• Find Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

dLife Daily Tips

Do you have hypoglycemic unawareness?

Read More View All Tips

Diabetes Questions & Answers
Your diabetes questions answered by our Experts and Community.


Can't find the answer you are looking for?
Ask a new question
The Question
10/15/09 10:47 AM

"As a Canadian I have trouble understanding the readings of your blood sugar levels. Do you have a way to simplify it"
Asked By: theraven  
Category: Blood Glucose Monitoring

Background Info Hide
n/a

Expert Answers (1)

10/19/09 09:46 AM

Morning TheRaven: Thanks for asking dLife and I hope I can offer some assistance. Although, my hubby is a retired educator, his past practice was to 'scolding' me on "not to convert". Considering you are on the metric system some references: Good blood glucose control is generally defined as:
  • <140-180mg/dl or <7-8-11 mmol/L.(per ADA and AACE),
  • or a fasting blood glucose<126mg/dl or <7 mmol/L.
  • Normal defined as: fasting glucose levels less than or equal to 5.6 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after a meal less than 7.8 mmol/L.
  • at any time less than or equal to 11.1 mmol/L.

    Essentially, these 3-4 times numbers should guide you. Nos. exceeding the 11.1 mmol/L is when those nasty complications begin, the "too sweet syndrome."

    Blood sugar levels are influenced by several factors:

  • Yes, under normal conditions, it is food-chiefly the carbs and then protein content of the meal
  • activity duration and intensity
  • medication, it's anticipated behavior
  • then stresses; illness, infection or lifes BIG stressors, these change numbers-all other things constant, generally suggest serious body issues, (you're the expert on knowing the factors that impact your readings). Testing should occur, generally 1-2 times per day, (your PCP most often gives criteria), I like to suggest different times, test 2 times per day,
  • before dinner,
  • 1 hour before lunch, just vary the times, so
  • at the end of a week you have a snap-shot of 14 numbers, to see what they are doing throughout the week and you simply connect the dots.
    Maintaining numbers within the healthy ranges :
  • less than or equal to 5.6 mmol/l and <11.1 mmol/L. Hope this gives some guidance, call on us as needed. Be your best. Regards Sue
    • Answered By: Susan Throop
    Accreditations: RD, CDE, MA
    Sources Show

    Community Answers (1)

    10/17/09 11:05 AM

    Yes simply take your readings a multiply x18 that gives you the US readings.
    Answered By: furball64801
    FLAG
    SourcesShow



    Most Recent Blood Glucose Monitoring Questions:

    Will A-Fib affect my sugar blood ...
    I have type II diabetes. Can my blood sugar drop from in the 400's to 299 if I am not making my own insulin while taking glyburide-metformin only?
    Can a type I go into DKA if they have not received any insulin via pump for more than 4-5 hrs even though their BS remains low to normal?
    Why have my meter values suddenly skyrocketed the last 2 days?
    This is canvas man. Thanks to all who answered my question. It seems like I struck a nerve. My A1c is 6.0 ,no drugs, just keeping carbs <40 daily.
    Is hba1c an appropriate and accurate test for someone with alpha thalassemia minor? Based on my a1c results, about 7.0, I am told I should be on meds
    12 Hours of not eating and my blood sugar score is the exact same. Shouldn't I have dropped at least a couple of points?

     

    *** All information contained on dLife.com is intended for informational and educational purposes only. Our Expert Q&A is not intended to be a replacement or substitute for consultation with a qualified medical professional or for professional medical advice related to diabetes or another medical condition. Please contact your physician or medical professional with any questions and concerns about your medical condition.

    Sign up for FREE dLife Newsletters

    dLife Membership is FREE! Get exclusive access, free recipes, newsletters, savings, and much more! FPO

    FPO

    Congratulations!
    You are subscribed!
    Congratulations!
    You are subscribed!
    Congratulations!
    You are subscribed!

    dLife Weekly Poll

    Has diabetes made it difficult to get/renew a driver's license?

    View Results
    More Polls
    More Diabetes Information
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    More dLife Information
    Copyright © 2012 LifeMed Media, Inc.    All Rights Reserved.
    This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information:
    verify here.