Ask the Diabetes Educator Archive

12/2/03

Q:
My last sugar level was 125. Talking to other people they tell theirs is 5.5. Are we both talking about the same kind of sugar levels or are there two ways to measure sugar level?

A:
125 mg/dl (milligrams/deciliter), is the usual way we refer to measurement and the way home glucose monitoring kits are generally designed to read. 5.5 most likely refers to the A1C test (a measure of the average blood sugar levels over the past 3 months).