Blood sugar levels in diagnosing diabetes
Both states metric and ?
The following table lays out criteria for diagnoses of diabetes and prediabetes.
Blood sugar levels in diagnosing diabetes
Plasma glucose test Normal Prediabetes Diabetes
Random Below 11.1 mmol/l
Below 200 mg/dl N/A 11.1 mmol/l or more
200 mg/dl or more
Fasting Below 5.5 mmol/l
Below 100 mg/dl 5.5 to 6.9 mmol/l
100 to 125 mg/dl 7.0 mmol/l or more
126 mg/dl or more
2 hour post-prandial Below 7.8 mmol/l
Below 140 mg/dl 7.8 to 11.0 mmol/l
140 to 199 mg/dl 11.1 mmol/l or more
200 mg/dl or more
So you have 8% out of range high and 1% out of range low, with 91% in range. What does your doc say?
In your graph 11.1 = 200. (random should be below)
5.5=100 (fasting should be below)
7.8=140 (2 hours after eating should be
below)
You have some highs on your chart but your estimated A1c is 6.5, which is not bad at all. Your average on the chart is 7.8 (140, a little high) so not sure how they got that estimated A1c. Your lowest blood sugar is 6.9 so again, that A1c estimate is hard to fathom.
The A1c averages blood sugar so highs and lows are averaged and the result can be misleading. But with only 1% lows, the A1c should be pretty much on target.
The most helpful thing is to see the daily patterns over a few days. Can you wear a CGM? Is a doc following you?
So you have 8% out of range high and 1% out of range low, with 91% in range. What does your doc say?
In your graph 11.1 = 200. (random should be below)
5.5=100 (fasting should be below)
7.8=140 (2 hours after eating should be
below)
You have some highs on your chart but your estimated A1c is 6.5, which is not bad at all. Your average on the chart is 7.8 (140, a little high) so not sure how they got that estimated A1c. Your lowest blood sugar is 6.9 so again, that A1c estimate is hard to fathom.
The A1c averages blood sugar so highs and lows are averaged and the result can be misleading. But with only 1% lows, the A1c should be pretty much on target.
The most helpful thing is to see the daily patterns over a few days. Can you wear a CGM? Is a doc following you?
My husband is diabetic. When his A1C is 6.5 his doctors are happy. But for a normal person that is to high. You should try for 5.7 or lower. The 6.5 puts you in the prediabetic range. He has found cutting ALL carbs from
His diet works
To lower his A1C best.
My numbers are from the freestyle libre device. My 7.1 average when converted to the Aic mode is 6.5 estimated.
I’m 87. And all the international and American diabetes associations say for over 65 years of age 7.0 aic is healthy.
My numbers are from the freestyle libre device. My 7.1 average when converted to the Aic mode is 6.5 estimated.
I’m 87. And all the international and American diabetes associations say for over 65 years of age 7.0 aic is healthy.
I guess we were not clear on the reason for your post, which seemed to be concern about your blood sugars. Have you been diagnosed with pre-diabetes? At 87 I would feel fine about an A1C above what you have, to be honest. If fluctuations affect how you feel, avoiding fast carbs/sugar and having protein and/or fat with carbs helps, as do frequent small meals.
I am dealing with fluctuations myself at 72. My kid was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 4 so have been dealing with blood sugars for 30 years! I am terrible about avoiding sugar: it causes lows for me two hours later.
My husband is diabetic. When his A1C is 6.5 his doctors are happy. But for a normal person that is to high. You should try for 5.7 or lower. The 6.5 puts you in the prediabetic range. He has found cutting ALL carbs from
His diet works
To lower his A1C best.
I guess we were not clear on the reason for your post, which seemed to be concern about your blood sugars. Have you been diagnosed with pre-diabetes? At 87 I would feel fine about an A1C above what you have, to be honest. If fluctuations affect how you feel, avoiding fast carbs/sugar and having protein and/or fat with carbs helps, as do frequent small meals.
I am dealing with fluctuations myself at 72. My kid was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 4 so have been dealing with blood sugars for 30 years! I am terrible about avoiding sugar: it causes lows for me two hours later.
I do have 14 units of tresiba injections once daily and take januvia and jardiance. I’ve only ever had one low a week ago but I was not aware of it . It was a 3am. I am addicted to sugar too. Crave it constantly. Jerry
I do have 14 units of tresiba injections once daily and take januvia and jardiance. I’ve only ever had one low a week ago but I was not aware of it . It was a 3am. I am addicted to sugar too. Crave it constantly. Jerry
Cheryl, Volunteer Mentor | @cehunt57 | Dec 6, 2023
After nearly 50 years of diabetes(Type 1, dangerous pregnancies, pancreas transplant, Type 2) I can relate to concerns about blood sugar, HbA1C and so on. These tests are related but the equations and calculations to do so can be gnarly. It can be like trying to compare apples to oranges. I suggest asking your providers to give you desired ranges for both scales. Simply put the blood sugar is a number that can vary throughout the day and is affected by lots of things (insulin, medications, eating, not eating, exercising, not exercising, other illnesses, emotions, stress ….. The HbA1C represents how the blood sugar has been over about a 3 month period of time. My recommended blood sugar range 70 - 130. There was a time when I had hypoglycemic unawareness (inability to detect lows) and my recommended range was changed to 90 - 140. The HbA1C test wasn’t invented until the late 70’s, early 80’s. I used it as a measurement for my Masters’ degree thesis at that time. My own results were in the double digits (10 plus) until after my pancreas transplant in 2005. Three weeks after transplant I was at 5.3! In the 18 years since then it has crept up but is still 6 - 8. Doctors are now calling me Type 2. I am currently using a continual glucose monitor (CGM) a Dexcom G6 and an Omnipod 5 insulin pump. This all started for me in 1975 when I was 18 years old. I’m still here 48 years later. I’m 66 years old pushing 67 soon!
