84 : The Magic Weight Loss Number

Published on 13 July 2021 at 06:00

    What does this number "84" have to do with weight loss? 84 is the ideal fasting glucose number. What your glucose number shows is the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood. Normal blood glucose level (while fasting) range within 70 to 99. You can find out what your glucose number is when you get your routine lab tests done by your physician. Just make sure the lab tests are done during your fasting or it's not accurate. 

    For each point above 84 in your fasting blood sugar you have a 6% increased risk of becoming Diabetic. Just for an example, if your glucose level is "91" on your lab test (then 91-84=7), 7

points. Multiply the 7 points by 6% and you get 42%. So, 91 glucose has you at a 42% risk of developing Diabetes.  

    Now, if your glucose level is 100! 100-84=16. 16 times 6%=96%. Therefore, you have a 96% chance of developing diabetes if you do nothing to change your Eating and Lifestyle Habits! It is not guaranteed but you may be on your way to a Diabetic lifestyle.  

    As you can see glucose gives us a quick check in and the information is readily available because most of us are getting the most basic of lab tests performed. There are two other lab tests markers that give you more information about developing diabetes and those are " HbA1c & Insulin".  Unfortunately, these markers are rarely if ever ordered, even though they show to be predictive of diabetes up to 10 years in advance!  

    Your high fasting glucose (HFG) indicates your body is taking in too much energy, more than you need in a day and more than you are burning at your current exercise level.  

    This is a fact that our own body turns food into glucose. Glucose is energy for the cells but too much glucose in the blood indicates your storing more energy which means you are gaining weight. "Glucose is stored as reserve energy in the form of fat".  

Managing your number is not necessarily of ay urgency for most people in the world however with a high instance of diabetes particularly in the US with just over 1 in 10 people having it, and in cases of the Native American population being 1 in 6, knowing the magic number can mean the difference in quality of life and overall well-being.

   

    If you need help or would like more information regarding diabetes or really any health concerns at all feel free to reach out to Dr. T.