Man of Iron

From reading here & elsewhere around the internet, I've come across various numbers concerning various tests, levels, etc. I'm accepting the following as "normal" levels as guidelines for my own use, goals, etc, as a non-insulin dependant type II. Any comments about these numbers or other tests or levels that should be checked on a regular basis would be most welcomed.


Good blood sugar control is a glucose level in the range from 90 mg / DL to 130 mg / DL before meals and under 140 mg / DL two hours after meals.

A good fasting glucose level (no food or drink other than water for eight hours prior to testing) is less than 110 mg / DL. A diagnosis of diabetes is made if a glucose reading is 126 mg / DL or higher.

Random blood glucose readings taking anytime should always be under 200 mg / DL.

If given a Oral Glucose Tolerance Test after an overnight fasting, normal blood glucose readings should be less than 140 mg/dl after two hours, all readings should be either 200 mg / DL or less immediately after drinking the solution and for the entire two hour test period.

A good HbA1C level for people without diabetes is between 5 & 6%, for those with diabetes the goal should be 7% or less.

People with diabetes who are able to keep their levels at 7% or less reduce their risk for complications such as blindness, kidney disease and nerve damage therefore the goal for those diagnosed with diabetes is an HbA1c of 7% or less, the lower the better.

People with insulin-dependent diabetes should have an HbA1c test four times per year and all other people with diabetes should have the test twice per year.

There is no need to fast before a HbA1c test, the sample can be taken at any time of the day -- even right after a meal because it measures the level to which the hemoglobin has become glycated over the past 90 days not just the last few hours.

Do-it-yourself HbA1c test kits are available in many drug stores and provide results in about 8 minutes.

4% HbA1c = 60 mg / DL = Low / normal ???
5% = 90 mg / DL = normal
6% = 120 mg / DL = normal to good
7% = 150 mg / DL = good to fair
8% = 180 mg / DL = fair bordering on poor
9% = 210 mg / DL = poor
10% = 240 mg / DL = poor
11% = 270 mg / DL = poor
12% = 300 mg / DL = poor
13% = 330 mg / DL = poor
14% = 360 mg / DL = poor

NOTE: Glucose measurements are "snapshots" of levels at that moment in time only while HbA1c tests indicate results over the past 90 days but are heavily weighted in favor of levels from the past 30 days and less.


Other levels to be watched, Blood Pressure:

Normal = 120/ 80 mm Hg or below, High is 140 / 90 mm Hg or higher.


Normal:

Systolic < 120
Diastolic < 80


Prehypertension:

Systolic 120 - 139
Diastolic 80 - 89


Stage 1 Hypertension:

Systolic 140 - 159
Diastolic 90 - 99


Stage II Hypertension:

Systolic > 160
Diastolic > 100



Cholesterol:

Total Cholesterol normal level is less than 200 mg / DL

Borderline = 200 to 239 mg / DL

High = 240 mg / DL and above.


LDL (Bad) Cholesterol:

< 100 mg / DL = optimal / normal

100 to 129 mg / DL = above optimal

130 to 159 mg / DL = borderline high

160 to 189 mg / DL = high

190 mg / DL & above = very high


HDL (Good) Cholesterol:

< 40 mg / DL = low, at risk for heart disease

40 to 59 mg /DL = moderate level

60 mg / DL & above = optimal to prevent heart disease.




Triglyceride level:

< 150 mg / DL = normal

150 - 199 mg /DL = borderline high

200 - 499 mg / DL = high

500 & above = very high



NOTE: Always check with your doctor &/ or lab to see what they consider to be "Normal" as some tests are performed differently.