Question from Monroe, Michigan, USA:

I am 36 years old, 14 weeks pregnant, I and have a very strong family history of diabetes. My midwife’s office recently had me undergo a one-hour GTT, and my initial blood sugar was 144 mg/dl [8 mmol/L]. I then fasted for four hours, they checked another blood sugar which was 90 mg/dl [5 mmol/L]and returned with a blood level of 90, I consumed the Glucola and the next day I was told my level was next day it was 170 mg/dl [9.4 mmol/L].

I then did the three hour GTT. I fasted for 10 hours and had a fasting blood sugar of 114 mg/dl [6.3 mmol/L], and I also had a sample drawn from the arm prior to consuming 100 grams of Glucola, and that value was 83 mg/dl [4.6 mmol/L]. As I understand it, there is a bit of a difference between a finger poke and a blood draw, but isn’t this level remarkably off? I questioned the nurse, and she said the reading was deemed different once sent to the lab, although the technicians were concerned. I am hoping you can explain. There was a young child having the test at the same time, and I wonder if they didn’t confuse our readings in the end, as my readings ending up being:

   Time   
   Blood Glucose   

Fasting
83 mg/dl [4.6 mmol/L]

1 Hours
80 mg/dl [4.4 mmol/L]

2 Hours
85 mg/dl [4.7 mmol/L]

3 Hours
60 mg/dl [3.3 mmol/L]

I still have symptoms of diabetes (terrible thirst and urination) so I am considering checking my levels with family meters.