What could affect fasting blood sugar test?

[Unregistered]

My poor dad has been going back and forth to the doc's with various probs for the last few years but he keeps being told he is pre-diabetic as his fasting blood sugar tests at the hospital have been coming back at between 6 and 7.
Because of this he's gone on a low GI diet, etc, and has got a home glucose monitor to keep an eye on his blood sugar. However he always tests at around 4 if he does it himself and the follow up tests at the hospital have also been normal. He has no symptoms of diabetes but I know that prediabetes could be symptomless.

He is currently taking simvastatin, lisinorpil, ezetimibe and aspirin as he had heart attack 4 years ago. He is also on levothyroxine as he has an underactive thyroid. About a year ago my dad changed his statins as the one he was on caused a serious side effect. The doctor thought at the time that this side effect may have affected his test results. He also took he off beta blockers as his blood pressure is fine without it.

My question is could the drugs my dad takes affect the fasting blood test results as he has to take them during the fasting period. If not why would he get a normal reading in between the elevated readings.

I be very grateful for any advice as my dad's getting a bit worried.
Many thanks

[KathyB]

I'm not familir with any diabetic testing that gives results in "single digits". All testing I'm familiar with, whether it's a "blood draw", or the "***** of a finger", etc., would result in a number somewhere from 80-120, if in the normal range. A result of 115-120 would be considered "pre-diabetic", although I think doctors use this to just warn people that they should watch thier diet a little. I worked on an acute medical ward for 20 years, and am diabetic myself, and really am stumped with the results you have given of 6,7 or 4. Are you sure this is correct?

[Unregistered]

Here in Europe glocose in blood is measured in mmol and correct values and around 6.

[Unregistered]

Here in Europe glocose in blood is measured in mmol and correct values are around 6.

[Unregistered]

I talked to my doctor about this same thing and she explained it to me this way. On any given daily blood check there are many things that can affect it. Exercise, anxiety/stress, illness, etc. You can just happen to get a "normal" reading. When they do the other test of a fasting blood sugar, it's actually taking a 3 month average of your blood sugars so they can get a better idea on how you're doing.

I'm not really sure how your dad is checking his blood sugar and able to do the same test as the lab. Maybe I'm misunderstanding it or it's different in the US. I hope I was able to help anyway.

[Unregistered]

Yeah, blood sugar can rise and fall depending on a variety of conditions. Usually if diabetes is suspected but not confirmed, a Fasting Glucose Tolerance Test is ordered. With this test, the patient has their blood drawn before and is then asked to consume a very sugary drink (i.e. glucose). Their blood sugar is then checked again every X hours (usually every hour for 3 hours but sometimes up to 6 hours or more). This lets doctors see how the body processes glucose. If there is impared processing, the blood sugar level will remain abnormally high after consuming the substance.

[Unregistered]

My fasting blood glucose levels have me as pre diabetic, however during the day my levels return to ideal.
I am 58 years old, in the middle of the the BMI for my height and exercise regularly. I take 20mg simvasten after my evening meal.
Why is my blood glucose higher first thing in the morning than 2 hours after breakfast?
Could it be associated with hydration?

[jeanovan]

New to this forum...Hi everyone!
Have a blood draw in the a.m for
my A1c and of course, will be
fasting for that. What if I have a low
blood sugar reading in the a.m.
before I go for the blood draw? I am
on Lantus. (14 U once daily) Should I take
less before bed tonight? Don't want to
pass out on my drive to LabCorp for the
blood draw!! Thanks for any input on this!
Peace

[Unregistered]

Hey Jean
A1c isn't a fasting test, it measures the past, not the present!

[erineb]

Everything can affect blood sugar levels!! I don’t have any type of diabetes at this point but I watch closely. My sugar is also higher in the morning than before bed and all day. If I need to get a sugar test I wait until about 11 am. Then I’m below 95. First thing in the morning I’m 103 or so. If I’m sick and taking cold medicine it can be 115.

Cinnamon is my morning addition to my coffee, it really seems to help. Ginseng is also supposed to be good. WalMart sells a liquid called Cinnergen that has cinnamon, ginseng and other stuff. You drink one ounce a day. It is about $15.00 for a big bottle. I also find a glass of red wine in the evening will make mine lower in the am.

WARNING – be careful about getting tested. I had a hard time getting individual health insurance because my doctor wrote diabetes in my record. He retracted it with a letter but if I ever want to be tested for sugar (A1C or FGP) I go to Any Lab Test lab which will give me the results only. No doctor needed. They test all kinds of things and most tests are $30 to $80. I won’t let a doctor take a sugar blood test on me anymore. Doctors almost ruined my chances of getting individual health insurance. Diabetes is the kiss of death if you are looking for individual insurance…with group plans they have to take you.