I have fluctuating sugar levels. Am I diabetic?

Question

Hello doctor,

No one is diabetic in my whole family. My sugar levels are fluctuating. My sugar levels in the past three months were 110 mg/dl, 107 mg/dl and 122 mg/dl for pre-lunch and post-lunch were 83 mg/dl, 120 mg/dl and 172 mg/dl respectively. I have never taken any medicine for diabetes.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

You are not a diabetic, but some of your reports need further follow up. You seem to be in a healthy weight range. A better indicator of your blood sugar levels will be glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C). This is a blood test and can be done at any time of the day. This will give us a good overview of your sugar control in the last three months. I suggest you go to a reputed laboratory for your tests because laboratory errors are very common. Kindly come back and follow up with your HbA1C levels, then we can discuss further. In the meantime, do not forget to eat healthily and exercise regularly.

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

I have checked your HbA1C report (attachment removed to protect patient identity). HbA1C of 6.2 % is within the normal range, so there is nothing to worry about. But the HbA1C is on the upper limit of the normal range. This means you do not have diabetes or pre-diabetes now. But, if you do not follow a healthy lifestyle, you could develop diabetes later in life. Prevention is better than cure. Start a healthy lifestyle from today, so that you will have a very good life in the future. Have a balanced diet which includes lots of vegetables and fruits. Reduce intake of deep fried or oily foods and sweets or any food that contains added sugar. Whenever you buy any food item from the supermarket, read the labels to see the ingredients. If it contains ingredients that you do not know, it is a good idea to avoid it. As far as possible, eat freshly prepared home food. And avoid eating outside. Raw nuts are also very good. Start your day by eating six to eight almonds soaked in water overnight. Never start your day with tea or coffee. Drink lots of water. Eat all your meals on time. Try to finish your dinner two hours before you go to sleep. Quality sleep of seven to eight hours is ideal for the body. Exercise regularly, 30 to 45 minutes of brisk walking every day is recommended for good health. Keep checking your HbA1C once in six to eight months. Aim to bring HbA1C below 6 %.