Glucose is a simple sugar that our body produces from fat, protein, and carbohydrates from the food that we eat. It is carried to the bloodstream to produce energy for the cells. Glucose cannot be used by the cell without the help of insulin. Ingested glucose when absorbed from the intestine into the blood results in an increase in blood glucose or simply known as blood sugar.
Blood glucose level is the amount of glucose (sugar) present in the body. Normal blood glucose levels in humans are about 90 mg/dL to 130mg/dL throughout the day. Blood glucose is usually lower in the morning but higher every after meals.
Keeping the blood sugar level stable significantly reduces the risk of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar level) and complications such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, heart disease, retinopathy (eye disease), neuropathy (nerve disease), and nephropathy (kidney disease).
Check your sugar level at home with a testing kit. It has a measuring device and a strip. To check your sugar level, put a small amount of blood on the strip, place the strip into the device and wait for 30 seconds and it will display the blood glucose level.
The ideal blood sugar values are
- Upon waking up (before breakfast) – 80 mg/dl to 120 mg/dL
- Before every meals – 80 mg/dL to 120 mg/dL
- 2 hours after meals – 160 mg/dL or less
- At bedtime – 100 mg/dL to 140 mg/dL
The sugar level in blood should be checked over a period of time by a test called HbA1c (hemoglobin A1c). High blood sugar causes HbA1c to rise.
- HbA1c of about 6.5% or less is good
- HbA1c of about 7.5% shows fairly control of diabetes
- HbA1c above 8.5% shows poor control of diabetes.
Blood Sugar Level Chart For Diabetics
Whenever the person finds himself or his loved one diabetic; the first thing he wants to know is a blood sugar level chart. He wants to have information about the normal blood sugar levels.
The following is given a simple blood glucose level chart. This chart will give the diabetics and their family members a better idea about normal blood sugar levels. The goal of diabetics is to achieve these levels for avoiding dangerous complications and maintaining better health.
Normal Blood Sugar Level:
The normal level of glucose in the blood is between 70mg/dl and 150 mg/dl. These levels are fairly lower in the morning when a person has not eaten anything but they increase after eating meals.
Random Blood Glucose Level
Regardless of the fact that when you have taken your last meal; the random blood glucose level should not be more than 200 mg/dl. A higher level means the person is suffering from diabetes.
Fasting Blood Glucose Level:
Fasting blood glucose level, specifically before eating anything in the morning must be between 70mg/dl and 99 mg/dl. If it is 126 mg/dl or higher then it means that the person is suffering from diabetes.
It is good to keep track of glucose levels. While monitoring the levels of glucose in blood it is important to note the pattern of levels of these levels. The person should pay proper attention to different types of medications, foods, stress level, or any other activity that cause an undesirable decrease or increase in the level of glucose in the bloodstream.
If the levels of glucose in your blood are not in the normal range then it is critical that you start taking action right now!