What Are The Target Ranges
Blood glucose targets are individualized based on:
- duration of diabetes
- conditions a person may have
- cardiovascular disease or diabetes complications
- hypoglycemia unawareness
- individual patient considerations
The American Diabetes Association suggests the following targets for most nonpregnant adults with diabetes. A1C targets differ based on age and health. Also, more or less stringent glycemic goals may be appropriate for each individual.
- A1C: Less than 7%A1C may also be reported as eAG: Less than 154 mg/dL
- Before a meal : 80130 mg/dL
- 1-2 hours after beginning of the meal *: Less than 180 mg/dL
The Difference Between Triglycerides And Blood Sugar
Video of the Day Triglycerides, also called triacylglycerols, are comprised of a glycerol backbone with three fatty acids attached. Nearly 95 percent of dietary fat comes from triglycerides. They are a highly concentrated form of energy and are important in transferring that energy from food to cells. Like cholesterol, triglycerides are another type of fat in the blood which can be checked to measure risk of developing heart disease. Ideally, triglycerides should measure less than 150 mg/dL in the blood. Carbohydrates are broken down into sugar in the blood. Unless you are glucose intolerant or have been diagnosed with diabetes, you dont need to regularly monitor your blood sugar. It is important to maintain blood sugar levels however by eating regularly spaced meals throughout the day. Eating too many refined carbohydrates, simple sugars, or drinking too much alcohol can increase blood levels of triglycerides. It is recommended to maintain a healthy weight, exercise, and cut back on simple carbohydrates and alcohol. Eating a diet low in both saturated and trans fats and high in fiber is also beneficial.Continue reading > >
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What Are Blood Sugar Levels
Blood sugar levels, also known as blood glucose level, is the level of sugar/glucose present in the blood. Glucose is a simple version of sugar which comes from the food we eat. Therefore, the more food you consume with high sugar levels over a period of time, will typically increase your blood sugar level.
Glucose comes from the foods we eat and its sugar content. When a person consumes a food with high sugar content, that is turned into glucose. The glucose is then absorbed into the bloodstream with the support of insulin. This is then distributed between the bodys cells and used as energy.
Foods high in glucose include most carbohydrates and a handful of proteins and fats. Most foods contain glucose as it is simply a natural sugar that occurs in most dietary forms. However, it is carbohydrates that contain the most sugar and 100% of it turns into glucose, through the process mentioned above, once consumed. The concentration of glucose present in the blood will determine your blood sugar level.
Here is a quick video explaining Blood sugar levels chart :
Your blood sugar level can either be low, normal or high. Depending on what you eat and health conditions, it will vary from person to person. Here is a breakdown of how your blood sugar works and how low or high blood sugar levels happens:
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What Abnormal Results Mean
If you had a fasting blood glucose test:
- A level of 100 to 125 mg/dL means you have impaired fasting glucose, a type of prediabetes. This increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
- A level of 126 mg/dL or higher usually means you have diabetes.
If you had a random blood glucose test:
- A level of 200 mg/dL or higher often means you have diabetes.
- Your provider will order a fasting blood glucose, A1C test, or glucose tolerance test, depending on your random blood glucose test result.
- In someone who has diabetes, an abnormal result on the random blood glucose test may mean that the diabetes is not well controlled. Talk with your provider about your blood glucose goals if you have diabetes.
Other medical problems can also cause a higher-than-normal blood glucose level, including:
- Weight loss after weight loss surgery
- Vigorous exercise
Some medicines can raise or lower your blood glucose level. Before having the test, tell your provider about all the medicines you are taking.
For some thin young women, a fasting blood sugar level below 70 mg/dL may be normal.
Whats The Difference Between A1c And Blood Glucose Levels
February 27, 2018 by Diabetes Care
Checking your A1C as well as your blood glucose levels are things youll do when you have diabetes. Thats because they are both key markers in determining whether your blood sugar levels are within the ideal target range to keep you healthy. So whats the difference between your A1C and blood glucose level? Heres a closer look at what each one means in relation to managing your diabetes.
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Things You Can Do To Manage Blood Sugar Throughout Your Menstrual Cycle
You can take several steps to help manage your blood sugar throughout your menstrual cycle:
- Track your cycle: Each personâs average cycle length is different, and there is also some variability in cycle length from month to month. Tracking your menses for three to six months can help you identify the phases of your menstrual cycle. Track your period length and any PMS or other symptoms you notice.
