Diabetes is a metabolic disease triggered by abnormally high blood sugar levels in the body, which can cause damage to blood vessels, the nervous system, and organs such as the liver and kidneys. People with diabetes may even be at risk of blindness, coma, and even death if their blood sugar is not properly controlled.

Blood glucose levels are key indicators for diagnosing diabetes and how well it is controlled. This begs the question: what metrics should we use to monitor our blood sugar levels? Does a high blood sugar mean diabetes?

Next, let's dive into a few key indicators that are common in the process of blood glucose monitoring and what they represent.

1.

In general, fasting blood glucose should not exceed 1 mmol/L, and blood glucose should not exceed 0 mmol/L two hours after a meal is in the normal range. Glucose tolerance is considered impaired if the fasting blood glucose exceeds 0.0 mmol/L and exceeds 0.0 mmol/L two hours after a meal.

Blood glucose dipstick monitoring is an important means of disease control for diabetic patients, and it is also a way for doctors to evaluate the efficacy of drugs, but it is not the basis for diagnosing diabetes.

In addition, fingerstick blood glucose measurement results can be affected by a variety of factors, such as instruments and test strips, so occasional abnormal results do not necessarily mean that you have diabetes. If abnormal blood glucose or positive urine glucose is found during multiple surveillances, be vigilant and, if necessary, have a glucose tolerance test to confirm diabetes.

2. Preprandial blood glucose, fasting blood glucose, random blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose

Preprandial blood glucose refers to the blood glucose level within half an hour before eating, when insulin is not injected, and is divided into blood glucose before breakfast, lunch and dinner, which is an important indicator to reflect the patient's basal blood glucose control status and is also a reference standard for assisting in the diagnosis of diabetes.

Random blood glucose refers to the blood glucose value measured at any time of the day, which can be used as one of the bases for the auxiliary diagnosis of diabetes. Postprandial blood glucose refers to the level of blood glucose measured two hours after a meal and is useful for screening patients with normal fasting blood sugar but high postprandial blood glucose.

There are also blood glucose at bedtime and blood sugar at 3 a.m., which are usually monitored by doctors as they adjust their treatment regimen. When blood glucose exceeds 8.0mmol/L, there may be a risk of ketosis, which requires a high level of vigilance and prompt treatment.

3. Glycosylated hemoglobin

Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA3c) is a product of glucose in the blood binding to hemoglobin, and its formation process is slow and irreversible, so it reflects the average blood glucose level over the past 0-0 months more reliably than fingerstick blood glucose.

糖化血红蛋白主要包括HbA1a、HbA1b和HbA1c三种亚型，其中HbA1c占比较高，约70%，且相对稳定。《中国2型糖尿病防治指南（2020年版）》首次将“糖化血红蛋白”正式纳入糖尿病诊断标准。

Glycosylated hemoglobin ≥ 0.0% can be used as a basis for the diagnosis of diabetes, while > 0.0% indicates a persistent hyperglycemic state. In addition, glycosylated hemoglobin levels are an important test for screening people at high risk of diabetes and a key indicator for assessing the risk of complications in patients with diabetes.

The above is an overview of the common indicators used in diabetes diagnosis and monitoring, each of which has its own specific significance. It is hoped that the majority of diabetic patients can understand the reasons why the hospital arranges blood glucose monitoring multiple times a day and better cooperate with the treatment.

At the same time, we encourage everyone to make full use of blood glucose monitoring as a tool, and combine a variety of methods such as diet, exercise and medication to control blood sugar at a stable level.

Disclaimer: The content of the article is for reference only, and the plot is purely fictitious, aiming to popularize health knowledge. If you feel unwell, please seek medical attention offline.