Occasional testing with my partner

[bra]

I occasionally have been testing myself with my partner's reader. Lately I have been a little concerned about the diabetes issue because it is so high in my family. When should I start to worry? What if my reading is at over 140 all the time? My doctor told me once that this was not a good reading on a fast, so what is?

[Dusty]

You'll get a ton of different answers on this. Normal seems to be anywhere from 70-110. My brother had a 115 fasting and his doctor told him to make some lifestyle changes as his numbers was at the high end of normal. My fasting level usually is between 85-95 since I lost almost 100 pounds and changed my diet.

If you are consistantly at 140 you should get tested as soon as possible. The earliest you can get a handle on it the better off you'll be in the long run.

[Belfrybat]

Current ADA guidelines say that 70-99 is normal, 100-125 is pre-diabetes (also called insulin resistence or borderline) and fasting reading over 125 is full blown diabetes. Personally I think there's wiggle room as some folks drop from the mid 100's to around 100 with just lifestyle changes, so probably are not really fully diabetic if they don't have other symptoms. But if your fasting level is over 125, do yourself a favour and go to a doctor or nurse practitioner for further tests and intervention.

[bra]

Thank you for theses advices. I will finish out the week and see what I get and contact the clinic to ask them what they think.

Took it just now on empty and got 129

[jimmys devoted]

I found the INdex and it says normal fasting as set by the AMA is between 70 and 110.

two hour post prandial should not be higher than 140.
If fasting is above 120 then consider it boirderline but a diet diary will show where you eat late and may have an influence on levels. TRy not ot eat past 9 pm and then do a fasting.

My fastings were always 140.. post pradials always 180......

Myhusband is my balance. If I suspect somethings a miss he wil test his Bgs. the rat is always in the 90s......

we test together and he gives me my shots in my back.

its great to get everyone into it.....

[Belfrybat]

I found the INdex and it says normal fasting as set by the AMA is between 70 and 110.

.....
That used to be true until a few years ago when the stats were updated. Here's the info from Medline that reflects the new standards:

Levels up to 100 mg/dL are considered normal.

Levels between 100 and 126 mg/dl are referred to as impaired fasting glucose or pre-diabetes. These levels are considered to be risk factors for type 2 diabetes and its complications.

Diabetes is typically diagnosed when fasting blood glucose levels are 126 mg/dl or higher.

Note: mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter

I also was surprised that the normal range was lowered. But that has happened with cholesterol also. What used to be normal is now elevated. My personal opinion is if a person tests on the upper normal range (whether 100 or 110), then it's time to begin to pay attention and make some dietary changes.

[jimmys devoted]

you know i have found that even if your glucose is not up.. and youfeel crummy or have signs like neuropathy or constantly thirsty then its time regardless to keep track.

[bra]

I don't have the thirst, I do feel crummy. I have an appointment on coming Tuesday one week.


I am not understanding a few of my testings. I ate a handful of M & Ms yesterday and took my blood reading about an hour later and it was 91.

What I'm curious about is why is my level going down after eating. I am trying to understand this stimulation explaination but still having trouble.

[Belfrybat]

Simple carbs (like sugar) metabolise fast and spike up blood sugar quickly, then drops quickly. That's why it's important to eat slower metabolising carbs (like those found in veggies) that don't spike as quickly.

I've also found that certain foods will trigger a greater or lesser response in me. For instance, I can eat an ounce of dark chocolate (with sugar) and it doesn't spike as quickly or high as the corresponding carbs in citrus fruit. The opposite *should* be true, but we all vary in our responses to carbs.

I try to stay on a low carb plan -- no more than 75 carbs a day. That keeps my fasting blood sugars around 100. If I go much higher, then even though I take Metformin, the fastng BS will be 110+.

[bra]

Thank you for the advice on the carbs. Can you go a bit further and tell me when I look at a label and even though the sugars look low, there is a lot of carbs. So basically what is a carb number in comparision to a sugar number or is this too hard to understand and is there a guide I could quickly take a look at if you have one available. Thanks.