Glucose
· I am a first year medical student at the university of liverpool in the uk. I am currently doing an investigation into the accuracy of home use blood glucose monitors. As a part of this study i am required to discover the costs that a typical lab will incur from testing a blood sample for is glucose content, (staff costs and overheads are not needed).
· I had a nonfasting glucose test (the doctor just kind of "tossed it in" with a blood draw for another test). The result was 115. While I understand this would be a little high for a fasting blood glucose test, I am unable to find any reference ranges for nonfasting glucose testing. Is the test meaningful when done like this (i.e., nonfasting)? Is there a reference range for a nonfasting glucose test?
· what are suggested " normal" ranges for a glucose tolerance test
· I will like to know the Reference Values for a GTT (5 hrs)?
· I want to know pediatric normal ranges for insulin (from new borns to 18 years old).
· A friend recently presented symptoms of a urinary tract infection and when tested exhibited a high non fasting blood sugar level. She was placed on glucophage xr and given a home blood testing kit to monitor blood sugar levels pending further blood test results unrelated to the urinary tract infection. She also takes 2500mg daily of vit-c - 250mg ascorbyl palmitate and the rest ascorbic acid along with numerous other anti-oxidants. I seem to remember that high doses of vit-c can produce incorrect results on fasting and post-prandial blood sugar tests. I believe there is another test that measures liver hexokinase levels that would be more accurate in this particular instance. Have I imagined this? Is there such a test? what is it called? Do home blood testing kits exist that can be used to measure hexokinase levels?
· When a person tests the glucose level at home, what should the normal range be?
· An A1c test will give an average, but not necessarily show the ranges. True? Only an average over a period of time. Now, since the results of A1c tests are given in percents how is it relative to mg/dl? Where on the number line or what is 100%?
· Re HbA1c you state that the closer to 6% a diabetic's levels are the better his blood sugar is controlled. Shouldn't that be the closer they are to 4% the better they are controlled? Isn't 4% lower than 6%? Also, what level indicates a predisposition to diabetes?
· I've been told that I have diabetis, type 2, for the past five years. I've been told this by at least five doctors;however I've never been told when I should do these blood test,before meals, after,etc;nor have I've been told about what to look for that might be high,low,etc. When ask by the doctors if I'm doing the test, I say yes;but they never ask me the results. The question is what is considered high/low. Before or after meals,etc. Is there some web site that explains what to look for in the results.
· My "comp metabolic panel glucose" test result came back as 67 mg/dl. My doctor told me it was normal but I've been feeling tired and suspect that my glucose is low. I am a white female, 33 years old, 140 lbs. Another doctor told my mother that the glucose count is low for my age and asked if I ate before the test. I ate at 12 p.m. and had the blood test that day at 2 p.m. Please advise.
· I have 3 of the 4 symptoms listed in your glossary for hypoglycemia, and headaches being the one I don't have do occur and sometimes last for a week or better, making that 4 of 4. I haven't been tested yet because I wasn't sure if there was any special diet or things I may want to stay away from for any length of time to insure an accurate test. You should know that diabetes run in my family but I haven't had any really serious "incidents" to make me feel as that is the problem. I have had pre-surgery blood tests within the past 2 years and there has been no mention of any problems, but I still have episodes of shakiness, anxiety, some serious headaches, and occasionally can't get enough sleep. Do you think any or all of this warrants a test? And if so, do I need to "Not" eat anything in particular that would sway the results?
· The test to see what the blood glucose was over about a month period. It is tied to hemoglobin somehow. I would like to know the name of the test, how it is reported, how it compares to a fasting glucose and a one touch home glucose.
Cholesterol/Triglyceride
· I am wondering if you can help me understand my fathers blood chemistry profile, he is 57 and has a few "out of range" results. Cholesterol/HDL ratio is 1.6, High density lipoprotein HDL 125.0 CH MG/DL, LDL cholestrol 64, MCV is 105.1 MCH 36.4 and Creatinine is 0.7, can you please explain this to me?
· what are the best values for thje hdl-ldl ratio?
· My total CHOLESTEROL is 200,HDL is 32,LDL IS 88 and my TRIGLYCERIDE is 306 Is my TRIGLYCERIDE reading of 306 too high ?
