Paying attention to the following normal blood sugar levels chart can help people monitor and manage their blood glucose levels, reducing the risk of diabetes and promoting optimal health.
How Blood Sugar Functions in Your Body
When we eat meals, if our digestive systems are functioning correctly, the food is converted into glucose—also known as blood sugar. Insulin is then released to help cells of the body utilize this glucose, which is essential for energy and overall health. Proper diet and meal management are essential for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels and overall health.
Although glucose is essential to the correct functioning of the body, it has to be kept in balance to maintain overall health. Too much glucose can lead to consistently high blood sugar levels, a primary symptom of diabetes in adults.
High blood sugar poses a higher risk of complications such as heart disease and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), where a lack of insulin results in a harmful buildup of ketones in the body. Monitoring blood glucose levels through regular tests is critical for managing diabetes and preventing serious health issues.
People with high glucose levels should work with their healthcare provider to develop a comprehensive treatment plan, including diet and insulin management, to help maintain healthy blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of medical complications.
Understanding Low Blood Sugar
Too little glucose in the bloodstream is not healthy either and can pose significant health risks. An insufficient amount of glucose can lead to symptoms such as anxiety, heart palpitations, confusion, and nervousness, which are indicators that require prompt medical attention.
Consistently low levels of glucose in the bloodstream are a symptom of hypoglycemia, a condition often related to diabetes management. Severe hypoglycemia can have potentially life-threatening consequences like seizures or loss of consciousness, highlighting the importance of prompt treatment and continuous monitoring. Proper diet and meal management can help manage low blood sugar levels. So, as you see, keeping blood sugar levels normal is a key prerogative for staying healthy and reducing the risk of disease.
So What Are Normal Blood Glucose Levels?
In a typical person, the normal blood sugar level will be somewhere between 70 and 140 milligrams per deciliter, with slight fluctuations throughout the day. If it goes above 140 during the day, you are entering dangerous territory. After meals, however, it’s normal for blood sugar to rise temporarily. For instance, two hours after starting a meal, blood sugar levels should generally remain below 180 mg/dL to avoid complications.
In the mornings, the blood sugar level is typically lower as the body has been fasting overnight. This is because the body has been using glucose in the blood to provide energy needed to repair and replace cells, maintaining overall health. After a meal, the blood glucose levels normally rise as the body converts the just-eaten carbohydrates into sugar. Within minutes, your pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream to regulate blood sugar and ensure it remains within the healthy range. Proper diabetes management includes monitoring these fluctuations to prevent blood sugar from getting too high or too low.
If blood glucose levels do not stay within the target range over time, it can increase the risk of complications such as heart disease. Therefore, regular check-ups with your healthcare provider are essential to help manage your blood sugar levels effectively.
What Should Your Fasting Blood Sugar Numbers Be?
The best time to test your blood sugar is after an extended period (approximately 6-8 hours) of not eating, known as your fasting blood sugar level. Doctors use this test to monitor your risk of diabetes and other medical conditions. Testing immediately after eating is too soon because blood sugar is artificially elevated, and waiting too long can result in misleading low numbers indicative of hypoglycemia. Therefore, for most adults, the best time to take the tests is in the morning just before breakfast.
Maintaining blood sugar within the normal fasting range of 70 to 110 milligrams per deciliter is crucial for effective diabetes management and overall health. Regular monitoring helps healthcare providers assess your diet and treatment plans to keep your blood sugar levels within the target range throughout the day, despite various daily activities and factors that can influence glucose levels.
Blood Sugar Monitoring Guidelines
Unless you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you don’t have to continually monitor your blood glucose levels daily. It is sufficient to have your blood sugar levels checked during your annual healthcare visit. During this time, your healthcare provider can perform an oral glucose tolerance test or an alternative blood glucose test to assess your body’s blood sugar management and overall health. Regular medical check-ups help detect any early signs of prediabetes or other metabolic concerns, allowing for timely intervention and maintaining your health without unnecessary worry.
Unless you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you don’t have to worry about your blood glucose levels from day to day. It’s enough to have your blood sugar levels tested during your annual visit to the doctor. He can use an oral glucose tolerance test, or an alternate blood glucose test, to determine your body’s level of blood sugar control.
If you have diabetes, however, you may need to engage in regular blood glucose monitoring as part of your diabetes management plan. You may have to test your blood glucose levels at periodic times throughout the day to ensure they stay within the target range, reducing the risk of complications related to the disease. Testing may involve using a blood glucose meter, which measures your blood sugar with a small blood sample, or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), which provides real-time glucose readings throughout the day.
Many CGMs now allow you to track patterns and trends in your glucose levels, helping to improve overall health management and tailored treatment. Effective monitoring supports healthcare providers in assisting you to manage factors such as diet, weight, and insulin administration, ensuring better control over your diabetes.
What Happens If Your Blood Sugar Level Gets Too Low?
If your blood sugar level falls below 70, you will normally start to experience physical symptoms of hypoglycemia, a condition often related to diabetes management. Specifically, you may develop tremors, heart palpitations, rapid heartbeat, and loss of concentration. Further drops in blood glucose may result in seizures or losing consciousness, posing serious health risks.
To prevent a dangerous plunge in glucose levels, it is important to consume fast-acting carbohydrates like glucose tablets or juice immediately upon noticing early symptoms. Regular monitoring and appropriate insulin management are crucial for diabetes care, helping to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of severe health complications.
How Does The Body Maintain A Normal Blood Sugar Level?
Your blood glucose levels are regulated by the insulin and glucagon hormones, which play a critical role in diabetes management and overall health. Insulin helps lower blood sugar by facilitating glucose uptake into cells, while glucagon raises blood glucose levels when they are low. Effective regulation of these hormones is essential for maintaining a healthy blood sugar range and preventing diseases related to blood glucose imbalance.
In type 1 diabetes patients, high blood glucose is caused by the body’s inability to produce enough insulin, an essential hormone for regulating the amount of glucose entering the bloodstream. As a result, the body attempts to eliminate excess glucose through urine, increasing the risk of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.
If diabetes is left untreated, the levels of sugar in the blood will continue to rise, putting individuals at higher risk for severe health complications such as heart disease and damage to internal organs. Effective diabetes management includes regular monitoring, insulin therapy, and maintaining a healthy diet to help control blood sugar levels and protect overall health.
Glucagon, in contrast to insulin, raises the blood glucose levels. Glucagon is especially critical during episodes of hypoglycemia. For sudden drops in blood sugar, injectable glucagon is often a life-saving method to restore glucose to healthy levels rapidly.
Other Factors That Affect Blood Sugar Levels – Normal and Abnormal
When measuring blood sugar levels, it’s important to recognize that diet and eating patterns aren’t the only factors affecting those levels. Physical activity, such as normal exercise routines, running, and sports, can significantly influence blood glucose, helping to lower levels and improve insulin sensitivity. Additionally, illnesses and injuries can impact sugar levels, as the body uses more glucose from the bloodstream to aid in healing and recovery.
Stress and certain medications are other medical factors that can influence glucose levels, causing either spikes or dips depending on the body’s response. Effective diabetes management includes monitoring these various factors to maintain blood sugar within the target range, reducing the risk of complications and promoting overall health.
Additional Resources:
- https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/treatment/index.html
- https://diabetes.org/about-diabetes/diagnosis