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Normal Blood Sugar Levels Explained

This article is for those worried about the problems of high blood sugar levels. It explains what a ‘normal’ blood sugar level is and give tips on how to reduce your blood sugar levels and the risk of developing diabetes.

When most of us think of sugar the processed, powdery white stuff we ladle into our coffee or over our breakfast cereals is what springs to mind. Sugar is seen as an enemy to health and something we should cut down in our daily diet. This may be true of the sugar in our food but blood sugar is a completely different chemical and is essential to our well-being.

What is Blood Sugar?

The sugar in our blood is glucose and is the primary source of energy for our bodies. When we eat carbohydrates these are converted into glucose which is then transported around the body in the bloodstream. Typical carbohydrate foods are fruit, nuts, rice, root vegetables and cereal. They are also present in highly processed food such as biscuits, white bread and pizza.

When glucose levels rise insulin is released into the bloodstream from the pancreas to regulate the level.

What is a ‘normal’ blood sugar level?

A normal blood sugar level is not fixed. It fluctuates during the day and depending on the food we eat. Testing glucose levels is usually done at different times in the day. The so-called ‘fasting level’ has to be measured six to eight hours after the last meal so has to be done first thing in the morning before breakfast.

The measurement used is milligrams per deciliter of blood.

If you are healthy your blood sugar levels should be within the following ranges:

1) First thing in the morning before eating breakfast: 70 to 100

2) Before eating: 80 – 100

3) Two hours after a meal: > 160

4) At the end of the day: 100 – 140

The range of blood sugar levels in a healthy person is therefore in the fairly narrow rage of 70 to 160 milligrams per deciliter.

Diabetes & Hypoglycaemia – abnormal blood sugar levels

From a medical point of view these tests are usually carried out to check and monitor the blood glucose level of people suffering from diabetes.

Blood sugar levels that are consistently over 150 indicate hyperglycaemia (high blood sugar), a potentially life threatening disorder. If hyperglycaemia is allowed to persist is results in diabetes which can, in turn, cause nerve, kidney and eye damage.

Diabetes is the disorder that affects the way that the body utilizes sugar. There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the patient’s pancreas is not able to produce insulin to regulate the sugar levels, which rise accordingly. In Type 2 patients the pancreas still creates plenty of insulin but the blood cells cannot absorb it. Type 2 is usually produced by a poor diet and will appear later in life, usually after the age of 35.

How to Help Keep your Blood Sugar Levels Normal

The cause of type 1 diabetes are not know but may be genetic and can strike at any age. However, 95% of diabetes sufferers have type 2. If you are feeling lethargic, you have impaired mental functioning, you feel irritable or lose consciousness for no reason, you could be in a pre-diabetes state, on the way to developing full-blown type 2 diabetes. The good news is that changes in life-style can revert your blood sugar level to normal and you can dodge the bullet, preventing the onset of diabetes.

You need to be especially aware of your blood sugar level if you fall into any of the following three categories:

1) Age over 45: 20% of Americans over 65 have diabetes.

2)Heredity: If your parents had diabetes you are more likely to develop the disease

3) Your ethnicity: Certain minority races in the USA are more likely to develop the disease , for reasons that are unknown. These include African and Native Americans, Hispanics and Asians.

To avoid diabetes you have to develop healthy lifestyle habits.

1) Eat a healthy diet –the mantra is lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and as little processed food as possible

2) Lose weight- if you are one of the 75% of US adults who are overweight now is the time to lose it

3) Take regular exercise - Even if your weight is normal regular, aerobic exercise is essential to your body’s health

4) If you smoke stop now! – Smoking is bad for you in many ways and it also increase your risk of developing diabetes.

If you have any doubts about your blood sugar levels don’t hesitate to have them checked out by your physician. Following the guidelines above will help keep your blood sugar levels low and will dramatically reduce your risk of problems in the future.

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