Blood Tests & BG

PepsiLvr · #1 (**permalink**) 05-25-2004, 10:39 AM

Hello all,

A bit of a tricky question (I think) but here it goes...

When you get a blood test for a checkup (assuming you are NOT diabetic or have any other known problems) is BG something that is supposed to be checked by default?

I ask this because I've only had 2 blood tests int the past 4 years. One back on 01/01 and one on 01/04. The 01/04 was when I was dxd as type 1. My reason for going to the doc was severe fatigue. The problem is that if at any point in my life I would have thought I was diabetic it would have been back in '01 when I did have some of the other symptoms (excessive thirst, urination which did go away in '02) I did complain to my doc in '01 about numbness and pain in my feet but he just said that I was flat footed. I really feel that I may have been diabetic for 4+ years (honeymoon period) ???

Now, from what I can tell, and I do have a copy of the blood test results, my BG was not tested in '01. If this is the case who would be to blame? The Doc, the Lab? or is BG not a standard test that is done?

Any help is appreicated!!

Dewey · #2 (**permalink**) 05-25-2004, 11:33 AM

Hi Pepsilvr,

I think it depends on what type of testing is done. For example, if you have blood drawn for a "Basic Comprehensive Panel" (different clinics may call it something else), the glucose test is normally included in the results (so it is kind of a default for that line of testing). However, if you are only getting a CBC test (complete blood count), then the glucose test would not be included (as the CBC results profile red, white blood cell counts...etc.) I hope this info. helps.

I'm currently caring for a family member with cancer, and we receive blood work and results weekly. The days they do chemotherapy, they usually draw and take both CBC and Comprehensive Panels, which does include the glucose test. However, during "off weeks," the lab only draws the CBC and no glucose test is done then. I also used to work as a Vet. Tech, where I drew blood, conducted (some) tests and recorded results from the lab (Most of the labs on the animals are the same as humans). Hope this helps.

PepsiLvr · #3 (**permalink**) 05-25-2004, 01:57 PM

Dewey,

Thanks for that info. I know that I had my thyroid checked as well as the CBC because I remember seeing things like the red, and white blood cell count.

I am just trying to figure out what went wrong here. I remember the doctor said "you're pretty skinny, have you always been this way?" My response was "no, I just lost the weight for no reason over the past year" That's why he checked my thyroid. I would have thought he would have ordered a BG test as well. That's why we go to the doctor and "trust" them to care for us.

At the time the results came back and they said everything was fine I didn't know enough to analyze the results myself. "If I knew then what I know now..."

I'm trying to figure out who dropped the ball and if maybe I am the victim of malpractice (definatley stupidity) and on who's part. I am now suffering what I believe is nerve damage in my legs and feet that could probably have been avoided if this was caught 4 years ago. I can't really even feel anything below my calves.

.

Also, sorry to hear about the situation with your family member. I hope all is going well and I wish you and your family the best. God Bless!

Dewey · #4 (**permalink**) 05-25-2004, 06:57 PM

Quote:

I am now suffering what I believe is nerve damage in my legs and feet that could probably have been avoided if this was caught 4 years ago. I can't really even feel anything below my calves.

I'm sorry to hear that, Pepsilvr.

I recently met someone who is going to try a B6/B12 regime to keep their neuropathy at bay. While it may not reverse it, it is supposed to keep the neuropathy from worsening. It may be worth asking your doctor about.

It sounds to me like there is a possibility of malpractice or something. No one knows our bodies better than we do, and health care professionals should listen when a concern or physical complaint arises. I can't speak for all doctors, but when there are complaints of severe fatigue and weight loss, usually doctors will run a full panel of blood tests. I truly am surprised that the doctor didn't order the Comprehensive Panel to test further after not finding problems with your CBC results. It sounds like that doctor was only looking for thyroid problems, iron deficiency and/or anemia, all of which cause fatigue, and after not finding them, he just gave up.

Fatigue and rapid weight loss are also symptoms of Diabetes. It is very odd that they didn't test more adequately, and I'm sorry to hear the doctor didn't listen to you. I hope you are seeing a different doctor now.

Thanks so much for your kind wishes. We are truly fortunate that his cancer is treatable and he seems to be improving. We're halfway there,

so that is a positive thing. I hope that everything works out for you too, and I'm very sorry to hear you had to go through all that.

rzrbks · #5 (**permalink**) 05-25-2004, 08:56 PM

pepsilvr,

I'm pretty sure that Dewey is correct. My wife and I believe that our previous Dr. Might have caught me sooner if he'd done more B/G tests but he didn't.

I believe that it was my fault for not insisting he do so, but then I had no real history of Diabetes in my family (one grandparent) so, there was no real reason for him to check as he and I both knew that there was a normal seasonal swing of as much as 15 Lbs/1.07 stone occurring with frequency.

Medicine is as much Art as "Science" and a Dr. cannot be expected to keep track of Everything that goes on with his patients---especially in this day of Drs. being run by "Bean Counters" rather than the needs of the patients

Just my $.o2

PepsiLvr · #6 (**permalink**) 05-26-2004, 06:42 AM

Thanks everyone.

I do still have that doc and am going to bring up the question (why wasn't this checked) tomorrow at my next appt. The only reason I still keep him around is because it's easy to get meds over the phone from him when I am sick. Don't worry, he is NOT part of my treatment for diabetes, I have a very good endo for that

. I'm just pissed that I went in and had symptoms of diabetes he did blood tests and said "everything's fine" and I didn't know any better and believed him

.

PepsiLvr · #7 (**permalink**) 05-28-2004, 06:19 AM

Well the asnwer is... The test wasn't done. The doctor ordered it but the lab never did it. I don't know the reason but my doc says that somewhere down the chain of command that particular test was left off of some paperowrk (nobody knows where) The other thing is that the doc signed off on the lab results stating "labs good" I guess when it comes down to it, the doc is to blame because there was at least 1 page with about 10 different results missing yet he ok'd the results.