Diabetes Talking

Question:

Lurker unlurking… As a kick this morning, I checked my blood levels when my boyfriend had his glucose meter handy after checking his. My reading was 130. Boyfriend is having a fit. Says I’m possibly diabetic. I haven’t eaten anything except water (yes, plain water) since about 6 PM last night. No breakfast yet. That means fasting for 15 hours. Evening meal was low-carb. I promised boyfriend I would read up on blood sugars, etc. So can some of you folks with diabetes experience point me to some sites where I can read up so I can be prepared should I have to (sigh) see a doctor? Thanks in advance.

Response:

My reading was 130. possibly diabetic. fasting for 15 hours.

Hi, AnaMaranda, A blood sugar level of 130 is not alarming, however, a one-time reading does not give much information. If you have a blood glucose machine that is properly calibrated and non-expired test strips, you can develop a blood sugar diary yourself. (your fingers will be a little sore, however!) Check you blood glucose (BG) each meal and two hours thereafter. Record the readings on a chart and make a small notation regarding what you ate. Also, it will be helpful to list any medications, illnesses you are experiencing or other possibly influencing factors. Here are some web sites which will provide you a lot of information about diabetes in general. http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/diabetes/pubs/diagnosis/diagnosis.htm http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/diabetes/diabetes.htm Good luck and be well! Hope this helps you. Kevin

Response:

Two fasting readings (doctor’s office ) of over 126 is diagnosis for diabetes. Sorry. You may want to talk to your doctor. Jennifer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Lurker unlurking… As a kick this morning, I checked my blood levels when my boyfriend had his glucose meter handy after checking his. My reading was 130. Boyfriend is having a fit. Says I’m possibly diabetic. I haven’t eaten anything except water (yes, plain water) since about 6 PM last night. No breakfast yet. That means fasting for 15 hours. Evening meal was low-carb. I promised boyfriend I would read up on blood sugars, etc. So can some of you folks with diabetes experience point me to some sites where I can read up so I can be prepared should I have to (sigh) see a doctor? Thanks in advance.

Response:

Agreed… That’s why I said talk to her doctor. But they lowered it for a very good reason.  Complications can set in with undiagnosed diabetes, and those odds rise with higher than normal BG.  Getting diagnosed early and on a good food plan… like low carb ; )  AND meds if needed, is our best chance for a LOOOOONG complication free life. Jennifer – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Talk with your doctor so he can get rid of the fears.  A fasting reading between 120 to 160 is considered normal.  They may have lowered that some recently, but absent other indicators of diabetes I would not pump up my blood pressure over it.  :) OK so they lowered the range of normal downwards while I wasn’t looking.  :)   Now  70 to 110 is considered normal.  My texts have the old info and until recently 120 to 160 did not get anyone upset unless it came tagged with other risk factors.  So, see the doctor, draw some blood and let him/her factor what the test reports along with whatever else is known about health condition.  Still not worth getting upset or allowing blood pressure to rise over one reading on a home measuring device known to be woefully off in BG readings. Lee Rodgers The Lowcarb Retreat  http://www.lowcarb.org

Response:

Talk with your doctor so he can get rid of the fears.

No fears. I’m familiar with diabetes since boyfriend has it. I was just basically *surprised* with that reading. BF is the one having a cow.(G) So, DON’T PANIC!

No panic either. (G) My opinionated guess is that your body needed glucose and went into overtime deaminating protein because you were starving it.

Good explanation. I’ll take it. So eat and stop with the starving routine already.

Starving routine? Hey, I ate a good meal last night, and checked my blood sugar when I woke up. That’s not a "starving routine" -I  just didn’t have breakfast while I was asleep. (G) Thanks for your advice and concern.

Response:

Talk with your doctor so he can get rid of the fears.  A fasting reading between 120 to 160 is considered normal.

Sorry Lee… But the American Diabetes Association says this: http://www.diabetes.org/main/type2/medical/lab/default.jsp Fasting Plasma Glucose Test The fasting plasma glucose test is the preferred way to diagnose diabetes. It is easy to perform and convenient. After you have fasted overnight (at least 8 hours), a single sample of your blood is drawn at the doctor’s office and sent to the laboratory for analysis. Normal fasting plasma glucose levels are less than 110 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl). Fasting plasma glucose levels of more than 126 mg/dl on two or more tests on different days indicate diabetes. And this is a quote from the NIH: The committee states that diabetes can be detected by any of three positive tests. To confirm the diagnosis, there must be a second positive test on a different day. *   A casual plasma glucose level (taken at any time of day) of 200 mg/dL or greater when the symptoms of diabetes are present. *   A fasting plasma glucose value of 126 mg/dL or greater. *   An OGTT value in the blood of 200 mg/dL or greater measured at the 2-hour interval. Jennifer

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