· If I am currently taking lipitor for a longstanding high cholesterol problem that was not affected by extensive doctor supervised dieting, should I be concerned about side effects of this medicine? Note: My numbers have dropped in less than a year into a very healthy category-200 and a ratio of 3.1. My number had been as high as 325 and a ratio of over 5.0. Should a liver scan be done each time I go for a lipid profile? How often is it recommended that I be tested?
· ONE MORE QUESTION CONCERNING THE CHOLESTROL TOTAL OR FIGURES IN CHOL. CALULATIONS. I HEARD THAT BEING IN MENOPAUSE CAN AFFECT THESE NUMBERS. IS THERE ANY SOLID EVIDENCE IN A CONNECTION BETWEEN INCREASED CHOL. AND MENOPAUSE??
· In Canada Cholesterol levels are tested using a different scale. How do I compare them to levels most commonly published? Is there an equivalancy table?
· I just got some blood lab results back and I am comparing them to blood work results on me in 1992. First set of values are from 1992...
Total Chol 165 range <200 mg/dl
Triglyc 38 range 0-150 mg/d
LDL chol (calc) 75 " < 130mg/dl
HDL chol 84 " > 55 mg/dl
Tot chol/HDL ratio 2.0 < 4.6 F
LDL/HDL RATIO 0.9 min. risk.....
The following set of results is now, 5-8-2001: Please interpret the overall risk and after reviewing some other information I will provide, help me know what level of risk I have and how to adapt my lifestyle to bring the levels back down closer to the 92 levels.
cholesterol total 208 H 120 -199 mg/dl
triglycerides 55 <200 mg/dl
HDL CHOL 81 >35 mg/dl
LDL chol(calc) 116 <130 mg/dl
Chol/HDL ratio 2.6 <4.5
LDL/HDL ratio 1.4 <3.3
They did provide the chart below, but I didn't understand where (risk level) I fell. Can you help me determine that??
Risk Female LDL/HDL Chol/HDL
0.5 avg l.5 3.3
1.0 avg 3.2 4.4
2.0 avg 5.0 7.1
3.0 avg 6.1 11.0
Now, here's any data or background info. you also may need. In 1992, I was 47 yrs old, white, female, very physically active daily, no illnesses, no genetic predispositions of disease, moderate stress, and moderately happy and active. Heavy coffee drinker, and hardly no alcohol, no smoking or tobacco. In 2001, I gain some weight, less physical but still exercising 3-4 times a week(aerobic, 30 m to 1 hr); Retired and failing relationship of 22 yrs....lots of emotional stress; less coffee; 18 mos of excessive alcochol consumption, and smokeless tobacco use; I have quit the tobacco out 6 wks ago; I have quit drinking excessively daily; now only occassionally.(only in the past 6 wks) Still exercising; watching diet intake but not eating well; more coffee again; Now I am 56 yrs old......seem healthy, except emotionally upset and depressed alot. So, I am needing the intrerpretations...so as to know what lifestyle changes to make and also need to know how long to wait before I should get the Cholesterol levels re-checked??? Thanks for the help.
· I wrote to you about a week ago regarding some lab results I had, which were done while fasting. I have some repeat lab tests done also while fasting for about 16 hours. Please give me any information you have regarding these labs. Glucose 126, Range (65-109), Cholesterol 462, Triglycerides 2580, yes thats not a typo, T. Chol/HDL Ratio 9.0 (Ratio Units .0-4.4), MCHC 37.5 Range (32.-36), Lymphs 47 Range (14-46), Monocytes 3 Range (4-13) My Ast was 30 and ALT 15, but they said that these are probably inaccurate dut to the high lipids. They were previously elevated (one month ago). They did repeat the triglycerides result and the AST and ALT. They did say the the specimen was lipemic and may adversely affect the results. Which way would it affect the results? High or Low? The doctor has put me on 10 mg. Lipidor, and may possible put me on something else I cant remember the name, and may also treat me for diabetes. My previous fasting lab was in normal range, 88. I am 32 years old and in(seeminly) good health.About 10 years ago I had some lab work done and my Choelesterol was 300 something and my triglycerides were around 790, repeat test were better. The doctor thinks its mostly genetic although I do have about 50 pounds to lose. What questions should I have for the doctor? Any other advice or comments would be appreciative? How common is a triglyceride level of this amount?
