Friday, April 19, 2024

What Should Your Fasting Sugar Level Be

Popular Articles

Blood Sugar Level Charts For Those With Diabetes

What Should Your Fasting Blood Sugar Levels Be?

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.

How To Measure Blood Glucose

To quantify your metabolic health, youll need to measure blood glucose levels. Common tests include:

  • Hemoglobin A1c : Provides a rough average blood glucose estimate of the past 2-3 months by measuring the amount of sugar stored in red blood cells.
  • OGTT: The oral glucose tolerance test , administered in a lab, involves ingesting a sugary solution and measuring its impact on blood sugar levels
  • Fasting blood glucose: Your blood glucose after an overnight fast of around 12 hours.
  • Postprandial blood glucose: This is your post-meal blood glucose. It peaks 1 to 1.5 hours after eating.

Both fasting blood sugar and postprandial blood glucose are simple home blood tests, provided you have a glucose meter. Just prick your finger, insert the test strip, and record your result. If you have a Keto-Mojo blood glucose and ketone meter you can track your results over time with the free app.

Taking a blood sugar test is an ideal way to learn the effects of different foods on your body. Simply take a baseline reading , eat a particular food, then test 1 or 2 hours after eating. You might be surprised which foods spike your blood sugar. See this guide to testing for your bio-individuality and learn which foods elevate your glucose levels so you can avoid them.

Determining The Right A1c Goal For You

Just because a normal blood sugar range of 70 to 130 mg/dL is considered the healthiest doesnt necessarily mean thats the appropriate goal range for you especially if you have type 1 diabetes, or take insulin as a person with type 2 diabetes.

The reason this may not be the right goal for you is that extremely tight blood sugar management in people taking insulin can potentially lead to frequent low blood sugars which can be dangerous.

Achieving extremely tight blood sugar management, like a range of 70 to 130 mg/dL, also often requires a strict nutrition plan, more frequent than usual blood sugar monitoring, precise medication management, and most importantly, years of experience studying your own blood sugar levels.

Recommended Reading: When My Sugar Is High

Why Doctors Order It

A fasting blood glucose test is done to screen for prediabetes and diabetes. It also helps doctors monitor diabetes and determine if medications and dietary changes are having an effect .

Your fasting blood glucose level is the lowest your blood sugar can be because the influence of recent meals is minimized .

Fasting blood sugar is often checked alongside HbA1c , which is a measure of your blood sugar levels over the past three months. The more sugar there is in the blood, the more it will attach to hemoglobin, raising HbA1c .

Taken together, the two offer more information than each test alone. For example, even if your blood sugar levels are very high at one random point, they may have been mostly low over the past couple of months . On the other hand, HBA1c could be higher but your glucose levels at the moment lower.

Apart from diabetes, abnormal levels can point out issues such as insulin resistance, hormonal imbalances, and pancreatic, liver, or kidney disease.

Why Does Blood Glucose Level Rise In Diabetes

Morning Fasting Sugar Level

The food we eat is converted to glucose and released into the bloodstream. Therefore, blood sugar levels are high after eating. The increase in glucose level signals our pancreas to release insulin.

Insulin helps our body cells to absorb glucose. As a result, blood glucose level goes down / becomes normal again. This process of cell absorption helps in regulating/maintaining normal blood glucose levels.

But in the case of diabetes, our body becomes insulin resistant, or there is insulin deficiency. Due to this our body cells do not absorb blood glucose, resulting in high blood glucose levels, thus causing Diabetes which comes with health problems like thyroid, stress, loss of muscle weight, acidity, insomnia, low energy level, etc. Over a period of time, such high blood glucose levels can cause damage to nerves, kidneys, eyes, and heart. With the right changes in your habits of eating, exercising, sleeping patterns, and stress management we have seen more than 10.000 patients reversing their diabetes. Get started with your diabetes reversal journey, connect with top diabetes experts now.

Therefore if you have diabetes, it is essential to maintain your blood sugar readings at some typical acceptable values, which can be attained by having a healthy lifestyle that will aid the reversal of diabetes and following a sustainable diet plan that you can follow which includes staple food, easily available in your kitchen and does not include supplements.

Summary

Recommended Reading: When Is Your Sugar Level Too High

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.

Check Your Blood Sugar Often

Checking your blood sugar levels often and writing down, or using an app to track the results will tell you how well you are managing your diabetes. Talk to your doctor and diabetes educator about how often you should check your blood sugar.

  • Not everyone with diabetes needs to check their blood sugar every day. But some people may need to check it many times a day.
  • If you have type 1 diabetes, check your blood sugar at least 4 times a day.

