Is 122 mg/dl Fasting blood glucose level a sign of diabetes ??

by Huda Saeed
(Cairo )

QUESTION: Hi,

I'm 19 years old, 160cm & 70kg

I started to diet but by chance I measured my glucose randomly and it was 173 mg/dl

So I did a fasting test and came 122 mg/dl
Is this dangerous or do i have diabetes??


ANSWER: Hi Huda,

Thank you for sharing your concern with us.

You are reporting to :
- have a height of 160 cm
- weight of 70 kg
- just started to diet
- random blood glucose 173 mg/dL
- fasting blood sugar 122 mg/dL

As per your description, I see you are overweight and on diet to improve your weight. I suppose your diet is very poor in sugar and carbs.

In such circumstance, when you suddenly measured your random glucose and it was 173 mg/dl, I may say that in your case it can be normal.

You have been on diet without taking any sugar with food and this has served as a signal to your body to release sugar from the glucose deposits in order to feed the tissues with fuel.

This extra sugar comes from your fat that is metabolizing and sending glucose to blood circulation.

Your fasting test was 122mg/dl normally it is 80-100. As you have been dieting I still think it's because of your diet too.


So, in other words, such slightly high blood sugar levels do not indicate you have diabetes, neither prediabetes. Your fast glucose test has showed high levels because of your diet.

Prediabetes itself even when diagnosed is not dangerous. You can take good control of it and prevent easily its progression to diabetes.

I encourage to keep dieting and stay healthy as you are doing now because you do not have diabetes.

Hope it was helpful

Dr.Albana