WHAT ARE NORMAL GLUCOSE LEVELS?

Normal Blood Sugar or Normal Glucose Levels

Today we will talk about what a normal glucose level in blood is. A blood glucose test measures the amount of glucose (sugar) in a person's blood and detects diabetes. While fasting, the normal blood glucose ranges from 70 to 99 mg/dL (3.9 to 5.5 mmol/L).

Higher levels could be a sign of diabetes or pre-diabetes. When you have your blood sugar measured at home or at the doctor’s office, what the test is measuring is your blood “glucose” level. Glucose is just one type of sugar, but for the cells in your body, it is the only one that really counts when it comes to giving your cells the fuel it needs. Every cell in your body needs fuel so you can make the energy you need to drive all of the chemical reactions your cells must have so they can function. Glucose is the simplest fuel for most.

What Are Normal Glucose Levels For Adults and Older Children?

Happy mature woman with a glucometer checking blood sugar level at home. Women are tested for high blood sugar. Woman holding device for measuring blood sugar

What should my blood sugar be in the morning?

Blood sugar in the morning is also called fasting blood sugar: This is a common screening test for diabetes. It involves having an overnight fast (nothing but water and most medications for at least 8 hours). You will have your blood tested once for this test.

These are the current rules for what this test means: » Normal for glucose levels for non-diabetic people is blood sugar—less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) (5.55 mmol/l) » Prediabetes—between 100 and 125 mg/dL (5.55 mmol/l – 6.9375 mmol/l)

What Glucose level is Diabetic?

» Diabetes is diagnosed if blood sugar levels are above 125 mg/dL (6.9375 mmol/l) while fasting. If you think you have diabetes and want to reverse diabetes click here. » Normal blood glucose levels in blood for diabetics is 80 to 130 mg/dL (4.44 mmol/l – 7.215 mmol/l)

What is Normal Blood Sugar After Eating?

When you eat, your blood sugar levels naturally rise. For people without diabetes, normal blood sugar levels 2 hours after eating should be below 140 mg/dL. If your blood sugar levels are consistently higher than normal, you may have diabetes. Several factors can affect your blood sugar levels, including the type of food you eat, how much insulin you produce, and how well your body breaks down and uses glucose.

If you have diabetes, monitoring your blood sugar levels is important to prevent complications such as heart disease, kidney disease, and nerve damage. talk to your doctor about your target blood sugar levels should be 2 hours after eating and how to reach them.

Keeping your blood sugar levels healthy can help you feel your best and prevent long-term complications from diabetes. If the number falls close to the dividing line between two levels, it is usually a simple matter to recheck it or confirm the diagnosis with another test.

Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)

You can tell whether you have normal blood glucose levels in the last 3 months by looking at your HbA1c. Because red blood cells live in your body for about 120 days, this test can be done any time of the day without any fasting and will tell you how high your average blood sugar was over the previous three months. This is because glucose sticks to your red blood cells for their entire lifetime.

We use this number to make these diagnoses: » Normal A1c is less than 5.7% » A1c for Prediabetes—between 5.7% and 6.4% » A1c for Diabetes—6.5% or above. This is an excellent test for several reasons. 1) It requires no fasting. 2) It ignores isolated highs and lows in order to give a nice “average” blood sugar number. 3) It is a good way to see if anything you’ve done to treat your diabetes has been effective. For this reason, it can be repeated as often as every three months among known diabetics.

Glucose Tolerance Testing or GTT:

This is a test done at the doctor’s You need to fast overnight and then drink a glucose-containing syrup with exactly 75 grams of glucose in it. Your blood sugar is tested two hours later. These are the results: » Normal—less than 140 mg/dL (7.77 mmol/l) » Prediabetes—140 to 199 mg/dL (7.77 mmol/l – 11.04 mmol/l) » Diabetes—200 mg/dL or more (11.1 mmol/l) Note: 200 mg/dl (11.1 mmol/l) at any time during the test also confirms diabetes.

Can I Use a Fingerstick to Test Whether I Have Normal Glucose Levels or Diabetes?

The HbA1C test, 2-hour post-meal blood sugar, and fasting blood sugar tests are crucial for detecting and diagnosing diabetes. However, it's crucial to prevent self-diagnosing diabetes by performing a fingerstick with a home blood glucose meter if you suspect you have the disease and do not have a normal blood sugar level. Diabetes is diagnosed using laboratories' standards that can't be obtained with a fingerstick. 

You should request a laboratory test from your doctor's office for this purpose. However, if you checked your blood sugar with someone else's meter and it came up high, like 200 mg/dL or more (11.1 mmol/l), that could be a sign of diabetes. In that scenario, I would strongly advise scheduling an immediate appointment with your doctor. 

Additionally, it's crucial to consult your endocrinologist to determine how frequently to check your blood sugar levels using tests like the HbA1C or fasting blood sugar. Additionally, be aware of the implications of your findings and your HbA1C and blood sugar goals. 

Your endocrinologist may advise additional testing if your findings are above "normal" and you have never been diagnosed with diabetes, prediabetes, or insulin resistance. Treatment options might include dietary and exercise regimens tailored to diabetics, weight loss, and regular exercise. You might need to start taking diabetic drugs, including insulin when lifestyle modifications fail, though this is typically the final option.

If you are told you have diabetes, I advise you to learn how to check your blood sugar levels using a meter or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM), such as a Dexcom or Freestyle Libre system. Additionally, collaborate on a treatment strategy with your doctor that will be effective for you. If you want to find out about Dexcom prices, read this.

What is a Blood Glucose Test?

