Blood sugar levels

What Are Blood Sugar Levels?

Checking your blood sugar is an important part of managing your diabetes. Learn what blood sugar is and how it connects to diabetes. 

High blood sugar (also called hyperglycemia or high blood glucose) is when there's too much glucose (sugar) in your bloodstream, typically because your body isn't using or producing insulin as well as it should. Insulin is a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels.

Normally, your pancreas releases insulin when your blood sugar, or blood glucose, gets high – after a meal, for example. This tells your body to absorb glucose until levels get back to normal.

But if you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make insulin (type 1 diabetes) or doesn’t respond to it normally (type 2 diabetes). That can leave your blood sugar too high for too long. Over time, this can damage nerves and blood vessels and lead to heart disease and other problems.

How much sugar in the blood is too much? And why is high blood glucose so bad for you? Here’s a look at how your levels affect your health.

Blood Sugar Levels: What’s Normal,What’s Not & How to Manage

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What Are Normal Blood Sugar Levels?

Healthy blood sugar levels are less than 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) after not eating (fasting) for at least 8 hours. And they're less than 140 mg/dL 2 hours after eating.

During the day, levels tend to be at their lowest just before meals. For most people without diabetes, blood sugar levels before meals hover around 70 to 80 mg/dL. For some people, 60 is normal; for others, 90.

What's a low sugar level? It varies widely, too. Many people's glucose won't ever fall below 60, even when they fast for a long time. When you diet or fast, the liver keeps your levels normal by turning fat and muscle into sugar. A few people's levels may fall somewhat lower.

Normal blood sugar levels

• While fasting, your blood sugar levels should be between 72 and 99 mg/dL
• Two hours after eating, your levels should be no higher than 140 mg/dL

Can I check my own blood sugar levels?

You can do blood sugar level check by doing a finger-prick test, or by using an blood sugar monitor called a continuous glucose monitor (or CGM). You can do this several times a day – helping you keep an eye on your levels as you go about your life and help you work out what to eat and how much medication to take. 

Not everyone with diabetes needs to check their levels like this. You’ll need to if you take certain diabetes medication. Always talk to your healthcare team if you’re not sure whether that’s you – they’ll give you advice on whether to check them yourself and how often.

And there’s also something called an HbA1c, which is a blood test to measure your average blood sugar level over the last three months. Everyone with diabetes is entitled to this check.

High blood sugar levels increase your risk of developing serious complications. However you manage your diabetes, stay in the know about your blood sugar levels

Causes of High Blood Sugar

When you have diabetes, certain things can cause your blood sugar to rise, including:

• Being sick
• Stress
• Overeating foods with sugar or carbs
• Being less active than normal
• Missing doses of insulin
• Your diabetes medicine isn't working well
• Taking steroids or other medicines
• Recovering from surgery

High Blood Sugar

What are the dangers of high blood sugar? Glucose is precious fuel for all the cells in your body when it's present at normal levels. But it can behave like a slow-acting poison.

High sugar levels slowly make cells in your pancreas less able to make insulin. The organ overcorrects, and insulin levels stay too high. Over time, the pancreas is forever damaged.

High levels of blood sugar can cause changes that lead to a hardening of the blood vessels, what doctors call atherosclerosis.

Too much sugar can harm almost any part of your body. Damaged blood vessels cause problems such as:

• Kidney disease or kidney failure, requiring dialysis
• Strokes
• Heart attacks
• Vision loss or blindness
• A weakened immune system, with a greater chance of infections
• Erectile dysfunction
• Nerve damage, also called neuropathy, that causes tingling, pain, or less sensation in your feet, legs, and hands
• Poor blood flow to the legs and feet
• Slow wound healing and the potential for amputation, in rare cases

• Keep your blood sugar levels close to normal to avoid many of these health problems. The American Diabetes Association's goals for blood sugar control in people with diabetes are 70 to 130 mg/dL before meals, and less than 180 mg/dL after meals.

Takeaways

If you're living with diabetes, tracking your blood sugar is an important part of managing the disease. The target for people with diabetes is 70 to 130 mg/dL before meals and less than 180 mg/dL after meals. Be sure to track it at home with a blood glucose monitor, and watch out for the signs of high blood sugar.

FAQS 

what is the blood sugar level

Blood sugar level refers to the amount of glucose in the blood that the body uses as its main source of energy.

What is a normal blood sugar level?

Normal fasting blood sugar is usually between 70 and 99 mg per dl, after meals it is usually below 140 mg per dl.

What is considered high blood sugar?

High blood sugar, also called hyperglycemia, occurs when fasting levels are 126 mg per dl or higher or when random readings are consistently above 200 mg per dl.

What is considered low blood sugar?

Low blood sugar or hypoglycaemia occurs when levels fall below 70 mg per dl and symptoms such as tremors, sweating, dizziness and confusion may occur.

What causes increased blood sugar levels?

Blood sugar can rise due to the consumption of sugar or food with a lot of carbohydrates, stress, illness, lack of physical activity, dehydration or forgotten medication.

What causes blood sugar levels to drop?

Blood sugar can be low due to not eating, taking too much insulin or medication, excessive exercise, drinking alcohol or illness.

What are the common symptoms of high blood sugar?

Common symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, headache and slow wound healing

What are the common symptoms of low blood sugar?

Symptoms include tremors, sweating, fast heartbeat, hunger, confusion, irritability, dizziness and weakness.

How often should blood sugar be checked?

It depends on the type of diabetes a person is being treated for and the doctor's advice. Some are tested daily while others are tested occasionally

Can stress affect blood sugar levels?

Yes, stress hormones can increase blood sugar levels even if eating habits remain the same

Can diet help control blood sugar levels?

Yes, eating a balanced diet rich in fiber, protein, healthy fats and limited refined sugar helps keep blood sugar stable.

Is exercise good for blood sugar control?

Yes, regular physical activity helps the body to use insulin better and lowers blood sugar levels

When should I see a doctor?

You should see a doctor if your blood sugar readings are consistently high or low or if your symptoms become severe or sudden.