Blood glucose, often called blood sugar, is the primary sugar molecule circulating in your bloodstream, acting as the main source of energy for every cell in the body. This glucose comes directly from the food you eat and is regulated by the hormone insulin, which helps usher it from the blood into the cells. Maintaining a balance in these levels is important for preventing damage to nerves, blood vessels, and organs over time. A reading of 113 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) can be a signal that your body’s glucose regulation system is starting to show strain. This number is not an immediate crisis, but it does place the result outside the optimal range, suggesting a need for closer attention and possible intervention.
Classifying 113: Understanding Glucose Ranges
To determine the significance of a 113 mg/dL reading, it must be placed within standard medical guidelines, assuming the test was a Fasting Plasma Glucose (FPG) test. A fasting blood glucose test (FPG) is taken after abstaining from food and calorie-containing beverages for at least eight hours. For a healthy individual, a normal fasting glucose level is considered to be below 100 mg/dL.
The range immediately above normal is medically categorized as Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG), which is a form of pre-diabetes. This category includes readings from 100 mg/dL up to 125 mg/dL. A result of 113 mg/dL falls squarely in the middle of this pre-diabetes range, indicating that while your glucose levels are not high enough to be diagnosed as full diabetes, they are consistently elevated. This elevation suggests a reduced ability to manage glucose, often due to insulin resistance, where cells do not respond effectively to the hormone.
If two separate FPG tests return a reading of 126 mg/dL or higher, a diagnosis of diabetes is typically made. The 113 mg/dL reading serves as an important warning sign, identifying a state where intervention through lifestyle changes can potentially return glucose regulation to the normal range. Catching this elevation early provides an opportunity to prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes and the associated long-term complications.
The Context of Measurement: Why Timing Matters
The interpretation of a 113 mg/dL result changes significantly depending on the type of test performed and the timing of the blood draw. The body should be able to drop glucose levels below 100 mg/dL after eight hours of fasting.
However, if 113 mg/dL was measured as a Random Plasma Glucose (RPG) test, meaning the blood was drawn at any time of day regardless of your last meal, the result is much less concerning. For a non-diabetic person, a blood glucose level two hours after eating a meal should be below 140 mg/dL. In this context, a post-meal reading of 113 mg/dL is actually considered an excellent and healthy response, demonstrating efficient glucose processing by the body.
The meaning of 113 mg/dL is highly dependent on the circumstances of the test. A result of 113 mg/dL immediately after waking up suggests a metabolic challenge, whereas the same number two hours after a standard meal is a picture of good health. This distinction underscores why a single number is never used in isolation for a definitive diagnosis and why the context of the blood draw is so important.
Immediate Lifestyle Adjustments to Manage Glucose
Since a fasting reading of 113 mg/dL points toward Impaired Fasting Glucose, targeted lifestyle adjustments are the most effective first step toward management. The primary goal of these changes is to enhance insulin sensitivity, making the body’s cells more responsive to the insulin hormone.
One of the most impactful dietary changes is reducing the intake of refined carbohydrates and sugary beverages, which cause rapid spikes in blood glucose. This includes eliminating sodas, fruit juices, and foods made with white flour, and instead choosing whole grains and foods high in soluble fiber. Soluble fiber, found in foods like oats, beans, and apples, helps to slow down the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream by delaying gastric emptying.
Pairing dietary modifications with consistent physical activity is also highly effective for glucose control. Moderate aerobic exercise, such as a brisk 30-minute walk each day, works by helping muscle cells utilize glucose for energy, even without the full action of insulin. Official recommendations often suggest aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week to improve insulin sensitivity. This combined approach can help shift the body’s metabolism to manage blood sugar more effectively.
When to Seek Professional Confirmation
A single blood glucose reading of 113 mg/dL is a strong indication of pre-diabetes risk, but it is not sufficient for a formal diagnosis. You should consult a healthcare provider to confirm the result and discuss a plan for further assessment and monitoring. They will likely recommend a follow-up test to establish a more complete picture of your glucose status over time.
One of the most common follow-up tests is the Hemoglobin A1C test, which provides an average of your blood glucose levels over the preceding two to three months. This is measured by determining the percentage of hemoglobin protein in red blood cells that has glucose attached, known as glycated hemoglobin. An A1C result between 5.7% and 6.4% confirms a diagnosis of pre-diabetes.
Another option is the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), which involves measuring your blood glucose after an overnight fast and again two hours after drinking a standardized sugary solution. The OGTT checks how efficiently your body clears a large sugar load from the bloodstream, providing a dynamic assessment of insulin function. Using the A1C or OGTT provides the comprehensive data necessary to establish a definitive diagnosis and guide personalized management strategies.