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Are my blood glucose readings normal?

Anonymous Question

Well-Known Member
Messages
290
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Diet only
Anonymous question submitted:

hi i have just taken a blood glucose test on a accu chek machine i just brough.Im not sure if i have diabetes but other members of my family do. Im 45 yrs old on have a reading of 9.5 is this normal. My wife do the test aswell and she had a reading of 7.2 what should a normal reading be

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It also depends on when and what you last ate before those tests.
 
Blood glucose levels should be as follows:

Non-diabetic:
3.5 - 5.5 fasting/before meals;
less than 8, 2 hours after eating.

Type 2:
4 - 7 before meals/fasting;
less than 8.5, 2 hours after eating.

If your fasting reading (first thing in the morning) is above 5.5, you are likely to be pre-diabetic if not fully diabetic.

A good idea is to test just before you eat; then again 2 hours afterwards. Both readings should be within the ranges given above; the second reading should not be a great deal higher than the first.

It is possible to have diabetes without having any symptoms; if in doubt, see your doctor :D . The earlier you are diagnosed, the easier it is to take control of the condition. And above all, don't worry! :D

Viv 8)
 
Hi, was diagnosed type 2 about three months ago after complaining to my doctor that not only was I struggling to lose weight but that the weight I was gaining was going straight round my middle, I am 5ft tall and weigh 77 kilos. I excercise regularly and eat healthily, ie no processed food, low fat, lots of fruit and veg. Was told that the diabetes would probably go away if i lost 15 kilos, but i was trying hard for months but not shifting it, just feeling more and more tired and lethargic. Started metformin but it really did not agree with me and was switched to gliclizide. Followed the advice of the nutritionist and not only did I not lose any weight but actually gained 2 kilos. I test daily at least 3 times. My fasting level averages 6.9 but is sometimes as high as 7.9. I subsequently read that this medication would possibly facilitate weight gain so I stopped it on 1st January and began to count carbs. I have followed a very low carb diet for 3weeks and have lost about 4kilos and my fasting levels went down under 6. However, my doctor wants me back on medication and the practice nurse has suggested I eat a 'more balanced' diet and re introduce carbs. 2 hours after eating a fairly normal meal containing a single medium spud this eve my reading was 12.8. I am very confused as to what IS normal and how to achieve it and still lose weight.
 
Hi Aseret

I've just copied this from a post I did earlier:

As far as I am concerned, diabetes is a condition where my body cannot metabolize carbohydrates correctly. If I eat too much carbohydrate, my blood glucose levels go up, and if I continuously eat too much carbohydrate for my system to handle, my BG levels stay up! It therefore seems logical to me to avoid carbohydrates much of the time, though I do sometimes have treats!

Also I put weight on with carbs - in my pre-diabetic days, I tried to follow the NHS "balanced diet" advice, and just got fatter and fatter. My pancreas still produces insulin, and as I have insulin resistance in my muscle cells, the insulin stores the extra glucose from too much carbohydrate as fat.

We are all different; I am happy on a very-low-carb (less than 50g daily) diet - the one I use is a Sticky Thread on the Low-carb diet section of the forum - Viv's Modified Atkins Diet. Other people can control their blood glucose very well by eating about 130g - 150g carb a day. Some people, like me, deliberately avoid carbohydrate foods. Others, eg Sid Bonkers, have excellent BG levels through portion control, eating only small amounts of carb-foods and trying to go for Low Glycaemic Index foods.

I have a personal theory that many Health Care Professionals get taught most about Type 1 diabetes and very little about Type 2. With Type 1s, who don't produce any insulin themselves, the balance is between how much carbohydrate they eat and how much insulin they inject. Too much insulin and not enough carbs can send their BG levels dangerously low - hypoglycaemia - which can be fatal. This is where the idea that all diabetics must have a steady intake of carbohydrate comes from, I think. But for Type 2s, at least those who still have insulin production and have insulin resistance, there is no need to eat a lot of carbohydrate. Our bodies can manage very well on a small amount.

Have a look at my diet (as above). I am not suggesting you go as low-carb as me, but it's a good basic low-carb diet, and you can add carbs into it eg by eating extra low-ish carb vegetables, and fruits eg berries, apricots and plums (but not too much fruit). Also pulses, in small quantities. Pick the amount of carb you want to eat each day, and get a carb counter book (available eg on Amazon - Collins Gem series do one) to help you choose which foods to eat. If you use any processed foods, always read the labels - it's "total carbs" you need to look at, not "of which sugars".

I suggest that you tell your GP/nurse that you want to do a 3-month trial on control by diet only. Say you're going to "control carbs", rather than "low" - it upsets them less. Ask them to give you a blood glucose meter and test strips on prescription for that 3 months, and tell them if your levels ever go too high - ask them for a figure - you'll come straight back in for the meds. I doubt if you'll need to :D .

It sounds as if a low-carb diet could suit you. It doesn't suit everyone - at least not as low as some of us go! - but you should lose weight, lower your blood glucose levels, and your blood pressure, and your cholesterol.

The first time I tried Atkins, before being diagnosed as diabetic, I lost 60lbs in 5 months. It's taking longer this time (18 months), but it's still going. My BP is fine, and my cholesterol/lipid profile is excellent.

Any more questions, please ask. Let us know how you get on.

Viv 8)
 
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