Lab results - looking for opinions [PLEASE READ 1ST POST]

Megan Jones27 said:I'm not quite sure how to interpret these OGTT results. My doctor isn't overly concerned about the lower values; she mentioned we’ll just repeat the first one in a month. As for the other two, they are technically a bit low, but she says there's no need to "investigate" further. Should I be worried?

Is a fasting glucose level between 0 and 5.2 mmol/L acceptable? For pregnant women, shouldn't we be aiming for anything under 5.1?

Glucose level at 60 mg/dL—is that a bit low for someone under ten weeks pregnant?

Is a blood glucose level of 120 mg/dL at 12 weeks too high if you're aiming for under 85 during pregnancy?

I just finished my OGTT at a local clinic, and man, was it crowded. Since the wait was getting intense, I asked if I could spend the time between blood draws back at my place. They told me that was fine, as long as I just took a slow stroll. I live literally about a block away from the clinic—maybe a two or three-minute walk—so I definitely wasn't power walking or anything. I even double-checked if it was okay to use the restroom, and they gave me the green light. Now I'm staring at these results and wondering: is this reading artificially low because of that little bit of movement, or am I looking at an actual issue? For context, during my last pregnancy, my initial numbers were identical to these, but the progression felt much more normal: 5.2, 7.8, 6.4. What do you all think?

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Maria Fisher46 said:Dear friend,

Theoretically speaking, this result already points toward gestational diabetes since one of the glucose levels in the OGTT falls outside the normal range—specifically the fasting glucose level. That said, don't you think these diagnostic criteria might be a bit too strict? Interestingly, there is some hypoglycemia visible at the two-hour mark, given that the sugar levels dropped below 60 mg/dL.

In cases of gestational diabetes, we often see what’s known as a delayed insulin response that unfolds in two distinct stages. First, there is an initial period of diminished response, followed by what can be called a "late response," where insulin levels spike significantly enough to bring glucose concentrations back down. Isn't it fascinating how the body attempts to recalibrate itself?

As I mentioned recently to Roger Rodriguez, some research has turned up some interesting data. In studies following pregnant women who experienced hypoglycemia—specifically dropping below 70 mg/dL—usually about two hours after their glucose tolerance test, there was a significant trend. It turns out that these dips often played a major role in why their final results showed elevated glucose levels, particularly when fasting, ultimately meeting the criteria for gestational diabetes. Isn't it fascinating how those fluctuations can impact the whole picture?

In that case, you should definitely follow your gynecologist's advice. After all, isn't their recommendation what matters most?

Exactly, I was actually hoping to pass your response along to the original poster. 🙂
Here is an update on my latest lab results. My doctor actually suspected insulin resistance before even checking my insulin levels—could she be right? She based her opinion not just on my dropping OGTT numbers, but also on everything else I’ve been feeling lately: the weight gain, that intense hunger surge after carb-heavy meals, and those exhausting energy crashes following sudden spikes throughout the day.
Once I've finished with my pregnancy, I plan to schedule some more in-depth checkups—especially if adjusting my diet doesn't help clear up these symptoms. Wouldn't it be better to be thorough?
From what I can gather, is this the kind of situation that eventually leads to Type 2 diabetes?
My diet is mostly carb-heavy; I tend to make pasta and sweets a daily staple, usually just adding some veggies on the side. Protein and fiber? Not really my thing.
I haven't gained any weight, but ever since last spring, I’ve been dealing with these sudden waves of fatigue and weakness right after I eat.

Hello... Just wanted to share some more details from my side. I don't really experience any unusual fatigue, nor am I gaining weight unexpectedly. I do feel weak if I haven't eaten for a long time—for instance, when I have to fast for medical tests, like that time I needed an abdominal ultrasound. When I was younger, this was never an issue; even if I missed a decent breakfast, I felt perfectly fine.

