Understanding the Discrepancy Between Blood Glucose Meter and Lab Results
Questions about blood glucose meters? Hello Doctor: Recently, a family member noticed that urination attracted ants, so they went to the clinic for a blood test. On the same day, after the nurse drew blood, she used the venous blood to measure fasting blood glucose with a Roche A...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun Reply:
Dear Ms. Wang Su-Chen: 1. According to the diagnostic criteria for diabetes set by the American Diabetes Association, a. a fasting plasma glucose level of ≥126 mg/dL after fasting for more than 8 hours, b. a 2-hour plasma glucose level of ≥200 mg/dL during an oral glucose tolera...[Read More] Understanding the Discrepancy Between Blood Glucose Meter and Lab Results
Impact of Anti-Inflammatory Painkillers on Kidney Function Tests
Anti-inflammatory and analgesic medications and creatinine? Hello: The health check showed a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 54, which is below the standard low threshold of 60. The creatinine level is 1.5. After adjusting for age 42, the GFR of 54 is considered too low. The ...
Dr. Wu Hongjie Reply:
Hello: If you are currently using painkillers, it is recommended to stop the medication before retesting kidney function, urine protein levels, and undergoing a renal ultrasound to rule out chronic or acute kidney failure. Wishing you health and safety.[Read More] Impact of Anti-Inflammatory Painkillers on Kidney Function Tests
Understanding Treatment Options for Reiter's Syndrome: Common Concerns and Questions
Treatment for Listeriosis Dear Dr. Gao, I previously consulted with you, and I appreciate your professionalism! I have been seeing a specialist (who answered my questions vaguely), and I have been taking Celebrex for almost three months, one capsule in the morning and one in the...
Dr. Gao Jiankai Reply:
Dear Mr. Chang, Thank you for your email. I would like to respond to your questions as follows: 1. If your attending physician believes you have Reiter's syndrome and your condition does not improve after a period of medication, I think it would be appropriate to adjust yo...[Read More] Understanding Treatment Options for Reiter's Syndrome: Common Concerns and Questions
Understanding Anemia: Symptoms, Types, and Improvement Strategies
Regarding issues related to my anemia? I am a male, naturally tall and thin. At the age of 13-14, I was diagnosed with anemia at a general clinic. I have often experienced dizziness, headaches, and difficulty falling asleep for a long time. This condition has improved over time. ...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, to differentiate between the types of anemia, a blood test is necessary to examine the size of red blood cells. In Taiwan, there is a higher prevalence of thalassemia and iron deficiency anemia. The symptoms of anemia depend on the level of hemoglobin; generally, if it is ...[Read More] Understanding Anemia: Symptoms, Types, and Improvement Strategies
Understanding Discomfort from Skipping Meals: Causes and Solutions
Discomfort caused by excessive hunger? Hello Doctor: I have experienced 2 to 3 episodes of extreme hunger leading to discomfort over the past year (for example, only having breakfast, skipping lunch, and eating dinner). The symptoms I experience include intense hunger, trembling ...
Dr. Li Zhiyao Reply:
Hello, Xiao Kai: Based on your description, your symptoms of discomfort seem to be more like those caused by "hypoglycemia." I recommend the following: 1. Limit your intake of sugary beverages. 2. Maintain regular and balanced meals. 3. Consult an endocrinologist.[Read More] Understanding Discomfort from Skipping Meals: Causes and Solutions
Managing Persistent Lung Inflammation: Tips for Care Before Hospital Visits
Pneumonia Hello, doctor... My mother is 60 years old! She initially sought treatment at a clinic for a urinary tract infection but only received injections and medication without improvement for about ten days. She then started experiencing high fevers around 39 to 40 degrees Cel...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, based on your description, it seems that your mother's condition may have worsened. If she is feeling very unwell, it is advisable to seek emergency care. Regarding her lung condition, it appears to be quite complex and may involve atypical pathogens or inflammation c...[Read More] Managing Persistent Lung Inflammation: Tips for Care Before Hospital Visits
Understanding Diabetes: Key Questions About Diagnosis and Management
Diabetes concerns? Hello Doctor: My son is 26 years old and has been attracting ants with his urine. He went to the clinic for a blood test, which showed a fasting blood glucose level of 266 mg/dL and a hemoglobin A1c of 10.58%. There is a family history of diabetes (both of my p...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun Reply:
Dear Miss Wang Su-Chen: 1. According to the diagnostic criteria for diabetes set by the American Diabetes Association, a. a fasting plasma glucose level ≥126 mg/dL after fasting for more than 8 hours, b. a 2-hour plasma glucose level ≥200 mg/dL during an oral glucose tolerance t...[Read More] Understanding Diabetes: Key Questions About Diagnosis and Management
Understanding Chronic Joint Discomfort: Possible Causes and Solutions
Limb joints Hello Doctor, I have had joint discomfort since I was young. Whenever the weather changes, I feel soreness, primarily in my upper limbs—elbows, wrists, and fingers—and in my lower limbs—hip joints (less frequently), knees, ankles, and toes. Now at 30 years old, this c...
