# Blood glucose levels/diabetes **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 5, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-glucose-levels-diabetes/785956 "2017-05-05T22:54:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Telli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9f8e36/32.png) [@Telli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telli)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-glucose-levels-diabetes/785956/1 "2017-05-05T22:54:02Z")
I decided to check my blood sugar with a glucose meter after fasting. It was 7.0. I checked it again right away and it was 6.2. I then checked it 2 hours after eating and it was 5.8? Why would my level be higher while fasting? I am going to the Dr. to get an actual blood test. I’m worried that I have diabetes. 7 mmol/l = 126 mg/dl 6.2 mmol/l = 111.6 mg/dl 5.8 mmol/l = 104.4 mg/dl ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-glucose-levels-diabetes/785956/2 "2017-05-05T23:11:46Z")
IANAD. Generally, mine is tested after a minimum 12 hour fast. I would guess that 5.8 two hours after a meal is quite fine. When I was diagnosed with diabetes it was 8.1 after a 12 hour fast. Now it is below 6 after losing a fair bit of weight (nearly 30%) and taking metformin. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-glucose-levels-diabetes/785956/3 "2017-05-05T23:15:02Z")
For me, the target is 90 to 130 mg/dl two hours after a meal. Your numbers are a _bit_ high, but not frighteningly so. Yes, see a doctor - I suspect you _might_ be pre-diabetic. There are a lot of things you can do to stave-off a full-fledged diagnosis of diabetes, possibly forever, with a bit of discipline, knowledge, and good fortune. Indeed, you might just be scaring yourself. Won’t give tips or tricks just yet - See your doc first. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [May 5, 2017, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-glucose-levels-diabetes/785956/4 "2017-05-05T23:46:02Z")
The numbers can be high if you are dehydrated. Drink plenty of water before the doctor’s appointment. I have hypoglycemia, so I test my blood sugar with a glucometer, usually when I get the shakes, to make sure it’s a sugar crisis, and not something else (I once had fever chills I mistook for sugar shakes). I usually have blood sugar below 60 when I have the shakes. I also test when I have a headache, and sometimes it is low, but not shaking low, like 75. Rarely, it is a little high, like 130. When ever that happens, I drink 8 ounces of water, wait 30 minutes, test again, and it is normal after that-- under 110. Also, almost always makes the headache go away. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-glucose-levels-diabetes/785956/5 "2017-05-06T00:08:11Z")
My wife is Type 1 and she wears a CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor). It’s a Dexcom G5, and it is small and unobtrusive on her abdomen. It transmits her glucose levels to her smart phone via Bluetooth, and then using the additional Dexcom Share app, I receive that data on my smart phone, remotely via cell and wi-fi. And that is great! It really helps for her hypoglycemic moments, and I can always check on her any time, 24-7-365. If it can work for anyone I strongly recommend it. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-glucose-levels-diabetes/785956/6 "2017-05-06T01:00:53Z")
Your meter may be broken. I don’t know the exact medical specifications (it varies based on what you eat) but I was under the impression that 2 hours after eating, blood glucose below 140 was considered normal, 140-200 was prediabetic, and 200+ was diabetic. Those are all mg/dl figures. You said yours was 104 two hours after eating. Either way, I’d try a different meter. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2017, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/blood-glucose-levels-diabetes/785956/7 "2017-05-06T10:31:00Z")
Without the handicap of knowing anything about blood sugar regulation I would speculate that eating might cause your system to produce insulin in order to consume sugar. It may have dumped too much insulin into your system and overshot a little.