Regarding weight gain, the only time I actually put on pounds is during pregnancy. Outside of being pregnant, I'm basically skin and bones; there is no way for me to gain weight no matter how much I eat (about 99 lbs at 5'4"). Right now, I'm 28 weeks and 2 days along, and I'm nearly 121 lbs. In my previous pregnancies, I would reach about 130–132 lbs by this stage, but after giving birth, it quickly drops back down to a meager 99 lbs and just stays there.

The only thing is, much like you, I deal with this constant, inexplicable ravenous hunger. It’s not just when I’m sick with a fever or while I'm sleeping, though even then, I feel like I could eat immediately upon waking up. This hunger is, just like yours, even worse right after eating, but for me, this has been an issue for years—whether I was pregnant or not, regardless of what I ate. I'll eat something, literally anything... and within five minutes, that sensation returns, as if I haven't eaten a thing. It's a feeling of hunger and emptiness traveling straight from my mouth to my stomach. My mouth starts watering from hunger, and my stomach feels like a bottomless pit. Eventually, I have to snack, OR drink something, OR chew gum, OR brush my teeth just to get that feeling to subside for a moment. I've had a gastroscopy... they didn't find anything "special" other than supposed biliary gastritis (there was quite a bit of bile present), so I wonder if that hunger could be related to that. A few years ago, I was told I have LPR, and it all seems to have started after I treated H. pylori about ten years ago, though subsequent tests were always negative.

I might be rambling a bit here, but I felt I had to add these details as they might be important. Whether any of this is interconnected, I simply don't know... But this condition really takes a toll on my mental state sometimes. Being constantly hungry without knowing why is not fun at all.

And yes, I also have intense sugar cravings and consume quite a lot of carbohydrates. I've been vegan for the last four years, so I've introduced many new foods, but it was the same before when I was an omnivore, so diet doesn't seem to be the factor. Whether I ate healthy or unhealthy, the hunger was there. Of course, I've already Googled diabetes and insulin... However, looking at some old lab results, my fasting glucose was always normal (around 70 mg/dL), even during OGTT tests in previous pregnancies when I didn't experience this strange drop (the only difference back then was that I didn't move a muscle and just sat there for the full two hours).

So, that's the "short" version. I'm going to head to sleep now before the urge to start snacking hits me.

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Maria Fisher46 said:Sir,

Given the details you provided, I recommend scheduling a follow-up lipid panel in six months. This should be paired with strict dietary management, regular exercise, and total smoking cessation.

Thank you very much.

I'll check back in six months once I have the results.

Zachary Gomez If you're dealing with hypoglycemia, I'm pretty sure intense hunger is one of the most common red flags. As for the weight gain, I'm honestly not sure what the trigger is; I’ve always struggled with my weight, but when I eat poorly and combine that with antidepressants—which definitely slow down my metabolism and spike my appetite—the extra pounds don't surprise me. Is it just a side effect, or could it be an insulin issue?
My doctor actually suspected insulin resistance, mainly because of this constant hunger, the weakness, and those massive cravings right after eating heavy carbs. It also lines up with my OGTT results, which kept trending lower at every measurement. I noticed similar weight gain during my first pregnancy even though my glucose tests were perfect back then—I ended up gaining 26 lbs. Now, I'm up 24 lbs at 33 weeks (though I'm on bed rest now, whereas last time I was rushing through my first two weeks of college before my due date).
Usually, my fasting glucose stays around 70-80 mg/dL, and I've never had an OGTT look like this—not even three years ago when I had one outside of pregnancy and everything was totally normal. But with this relentless hunger, I feel like the only thing that actually satisfies me is hitting up a bakery.
Anyway, it's clear something has been off for the last year or two.

