Undiagnosed diabetes.

Here is the info from Lloyds Pharmacies:

Over three million people in the UK have diabetes, but it is thought that up to another one million people have Type 2 Diabetes without knowing. At LloydsPharmacy we offer a FREE screening service to determine whether you are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes . It's completely confidential and takes just a few minutes.

What will happen during the Type 2 Diabetes Screening Service?
The service will take place in a private consultation room by a trained member of staff.

You will be asked some question so that they can assess your risk of Type 2 diabetes.
These will be about:

Your age
Your height, weight and waist measurement
Your daily activity
Your diet, in particular how many fruit and vegetables you eat
If you use high blood pressure medication
If you have ever had a high blood glucose reading
If any family member has diabetes

If you are at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes we can advise you on how to slow or even reduce your risk of developing the condition.

If you're at high risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes we'll measure your blood pressure and take a very small finger-prick sample of blood to measure your blood glucose level.

Depending on the results of this test, we may ask you to come back for further assessment.
This will include:

A fasting blood glucose test, which involves taking a sample of blood when you have an empty stomach (usually first thing in the morning before you have breakfast)
Weight, height and waist measurement
Additional blood pressure measurements

We'll also offer you lifestyle advice and recommend ways of reducing your chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes.

If appropriate, we may refer you to your doctor.

How long will the service take?
The consultation will only take a few minutes.

Do I have to make an appointment?
No, you don't. Occasionally at busy times you may be asked to make an appointment.

Most chemists will do free or cheap sugar bllod tests at the dispensing counter- quick prick of a finger, and immediate results. Anyone over 55 is well advised to have it done once a year- try to get to the chemist's early in the morning BEFORE you have breakfast, as it gives a better assessment of your true sugar levels. If it is high, they will advise you to go and have the HbA1 test, again first thing in the morning, fasting- that will give your average sugar for the past 3 months- and refer you if necessary.

It's quick, cheap or free- just do it - the sooner diabetes is diagnosed, the sooner you can make life changes that can make a huge difference, and also get medication and if necessary, insulin- that will stop further damage to your eyes and so much more- before it is irreversible.

My goodness that is a very high reading for high blood pressure, at least now her GP will take steps to control this.
I am surprised though that if she is diabetic that the surgery were not aware of it.

I have high blood pressure and am pre diabetic so watch what I eat as I am determined not become a type 2 diabetic with all the problems this can entails.

I bought myself a blood pressure monitor and a meter to take my blood glucose and am managing to work out the foods I need to avoid.

That's a horrific reading for BP, I'm not surprised she had a stroke,.she's been very lucky this wasn't a major life-threatening one.

Thanks for info - I had presumed it was the other way round and that the diabetes had caused the elevated BP.

IMO it's her BP that's caused the stroke; I suspect that they picked up the diabetes afterwards. DH had a DVT then pulmonary embolism and type 2 diabetes was diagnosed when they took bloods, almost coincidentally.

Her BP is more likely to cause another stroke imho (I am NOT medically qualified) - hopefully they will have both under control with medication, and also she will very possibly have to make life style changes re food/carbs intake and more exercise too.

Now that they are on to it, hopefully she will have all the necessary drugs prescribed to reduce the chances of this re-occurring.