If you have a family history of diabetes or if you are displaying any of the risk factors of diabetes, the knowledge of what is a normal blood sugar level and how to keep it that way can help you avoid developing it later on. Otherwise, if you are already diabetic or hypoglycemic, it is important to maintain good health and a normal level of blood sugar in order to avoid developing further complications down the line.
What constitutes a normal blood sugar level is going to vary throughout the day, so it is important to keep that in mind when you are running a blood sugar test.
Fasting Blood Sugar Level
When a doctor is determining whether or not you are in the normal range, blood sugar level readings after you have gone more than eight hours without eating or drinking anything other than water are going to be the first thing checked. A normal fasting blood sugar level after fasting is generally considered to be between 70 and 99 mg/dL, though some doctors argue that levels higher than 90 mg/dL indicate a heightened risk for developing diabetes over the next few years.
Normal Blood Sugar Level After Eating
When you eat, your body begins metabolizing your meal and converting it into the building blocks that your body needs to function. During this, glucose is transferred into the blood to be used by the cells, resulting in a rise in blood sugar. The American Diabetes Association recommends that this number be between 100 and 180 mg/dL two hours after eating, and a diagnosis of diabetes is made if it exceeds 200 mg/dL. There are many who argue that the only way to prevent developing further complications is to tighten control and maintain a normal blood sugar level between 100 mg/dL and 140 mg/dL two hours after eating.
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
The oral glucose tolerance test is performed in the doctor’s office or in a medical lab, and is done to monitor exactly how your body responds to an influx of sugar. After fasting, you are given a high-glucose drink and your blood sugar is tested periodically over the next several hours to determine how well your body tolerates it. A normal person will maintain a fairly steady blood sugar level during this period, rising a bit and then dropping quickly. A person who has impaired glucose tolerance, such as a diabetic, will experience a much larger rise, including levels in excess of 140 mg/dL, and those levels will be slow to lower again.
Although most people, when it comes to determining whether they have a normal blood sugar level, they are concerned with the development or control of diabetes, though it is not the only condition that has a direct impact. When you are ill, under high levels of stress, or are pregnant, your blood glucose levels can be directly affected. If you are concerned, the best option would be to visit your doctor and request to be tested.