That sounds awful... I honestly don't even know what to say, but my heart goes out to you. I’m going to ask my primary care physician to recommend some extra testing if my GI doctor thinks we should hold off. It would be such a relief to finally pinpoint the issue and start some kind of treatment or a specific diet, because this constant bloating just isn't sustainable anymore. Even when I wasn't pregnant, I’d feel like a balloon after eating. Now that I am, it's harder to hide, but I can really feel that tightness in my stomach whenever I finish a meal... and then the cycle repeats. The only time things felt even remotely normal was when I took that premium Omni Biotic probiotic for about a month; my stomach stayed flat all day regardless of what I ate. As soon as I stopped, the bloating came right back, and by evening, I looked five months pregnant.

For instance, about two and a half hours ago, I had leftover potatoes, grilled veggies, and mushrooms. I could have kept eating forever. Then, suddenly, I felt full. But just five minutes later, the hunger pangs hit again. Now I'm sitting here snacking on Oreos and already wondering what else I can grab. I eat fruit every day, so I try to tell myself it balances out somehow. I just wish I could get rid of this constant craving. I try to ignore it since I've become somewhat used to it, but there are times when it truly gets under my skin and starts messing with my mood and mental state.

Kimberly Morris said:Felix the Cat, how can I ever thank you enough? Seriously, major respect. Thanks so much for the reply.

The thing that’s actually weighing on me is my poor Vitamin D levels. My endocrinologist told me to stop taking it because of hypercalcemia. Everywhere I read, people say it's absolutely vital when dealing with COVID-19. I haven't recovered from it, I haven't been vaccinated, I'm carrying some extra weight, and I have all these other diagnoses.

Do you have any recommendations on what I should take to boost my immune system, given that my Vitamin D levels are basically non-existent?

Ma'am,

Higher Vitamin D levels would certainly be ideal, I agree. That said, your reading of 19.9 ug/L is just shy of the recommended 20 ug/L—or ideally above 30 ug/L. It's worth noting the units are in ug/L rather than nmol/L, which is how concentration is most commonly expressed. That likely caused some confusion, as when using nmol/L, the recommendation is typically above 50 nmol/L.

My advice? Stick to the instructions your endocrinologist gave you. Finish your diagnostic workup first; once a definitive diagnosis is in place, you can address the Vitamin D deficiency.

Good luck.

I’d really appreciate it if someone could help me make sense of this hand MRI. I’m in my late 20s and I’ve been dealing with issues in several joints for a few years now—still haven't gotten a solid diagnosis, unfortunately. To make matters worse, the pain was so bad I couldn't even finish the full scan, but I'm hoping there's something useful to be read from what we actually got.

Native MRI slices of the right hand—performed using T1 and T2 sequences along with coronal PD TSE fs; patient was unable to complete the planned examination due to pain.

From the sequences performed, signs of significant carpal coalition can be differentiated. As much as can be analyzed, the amount of lamellar fluid within the distal radioulnar joint and the area of the radiocarpal joint—specifically between the distal radius and the scaphoid bone—is non-significant. No evidence of inflammatory osteitis. No chronic structural changes in the form of erosions at the level of the distal radioulnar joint, the radiocarpal levels, the small carpal joints, or the visualized MCP and PIP joints. No signs of acute inflammation in the small carpal joints or the MCP and PIP joints. A minimal amount of fluid is present at the MCP level and the 1st carpometacarpal joint, which is considered non-significant.

The visualized flexor and extensor tendons show maintained continuity, with no clearly visible or significant tenosynovitis.

Thanks 🙂

fadedhound7 said:I'd appreciate it if someone could help me make sense of this hand MRI. I'm in my late 20s and have been dealing with issues in several joints for a couple of years now, though I don't have a concrete diagnosis. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish the full scan due to pain, but I'm wondering if anything can be gleaned from what was completed.

Native MRI slices of the right hand—T1 and T2 weighted, plus coronal PD tse fs sequences; patient unable to complete planned examination due to pain.