Usually, you will test your blood sugar before meals and at bedtime. You may also check your blood sugar:

  • After you eat out, particularly if you have eaten foods you don’t normally eat
  • If you feel sick
  • Before and after you exercise
  • If you have a lot of stress
  • If you eat too much
  • If you are taking new medicines that can affect your blood sugar

Keep a record for yourself and your provider. This will be a big help if you are having problems managing your diabetes. It will also tell you what works and what doesn’t work, to keep your blood sugar under control. Write down:

  • The time of day
  • The amount of carbohydrates or sugar you ate
  • The type and dose of your diabetes medicines or insulin
  • The type of exercise you do and for how long
  • Any unusual events, such as feeling stressed, eating different foods, or being sick

Many glucose meters let you store this information.

Recommended Reading: How To Stop Sugar Addiction

Get A Handle On Stress

When youre stressed out, your blood sugar tends to rise, Crandall Snyder says. According to the Diabetes Teaching Center at the University of California in San Francisco, when youre stressed, insulin levels fall, certain hormones rise, and more glucose is released from the liver, which ends up in the blood stream and can cause disruptions for up to eight hours.

How can you burn off tension? Yoga and meditation can help people lower their blood sugar levels, Weisenberger says. A December 2014 study published in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science involving 27 nursing students and found a combination of yoga and meditation practiced for one hour once a week led to reduced levels of stress and lower blood glucose levels after 12 weeks.

Crandall Snyder also suggests taking a few deep breaths, going for a walk, playing with your dog for a few minutes, or listening to a fun song. Basically whatever you can do to distract yourself for a few minutes and just lower your breathing rate will help, she says. Indeed, the CDC notes that less water in your body is liked with a higher blood sugar concentration.

Target Blood Sugar Levels For Pregnant People With Diabetes

What Fasting Blood Sugar Levels Should I Be Getting?

It’s possible for diabetes to cause problems during pregnancy. For example, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who have uncontrolled blood sugar levels could experience an increased risk of having a premature baby, needing a C-section and more.

Gestational diabetes â a type of diabetes that occurs in a pregnant person who has never been diagnosed with diabetes before â can also cause complications. These include giving birth to a baby who is larger than average and an increased risk of needing a C-section. The ADA suggests that pregnant people shoot for a target fasting blood sugar level of 95 mg/dL or less before a meal.

Keeping your blood glucose levels within the target range will help protect you and your baby.

âRead more:â Do Oranges Raise Your Blood Sugar?

You May Like: What Is The Optimal Blood Sugar Level

Chart Of Normal Blood Sugar Levels For Adults With Diabetes Age Wise

The amount of glucose present in blood fluctuates during the day and at night. Our body maintains a level of blood glucose for metabolism. The normal sugar level in a healthy body is between 90 to 100 mg/dL. But sometimes, these blood sugar levels may go high or low due to various factors. Such high or low blood glucose levels are signs of health conditions that need/ require attention and blood glucose can be kept at healthy levels with various Diabetes Reversal Methods and medical attention. This article gives in-depth information about normal blood sugar levels chart for adults with diabetes according to age.

  • References:
  • How Do Carbs Affect Blood Sugar

    Carbs in food make your blood sugar levels go higher after you eat them than when you eat proteins or fats. You can still eat carbs if you have diabetes. The amount you can have and stay in your target blood sugar range depends on your age, weight, activity level, and other factors. Counting carbs in foods and drinks is an important tool for managing blood sugar levels. Make sure to talk to your health care team about the best carb goals for you.

    Also Check: What Can I Consume While Fasting

    Recommended Reading: Are Bananas Bad For Blood Sugar

    Cgm Studies In Nondiabetic Individuals

    One studyfrom 2009 entitled Reference Values for Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Chinese Subjects looked at the glucose levels of 434 healthy adults using CGM and found the following:

    • On average, their daily glucose levels stayed between 70140 mg/dl for 93% of the day, with very small portions of the day spent above 140 mg/dl or below 70 mg/dl.
    • Also, their mean 24-hour glucose levels were around 104 mg/dl
    • 1-hour post-meal glucose values average 121-123 mg/dl for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
    • 3-hour post-meal glucose values were around 97-114 mg/dl.
    • Peak post-meal values appeared to be around 60 minutes after eating.
    • Mean fasting glucose was 86 ± 7 mg/dl.
    • Mean daytime glucose was 106 ± 11 mg/dl.
    • Mean nighttime glucose was 99 ± 11 mg/dl.

    A 2010 study, Variation of Interstitial Glucose Measurements Assessed by Continuous Glucose Monitors in Healthy, Nondiabetic Individuals, looked at a healthy population of 74 individuals that included children, adolescents, and adults during daily living using CGM. This research showed that:

    • Glucose levels stayed between 71-120 mg/dl for 91% of the day.
    • Levels were lower than 70 mg/dl for 1.7% of the time and greater than 140 mg/dl, only 0.4% of the time.
    • Mean 24-hour glucose was 98 ± 10 mg/dl.
    • Mean fasting glucose of 86 ± 8 mg/dl.