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I am not used to these numbers! Usually normal is 80-120 or so. Can you explain the numbers in your report?
Blood sugar levels in diagnosing diabetes
Both states metric and ?
The following table lays out criteria for diagnoses of diabetes and prediabetes.
Blood sugar levels in diagnosing diabetes
Plasma glucose test Normal Prediabetes Diabetes
Random Below 11.1 mmol/l
Below 200 mg/dl N/A 11.1 mmol/l or more
200 mg/dl or more
Fasting Below 5.5 mmol/l
Below 100 mg/dl 5.5 to 6.9 mmol/l
100 to 125 mg/dl 7.0 mmol/l or more
126 mg/dl or more
2 hour post-prandial Below 7.8 mmol/l
Below 140 mg/dl 7.8 to 11.0 mmol/l
140 to 199 mg/dl 11.1 mmol/l or more
200 mg/dl or more
So you have 8% out of range high and 1% out of range low, with 91% in range. What does your doc say?
In your graph 11.1 = 200. (random should be below)
5.5=100 (fasting should be below)
7.8=140 (2 hours after eating should be
below)
You have some highs on your chart but your estimated A1c is 6.5, which is not bad at all. Your average on the chart is 7.8 (140, a little high) so not sure how they got that estimated A1c. Your lowest blood sugar is 6.9 so again, that A1c estimate is hard to fathom.
The A1c averages blood sugar so highs and lows are averaged and the result can be misleading. But with only 1% lows, the A1c should be pretty much on target.
The most helpful thing is to see the daily patterns over a few days. Can you wear a CGM? Is a doc following you?
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsMy husband is diabetic. When his A1C is 6.5 his doctors are happy. But for a normal person that is to high. You should try for 5.7 or lower. The 6.5 puts you in the prediabetic range. He has found cutting ALL carbs from
His diet works
To lower his A1C best.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsMy numbers are from the freestyle libre device. My 7.1 average when converted to the Aic mode is 6.5 estimated.
I’m 87. And all the international and American diabetes associations say for over 65 years of age 7.0 aic is healthy.
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
2 ReactionsI guess we were not clear on the reason for your post, which seemed to be concern about your blood sugars. Have you been diagnosed with pre-diabetes? At 87 I would feel fine about an A1C above what you have, to be honest. If fluctuations affect how you feel, avoiding fast carbs/sugar and having protein and/or fat with carbs helps, as do frequent small meals.
I am dealing with fluctuations myself at 72. My kid was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 4 so have been dealing with blood sugars for 30 years! I am terrible about avoiding sugar: it causes lows for me two hours later.
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Hug
2 Reactions@cpd54 I think you meant to reply to @jdiakiw 🙂 The reply function can be confusing!
At 87, an A1c a little higher is probably acceptable. Depends on what docs say of course.
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2 ReactionsI do have 14 units of tresiba injections once daily and take januvia and jardiance. I’ve only ever had one low a week ago but I was not aware of it . It was a 3am. I am addicted to sugar too. Crave it constantly. Jerry
-
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionOh so you have type 2 diabetes. Be careful of lows since you are on insulin. It helps to have glucose tablets around!
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2 ReactionsAfter nearly 50 years of diabetes(Type 1, dangerous pregnancies, pancreas transplant, Type 2) I can relate to concerns about blood sugar, HbA1C and so on. These tests are related but the equations and calculations to do so can be gnarly. It can be like trying to compare apples to oranges. I suggest asking your providers to give you desired ranges for both scales. Simply put the blood sugar is a number that can vary throughout the day and is affected by lots of things (insulin, medications, eating, not eating, exercising, not exercising, other illnesses, emotions, stress ….. The HbA1C represents how the blood sugar has been over about a 3 month period of time. My recommended blood sugar range 70 - 130. There was a time when I had hypoglycemic unawareness (inability to detect lows) and my recommended range was changed to 90 - 140. The HbA1C test wasn’t invented until the late 70’s, early 80’s. I used it as a measurement for my Masters’ degree thesis at that time. My own results were in the double digits (10 plus) until after my pancreas transplant in 2005. Three weeks after transplant I was at 5.3! In the 18 years since then it has crept up but is still 6 - 8. Doctors are now calling me Type 2. I am currently using a continual glucose monitor (CGM) a Dexcom G6 and an Omnipod 5 insulin pump. This all started for me in 1975 when I was 18 years old. I’m still here 48 years later. I’m 66 years old pushing 67 soon!
-
Like -
Helpful -
Hug
4 Reactions