From the completed sequences, signs of significant coalitional fusion are distinguishable. To the extent possible to analyze, the amount of lamellar fluid within the distal radioulnar joint and the area of the radiocarpal joint—specifically between the distal radius and the scaphoid—is non-significant. No inflammatory osteitis is present. There are no chronic structural changes, such as erosions, at the level of the distal radioulnar joint, radiocarpal levels, small carpal joints, or the visualized MCP and PIP joints. No signs of acute inflammation in the small carpal joints or the MCP and PIP joints. Minimal fluid in the MCP joints and the 1st carpometacarpal joint, which is non-significant.

The flexor and extensor tendons show maintained continuity, with no clearly visible significant tenosynovitis.

Thanks 🙂

Hello,

An MRI isn't really a lab result; it's an imaging diagnostic study.

The MRI of the right hand describes a developmental anomaly—essentially a rare anatomical variation where the capitate and scaphoid bones failed to properly segment during embryonic development, resulting in fusion. This type of anomaly is typically asymptomatic and requires no treatment. However, there are documented cases where it causes wrist pain. Since this is a rare condition, I'd suggest consulting an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hand surgery to determine if this fusion is actually linked to your symptoms. Everything else noted on the MRI appears clinically insignificant.

So, I decided to head down to the lab for some bloodwork because I’ve been feeling totally wiped out ever since I caught that respiratory bug, and honestly, even after the antibiotics finished their job, the exhaustion just won't quit on me.

My CBC actually came back looking pretty normal, which is a relief.

But then there's the urinalysis...
It shows a few things that are outside the standard range, specifically:
Appearance: cloudy
Leukocyte esterase: 15, reference range Leukocytes: 5-7, reference range 0-2 (x400)
Epithelial cells: many, reference range 0-1 (x400)
Bacteria: some present, reference range 0/neg (x400)
Mucus: rare, reference range 0/neg (x400)

My doctor ended up giving me a referral for a urine culture, but since I’m not actually feeling any typical UTI symptoms or discomfort, I was wondering if you guys think it's really necessary to go through with these extra tests.

Sophia Hughes90 said:I went in for some lab work because I've been feeling incredibly weak following a respiratory infection. The fatigue just hasn't let up, even after the antibiotics finished their course.

My CBC came back normal.

Urinalysis
There are a few deviations from the reference range:
Appearance: cloudy
Leukocyte esterase: 15, reference interval Leukocytes: 5-7, reference interval 0-2 (x400)
Epithelial cells: many, reference interval 0-1 (x400)
Bacteria: trace, reference interval 0/neg (x400)
Mucus: rare, reference interval 0/neg (x400)

In the end, my doctor ordered a urine culture. Since I'm not experiencing any urinary tract symptoms, I'm wondering if you think these extra tests are actually necessary.

Hello,

Inquiries regarding urinalysis results like yours are quite common. When there is a high count of epithelial cells, it usually indicates the sample was contaminated by skin contact during collection. This would explain the presence of leukocytes. Based on what you've described, a urinary tract infection doesn't seem likely.

Was that respiratory infection COVID-19, or was it something else? What specific lingering symptoms are you dealing with? Aside from the CBC, have you had any other blood work done?

Maria Fisher46 said:Hi there,

I get questions about urine results like yours all the time, honestly. When you see a bunch of squamous epithelial cells showing up, it usually just means the sample touched the skin during collection, which makes the whole thing kind of questionable—and that’s likely why those white blood cells popped up too. Based on what you're describing, it doesn't really look like you're dealing with a urinary tract infection.

Was that respiratory thing you had actually COVID-19, or was it something else entirely? Any lingering symptoms hanging around? Also, did you get any bloodwork done besides the standard CBC?

Thanks for getting back to me!
It wasn't COVID. I have to get tested constantly for work anyway.
If I'm being totally honest and just guessing here, I think I probably didn't give my body enough downtime, because as soon as I started feeling even slightly better, I was already out walking in the freezing cold and stuff, and then everything just tanked again with this weird pressure in my lungs and feeling super weak. But I'm feeling pretty much back to normal now, so yeah, no extra tests yet.

