What's normal BG for a non diabetic ?

[Juicyj]

As a diabetic I sometimes get asked to check someone's blood glucose, so today a friend mentioned she was peeing a lot, had thrush and was feeling tired all the time, I said we could try a bg test and see what her reading was, so we checked whilst she was eating an apple and it came up as 3.4 mmol/l, this would of thrown me into a panic and I would of wolfed some glucose, however is this right for a non diabetic ?

BTW she has done a urine test at the docs and is having her bloods done so getting checked out, however with a reading this low I was a little concerned and told her to go eat some more !

 

[philchap1]

Between 4 and 5.9 before meals and 7.8 or lower 2 hours after

 

[Brunneria]

There are some non-diabetics (or post-diabetics) who happily dip into the 2s on a regular basis. No symptoms of hypo, no ill effects at all. I believe @AndBreathe is one of them.

I am not sure how low a normal HbA1c goes, but I have definitely seen 31 mmol/mol mentioned. Not sure what that equates to in mmol/l though...

 

[andcol]

My last HbA1c was 33 mmol/mol which is equivalent to an average of 5.7 mmol/l I am often in the low 4s and sometimes high 3s

 

[tim2000s]

Given that the last time I discussed hypos with a consultant I was told "it's not technically a hypo until you reach 3.2", I have no idea what the truth is!

 

[AndBreathe]

As a diabetic I sometimes get asked to check someone's blood glucose, so today a friend mentioned she was peeing a lot, had thrush and was feeling tired all the time, I said we could try a bg test and see what her reading was, so we checked whilst she was eating an apple and it came up as 3.4 mmol/l, this would of thrown me into a panic and I would of wolfed some glucose, however is this right for a non diabetic ?

BTW she has done a urine test at the docs and is having her bloods done so getting checked out, however with a reading this low I was a little concerned and told her to go eat some more !

Well, it makes sense for your friend to have her symptoms formally checked. She could have a any of a load of things, or just be a bit run down.

But, in response to @Brunneria 's shout out: I can go down into the 2s and feel absolutely fine. Although to be fair, I'd usually be pretty hungry in the mid-lower 2s, and be ready to eat as soon as possible. I run quite a lot of the time in the 3s, every day.

These days, I have a pretty fair handle of how my bloods profile through the day and night, having used the Libre a bit. I'm supremely unconcered and very comfortable in the 3s. As I say, to go well down into the 2s, I've either got to be getting close to feeding time, or asleep in bed.

Non-diabetics can have quite significant spikes in their bloods, shortly after eating (notwithstanding the usual variances for fat and protein laden meals), but they zip back into their range fairly pronto. I've looked a lot for research on normo-glycaemic patients, but there isn't a lot, because there's not much to research, and grants are less likely to be granted for that sort of study.

I would love to attach a Libre sensor to my other half, for a single (2 week) cycle, because he sure as heck will NOT allow me to finger-prick test him - even though his latest fasting and HbA1cs have been excellent.

 

[Juicyj]

Thanks all, as I said she's seeing the doc at the mo and having some tests done, but I was a little concerned to see this reading, it must of been my auto pilot response !!

 

[tim2000s]

This topic demonstrates why the whole don't drive below five mantra from the DVLA is so wrong!

 

[SunnyExpat]

This topic demonstrates why the whole don't drive below five mantra from the DVLA is so wrong!

Based on two people?
Out of how many on here, yet alone the rest of the world?

 

[diamondnostril]

As a diabetic I sometimes get asked to check someone's blood glucose, so today a friend mentioned she was peeing a lot, had thrush and was feeling tired all the time, I said we could try a bg test and see what her reading was, so we checked whilst she was eating an apple and it came up as 3.4 mmol/l, this would of thrown me into a panic and I would of wolfed some glucose, however is this right for a non diabetic ?

BTW she has done a urine test at the docs and is having her bloods done so getting checked out, however with a reading this low I was a little concerned and told her to go eat some more !

My Bible for the Ketogenic diet ("The Ketogenic Diet" by Lyle McDonald) states that somebody who chooses to stick to a Ketogenic diet might expect levels between 65mg/dl and 80mg/dl (3.6mmol/l and 4.4mmol/l). This statement is certainly reflected in my own experience of using the diet.

If you happen to be on Insulin, that's very good news for your health, very bad news for your driving licence.

By way of comparison, McDonald states that somebody on a 'Normal diet' (whatever that means?) might expect levels between 80mg/dl and 120mg/dl (4.4mmol/l and 6.7mmol/l).

Regards
Antony

 

[Lamont D]

As a diabetic I sometimes get asked to check someone's blood glucose, so today a friend mentioned she was peeing a lot, had thrush and was feeling tired all the time, I said we could try a bg test and see what her reading was, so we checked whilst she was eating an apple and it came up as 3.4 mmol/l, this would of thrown me into a panic and I would of wolfed some glucose, however is this right for a non diabetic ?

BTW she has done a urine test at the docs and is having her bloods done so getting checked out, however with a reading this low I was a little concerned and told her to go eat some more !

In response to the question my consultant says that a hypo should be treated below 3.8, but recheck it first as it could be a rogue reading.
My fasting as a non diabetic is always between 4.2 and 5.5. I am in ketosis and never spike.
I have known other non diabetics as the wife is always testing someone to be as low as that reading you took, but because of her symptoms, he/she should still get checked.
Only a hba1c blood test would give you a diagnosis.