How accurate are blood glucose meters?

Question

I don't have diabetes (at least I don't think so, since I have none of the symptoms), however since my dad has Type II, I've always been careful about my diet and excersize, and sometimes get my blood sugar checked.

The last time I did was around 4 months ago (it was around the 130 range and was less than an hour after I'd had a very large meal, so I think that was about right). I was wondering how accurate BG meters were.

As a note, I weigh around 135 pounds (which is around average for my height) and am 16 years old (I'm a girl). A lot of the older (45+) male members on my dad's side of the family (including my dad) have it, and I have one relative who's 19 and has it, but she's VERY sedentary and weighs almost 400 lbs. I take a roughly 45-minute jog every day and try to limit my carb/sugar intake, and I was also wondering what else I could do to prevent getting diabetes myself- I'm considering enlisting in the military after high school, meaning I can't have a serious disease.

Answer 1

Your first question - Meters are fairly accurate! and any number lower than 200 that soon after a meal is totally normal!!

You are correct to be concerned about your possible inheritance of this nasty disease! But with good management and exercise plan you can probably put it off til you are around 50 or so!

When you have your annual physicals talk to the doctor about having your glucose levels checked. Glucose Tolerance Test is the one they use to diagnose. Blood tests are hbA1c number. That is the percentage of glucose sticking to red blood cells. Normals are equal to or less than 5.

I want my meter to be very accurate! I am type 2 on orals and insulins! I can crash very easily, so low range must be very accurate.

Answer 2

First of all, only a doctor can diagnose diabetes, so if you have any thought that you might be, or want definitive information, you should see your doctor. The following is intended for general information based on my own reading and personal experience.

There is no such thing as certainty in the world, but if you watch your diet, exercise, and control your weight, you are much less likely to contract Type II diabetes.

Blood glucose meters are fairly accurate. When you eat a large meal, that increases the glucose level in your blood stream. The pancreas then produces insulin to bring it back down. The pancreas of a Type II diabetic, however, no longer produces insulin (or at least not enough), and that is what creates the problem. At that point, a person has to take insulin, either by injection or by oral medication.

The best time to test your blood sugar is in the morning before you have had anything to eat or drink.

For a normal person, a fasting blood glucose level less than 100 is okay. Anything over 109 is borderline diabetes, and anything over 120 means you have diabetes.

Another way to look at it: introducing a lot of sugar into your system (which people who do not watch their weight tend to do) starts a "fire" in your system. The pancreas is the fire department, and it sends the firefighters (insulin) to put out the fire. But if you call on the firefighters too many times, they get tired and unable to respond, and that is how diabetes develops.

If you are borderline diabetic and overweight, losing weight often helps to correct the blood sugar level.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

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Answer 5

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Answer 6

In addition to the above answers, I just want to add, that limiting carbs and sugar is not enough. There's very compelling evidence that fat is what causes the cell walls to become resistant to the action of insulin. Sugar has nothing at all to do with it. This is why it's important to keep your weight down and stay active. But, and this is a big one, many type two diabetics who took good care of their weight and stayed active, still got the disease.... why? I've been asking myself that same question and, after much reading, found a few articles that point to poor diets with too much fat:
http://www.drmcdougall.com/misc/2006nl/sept/sugar.htm
http://www.sciencentral.com/articles/view.php3?article_id=218392883
Now contrast those to this:
http://www.fibromyalgiatreatment.com/Articles_FAT.htm

And you can see how complicated this gets. The good news is, people in rural Asian and South American countries who live off the land (natural, wholesome foods) have the lowest incidence of type two diabetes on the planet. It's only where we have adopted the "typical western diet" filled with processed carbs, too much fat, and generally low fiber and nutrition that we see the highest incidence of type two diabetes. This isn't rocket science, but it is blurred by misguided beliefs in the medical and food industry.

Answer 7

in this day and age, those who watch their weight and exercise regularly should never have to worry about having type two diabetes. You are doing fine, just keep it up. When we get older, we tend to become more sedentary, we gain weight, and we get the big D type two. It doesn't have to happen as long as you discipline yourself to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Answer 8

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Answer 9

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