by Roma Lightsey

Created on: November 23, 2011   Last Updated: November 24, 2011

Diabetes is on the rise in the U.S. According to the American Diabetes Association, 25.8 million Americans have diabetes, with another seven million undiagnosed and a whopping 79 million Americans are pre-diabetic, meaning that their blood sugar is higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. 

Checking your blood sugar levels is vital in order for you to be able to prevent or slow the development of

diabetes. No organ is immune to damage from diabetes. It affects the heart, nerves, kidneys and eyes and is the sixth leading cause of death. More and more younger people are developing diabetes, leading the ADA to recommend screening for adults at age 45 who do not have any risk factors. Those with risk factors, such as obesity, a family history of diabetes, or hypertension should be screened at age 30.

What is glucose?

Glucose is a sugar that serves as the body’s primary energy source for all of the cells. When you eat carbohydrate-containing foods such as breads, vegetables or fruit, the carbohydrates are broken down into glucose and other nutrients. The small intestine absorbs them for circulation throughout the body. The pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which is needed to carry the glucose into the cells. Excess glucose is stored in the liver as glycogen for short-term storage and/or as triglycerides in fat cells.

In a non-diabetic, the blood sugar rises slightly after a meal, causing the pancreas to release insulin. The glucose travels into the cells, the blood sugar drops and the pancreas stops releasing insulin. In a diabetic, the pancreas does not release any or enough insulin, allowing the blood sugar to remain elevated. 

The test 

Blood sugar can be tested by a simple finger prick after a period of fasting (the easiest and most common method) or by an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). The OGTT involves drinking 75 grams of a glucose drink, then measuring the blood sugar two hours later. A blood sugar of less than 140 mg/dL is considered normal. Pre-diabetes is 140 to 200 mg/dL, and diabetic is over 200 mg/dL on more than one test.  

A fasting blood sugar is performed after fasting for at least eight hours, such as after sleep. A small sample is drawn from a finger and placed on a strip which goes into the blood glucose meter. A normal blood sugar is 70 to 99 mg/dL, with pre-diabetes from 100 to 125 mg/dL. A level of 126 or above on more than one test is diabetic.

It’s important to remember that diabetes is not diagnosed based on one reading, but over several readings. Your physician can advise you on your risk factors and how often you should check your blood sugar if you are pre-diabetic. Eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains and exercising can go a long way towards helping regulate your blood sugar. 

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