Normal blood glucose level?!
Question: I'm about to turn 16 and have noticed that I've had to go to the bathroom a lot lately and it's taking me like a month to heal from small cuts. So I looked up online and it said a possibility for diabetes and my Grandpa has it. So i went over his house and did my blood and it came to 116 but i wasn't fasting and had eaten about 2-3 hours before that. Is that normal for non-fasting? It was about 6p.m. when I tested also.
Answers: I'm about to turn 16 and have noticed that I've had to go to the bathroom a lot lately and it's taking me like a month to heal from small cuts. So I looked up online and it said a possibility for diabetes and my Grandpa has it. So i went over his house and did my blood and it came to 116 but i wasn't fasting and had eaten about 2-3 hours before that. Is that normal for non-fasting? It was about 6p.m. when I tested also.
ZZame is referrring to the numbers used in Canada. She's not wrong for someone in Canada, but the meter you used has a different unit of measurement.
The number you got is fine for an hour or two after a meal. If it was 3 hours later, that might be just a bit high. It would be better to test when you just get up in the morning and haven't had anything to eat.
However, what you need to keep in mind is that your Grandpa's meter is not anywhere near as accurate as a lab test would be. Meters can be up to 20% off either way. They do tell you if your blood sugar is better or worse, but to diagnose diabetes you must get your doctor to test your blood.
You do have two of the symptoms of diabetes. Check the lists on these two pages and see if you have any more. Make a list of the ones you do have and take it to your doctor.
Type one symptoms
http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowConten...
Type two symptoms
http://www.dlife.com/dLife/do/ShowConten...
Let your doctor know your Grandpa has diabetes, it does increase you risk of getting it. Ask the doc to do a fasting blood glucose test, and an HbA1c.
A more accurate test is the glucose tolerance test, but he's not likely to do that test unless your fasting number comes back high.
The HbA1c will give a sort of average of your blood sugar for the last 3 months, so its a good one to get done.
If your test comes back negative, or borderline, then get retested in 6 months if you still have the symptoms.
If you are borderline diabetic, then the best thing is to get on a better diet of moderate carbs. The South Beach Diet is a good place to start. The recipes in it are low carb and moderate carb. Try the moderate carb ones and see how you do.
If your test comes back positive for diabetes, ask for counselling from a diabetes nurse and a diabetes dietician so you'll know what to do and what you should eat, and how much, etc.
You can always ask for help again on here, people can point you to some reliable sites for information.
This blog has some really good links posted on it. Lots of good reading at this links and also a couple of good books listed too.
http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-NbDgUzQhf...
Good luck!
The blood sugar level is the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood. It is also known as serum glucose level. It is expressed as millimoles per litre (mmol/l).
Normally, blood glucose levels stay within narrow limits throughout the day: 4 to 8mmol/l. But they are higher after meals and usually lowest in the morning.
In diabetes the blood sugar level moves outside these limits until treated. Even with good control of diabetes, the blood sugar level will still at times drift outside this normal range.
That is a normal blood glucose level. If you are really concerned there are other tests that can offer more evidence then just one fingerstick can, such as an A1c. I don't think you have anything to worry about, but if you aren't sure then it's always better to be safe than sorry.
from website:
Normal Results
Before meals: 90 to 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL)
After meals: Less than 180 mg/dL
Another sign is if you're craving water. I mean really craving it. I'm Type II Diab. and from the skipped generation of my mother's mother. Her brother also had it. But they never had to take insulin. She only took pills.
I only take pills. Mine has improved vastly over the last 6 months.
If you do a fasting blood sugar test in the a.m. and your number is over 120, you're borderline Diab. I don't know what your diet consists of but I can tell you the first thing they're going to tell you is lay off the whites, ie: sugar, flour, bread, potatoes, cakes for a while and try to eat healthier. Whole grains, try some Splenda, and if you do eat one, hold off on the other. In other words, if your diet consists of a lot of fast foods like white buns and french fries, have one withouth the other and see what happens after about 2 weeks on your fasting blood sugar numbers. More than likely this is what's causing it. Diabetes is the way your body responds to the hormone insulin. If you eat sensibly, you can maintain control and avoid meds. You're way too young for this. You didn't share your weight but I'd be willing to bet your diet consists of a good deal of fast foods.
If you're really worried about it, you can see if your Dr. thinks you need an HBa1C test, (blood drawn in a lab) and if that number comes back higher than 6.0 then yes, you're definitely borderline Diab. more than likely Type II. Normal range is from generally 5.0 to 6.0. They really don't like to see over 6.5. I personally think you're ok, but talk to your parent(s) and see what they think.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO IS EAT SOMETHING THAT IS FAST ACTING SUGAR, LIKE JUICE AND WAIT 15 MINS. THEN TEST YOUR BLOODSUGAR. IF ITS HIGHER THAN 180 U MAY HAVE DIABETES, BUT U SOUND FINE