- Track your blood sugar: Use your CGM and the Signos app to track your blood sugar. Map it onto your cycle pattern to identify trends. You will probably notice an increase in insulin resistance and blood glucose around the time you ovulate and right before your period.
- Track how your menstrual cycle may affect you: Track your mood, PMS symptoms, fatigue levels, and weight to see if fluctuations in hormone levels throughout your menstrual cycle cause these signs and symptoms.
- Minimize cravings associated with PMS: To minimize cravings and maintain more stable blood glucose levels, avoid alcohol, caffeine, chocolate, and foods high in simple carbohydrates. Instead, try to eat regular meals and choose healthy fats and complex carbohydrates.
- Exercise: Regular exercise can help with insulin sensitivity and therefore help moderate your blood sugar. It can also decrease stress and improve PMS symptoms. Any physical activity can help!
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What Is The Difference Between A1c And Glucose
Hemoglobin A1c test measures the percentage of glucose bound to red blood cells in the blood, while glucose test measures the milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood. So, this is the key difference between A1c and glucose. Blood sugar meters cant check for hemoglobin A1c, but they can check blood glucose.
Moreover, glucose tests require fasting before the test, while the A1c test does not require fasting before the test. Thus, this is another difference between A1c and glucose. In an A1c test, it is necessary to take some blood and send it to the laboratory for assessment. But, in glucose test, it is necessary to squeeze a drop of blood onto the test strip and put the strip into the monitor. Furthermore, A1c measures in percentage while glucose test measures blood sugar in mg/dL.
Below infographic summarizes the difference between A1c and glucose.
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Type 2 Diabetes What Not To Eat
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Blood Sugar Level Charts For Those With Diabetes
Normal blood sugar levels, for those with diabetes, will vary depending on someones age and the time of day. For example, when fasting, blood sugar levels are often in the target goal range. The type of food eaten will impact blood sugar levels in different ways. A meal with a lot of carbohydrates will raise blood sugar quicker than a meal that contains carbohydrates, protein, and fat . Blood sugar will rise after a meal, but will start to return to normal levels in several hours.
Lets take a look at what blood sugar levels should be, in those with diabetes, based on their age.
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Why Do We Test A1c
Also called hemoglobin a1c or Hba1c, an A1C test is often used to diagnose diabetes initially and then to ensure youre keeping your blood sugar levels in check over an extended period of time. Given that the average red blood cell lives for several months, this test determines your average blood sugar levels over a two- to three-month period.
What Are Some Of The Benefits Of Using Flash Monitoring
Traditional blood glucose monitoring using a glucometer provides readings that only represent distinct points in time and requires you to prick your finger every time you want to check sugar levels. Although small and easy to use, the process of pricking your finger several times a day for years can get painful and tiring. Glucometers can only measure your blood sugar levels at the moment, which means the machine may say your blood sugar level is low at this second, but cannot tell what it will be an hour later. So an hour later, you would have to take out your glucometer, prick, and test again, making it very inconvenient and a big hassle.
On the other hand, CGM Flash Monitoring measures the glucose level in the interstitial fluid providing you with a complete picture of the glucose variation seen over the last 8 hours, and without the need to keep pricking yourself. Some of the other advantages of using a CGM are-
To learn more about Needle Phobia and overcoming it, check out our People Stories : My CGM experience as a Needle-fearing, Newly-diagnosed Diabetic.
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When To See A Healthcare Provider
Getting professional medical advice from a healthcare provider like an endocrinologist is the best way to learn more about whether your blood sugar levels are where they should be. Not getting proper treatment for low or high blood sugar levels can be serious and lead to health complications, especially for those with diabetes. Diabetes complications include nerve damage, kidney disease, heart disease, or heart attacks.
If you see a healthcare provider about your blood sugar levels, be prepared to answer questions about risk factors like what you eat, how much you exercise, and about your family history. Some healthcare providers may want to take a blood sample to test your blood sugar levels. They may also order an A1C test, which is a blood test that measures blood sugar control over three months. You may have to fast eight hours beforehand to get accurate test results, so its always a good idea to check before your appointment. Your healthcare provider can create a diabetes treatment plan if you are prediabetic or have diabetes.
Be sure your treatment plan includes instructions on when you would need to seek emergency medical care. Emergency rooms are equipped to handle high blood sugar levels and can administer treatments like insulin therapy and fluid or electrolyte replacement.
