Blood Sugar Level

What is a Good Blood Sugar Level?

A person’s blood sugar level will rise or drop based on their intake and digestion of food, and it is important that enough glucose enters the blood as it is the body’s primary source of energy and an essential resource for cell function throughout the body. Being hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) is detrimental for the body, as is being hyperglycemic (high blood sugar). This is why it is helpful to know ideal blood sugar levels, as well as what people can do to have relatively stable blood sugar levels.

Fasting blood glucose is a person’s blood sugar level when they have not eaten recently, and it should be between 70 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL. If that period of time is more than 8 hours, it should be less than 100 mg/dL. Blood glucose levels will always rise after a meal, but 2 hours after eating they should still be less than 140 mg/dL. Diabetes is the risk with having blood sugar levels that are consistently high, and a fasting blood glucose level of between 100 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL is seen as the indication that a person is prediabetic.

What Causes Low Blood Sugar?

A person may have low blood sugar levels because of not eating a meal at the usual time, eating less than they would normally, excessive use of medication, or drinking alcohol. Overexertion through physical exercise or work may also be what causes low blood sugar for people. Liver or kidney disease and adrenal or pituitary gland dysfunction are the primary physiological reasons why a person might have chronically low blood sugar.

Low Blood Sugar Symptoms

There are several telltale signs that an individual is hypoglycemic, and they include:

           
• Shakiness or unsteadiness
           
• Looking pale
           
• Fatigue
           
• Irritability or anxiety
           
• Headaches
           
• Sweating
           
• Heartbeat irregularity
           
• Dizziness or light-headedness
           
• Difficulty concentrating
           
• Numb or tingling lips, tongue, or cheeks
       

Loss of coordination or slurred speech can be low blood sugar symptoms too if the person has had their blood glucose drop to very low levels.

High Blood Sugar Treatment

High blood sugar tends to be a greater concern because of the risk of developing diabetes, and the most conventional approach to high blood sugar treatment is to have the person start on medications like Glucotrol or Onglyza that lower blood sugar by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin. When this happens, more of the glucose in the blood is channeled into cells for energy, and less of it remains in the bloodstream and pushes up blood sugar levels.

Diet and lifestyle changes are almost always needed as part of high blood sugar treatment too. This will usually involve increasing water intake, limiting refined and sugary carbohydrates, and adding herbal extracts like cinnamon and fenugreek that help lower blood sugar levels. Limiting portion sizes with meals may also be recommended.

Being at a healthier body weight will reduce insulin resistance, and this also will help with keeping blood sugar in check. A doctor may recommend increased physical exercise and following a specific diet to help a prediabetic person lose weight if they have high blood sugar because of it.