When you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels (aka glucose levels) levels could be consistently high. Over time, this could damage one's body and result in many other problems.
How much sugar inside the blood is way too much? And why is high glucose so not a good idea? Here’s a peek at how your levels affect your well being.
What Are Normal Blood Sugar Levels?
They're a lot less than 100 mg/dL after not wanting to eat (fasting) not less than 8 hours. And they're a lot less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating.
During the morning, levels are typically at their lowest right before meals. For most people without diabetes, glucose levels levels before meals hover around 70 to 80 mg/dL. For some people, 60 is typical; for some, 90.
What's a small sugar level? It varies widely, too. Many people's glucose won't fall below 60, despite the presence of prolonged fasting. 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.
Diagnosis
Doctors start using these tests to uncover if you have diabetes:
Fasting plasma glucose test. The doctor tests your blood glucose levels after fasting for 8 hours and it’s greater than 126 mg/dL.
Oral glucose tolerance test. After fasting for 8 hours, you have a special sugary drink. Two hours later your sugar level is over 200.
Random check. The doctor tests your blood glucose levels and it’s more than 200, plus you’re peeing more, always thirsty, and you’ve gained or lost lots of weight. They’ll then perform fasting sugar level test or even an oral glucose tolerance test to verify the diagnosis.
Any sugar levels over normal are unhealthy. Levels that are greater than normal, although not reaching the purpose of full-blown diabetes, are prediabetes.
According on the American Diabetes Association, 86 million people within the U.S. have this issue, which can bring about diabetes if you do not make healthy change in lifestyle that your doctor recommends. It also enhances the risk for heart related illnesses, however, not as much as diabetes does. It's possible to keep prediabetes from becoming diabetes with dieting and exercise.