Like many other heart disease sufferers, especially those taking niacin as this supplement can raise blood sugar, I routinely (perhaps once per year) have my fasting blood sugar tested to remain on guard for diabetes and pre-diabetes.  As most of us are already aware, diabetes as well as any form of elevated blood sugar, is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.  Given the ubiquity of the fasting blood sugar test as a measure of both endocrine and heart health one would think that a "normal result" (about 70-100 mg/dl) would signal an end to any worries and doubts.  You also couldn't be more wrong.  Let my story serve as a warning.

Because I take a great deal of niacin (2-3 grams daily) for my lipoprotein(a) problem, I have always taken the precaution of having my fasting blood sugar testing periodically.  It has always been normal or modestly elevated as one might expect and I have never given it another moment of thought.  However, I also am a member of a fascinating community of everyday people (some are doctors and medical professionals) that continually contribute personal research and test data as part of a community-based heart disease prevention and reversal program.  Several of the members provided information on how to get a free blood glucose meter and urged me to test my post-prandial blood sugar, not just my fasting blood sugar.  I did and the findings were astounding.

Post-prandial is simply a fancy medical term for "after eating."  What I did was to fast each night, test my fasting blood sugar in the morning, eat a measured amount of carbohydrates from a single food, and then test it again at hourly intervals.  Here are some results.

JUN27-7:30AM, 106mg/dL (all night fast)

My fasting blood sugar is a little high but consistent with levels for those on high doses of niacin.  Next, I fasted the rest of the day except for water and other meds to get my blood sugar down.

JUN27-8:21PM, 81mg/dL

As you might guess it is getting lower from not eating.

Eat one 330g (with peel) navel orange (no, I didn't eat the peel)

JUN27-9:21PM 166mg/dL

This value is way too high.  It should be at least below 140mg/dL.

JUN27-10:46PM 126mg/dL

Over two hours later and still not normal (below 126).

JUN28-6:30AM 96mg/dL

Test results after all-night fast.  Not a bad number.

 
JUN28-7:15AM

Eat 15g of Oat Bran

JUN28-8:15AM, 178mg/dL

Wow! One hour later and look at the number.  And I thought oat bran was healthy!

JUN28-10:15, 133mg/dL

Two hours later and still too high.  Now, let's fast for another two hours.

JUN28-12:30PM 88mg/dL

Now that's more like it but it took way to long to get my blood sugar back down to normal - another indication of impaired glucose tolerance (IGT).  Next, let's test what alcohol will do to me.  Drank one Bloody Mary (8 oz tomato juice, 1 oz vodka - cheap stuff - never waste good stuff in tomato juice!)