Written by: Dr. Albana Greca Sejdini, MD, MMedSc
Medically reviewed by: Dr. Ruden Cakoni, MD, Endocrinologist
Last medically reviewed: July 2026
Reader’s question:
When I wake up, my blood sugar is 147 mg/dL. During the day it stays around 128. After eating it rises to 180 and returns to 128 after about three hours. Do I have diabetes?
Quick Answer: A fasting glucose of 147 mg/dL is in the diabetes range, but a home meter cannot diagnose diabetes. Arrange a laboratory fasting plasma glucose and A1C test. If you do not have clear symptoms, diagnosis normally requires two abnormal results.
A laboratory fasting plasma glucose of 126 mg/dL or higher is a diabetes result when confirmed. It should not be dismissed as only a morning-hormone problem. The dawn phenomenon, a late meal, poor sleep, illness or some medicines may raise morning glucose, but repeated readings of 147 need follow-up.
A reading of 180 mg/dL one to two hours after starting a meal is near the usual upper treatment target for many adults who already have diabetes. It is not enough to diagnose or exclude diabetes because an ordinary meal is not a standardized glucose-tolerance test. A daytime reading of 128 also should not be assumed to be your personal “normal.”
Record the time, food, symptoms and readings; wash and dry your hands before testing; and check the meter as instructed. Take the log and meter to your clinician. The blood tests for diabetes guide explains fasting glucose, A1C and the oral glucose tolerance test.
Question from Sajjad:
My daily fasting sugar is always below 105, but my A1C is 6.7%. I take no medicine and use natural remedies. What does this mean?
Quick Answer: A laboratory A1C of 6.7% is in the diabetes range. If you have no classic symptoms, it should be confirmed promptly with a repeat laboratory A1C or another accepted laboratory test. Fasting readings below 105 do not cancel the A1C result.
An A1C of 6.7% corresponds to an estimated average glucose of about 146 mg/dL. A1C reflects roughly the previous two to three months, while a fasting meter result is only one moment. Glucose may be rising after meals, overnight or at times you are not checking. Compare the values using the A1C-to-average-glucose calculator.
When A1C and meter readings do not match, consider testing technique and conditions that can distort A1C, including anemia, recent blood loss or transfusion, kidney or liver disease, pregnancy and some hemoglobin variants. Bring your meter and log so it can be compared with laboratory glucose.
Do not rely on natural remedies to confirm or treat diabetes. Balanced meals, activity, sleep and weight management can help but do not replace diagnosis or prescribed treatment.
Question from B. A. Ajai:
My fasting blood sugar ranges from 98 to 108 mg/dL. How can I perform an A1C test myself at home?
Quick Answer: Home A1C kits are available in some countries, but they should be used only as screening or monitoring tools. A possible diabetes result must be checked with an appropriate laboratory test; do not diagnose yourself or change treatment from a home result.
A1C testing does not require fasting. Check the kit’s expiry date, store it correctly and follow every instruction. Repeat an unexpected result through your healthcare professional. Diagnosis requires an appropriate laboratory method and confirmation when symptoms are absent.
Fasting readings of 98–99 mg/dL are generally below the prediabetes threshold, while 100–108 mg/dL falls within the impaired-fasting-glucose range if confirmed by a laboratory test. A1C provides a longer-term view but does not replace daily monitoring. See the fasting, after-meal and A1C chart for a direct comparison.
Question from Padmini Krishnan:
How does lady’s finger, also called okra, help lower blood sugar?
Quick Answer: Okra is a nutritious, high-fiber, non-starchy vegetable. Its fiber may slow carbohydrate digestion when it is eaten as part of a meal. Small trials suggest possible glucose benefits, but the evidence is low certainty and okra cannot replace diabetes medicine or medical care.
Okra provides fiber, folate and vitamin C. Choose it steamed, roasted, grilled or added to soups rather than deep-fried. “Okra water,” powders and supplements have no proven standard dose or established long-term safety for diabetes.
If you use insulin or glucose-lowering tablets, monitor according to your care plan and discuss concentrated okra products with your clinician or pharmacist. No food can “beat” diabetes alone; overall portions and meal balance matter. Use the diabetes grocery list to combine vegetables with lean protein and high-fiber carbohydrates.
When to seek urgent care: Get urgent medical help for high glucose with vomiting, abdominal pain, deep or difficult breathing, fruity-smelling breath, dehydration, severe weakness, confusion or unusual drowsiness. These may signal a hyperglycemic emergency.
Medical disclaimer: Educational only—not personal medical advice. Seek care from a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment.
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