A blood glucose test measures the sugar (glucose) level in your blood. Glucose is the main energy source for your body and comes from the food you eat. Your blood sugar level may rise after you eat, especially if you eat sugary foods or drinks or if you don’t have enough insulin in your body. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose get into your cells to give them energy.

If your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, it may be a sign that you have diabetes. There are two types of blood glucose tests: fasting blood sugar (FBS) and oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). - FBS is done after you have fasted (not eaten or drunk) for at least 8 hours. - OGTT is done after you have fasted for at least 8 hours and then have a sugary drink.

For both tests, a normal blood sugar level is less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). If your result is between 100 and 125 mg/dL, it means you have prediabetes. This means your blood sugar level is higher than normal but not high enough to be diabetes yet.

If your result is 126 mg/dL or higher on two different tests, it means you have diabetes. Your doctor can diagnose diabetes with one abnormal test result if you have symptoms of diabetes, such as increased thirst, increased urination, fatigue, or blurred vision.

If you don’t have any symptoms, your doctor will probably repeat the test on another day to confirm the diagnosis. If you have diabetes, your doctor will work with you to create a treatment plan to manage your diabetes and avoid complications. Treatment for diabetes usually includes lifestyle changes like eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and taking medication if needed.

What Time of Day is Blood Sugar Highest?

People with diabetes often experience an abnormal early-morning rise in their blood sugar (glucose) levels, typically between the hours of 4 and 8 in the morning. This rise in blood sugar is referred to as the dawn phenomenon, also known as the dawn effect.

What are Unsafe and Alarming Blood Sugar Levels?

A blood sugar reading of more than 180 mg/dL or any reading above your target range is too high. A 300 mg/dL or more blood sugar reading can be dangerous. If you have 2 readings in a row of 300 or more, call your doctor. High blood sugar can lead to serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, and kidney damage.

That's why it's important to control your blood sugar levels. You can do many things to help lower your blood sugar, such as eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, and monitoring your blood sugar levels. Taking these steps can help keep your blood sugar under control and reduce your risk of developing serious health problems.

At what sugar level is diabetic coma?

Normal blood glucose levels are important for the diabetic patient. A normal blood sugar level is around 80-100 mg/dL. When the blood sugar level goes above this, it is said to be hyperglycemia. This can lead to diabetic coma if not treated right away.

Diabetic coma happens when the blood sugar gets too high, usually 600 mg/dL or more. The person becomes very dehydrated and may have a hard time breathing. This is a serious condition that can be fatal if not treated immediately. If you think someone has a diabetic coma, call 911 right away.

What to do when blood glucose levels are high?

Drink plenty of water. Water helps you avoid dehydration by removing excess sugar from your blood through urine. Increase your physical activity. Working out can help you control your blood sugar levels. However, under certain conditions, it can cause blood sugar levels to rise even higher.

Consult your doctor about the best type of exercise for you. You should check your urine for ketones if you have type 1 diabetes and your blood sugar is high. Do not exercise if you have ketones. If you have type 2 diabetes and your blood sugar is high, you should also make sure you don't have any ketones in your urine and that you're well-hydrated.

Then, if you feel up to it, your doctor may give you the go-ahead to exercise with caution. Modify your eating habits. You may need to consult a dietitian to change the amount and types of foods you eat. Change your medications. Your doctor may alter the quantity, timing, or type of diabetes medication you take. Make no changes without first consulting them.

Will drinking water lower blood sugar significantly?

One simple way you can help reduce your sugar intake is by drinking lots of water. Water can help lower blood sugar levels by diluting the glucose in your bloodstream. When your blood sugar is normal, your body releases insulin to convert glucose into energy.

However, when you have too much sugar in your blood, your body becomes resistant to insulin, and the sugar is stored as fat. Drinking water can help to reduce insulin resistance and hunger, making it an effective way to lower blood sugar levels.

So this month, commit to drinking more water and enjoying the benefits of normal blood sugar levels. On the other hand, drinking water will not fix your high blood sugar if you have serious and ongoing problems, and you will need to seek help from a diabetes doctor.

In summary

As a healthy diabetic adult, it's important to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Before meals, your sugar level should be 70 to 130 mg/dL. After 2 hours of eating, it should be less than 180 mg/dL. To avoid complications during pregnancy, your blood glucose level should be 95-140 mg/dL. You can maintain normal blood sugar levels with the right habits in place.

Here are some tips to help you keep your sugar level under control: -Monitor your blood sugar level regularly and take action if it starts to get too high or too low.

-Eat a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

-Exercise regularly to help your body use insulin more effectively.

-Avoid stress, which can raise blood sugar levels.

-Talk to your doctor about medications that can help you maintain normal blood sugar levels.

By following these tips, you can help keep your sugar level under control and avoid complications from diabetes.

About the author

Author of The Ultimate Diabetes Book. Founder of SugarMD Youtube Channel. Ahmet Ergin, MD, FACE, CDCE, ECNU is an endocrinologist specializing in diabetes. Dr. Ergin trained at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. After visiting thousands of patients, he decided he had to do more, so he launched SugarMD with hope and compassion.

Dr. Ergin believes in patient education, pharmaceutical, and medical intervention when needed. He values old plants' science in today's "pharma-focused" environment. All SugarMD products use scientifically backed herbs and vitamins. SugarMD prioritizes purity, potency, and consumer results. Dr. Ergin is the brains behind all SugarMD products, so you know you're getting the best for your health. Visit sugarmds.com for more information about diabetic supplements that will help you naturally win over diabetes.