Are my blood glucose levels normal?

Question

I recently had a blood test for sugar content after fasting. The glucose level was 6.3, but I am not sure what this means.

Am I right in assuming that a normal level after fasting for 12 hours is between 4.2 and 6.2, (which presumably means I am on the diabetes borderline)?

Advice would be greatly appreciated.

Answer

I wonder why you decided to check your fasting glucose level .

Do you have a family history of diabetes? Perhaps you are taking medication, such as a steroid, that can bring on diabetes?

We diagnose diabetes mellitus on the criteria of fasting blood glucose level in excess of 7.7 mmol/litre or non-fasting levels above 11.1mmol/litre.

However, the body may develop a reduced ability to handle glucose some for time before diabetes manifests.

This probably occurs as people become obese and thereby become resistant to the effects of their own insulin which lowers blood glucose.

A fasting glucose between 6.0 to 7.7mmol/L falls within the range that doctors would suspect 'impaired glucose tolerance'.

We would follow-up your case to discuss your full medical and family history, then arrange for a repeat test called a modified glucose tolerance test.

We would also discuss lifestyle and diet since I note that you are a bit heavier than the ideal for your height.

Almost all 'maturity-onset' non-insulin diabetes (Type 2 diabetes non-insulin dependent diabetes) is related to increasing obesity.

Yours sincerely
The NetDoctor Medical Team

Last updated 04.04.2011

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