February 23, 2004
Diagnosis and Symptoms, Type 2
Question from Murrysville, Pennsylvania, USA:
I’m currently under evaluation for type 2 diabetes. I’ve had a glucose tolerance test and other tests related to diabetes. I don’t have all the results yet, but my doctor has me checking my blood sugar levels by a finger stick. I’m usually in the lower end of the range between 80 mg/dl [4.4 mmol/L] and 140 mg/dl [7.8 mmol/L]. However, after I eat a high carbohydrate meal, I’m usually over the 140 mg/dl [7.8 mmol/L] range. I’ve had readings of 205 mg/dl [11.4 mmol/L], 165 mg/dl [9.16 mmol/L], etc. My numbers are always back down on my morning test though. If I don’t eat frequently, I also seem to have a lot of hypoglycemic episodes.
My questions is: Is it normal that a non-diabetic person’s blood glucose levels go up past the normal range when they eat a high carbohydrate meal?
Answer:
In the development of type 2 diabetes, the rise in blood sugar after meals usually happens long before the fasting blood sugar rises. It is very possible that you have diabetes or pre-diabetes since you are already experiencing postprandial (post meal) rises in blood sugar. The best way to determine this is with a two hour post prandial glucose challenge, which it sounds like your doctor has done.
JS
