Question:

Question: Being on a low carbohydrate high protein diet is it possible to get a higher glucose reading in the morning after getting a lower reading at night before bed and having fasted for 10 hours? I have not been diagnosed as a diabetic.

Answer:

Yes, it is possible that the morning glucose reading could be higher than the night before, even after having fasted for 10 hours. The body’s glucose is maintained 24 hours a day through several mechanisms; the actual glucose value will normally fluctuate from 90 to 110 mg/dl daily, even in a fasting state. The liver produces glucose during times of fasting, and during prolonged fasts (24 hours or longer), fat is broken down for energy.

Diabetes is defined as having a fasting glucose of 126 mg/dl or higher on two different occasions, or a level greater than 200 mg/dl with symptoms (extreme thirst, urination frequently, extreme hunger, with weight loss). An A1c is a 3-month snapshot of one’s glucose 24 hours, 7 days a week – normal is less than 5.8%. You can ask your doctor to do an A1c if you are concerned about having diabetes.

For more information:

Go to the Quality Health Care and You – Diabetes health topic.