Can drinking too much coke cause you to have a false positive on a diabetes test?

Question

Someone I know drank a lot of coke for about a week (he doesn't normally drink that much coke or any sugar really) before taking a finger prick diabetes test. Then he came out with a blood sugar level that was quite high, he then took another one the next day and was again high but a bit lower.

He then decided to cut out all high sugar products that were on his diet and about three weeks later took another test and his levels were back in the normal level.

Does this mean that he has diabetes or not?

He doesn't have health insurance...

Answer 1

If you have a high sugar intake and then test it within an hour the sugar reading will go up.The most accurate way to determine if someone is diabetic is to see a Doctor who will do some blood work.

Answer 2

No, if he is not diabetic then his body would have naturally taken care of the Coke, no matter how much sugar he consumed.  He might be borderline diabetic (insulin resistant), and that's why watching his sugar intake worked for him.  That's what all borderlines and Type 2's have to do...watch their carbs and keep it within levels that the body can handle.  He needs to see a doc for more thorough testing and diagnosis.

Answer 3

Doesnt matter how much coke or sugar you drink.  If your body is normal, then it will process it and you wont have high blood sugars.

Your friend should get insurance and then get tested.  Chances are if he isnt already diabetic, he will be very soon.

I wish him luck

Answer 4

He is probably pre-diabetes.  He is already having trouble processing the sugars.  I am guessing the normal level was actually on the high side probably around 120.  When you are diabetic that is what you to do manage it, you eliminate the sugars and reduce the carbs and exercise.

Answer 5

It would depend WHEN he drank the cokes comapred to the time he took the test.  It would also depend on what test he took.

Ther are two basic tests which are often confused with each other -- the "Finger Stick and Meter" test, and the A1C test (which is also done with a finger stick, but without the meter.)  Both tests require a drop of blood to be measured.

The "finger Stick" test is NOT a DIAGNOSTIC test for diabetes.  It is a CONTROL test to show the diabetic how well (or not  . . .) he is controlling his sugar.  If your friend drank a coke within 30 minutes of doing a "finger stick" test, then yes, the reading will be high.  If they repeat the "finger stick" test about an hour after he drank the coke, then the reading should be close to normal.

The A1C test is a DIAGOSTIC AND MAINTAINENCE test for diabetes. This test measures the AVERAGE sugar in your blood over 90 days.  This test is not seriously affected by drinking one coke before the test.  BUT . . . If your friend is drinking too many cokes (3-4 a day) over a long (3-4 week) period, then this "habit" could make the A1C reading high.

From the evidence you give, I suspect he did the "finger stick" test, probably using a friends meter, instead of theA1C  which is done in a doctor office.

In this case, he is scaring himself because he doen't understand the difference between "diagnostic" and "control" testing.

Frankly, I think your friend sounds just asbolutely normal, but the decision to cut down oin the sugar products he's eating is still a wise idea.

If he's still worried, spend the money to have a doctor do the A1C test.  It's relatively cheap, and could give him a great peace of mind.

BTW: diabetics should NOT use their meters to test other people.  Most meters maintain a "running average" of their readings, and putting other peoples readings screws up the average.  AND -- a lot of misinformation (like your friend) causes a lot of unnecessry worry.

Answer 6

it does not matter what you eat or drink a normal functioning pancreas will  secrete insulin and you blood sugar will not go up over 120 so if it was higher than that you most likely have diabetes

Answer 7

make use of the SE like google or yahoo to get some ideas first if you want to get the massive information,however if you do not want to spend so much time,here is a direct and good resource for your questions.http://health-insurance.tips4free.info/h...

Answer 8

diabetics check there sugars multiple times throughout the day....it doesnt matter if he drank it for a week straight. he could have drink it the same day and checked in a hour and it still could have provided the same results. google the symptoms that will help....but if the person is losing weight, is tired, has energy, or feels weak sometimes he should go to the doctor. but i think he should go to the doctor anyway...and ive been to a few states that provide health insurance for those that dont have any. like a free clinic...google free clinics in your area.

Answer 9

it kind of depends on what kind of numbers youre talking about when you say high and normal, if you are not diabetic no matter what you consume and no matter how much sugar it contains you should not have high blood sugars if you have a working pancreas it will control insulin levels in your body and adjust them to whatever you consume. if his body is having trouble when he consumes sugary products he may be headed towards diabetes, a pancreas can fail slowly according to all my test i had high sugars for as much as 6 months b4 it was bad enuf for me to go to the doctor, so it can happen over time, for now he should control his diet as much as he can and exercise everyday, some sort of cardio

Answer 10

all non-diet soda's have a lot of sugar...and coke has even more.

the coke could have made a HUGEEEEE difference. if it's normal now he shouldn't worry but he should test it every now and again just to make sure