Dr. Zeng Guosen Reply:
Netizens often complain about feeling sore when the weather changes, but if there is no redness, swelling, or pain, based on your description, it may not even be arthritis. Western medicine typically focuses on symptomatic treatment rather than curative approaches. I suggest cons...[Read More] Understanding Chronic Joint Discomfort: Possible Causes and Solutions
Controversy Over Breath Alcohol Testing: Understanding Discrepancies in Results
Controversy over Breathalyzer Tests Controversy over Breathalyzer Test Before Duty: I underwent a breath alcohol test using the Alco-Sensor IV, which recorded a value of 0.11 mg/L. I requested a blood test, which was conducted two hours later and showed a result of <10 mg/dL, ...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, due to individual differences in alcohol metabolism, it is indeed possible to have a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.11 mg/L after drinking for 13.5 hours. As for the blood test result of <10 mg/dL taken two hours later, it may be due to the testing equipment bei...[Read More] Controversy Over Breath Alcohol Testing: Understanding Discrepancies in Results
Bat Encounter: Understanding Neurological Symptoms and Rabies Concerns
Hit by a bat? Last month, on June 18, I was riding my scooter and got hit by a bat. When I got home, I immediately checked myself in the mirror because I remembered it hitting my face, but it seemed like there were no bites or scratches, and no wounds. However, for the past week ...
Dr. Liao Zhongxin Reply:
Dear readers: Regarding the incident of being hit by a bat while riding a motorcycle, here is the response: 1. Hendra virus infection was first identified in Hendra, Australia in 1994, and Nipah virus infection was discovered in 1999 in the village of Sungai Nipah, Malaysia. ...[Read More] Bat Encounter: Understanding Neurological Symptoms and Rabies Concerns
Understanding Back Pain and Elevated Creatinine Levels: Causes and Solutions
Lower back pain and blood tests? Hello Doctor: Recently, I have been experiencing persistent soreness in my right lower back, especially when I wake up, which tends to be particularly painful. The soreness usually lasts for a whole morning or even an entire day, but sometimes I d...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, with right flank pain combined with elevated creatinine levels, the first thing to rule out is right kidney stones or obstruction. It is recommended to visit a family medicine or urology department for X-rays or ultrasound confirmation. If kidney tests are normal, another ...[Read More] Understanding Back Pain and Elevated Creatinine Levels: Causes and Solutions
Understanding Abnormal Urinalysis Results: When to Seek Medical Advice
Health examination report issues? Hello, I would like to inquire about a health check report. The urine test shows ketones at 3+ and protein at +/-; the blood test indicates neutrophil percentage at 76.2% and lymphocyte percentage at 18.4%, with the rest being normal. I'm un...
Dr. Wang Weijie Reply:
Dear Patty, Ketones are metabolites produced from fat utilization when there is a lack of insulin. They can appear positive in conditions such as diabetes, starvation, diarrhea, and vomiting. Ketones are formed when fat metabolism is incomplete; normally, there are no ketones in...[Read More] Understanding Abnormal Urinalysis Results: When to Seek Medical Advice
Understanding Creatinine Levels and Kidney Function in Health Checkups
Creatinine, Glomerular Filtration Rate, Health Checkup Issues? Hello, doctor. I apologize for bothering you, but I would like to ask a question. About two months ago, I went to a health check-up at a clinic. The doctor reviewed my report and said that my liver and kidney function...
Dr. Wu Jiyu Reply:
Hello Mr. Yang: "Creatinine 1.10, Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) 86.69" is only a single data point, making it difficult to assess the overall kidney function. Changes in kidney function need to be evaluated through multiple blood tests over time to understand the con...[Read More] Understanding Creatinine Levels and Kidney Function in Health Checkups
Understanding Creatinine Levels and Glomerular Filtration Rate Changes
Creatinine and Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) Hello Doctor, two weeks ago, the hospital came to the community to conduct free health check-ups. Today, when I went to review the report, the doctor informed me that my creatinine level is 1.05 mg/dL and my glomerular filtration ra...
