetes and there is technically no definition of normal or abnormal glucose as the cardiovascular risk increases as glucose increases beginning at what is generally defined as a normal glucose.
2006-12-02 06:45:42 · answer #3 · answered by john e russo md facm faafp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I wouldn't be overly concerned, had he had anything to eat prior to having his blood checked? If he did especially something with a lot of carbs and or sugar, then that could be the cause, I think that is a little high for someone that isn't diabetic, and that is why they want to check his fasting bloodsugar which will help the Dr. determine things. Good Luck and stay postive.
2006-12-01 13:25:50 · answer #4 · answered by sweetpea22306 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have no idea why they wanted a recheck of that low a blood sugar in the afternoon. There is no such thing as a prediabetic as far as I am concerned. I do not see any evidence he is a diabetic and no need for a repeat blood sugar. At that time of day that is low normal.
2006-12-02 02:08:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