All About Normal Sugar Levels Before Eating
Medically Reviewed by Dr Sravya, MBBS, MS
Maintaining normal sugar levels is one of the primary measures to prevent diabetes. Your body’s capacity to function successfully every day and the condition of your overall wellness depend greatly on your blood sugar levels.
Maintaining normal sugar levels varies from individual to individual. It depends on various factors, like
- Age
- Weight
- Activity level
- Diet
Glucose is the primary source of energy, derived from the food that you consume. When the food reaches your stomach, it is broken down into a simple form of sugar called glucose and released into your bloodstream. When your glucose levels spike, that’s when your pancreas releases insulin.
Monitoring glucose is important, or too much sugar could lead to certain diseases. Your glucose levels are vastly influenced by your diet, lifestyle, family history, and stress levels.
Fun fact: the release of adrenaline and cortisol into the blood can be triggered by physical as well as mental stress. Increased levels of glucose in the blood could be caused by these hormones. Symptoms of discomfort brought on by sudden spikes in glucose levels may have a major effect on a person’s ability to control their diabetes.
Why is it important to understand blood sugar levels?
Understanding the levels of blood sugar is essential for observing patterns of blood sugar changes before and after diets. This fluctuating pattern can be investigated more thoroughly for research and study purposes in order to better comprehend the field of epidemiology of potentially life-threatening illnesses like diabetes.
Insulin resistance, a medical condition characterized by an imbalance in the hormone insulin, is another essential factor.
An individual’s fasting blood sugar level should typically be less than 99 mg/dL. Diabetes and heart disease risk can be reduced by managing blood sugar levels in a healthy range.
mg/dl | Fasting | Post Meal | 4 hours post-meal | Normal | 80-100 | 170-200
| 120-140 |
|---|---|---|---|
Impaired blood glucose level
| 101-126
| 190-230
| 140-160
|
Diabetic
| 126+
| 220-300
| 200+
|
Before the first meal of the day, blood sugar levels are at their lowest.
Let us understand a few basic terms, which are “Hyperglycemia” or “Hypoglycemia.”
Hyperglycemia: The medical term for high blood glucose (blood sugar) is hyperglycemia. When the body cannot generate adequate insulin or utilize it properly, erroneously high blood sugar results. There are certain characteristic symptoms of hyperglycemia, which are
- A greater thirst than usual and a dry mouth.
- Frequently urination
- Exhaustion
- Eyesight that is blurry.
- Weight loss that hadn't been planned.
- Skin infections
Whenever blood sugar levels exceed the normal amount, an individual may encounter disorientation in their health. Hence, to attain ideal health, blood sugar levels must be maintained.
High sugar levels can lead to conditions like
- Diabetes, where an individual may experience, excessive thirst, excessive hunger, polyuria, fatigue, etc
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Nerve damage
- Cardiovascular diseases like shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Mental confusion
Hypoglycemia: When the level of glucose in your blood falls below the level considered healthy for you, you’re experiencing low blood glucose, frequently referred to as low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. This results in a blood sugar level of less than 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) for many diabetics. There are certain characteristic symptoms of hypoglycemia, which are
- Profuse perspiration
- Headache
- Exhaustion
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
BORDERLINE DIABETES OR PRE-DIABETES
Prediabetes, to put it simply, is a condition wherein the levels of sugar in the blood get higher but not high enough to be classified as diabetic.
One can diagnose diabetes when the glucose levels are
Some factors that lead you to become prediabetic are
- You may be overweight
- You may follow an unhealthy diet
- You may have a sedentary lifestyle
- You may have chronic stress
- There may be a history of diabetes in your family.
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Increased hunger
- Increased thirst
- Tiredness
- Low energy levels
- Mood swings
- Frequent urination
Prediabetes could easily be diagnosed with tests
- HBA1C between 5.7 % and 6.4%
- A fasting blood sugar test which is 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L) is diagnosed as prediabetes.
- The oral glucose tolerance test, which ranges from 140 to 199 mg/dL (7.8 to 11.0 mmol/L), is consistent with prediabetes
Can we reverse the pre-diabetic stage?
Yes, absolutely! There is compelling proof that diabetes can sometimes be reversed. In that case, pre-diabetes could be easily reversed if the right measures were taken at the right time.
How to maintain normal blood sugar levels
Prevention is better than cure. Maintaining normal blood sugar levels becomes of high importance to prevent conditions like diabetes. There are certain important steps that need to be taken in order to prevent this condition.
- Activity: If you have a sedentary lifestyle, where your activity levels are quite low, then consider taking frequent walks between breaks or choosing to climb stairs instead of taking a lift. These tiny measures may contribute to huge health benefits. Good activity levels are known for keeping blood sugar levels normal, especially during morning walks.
- Diet: Food choices play a significant role in maintaining normal blood sugar levels. Avoid junk food, especially packaged food, which lacks nutrient values. Consume foods with high nutritional value,like spinach, avocados, fish, beets, kale, almonds, berries, eggs, etc. Eating clean will help you achieve a desirable health status.
What happens if the normal blood sugar levels become abnormal?
As we have discussed, “hyperglycemia” and “hypoglycemia” are terms used to describe abnormal blood sugar levels.
There are several other conditions as well, like diabetes, that dominate the sector of abnormal blood sugar levels.
Type 2 diabetes is a condition in which your body cannot utilize insulin properly.
Factors leading to Type 2 diabetes
- Chronic stress
- Unhealthy diet
- Sleep deprivation
- Family history
- Lack of exercise
Symptoms
- Excessive thirst
- Excessive hunger
- Frequent urination
- Fatigue
- Frequent skin infections
Complications
It is essential that you take the necessary safeguards in advance and stop any additional type 2 diabetes issues since poorly managed diabetes might cause the symptoms listed below.
Diabetic retinopathy: People with diabetes may develop diabetic retinopathy, an eye disorder that can result in blindness and loss of vision. It is important to get yourself an eye-check at least once a year.
Diabetic neuropathy: People with diabetes may experience diabetic neuropathy, which is nerve damage.
Diabetic nephropathy: One frequent consequence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes is diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes that is not properly managed over time might harm the blood vessel clusters in your kidneys that filter waste from your blood. High blood pressure and renal damage may result from this.
Slow healing of the wounds: Moreover, poorly managed diabetes may restrict blood flow due to circulatory issues, making it more challenging for the body to deliver nutrients to wounds.
Prevention
- Exercise
- A diet packed with essential nutrients and vitamins
- Meditation
- Stress Management