By Teri Reitz, RN, SMSC Diabetes Program Coordinator
Regular blood glucose screenings are an important step in your health routine, whether you suspect you
could have diabetes or just want to check your blood glucose (blood sugar) levels. A blood glucose test
will help to measure if you have too little or too much glucose in your blood, which could be a sign of a
medical condition, like diabetes or hypoglycemia.
Some health care professionals may ask that you fast for 8-12 hours before your test, although this is not
always required. For instance, the Hemoglobin A1C test does not require fasting to ensure accurate
results. When scheduling your test, ask the health care provider if you should fast before or prepare in
any other way.
After you receive your test results, you may wonder how to best interpret these results or what you
should be looking for. Here is a guide to blood glucose levels:
Blood Glucose Levels
Fasting Results
- Normal: 70-99
- Prediabetes: 100-125
- Diabetes: 126+
Non-fasting Results
- Normal: <140
- Prediabetes: 140-199
- Diabetes: >200
Hemoglobin A1c – Average blood glucose over three-month period
- Normal Below: 5.7%
- Prediabetes: 5.7%-6.4%
- Diabetes: >6.5%
One way to combat high blood glucose levels is to make checking nutrition labels a regular part of your routine. It is important to know that foods are not the only thing that can contain high amounts of sugar, drinks can too. For example, a 12-ounce Coca-Cola has around 39 grams of sugar, which is nearly 10 teaspoons of sugar. A 12-ounce coffee shop mocha has around 27 grams of sugar, or nearly 7 teaspoons! High-sugar drinks like these can lead to elevated blood glucose levels.
Of course, make sure to consult a health professional about the results of your test and what the appropriate next steps are for you, or how to create the best diet plan for your results. The SMSC offers extensive diabetes consultation and blood glucose screenings to help you start prioritizing your health. Reach out to the Shakopee Dakota Medical Clinic to make an appointment and chat further about your blood glucose and next steps.
Resources:
- Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, Teri Reitz RN is available for appointments addressing diabetes, prediabetes, and living a healthy lifestyle. Call the Shakopee Dakota Medical Clinic at 952.496.6150 to make an appointment today.
- Walkingspree, PreventionFirst!, and Wondr Health are also great programs that can help you prioritize your health and keep your blood glucose at healthy levels. Check out smscwellness.org/programs for more information.
- Stop by a November Pop-Up Clinic outside Mystic Express for a blood glucose and Hemoglobin A1c check!