· If I have low cholestoral and high triglyceride levels what does this mean? I am a diabetic eating a high fibre low fat diet with plenty of carbohydrate. Your article states it is unusual to have the above condition.
· I am a 62 year old male. The results of a cholesterol test I had on July 15th revealed the following.
Total: 255
HDL: 71
LDL: 136
RATIO: 3:6
What does this mean to me. Seems high in total but when broken down into its parts it does not seem to be too terrible. Should I be concerned?
· What is "good cholesterol" & "bad cholesterol"? mine was at 210, triglycerides 277
· my hdl wAS 74 ISTHAT GOOD. MY CHOLESTEROL WAS 211 AND THE LDL WAS103 AND TGS WERE 169.
· Is total cholesterol the sum of HDL, LDL and triglycerides. If not,is there a relationship among the four?
· What is the importance when HDL fluctuates withing a matter of 2 months from 44 to 34, and how much does diet affect the change??? Also, Is the ratio of 4.8 of more significance than an HDL lower than the norm, and of what significance is it???
· My 10 year old daughter had a lipid panel and her triglycerides were 480. Her cholesterol was 230. Is this something to worry about? Could diet alone be the problem? Could you please e-mail me what would be condsidered the normal ranges and abnormal ranges for Cholestrol, HDL, LDL, Triglycerides?
· I am a 35 old male, My father died from heart Dilated Cardiomyopathy when he was 63. I don't smoke, drink less than one drink a month. I only exercise once a week. I give blood every few months. Blood pressure is around 110/70, and pulse around 70. I recently had blood work done with the following results:
Chol 148
HDL 21
LDL 76
CHOL/HDL 7.0
LDL/HDL 3.66
Triglycerides 251
I was sick the day of the test, however, I have had high triglycerides in the past. I'm not sure about past HDL counts. Do these levels put me at increased heart disease risk? What changes in diet, exercise, etc. can help?
· I am a 53 year old woman who is in very good health. In July I experienced some type of "visual disturbance" in my left eye which was similar to someone pulling a black window shade half way closed. Fearing that I was having a TIA or some sort of stroke, my husband took me to the hospital emergency room. I was kept for 24 hours, and had every type of test run you can imagine. CT scan, blood tests, imaging of carotid arteries and aorta, scan of my heart. Everything. Everything was normal, and I am fine. However, my Doctor decided he wanted to test my cholesterol at his office after I was released from the hospital. He said it was too high, and wanted to put me on Zocor. My Lipid Profile from the hospital was as follows: Triglyceride 91 (20-160), Cholesterol 245 (0-199), HDL 102 (34-88), LDL 125 (0-129), Do you think that would call for Zocor? I got a second opinion. The second Doctor said my cholesterol was fine. I'm a little confused!
· i am concerned re my husband, who is a couch potato, over-weight and has elevated total chlorestrol levels with(284)low hdls( under 40) who at one time was on lipitor and taken off it because his total chloresterol level went to 170. he was off this med for 2 years and recently has tried it again for his levels obviously were up again after he stopped the med.i am wondering how low is too low total chloresterol? he really needs the lipid lowering drug as he refuses to exercise and watch his diet. prior to begining the lipitor for the second time, he had slighty elevated liver enzymes which were not present when he was taking the lipitor previously.(he does not drink)he also has elevated triglycerides at 300, though he is not technically a diabetic( but i think well on his way) as his fasting blood sugar was under 140. many thanks for all your information. i would not think of using this as medical advice. i am merely asking for further information.
· Can you tell me a little about Total Cholesterol level being lower than the reference range of 100 mg/dl ? Any side effects of having Total Cholesterol lower than 100 mg/dl? Are there any conditions or effects associated by having Total Cholesterol lower than 100? LDL, HDL, TG, VLDL, etc. levels are within the reference ranges.
· The instructions for taking a cholesterol blood test allows me to take my regular morning medications except for diabetic medication. Why? Does this also mean Insulin?
· Since mono- and poly-unsaturated fats are also triglycerides, why are they recommended to replace saturated fats in the diet to reduce triglycerides? Does the test distinguish all the different kinds of glycerides? What is actually being measured?