My 8-hour fasting glucose levels each morning run around 103-106. I took a 75 gm glucose tolerance test and the results were 99 (baseline pre-test), 179 (at 1 hour), 141 (at 2 hours) and back to 98 (at 3 hours).

When my sugar drops into the 80′s I get shaky, hot, nauseated and ready to pass out.

I have another appointment with my doctor late next week to interpret these results but I can’t bear to wait that long so I’m asking for your opinions here, too.

Possibly. Here’s what your numbers are telling me.

Your fasting at the lab was in normal range, but just barely. If the readings on your home meter are accurate–and remember that home meters are notoriously inaccurate–then you’re technically in the pre-diabetic range.

Your one-hour spike was a little high. Not too bad. Your two-hour postprandial was almost in the normal range. That’s good. Not great, but good. Your three-hour reading was good, too. That tells me that your first-phase insulin response is somewhat impaired, as indicated by your high spike and your inability to come down under 140 mg/dL after two hours. (You’re borderline.) First-phase insulin response is when your body releases stored insulin. However, your second-phase insulin response seems to be intact, which means that your body is still producing enough insulin to bring you back down to normal levels within 2-3 hours. That means you probably have some impairment going on, but it’s not at dangerous levels yet. First phase is the first to go usually.

The fact that you feel hypoglycemic in the 80s might mean that you are running a little high most of the time. What is your A1c?

The good news is that you’re NOT diabetic. The bad news is that you might be pre-diabetic. If you are, you have caught it very early. You can avoid diabetes by being vigilant with diet, exercise and weight loss (if necessary).