Posted by TamaraJ on March 20, 2005, at 19:44:35
In reply to Re: Can they tell just by ONE glucose test, posted by Maxime on March 20, 2005, at 19:30:22
Ok, I'm not an expert by any means, and I don't want to question the advice of a medical professional, but I, too, believe that one glucose tolerance test may not necessarily the definitive diagnostic for blood sugar disorders. It's true that glucose is tested through routine blood and urine tests, and the glucose tolerance test [GTT] (which isn't usually a standard test). Now, having gone through a GTT, it is a snapshot - one point in time - after one 12 hour fast. It's like the situation I cited in my post to Spriggy (a guy goes through the GTT, results indicate blood sugar normal, and he proceeds to go into some kind of rage, etc. - which turned out to have been caused by hypoglycemia [I wish I could find the article again - it stuck with me though]). Call me pessimistic, but if I were really concerned that I had a blood sugar problem, I would invest in a glucose monitor, and test my blood sugar at home over the course of the day for a period of about a week. If, in comparison to the reference ranges, disruptions were evident, then I would go to my doctor with the results.
Re thyroid testing, I agree with you that doctors do not thoroughly test for thyroid problems. I have read in a few places that the standard TSH test is not the most reliable test for determining thyroid problems. Other tests, such as T3, T4, RIA (radioummune assay), T3 Uptake, Reverse T3, FTI (Free Thyroid Index) and antibodies) should be performed.
Tamara
> Hi Spriggy, I don't mean to highjack your thread here but I have a question for anyone who can answer it.
>
> I have had a feeling that I am diabetic. I have some symptoms like a constant yeast infection and craving for sweets and drinking a lot of water (not much peeing).
>
> So I told this to a friend of mine who is a nurse and she said that they would have noticed something when I had my glucose test as part of a regular lab work up? IS THIS TRUE?
>
> My endocrinologist ( I see him for hypothyroidism) ask me if diabetes runs in my family but I don't know because I was adopted.
>
> So when I see him next month should I mention it? I feel like such a hypochondriac. I feel like my hypothyroidism isn't under control even through I take Synthroid and my tests come back alright. However I don't think he is measuring all the right things (like my free T3).
>
> Anyhow. If I was diabetic would it have shown up in a routine FASTING glucose test?
>
> Maxime
poster:TamaraJ
thread:473144
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