Ask the Diabetes Educator Archive

1/13/03

Q:
My mother is diabetic. While visiting her she tested my blood and it gave a reading of 170 I am 36 yrs old. Is this reading high and should I have this checked by my physician. I really don't have any of the symptoms except for sleepiness and frequent urination at night.

A:
Absolutely be checked! You have two pronounced symptoms, and 176 is way above the fasting cutoff of 126 and the post meal readings of 140. Clearly, there is insulin resistance. Two fasting blood sugars greater than 126 is considered a diagnosis, generally followed by a glucose tolerance test--the measure of glucose rise and fall over a two hour period. With proper lifestyle management, you should be able to control this without medication.