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Define Preprandial Glucose

In diabetes blood glucose monitoring, preprandial means "before a meal." It is also known as the fasting glucose level. The more time that has elapsed since your last meal, the less effect that meal has on your preprandial glucose reading.

  1. Features

    • The lowest preprandial glucose reading usually occurs just before the first meal of the day. Sleep extends the period of time since your previous meal.

    Guidelines

    • Preprandial glucose readings below 100 mg/dl indicate somebody who does not have diabetes. Fasting glucose readings between 100 mg/dl and 125 mg/dl indicate somebody who is pre-diabetic. Anyone with blood glucose readings over 125 mg/dl is considered a diabetic.

    Time Frame

    • In a non-diabetic, it takes about two hours to return blood glucose levels to below 140 mg/dl after a meal. For diabetics, the time it takes to return to preprandial glucose levels varies depending on the severity of the diabetes.

    Warning

    • The longer it takes for blood sugar levels to return to preprandial levels after a meal, the more damage is being done by high blood sugars.

    Solution

    • Eating less sugar lowers the preprandial glucose over time and reduces the chances of long-term complications from diabetes.

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