GLUCOSE LEVELS

I am a thirty yaer old women with a history of diabetes in my family . Everyone on my fathers side of the family takes insulin i took a glucose test today from my grandmothers machine and it was 116 but i just finished eating about 10-15 minutes prior and was wondering if i should get tested with my doctor? I took a glucose test in my early 20's but my grandmother didn't get symtoms (symptoms) until her 40's.

[Anita Ramsetty, MD]

Hi,
That glucose test you related of 116 after eating a meal is perfectly normal.

You do have a higher risk that the everyday person because of your family history. If you would like formal screening, you can discuss this with your doctor: a fasting glucose test in the morning or a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test are the best ways recommended for screening. The goal is to catch early signs of glucose abnormalities before you develop symptoms, because by that time some damage will have already been done to your system.

Keep up with good eating habits and daily exercise as your way of trying to stay healthy and prevent diabetes--this is always a good way to go.

Take care.