What Are the Normal Blood Glucose Levels?

What exactly is blood glucose? Well it is the food source for our cells and we get glucose primarily by eating carbohydrates. The carbohydrates go in as food then are transformed into sugar. These sugar or blood glucose levels are controlled by insulin and glucagons. Insulin is an essential hormone released from the pancreas when sugar levels rise. 

A normal blood sugar should fall below 150 mg, but not any lower than 70 mg. If your blood sugar is not, within this range, it is time to see the doctor and here is why: 

• Constantly being above 150 mg is an indicator of high blood sugar 
• Consistently being below 70 mg is an indicator of low blood sugar. 

These blood sugar levels are what are known as hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia respectively. The worst of the two is the last one this condition can be potentially life threatening. Here are some signs of hypoglycemia: 

• Being chronically tired or lethargic 
• Increased mood swing in particular irritability 
• Passing out 
• Confusion or serious memory loss 

Left untreated this condition can escalate into full-blown diabetes possibly resulting in sever eye, kidney or nerve damage. To determine if you may have a problem in this area for sure your doctor will want to run some tests. 

Fasting Blood Sugar Test: 

This is the first blood test your doctor may want to perform with diabetics. This test is administered at least eight hours after a meal or optimally first thing in the morning before you have had breakfast. With this kind of test, your blood sugar should be below 100 mg. If your levels are up to 125 mg you may have pre-diabetes, a test result over 125 mg will encourage your physician to do the test again with a tentative diagnosis of diabetes. Two or more tests are absolute confirmation of diabetes. When the numbers get to the 200 mg mark you are a serious diabetic and may already be suffering other symptoms as noted above. 

Random Blood Glucose Test: 

A random blood sugar test will be given at anytime of the day and can also give the first indications of diabetes. A normal blood glucose level is below 200 mg. If you are higher than that, you probably have pre-diabetes and your doctor will probably refer you back for a fasting glucose test to be sure. 

Oral glucose tolerance test: 

This is the test no one really cares for, after your fasting blood sugar is taken then they will move along to checking your tolerance for sugar. The doctor will give you this thick sweet solution to drink and then you wait. One-hour level they will take your blood and administer the test. Normal glucose levels after an hour are less than 140 mg. between the normal and 199 mg is pre-diabetes. Now we wait again for another hour and take the last test. At this point in the procedure, your blood sugar should still be below the 140 mg. If however your level after two hours is, 200 mg or more this indicates diabetes. 

Wherever you fall on the testing, it is always a good idea to watch our sugar and carbohydrate intake for health reason. If you do happen to be diabetic, it is better to know early on so that you can attempt to address the problem with diet and exercise.