Sophia Hughes90 said:Thanks for the input.
It wasn't COVID-19. I have to get tested regularly for my job.
Just speaking off the cuff here, I don't think I rested enough. As soon as I felt even slightly better, I was out walking in the cold and stuff. That’s when things took a turn—I felt this pressure in my lungs and just total weakness. It seems fine now, though. I haven't gone back for any follow-up testing.

If you're feeling better, further tests might not be necessary. However, if symptoms return or you don't reach a full recovery, it would be wise to expand the diagnostic workup.

Hey there. I’ve already shared a post on this thread regarding our son, but I wanted to circle back. He was recently diagnosed with distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). He’s just 6 months old. These are his most recent acid-base status results—we had blood drawn from both a vein and a finger stick. Really appreciate any help or insight you all can offer.

https://ibb.co/Wc2tVrJ

This is my very first time posting on Reddit. I am 28 years old, and I was treated for Hodgkin lymphoma via chemotherapy about four years ago. I don't have any major issues right now, except that over the last two or three months, I’ve been feeling these strange waves where it feels like I have a fever during the day—just sudden flashes of heat—but they pass pretty quickly. I had some bloodwork done just to stay on top of things following my previous illness. These specific results are really weighing on me:
Basophil granulocytes 0.08 (0.00 - 0.06),
Basophil granulocytes 1.5 % (0 - 1),
Immature granulocytes 0.01 (0),
Immature granulocytes 0.2 % (0),
ESR (photometric rheology) 3 mm/3.6h (4 - 24),
Reticulocyte hemoglobin 35.1 pg (27.0 - 32.6),
Coagulation: PT-INR 1.0 (2.0 - 3.5).
Potassium 3.6 mmol/L (3.9 - 5.1),
Urea 2.5 mmol/L (2.8 - 8.3)
IgG 9.1 g/L (10.0 - 19.0)
IgM 0.5 g/L (0.7 - 2.6)
Urine: Creatinine 6.5 mmol/L (8.0 - 26.5)
Leukocytes 3 per high power field (0 - 2)
Squamous epithelial cells 4 per high power field (0 - 1)
SERUM PROTEIN ELECTROPHORESIS:
Albumin/globulin ratio 2.60 (1.5-2.1)

So, yeah, those are all the values that came back outside the normal range. The numbers in parentheses are the reference ranges. I guess... if anyone here actually understands how to interpret these kinds of labs, could you please help me make sense of them? 🙂

Harold Garcia60 said:Hello. I already posted once regarding our son. He’s been diagnosed with distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). He is 6 months old. These are his latest acid-base status results. Blood was drawn from both a vein and a finger prick. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer.

https://ibb.co/Wc2tVrJ

Look,

To actually evaluate these labs, I need to see how they compare to the previous ones—especially since, if memory serves, medication dosages were increased during the last checkup. Also, I noticed you "wiped" this post. Unlike the previous one (which was deleted and is now gone), there are no recommendations here, no medical history, and some other details seem missing (like some redness, etc.).

The data you're providing is incomplete, so frankly, it doesn't feel fair play to ask for a second opinion this way.

Drew Rivera41 said:So, there it is. These are all the values that fall outside the normal range. I've included the reference values in parentheses. Could someone with actual expertise take a look and help me make sense of these results? 🙂

To whom it may concern,

It is impossible to comment on these specific lab results, particularly regarding the white blood cell differentials. Since you’re undergoing regular checkups, I would also need to see your previous reports to compare them against the current ones. Without that baseline, there is no way to provide an answer.

Maria Fisher46 said:Dear lady,

It is simply impossible for me to comment on these specific lab results, particularly the section regarding the percentages of various white blood cell types. Furthermore, since you mentioned you undergo regular checkups, it would be highly beneficial to know what your previous results looked like so they could be compared against these current ones. Without that historical data, providing an answer is out of the question.

