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Posted 9/12/2007 6:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, I was reading on another forum that you can have normal fasting and OGTT test results and still be diabetic. How can this be? How would they know you were diabetic if your tests come back normal?

This person only found out because they insisted on a A1C test. Their fasting tests were always between 75-85 and the OGTT also came back within normal range. Is this possible? If so, how many people have diabetes that isn't caught by the regular tests given. Thanks.


ETA: Some websites say the OGTT involves getting a fastings test just before you drink the glucose and then testing 2 hrs later. Others say you should be tested every hour for up to 3 hours and if you go above 200 you are diabetic, between 140 and 200 prediabetic. Do they mean at any time during the test if you go above these numbers or just at the 2hr mark. Let's s say you to t0 180 at one hour, but test at 120 at 2 hours. Does this mean you are normal or prediabetic? Thanks.
Posted 9/13/2007 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
I had learned that if you are over 110 two hours after you are diabetic... But maybe this has changed. When I was in my 20's my fasting blood glucose of around 125 was considered high/normal. Too bad for me because I was actually prediabetic or diabetic at the time and I have the neuropathy, kidney and eye changes to prove it. NOW they have moved the cutoff numbers down and more people are being diagnosed earlier to get them on a preventative course of action. Of course this doesn't help the 20 years of ignorance that I was merrily eating foods that were harming me. In my case what I didn't know could hurt me and did. But there was no internet and even my strongest research wouldn't have done any good back then because most of the medical community was in the dark about much of diabetes anyway. (sigh!)

I wish I could be more helpful... Just for the record, what kind of food plan are you following?
Posted 9/13/2007 6:05 PM (GMT 0)
Hi frombc, I have "normal" fasting blood glucose every morning mostly in the 80's now and my A1c came out 5.6 in May, but it would be wrong to say I didn't have diabetes or at least impaired glucose tolerance.  I haven't taken the OGTT since pregnancy so I don't know what an OGTT would be now for me, but I do know that my blood sugar rises to at least the mid 170's two hours after eating a meal with bread and potatoes.  I know this because of last fall when I did it myself.  I think some of the online information is using the old parameters which are high by today's standards, which is why diabetes is being diagnosed in more people today, as Jeannie says. 

Posted 9/13/2007 9:41 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Jeannie, Thanks for the reply. Actually all the websites I've seen say that after 2 hours >200 is diabetes, >140<200 is considered prediabetes or glucose intolerant. I've never read anywhere that more than 110 after 2 hours is considered diabetes. Here's the ADA criteria. http://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-prevention/pre-diabetes.jsp

Canada's criteria is the the same for OGTT as the US, but it's set a little higher for IFG at 5.7 which is = to 110 in the US.

My Dr. tested me twice within 2 months last year. The first time I only had the fasting test and came out at 113. I insisted on the OGTT test as well as the fasting the second time because I'd heard that you can have normal fasting numbers and still have high numbers after ingesting a meal, or the glucose in this case. My second fasting came out at 102 and the OGTT came out at 118. These numbers are considered "normal" in Canada. He attributed my higher numbers the first time to anxiety and stress that I was having at the time.

Even though I was told I was normal, I've been excercising and following a healthy diet with carbs mainly low on the glycemic index. I'm not overweight, my blood pressure is extremely low and my cholesterol is good. I realize that you don't have to be overweight etc to have type 2, but I'm hoping that the higher number was just a blip. I'm getting tested again in a couple of weeks. Again I will insist on the OGTT as well as the IFG. After reading that there is a good percentage of people that show normal fasting numbers, but high OGTT it's no wonder so many people go on to get diabetes. They're told they have normal fasting and the whole time they're post meal numbers are high. How does anyone have a chance when the Dr.s don't give you the appropriate tests?

Thanks lanieg! You are a perfect example of someone who would be missed if they just had the fasting test. I think our medical community is screwy to say the least.
Posted 9/14/2007 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
Hi frombc, you're exactly right.  Numbers can lie.  Since I've been following a no carb diet, my fasting and A1c tests will most probably be normal but the glucose tolerance test will catch the fact that I can't deal with carbohydrates.  A year ago, I was "caught" with 112 fasting, and this spurred me to take control of this as best I could.   You're doing everything you can to keep your own blood glucose readings low from what you've written about your eating and exercise, so that's great!  :-)   If your OGTT is high, you might have impaired glucose tolerance but you're on the right track now to keep your readings in line.  I hope so.  Good luck!

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