Dr. Wu Jiyu Reply:
Hello Mr. Wang: Regarding your question, I will address it in two parts. (1) The changes in creatinine and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) should be evaluated based on their "trends." If you only have two data points for comparison, you can only determine whether the...[Read More] Understanding Creatinine Levels and Glomerular Filtration Rate Changes
Could My Symptoms Indicate Diabetes? Understanding Blood Sugar Levels and Weight Loss
Could this indicate the possibility of diabetes? Hello, Doctor. In mid-May of this year, I had a blood test that showed a hemoglobin A1c of 5.0 and a fasting blood glucose level of 86. From the end of May until today, my height and weight changed from 160 cm/55 kg to 160 cm/52 kg...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun Reply:
Dear Ms. NN: 1. Zoloft® (Sertraline) is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) because it specifically inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, exhibiting a selectivity for serotonin transporters that is 300 to 3000 times greater compared to norepinephrine tran...[Read More] Could My Symptoms Indicate Diabetes? Understanding Blood Sugar Levels and Weight Loss
Can Syphilis Test Results Ever Be Zero? Understanding Transmission Risks
Can the syphilis index be zero? I would like to ask, if I only have a positive TPHA and negative RPR or VDRL, can I still transmit the infection to others? The test was conducted two years ago, and I received treatment at that time. This year, during follow-up, my titers have dec...
Dr. Liao Zhongxin Reply:
Dear readers: <Can the index for syphilis be zero?> The response is as follows: According to the data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (see attachment) on page 5, the case definition for reporting conditions is as follows: 1. Clinical conditions: (1) The pre...[Read More] Can Syphilis Test Results Ever Be Zero? Understanding Transmission Risks
Understanding Proteinuria and Elevated Blood Sugar: A Guide for Patients
Urinary protein and blood glucose? A few days ago, my father went to the clinic for a blood test, and the results are as follows: Urine protein 1+, fasting blood glucose 125 mg/dL (after fasting for just over 7 hours), total cholesterol 127 mg/dL, triglycerides 229 mg/dL, HDL 39....
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, In response to your father's concerns, here are my replies: First, regarding the protein in urine, the clinic report indicates a preliminary positive result. It is recommended to visit a larger hospital for a quantitative urine protein test, and possibly a 24-hour ...[Read More] Understanding Proteinuria and Elevated Blood Sugar: A Guide for Patients
Should You See a Doctor for Thalassemia Concerns?
Should individuals with thalassemia see a doctor? Hello doctor, there is a history of thalassemia in my family, and I suspect I might have it as well. During high school, I was diagnosed during a health check-up. I have previously experienced palpitations, and a cardiology examin...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun Reply:
Dear Miss Wenwen: 1. Thalassemia, known in Chinese as "海洋性貧血" or "地中海型貧血," is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. It is primarily classified into two types: α-thalassemia and β-thalassemia, similar to what is taught in middle school regarding Mendelian i...[Read More] Should You See a Doctor for Thalassemia Concerns?
Understanding Hyperthyroidism: Heart Rate, Anxiety, and Symptoms
Hyperthyroidism? Panic? Anxiety? I would like to ask about hyperthyroidism. My heart rate has been consistently high. Recently, during the day, my heart rate is quite fast, sometimes reaching 80-90 beats per minute while sitting, but at night when I sleep, it drops to about 50 be...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Based on your description and the examination data, it does not appear to be a case of hyperthyroidism. In a normal individual, the heart rate should be between 50 and 100 beats per minute, so your heart rate should still be within the normal range. As for the palpitations, there...[Read More] Understanding Hyperthyroidism: Heart Rate, Anxiety, and Symptoms
Understanding Diabetes Diagnosis: Key Blood Test Criteria Explained
Diagnosis of Diabetes Mellitus Hello, Dr. Hsiao. I would like to ask about a recent blood test where the fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels were 140 mg/dL and 7.3%, respectively. I saw Dr. Hsiao's response regarding the diabetes diagnostic criteria published by the Ameri...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun Reply:
Dear Mr. Kiwi: 1. In clinical medicine, diagnostic standards or treatment guidelines often serve as references when research is uncertain or controversial. In practice, clinicians must make diagnoses or interventions based on the patient's own complaints, symptoms, or chan...[Read More] Understanding Diabetes Diagnosis: Key Blood Test Criteria Explained