    Compared to the first study mentioned, these healthy, nondiabetic individuals appeared to have a tighter range of glucose, spending the vast majority of the 24-hour period between 71-120 mg/dl.

    High Blood Sugar Symptoms

    25 Printable Blood Sugar Charts [Normal, High, Low] á? TemplateLab

    Hyperglycemia is the medical term for high blood sugar. Hyperglycemia happens when the body doesnt have enough insulin or when it cant use insulin correctly. Many things can cause high blood glucose levels like Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, stress, illness, or the dawn phenomenon. If you have hyperglycemia or suspect you may have it, talking with a healthcare provider is always a good idea. A doctor can help you determine whats causing your high blood sugar levels and help you lower it to a healthy range.

    Here are some of the most common symptoms that may indicate hyperglycemia:

    • Fatigue
    • Fruity-smelling breath
    • Vision loss

    Your healthcare provider will give you a treatment plan that indicates when you should seek immediate medical attention.

    When patients experience any of these accompanied by elevated blood sugar levels, diabetic patients are advised to go directly to the ER to avoid diabetes-induced coma, says Vikram Tarugu, MD, a gastroenterologist and the CEO of Detox of South Florida. Patients who have elevated blood sugar may also present with frothy, ketone-like smelling breath.

    Here are some lifestyle changes and medical treatments that can help treat hyperglycemia:

    Recommended Reading: How Much Sugar Is Ok For Diabetics

    What Is Fasting Blood Sugar

    As the name suggests, fasting blood sugar is the amount of sugar present in your blood after fasting . During these fasting hours, you cannot eat or drink anything except water. The normal range of fasting blood sugar levels varies from 70-100mg/dl. If your blood sugar level is more than this then you may have diabetes.

    Fasting sugar is preferred by doctors as it is a reliable number compared to non-fasting sugar levels. After eating different types of food, our blood sugar level fluctuates differently. So, doctors, may not get a correct picture of your blood sugar level. Your doctor may also ask for fasting sugar levels to calculate your insulin resistance.

    Symptoms Signs Causes Of Levels Of High Blood Sugar In The Blood

    High blood sugar or hyperglycemia is an abnormally high blood sugar level in the blood. Hyperglycemia is a hallmark sign of diabetes and prediabetes.

    Signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia include blurred vision, headaches, hunger, and …

    The normal ranges for blood sugar levels in adults who do not have diabetes while fasting are 72-99 mg/dL. These ranges may increase to 80-130 mg/dL for those being treated for diabetes.

    According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes should have

    • blood sugar levels of 80-130 mg/dL before eating a meal , and
    • less than 180 mg/dL about 1-2 hours after eating a meal

    High blood sugar ranges for people who dont have diabetes begin at 140 mg/dL, while those being treated for diabetes have a high range beginning at 180 mg/dL.

    Also Check: What Type Of Diabetes Is High Blood Sugar

    Remedies For High Sugar Level

    If the blood sugar level is between 180 to250 mg/dL, seek medical advice and take medicines. Cut off a fast-acting carb diet. Dont take processed food and sugary items.

    If the blood sugar level is> 250 mg/dL, you need immediate medical attention. If left untreated, it can lead to coma and high ketones in the blood. So test for ketones and get insulin therapy as soon as possible.

    If you experience high sugar levels on regular basis, you are advised to do the following:

  • Maintain a low sugar food diet with a low glycaemic index.
  • Dont eat processed foods and fruit juices.
  • Do mild exercises and maintain a healthy lifestyle
  • Consult healthcare experts to get appropriate insulin dosages
  • Take medicines on time
  • Monitor your glucose levels regularly
  • Many diabetic patients are aware of the changes they need to make in their diet or daily routine but are not able to follow them due to various reasons. Lack of motivation and proper knowledge is the most common reasons. A constant push from a diabetes reversal coach along with the guidance of a Diabetologist can help regulate blood sugar levels.

    Also Read:HbA1c Levels

    What Is Blood Glucose

    Blood Sugar Levels Chart | Includes fasting and after eating

    Blood glucose is the main sugar content in your blood. It comes from the food you eat, and it’s your body’s main source of energy. Blood glucose levels are a measure of how much sugar is in your blood. Blood sugar levels can fluctuate during the day and night because of various reasons. What we eat, how active we are, and even stress can all affect our blood sugar levels.

    Recommended Reading: Will Apple Cider Vinegar Help Lower Blood Sugar

    Related news