Can blood sugar tests done throughout the day tell you if you have diabetes?
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 at
2:56 pm
If I used one of the blood sugar check machines they sell at stores or at the local fire department, one in the morning (fasted) and after I eat, will that give me an indication if I have diabetes or not. I know the best way is to go to the doctor but they are going to charge me $50 for a blood test. Trying to save some money here.
I checked it last night and this morning and it was 90 both times.
Tagged with: blood • Diabetes • done • sugar • tell • Tests • throughout
Filed under: Blood Sugar Testing
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A non-diabetic’s fasting glucose is typically 70 to 100 mg/dL or 3.9 to 5.6 mmol/L. A non-diabetic’s 2 hour post-prandial (after meal) glucose typically does not exceed 140 mg/dL or 7.8 mmol/L. Please note that I say ‘typically’ as there will some variation from day to day. The diagnosis of diabetes should never be based upon a single reading although readings above this reference range would warrant a visit to your physician.
I agree with the doctor’s reference ranges, although I will say that new clinical standards on diabetes actually put “normal” fasting blood sugar as <99 mg/dL, not <100 mg/dL. (It’s only one point, but should be mentioned.)
You can’t make a diagnosis off a home meter. While they’re accurate enough for a diabetic, they’re not accurate enough to guarantee a diagnosis. Also, a number of mistakes can and are made at home, like using old test strips, washing one’s hands with scented soaps, leaving food or sugar on the hands, using scented lotions, etc., that can give the appearance of elevated blood sugar.
Doctor’s offices really do charge an arm and a leg, and that’s why home testing is important – to alert you if anything is up. Your two isolated readings suggest not, but if you’re really scared, you should make an appointment with a doctor anyway.
Also, if you live near a Wal-Mart, you can purchase a home A1c for $9. The A1c is basically a three-month average of your blood sugar and you want a number under 6%. I’ve seen a lot of comparisons between the ReliOn A1c and doctor’s office A1cs and they’re surprisingly close, almost always within a few tenths of a percentage of the official one. It’s not meant as a diagnosis, either, but if yours is over 6%, then that would warrant a doctor’s visit.
in the morning before eating anything, should be under 100.
2 hours after eating, should be under 120.
test several times or more
county hospital has programs for people with no insurance.