How Do I Check My Blood Sugar
Checking your blood sugar is simple and can be done at home with the right equipment. The most traditional and effective way of doing so is with a glucose meter. You wash your hands to wash away germs, prick your finger with a needle, apply the blood from the pricked finger to a test strip and insert it into the machine. Your blood sugar level will appear on the meters display.
Alternatively, there are a few modern methods that have been developed. They show results but are considered not to be as accurate as glucose meters.
Want to hear our thoughts on blood sugar levels? Lets jump into the conclusion:
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Treatment For Low Blood Sugar Levels
For those with low blood sugar levels, management and treatment is a little easier to do yourself. If you find your blood sugar is too low and you notice symptoms, always seek medical attention. They will aid you with what necessary precautions to take if the reading is extremely low.
Most of the time, the following treatment methods are advised to do at home yourself. Having a sugary drink or snack can help increase blood sugar levels and balance out and improve any symptoms. Even a small juice of juice or sweets can improve weakness and similar symptoms.
After youve consumed a sugary drink or snack, it is recommended to test your blood sugar level again. If it has increased and you feel better then you should consume a carbohydrate containing meal, such as bread, biscuits or milk. It is advised to eat a small meal to prevent any further drop in blood sugar.
For normal people without diabetes, it is sometimes advised to consume daily supplements that are beneficial for increasing insulin sensitivity and balancing your blood, its sugars and pressures. You can seek medical advice for those from a doctor. Some options may include supplements such as Garcinia Cambogia, which has shown results for increasing insulin sensitivity.
You may be wondering exactly how you can read and calculate your blood sugar level, as it advised to do so for both treatments. If you wish to calculate your blood sugar level, here is how to do so:
How Do We Process Glucose
Our blood sugar levels rise and fall at different times of the day, depending on our physical activities and when we last ate. We get all the glucose our body needs from the food and drink we consume. A healthy persons glucose level typically ranges between 4 7mmol/l before eating.
This level can go as high as 8.5 9mmol/l for up to two hours after eating. To help your cells absorb glucose, the pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that breaks down glucose. As this happens, the blood sugar levels drop until our next meal.
Diabetes occurs when the body doesnt produce sufficient amounts of insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin which is produced. People with this condition need an external source of insulin to regulate their glucose levels.
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Before And After Exercise
Regular physical activity is a key part of managing diabetes. This is especially true for people with type 2 diabetes since losing weight can make a big difference in overall health. For those with type 1 diabetes, exercise can help increase sensitivity to insulin and control blood sugar.
Because physical activity uses energy, however, it depletes cells of glucose, drawing glucose from the bloodstream. This can potentially lead to hypoglycemia .
This is why it’s important to check your blood sugar levels before activity and immediately afterward. Your blood sugar levels can tell you if you have enough glucose to fuel your workout and how much you’ve depleted it while exercising.
Target glucose ranges vary from person to person, but in general, your blood sugar levels should be at least 90 mg/dL before starting exercise. If you test your blood glucose and it’s lower than 90 mg/dL, here are the steps to take depending on the exact reading you get.
After you work out, test your blood glucose right away. Test again two to four hours afterward to check for a delayed drop in your level. If your blood sugar is lower at this point, continue checking it every two to four hours or until it’s no longer low and you’re sure your glycogen has been restored to normal.
Target Blood Sugar Levels In Children With Diabetes
Children younger than 6 years old Blood sugar in mg/dL Bedtime 110-200
Children under 6 years of age should have blood glucose levels that range from about 80 to 200 mg/dL each day. This range is considered healthy, and the amount of glucose in a childs body will fluctuate from the time they wake up to after theyve eaten meals and again before bedtime. For this reason, kids with diabetes or hypoglycemic episodes may have to have their blood sugar levels tested in the middle of the night by their parents. Many children with type 1 diabetes wear a continuous glucose monitor , which displays glucose levels all the time and mostly eliminates the need for finger sticks.
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Glucose The Bodys Primary Source Of Energy
When we eat, our digestive system breaks down the food to create glucose which is the bodys primary source of energy. Glucose is the most common form of simple sugar found in living organisms. Once we consume glucose and it is absorbed into the blood, we typically refer to it as blood glucose or blood sugar.
Glucose is necessary to keep the body functioning properly and a sudden rise or decline in our blood sugar levels can produce unhealthy effects. Your body makes glucose from foods rich in carbohydrates like bread, fruits, and dairy products.
You can also get glucose on-demand from quick-release glucose supplements which are an effective treatment for hypoglycaemia a condition characterised by a decline in blood sugar. People with diabetes must be especially careful about their glucose levels.