Diabetes Test

[Barsel]

How can you get a diabetes test?
Do you have to go to your GP or can you get it done at a pharmacy?

[barry1010]

Tesco pharmacy will do it in the superstores, also Lloyds pharmacy.
The GP doesn't charge :)

[barry1010]

lloyds charges £10 and only tests for Type 2 https://lloydspharmacy.com/pages/type-2-diabetes-testing

[barry1010]

Or if you know someone with diabetes who uses a glucose monitor you could use that and do it yourself.
Fresh lancet in the bodger, quick prick in your finger and take a reading. It won't be definitive but it will give you an idea.
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes_care/blood-sugar-level-ranges.html

[Barsel]

Thanks barry. the last time I had it done at the doctors it was the HbA1c test and I was borderline. This was quite a while ago, but they didn't do a follow up. I'm having a few of the symptoms at the moment but because of Covid, I don't know how easy/difficult it is at the moment to get it done at the GP's.
Just wondered if anyone else has been able to get it done.

[237SJ]

I had a test at the GP recently. Only because I had a thyroid test but asked the doc if it was worth doing diabetes, cholesterol etc because I had never been tested. He told me to just make an appointment with the practice nurse which I did.

[Vagus]

If it was me, I wouldn’t bother with a pharmacy test.
I’d call the surgery, explain you think you may have tipped over into full blown diabetes (type 2 at a guess) and ask what you should do.
You won’t know how easy or otherwise it is unless you ask.

[barry1010]

If you were borderline you need another HbA1c test. Any pharmacy will only do the finger prick test which just tells you how much glucose is in your blood at that particular time, whereas the Hb test gives the levels for the last three months - fo
ar more useful.
Phone your GP and hopefully they'll send you a blood test form with a list of places you can get the blood test done.

[Barsel]

Thanks for all your answers.
Will phone on Monday to see how they are dealing with blood tests at the moment.

[jennyjoan]

the doctor's test is the real thing - all the rest just give you some kind of readings not the real number - nurse will do it in two seconds.

[Vagus]

Good idea Barsel, best way to go :)

[JimF]

Barsel, please do this ASAP! Take it from one who knows only too well.

But, don't be too disheartened if you get bad news. If you have diabetes, it's almost certainly going to be Type II which can be very well managed these days.