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Managing blood sugar levels proves difficult for many individuals. Those with the greatest challenge have diabetes and need to monitor constantly. Poking their fingers, they place a small drop of blood onto a stick which reads glucose in the blood, a clever invention. Other times to get checked include during pregnancy or when screening, especially if certain conditions come to light or diabetes exists in your family. Many people want to know: what are the different ranges of blood sugar levels?While those not facing diabetes themselves or in their family probably think little about a healthy range of blood glucose, diabetics monitor this all of the time. Always remember that glucose provides energy. Sugar, in itself, is not bad; one simply needs to limit sugars derived from simple carbohydrates such as candy and processed foods. For those with type one diabetes, no diet will make up for the absence of insulin, only medication. People with type two diabetes often see their insulin levels insufficient to cope with sugars in the blood stream.For those with diabetes in the family, checking blood glucose regularly helps to catch the disease before it manifests into something ugly. Scientists seem to agree that even a small rise in blood sugar can lead to loss of sight, stroke, heart attack or even diabetes itself. Normal ranges in blood sugar begin at seventy or eighty mg/dL. This stands for milligrams per deciliter, so very small amounts are measured in the blood. The highs vary depending on time of day.Normally, a person would have blood glucose no lower than 70 or 80 mg/dL. These abbreviations refer to milligrams per deciliter. Highs differ throughout the day. Before breakfast in the morning should be the time of lowest blood sugar. Lows could be 70 mg/dL. Highs might reach 120. Before a meal, these numbers would look fairly similar. Two hours after a meal shows the highest range, up to 160, dropping twenty milligrams by bedtime.The range in someone with diabetes looks a little bit different. Though lows may drop to something similar to non-diabetic lows, highs can rise up to one hundred and eighty. Anything below this is considered reasonable by some; a little lower from the point of view of others. As above, highs and lows should track with waking and eating patterns.A very low count below seventy mg/dL signals a different problem. Hypoglycemia indicates than not enough glucose is in the blood stream. Reasons for this drop can include, strangely, consuming too much sugar. Often a meal or snack rich in simple carbohydrates such as a chocolate bar or chips will be converted to energy too quickly and either used or useless, leaving nothing to keep a body digesting and getting something from the calories. A resulting crash might cause someone to look pale, shaky, and to feel dizzy. Otherwise healthy people with good eating habits can be affected if new conditions arise.One kind of condition which leads to complications in some women, pregnancy, can also trigger diabetes which ends when the child is born. Alcohol consumption can result in a similar crash as results from a high sugar diet. Prescriptions can also interfere with one another, so never assume your doctor knows what you are taking should he prescribe something new. Be your own best advocate.Confusion can ensue when different measuring guides are used. Most countries use the molar concentration of glucose to determine plasma glucose. This is abbreviated mmol/L. The U. S. And other countries prefer the mg/dL measurement.
When you want to keep track of your blood sugar levels, a blood sugar chart is a convenient way to record them. A blood sugar levels chart notes the changing numbers so you can learn what is typical for you.
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