Thank you for your response. I go in for my checkups roughly every six months. When comparing my last three sets of results with this most recent one, I notice that the immature granulocytes have been just as elevated previously as they are now. Also, the ESR was slightly low in the prior test, much like it is currently. Similarly, the reticulocyte hemoglobin has been high across all three previous tests. My PV INR value has also been low in all three instances. Potassium is consistently low as well. Both IgG and IgM have also remained consistently low. My urinary creatinine has been quite low in all my old reports. Squamous epithelial cells have also been elevated in every single result. And finally, those serum albumin/globulin levels have also been constantly high. Is there anything at all you can interpret from this blood work now?

Drew Rivera41 said:Thank you for the response. I get checked about every six months. Comparing my last three reports to this current one, I see that immature granulocytes were elevated in the previous results just as they are now. Also, ESR was slightly low in the previous report, much like it is today. Similarly, reticulocyte hemoglobin has been high in all three prior tests. My PT and INR levels were also low in those three previous instances. Potassium is consistently low. Both IgG and IgM have also remained consistently low. Urinary creatinine is quite low across all old reports. Squamous epithelial cells are also elevated in every test. Finally, the serum albumin/globulin ratio has also been consistently high. Is there anything you can gather from this blood work?

Ma'am,

I prefer seeing the full set of values. I've been burned too many times by relying solely on someone else's interpretation. I need to look at the raw numbers myself and compare them before forming an opinion.

Based strictly on what you've shared—and with significant caveats—here is my take. If those immature granulocytes have been present in similar numbers previously, there isn't much reason for concern. The slightly higher reticulocyte hemoglobin might point toward low iron stores; if you haven't already, I'd suggest looking into that (iron, UIBC, TIBC, ferritin). As for the lower immunoglobulin levels—provided IgG stays above 8 g/L—they could be linked to previous chemotherapy. B lymphocytes can take some time to recover after such treatment, so while I wouldn't worry yet, it’s worth monitoring. Potassium is a bit low, but we don't talk about hypokalemia until it drops below 3.5 mmol/l. It's hard to say why it's slightly low right now; it occurs to me that certain chemo drugs can affect the renal tubules, leading to increased potassium loss, though that usually resolves once the medication stops. Finding a few white blood cells in the urine along with squamous epithelial cells likely just means the sample wasn't collected perfectly—skin contact during collection often causes this—so that doesn't worry me either. PT and INR are within normal range; the values in parentheses are typically meant for patients on anticoagulant therapy. That's the short version, provided with a massive disclaimer: since I don't have the complete lab reports or your full medical history and treatment plan, your attending physician may very well disagree with my assessment.

Hi everyone, I’ve mentioned my issues with urine analysis before, specifically regarding dysmorphic erythrocytes—my last lab result showed them at 85%. Lately, during my routine checkups, things that used to come back negative are starting to show up, and it feels like there's always something new being flagged. A few months ago it was protein, and now it's ketones.
I don't have an appointment with a nephrologist for another six months. Is there anything I should be doing in the meantime to manage this? My blood work for systemic diseases has all come back negative so far.

Also, I've been running some blood tests because I need to undergo surgery to have my tonsils removed, and I'm getting worried about my iron saturation levels. They are consistently low (both my iron and ferritin are sitting right at the bottom end of the normal range), but my primary care physician doesn't think it's something worth addressing right now. To give some context, I struggled with low iron for years until I finally managed to get it into the normal range—which actually only happened after I transitioned to a vegan diet.

On top of that, my INR levels are low, which is bothering me. My mom started taking Marevan around my age, and I suspect there might be a genetic component since her father was also on the same medication starting in his 40s. I would really appreciate any advice or insight regarding this. Thanks so much

Hi there, could someone please take a look at these results and help me make sense of them?
HLA TYPING RESULTS

Class I/HLA-A *03 *24
Class I/HLA-B *40 *55
Class I/HLA-C *03
Class II/HLA-DRB1 *08 *13
Class II/HLA-DQB1 *04 *06

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.