How To Test To See If Your Blood Glucose Levels Are Healthy (At-Home)

Blood glucose levels can be an indicator of overall health, as well as specific conditions (like diabetes). Being able to determine whether or not your blood glucose levels are healthy can help provide the useful and necessary information. This information can help you determine where adjustments need to be made in your diet, or what you are doing correctly. 

What Are Healthy Blood Glucose Levels?

In general, normal fasting glucose levels are considered <100 mg/dl and <120 mg/dl for fed (2 hours after food consumption). According to most medical journals, the reference value for normal glucose levels is between 72-108 mg/dl. ^[1]

Fasting blood glucose levels between 100-125 mg/dL and fed levels between 140-199mg/dL are considered pre-diabetic. Fasting glucose levels >125 mg/dL and fed levels >200 mg/dL are considered diabetic. ^[1]

What Is An Oral Glucose Tolerance Test?

An oral glucose tolerance test is a simple method to determine how your body handles glucose, which in turn, gives insight into insulin production and sensitivity. An oral glucose tolerance test is constituted by an individual consuming a large bolus of glucose and then having their blood glucose levels tested periodically over the course of two hours to measure fluctuations.

Normal this type of test is done at a doctor’s office but can be done at home.

How To Run An At-Home Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

You can easily run one of these tests are home following these steps:

1) Fast overnight (12 hours).

2) Measure your baseline blood glucose levels when you wake up.

3) Drink 75 grams of a sugary drink (i.e sports drink, orange juice, etc)

4) Measure your glucose over 120 minutes (at baseline 0,30,60,90, and 120 min)

5) Record your numbers and see how they compare with your baseline (ideally within 80-120 mg/dL)

For more information on how to test your blood sugar levels, check out our article available here.

Concluding Thoughts

Running an oral glucose tolerance test is a great way to quantify how your body produces insulin and handles glucose, in the convenience of your own home. This information can you determine if your diet is on point, or if it needs to be tweaked to ensure you have the healthiest glucose levels possible.