Question 1

What is a normal blood sugar level?

Accepted Answer

A normal fasting blood sugar is 70-99 mg/dL (3.9-5.5 mmol/L), per the American Diabetes Association. 100-125 mg/dL signals prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or higher on two occasions signals diabetes.

Question 2

How do I use a glucometer at home?

Accepted Answer

Wash and dry your hands, insert a test strip, prick the side of a fingertip with the lancet, touch the drop of blood to the strip, and read the result after about 5 seconds.

Question 3

What is the difference between a home glucose test and an HbA1c test?

Accepted Answer

A glucometer gives one reading at one moment. HbA1c is a blood draw that shows your average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months, so it catches patterns a fingerstick can miss.

Question 4

Do I need to fast before testing blood sugar at home?

Accepted Answer

Only for a fasting reading, which means 8-12 hours with no food. Your doctor may also want pre-meal, 2-hour post-meal, or bedtime readings, which don't require fasting.

Question 5

Why does my home blood sugar reading vary?

Accepted Answer

Expired strips, unwashed or damp hands, testing right after exercise, and an uncalibrated device can all skew a reading. Fingerstick glucometers also carry a wider margin of error than a lab venous draw.

Question 6

How much does a fasting blood sugar test cost in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

BestDOC's individual Fasting Blood Sugar test is AED 25, drawn at home by a DHA-licensed nurse, with results typically same day.

Question 7

How much does an HbA1c test cost in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

BestDOC's HbA1c (Glycated Haemoglobin) test is AED 60. For a wider prediabetes picture, the Prediabetes Reversal Program panel (67 parameters) is AED 665.

Question 8

When should I see a doctor about my blood sugar reading?

Accepted Answer

Any fasting reading of 126 mg/dL or higher, repeated readings above your target range, or symptoms like extreme thirst, fatigue, or blurred vision warrant a doctor's review, not just another home test.