Diabetes presents in two different ways; type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes<\/a> is an autoimmune disease where the pancreas loses its ability to produce the hormone insulin, which helps lower blood sugar to keep it in a healthy range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n People with type 1 diabetes are known as \u201cinsulin-dependent\u201d because they must inject insulin in order to live a healthy life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Type 2 diabetes<\/a> is linked to insulin resistance and is more likely to be passed along genetically, and can also occur due to lifestyle factors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n People with type 2 diabetes don\u2019t necessarily need to be on insulin in order to survive, unlike people with type 1 diabetes. Risk factors for type 2 diabetes include age, ethnicity, family history, and lifestyle habits such as activity level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n People with and without diabetes are often curious to know what normal blood sugars are, why healthy blood sugar levels are important, how to test blood sugar and how to keep blood sugars in the normal range. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n [bensnaturalhealthIinlineLeadGen id =”1″ event=”15 Food Blood Sugar eBook Download” image=”https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/Ipad-15-Foods.png” title=”Get Your FREE Diabetes Diet Plan” content=”##15 foods to naturally lower blood sugar levels ##3 day sample meal plan ##Designed exclusively by our nutritionist”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Blood glucose, or blood sugar, is something necessary for survival in all mammals. Sugar is our body\u2019s primary source of fuel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The hormone insulin<\/a> is required to help the sugar enter our cells, where it\u2019s used as energy. Blood sugar levels are reported in milligrams per deciliter, or mg\/dL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are different ranges of blood sugar considered normal; fasting and postprandial. Fasting blood sugar is our blood sugar level<\/a> when we haven\u2019t eaten for at least eight hours. People usually check their fasting glucose in the morning after waking. A normal fasting blood sugar is below 100 mg\/dL. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Postprandial blood sugar refers to the blood glucose level after eating. Postprandial blood sugars are usually checked within 2 hours of starting a meal. Normal postprandial blood sugar should be less than 140 mg\/dL. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way to measure blood sugar is by using a hemoglobin A1c test<\/a>. This test measures the average blood sugar over the past three months. The A1c works by assessing the percentage of red blood cells that were attached to a sugar molecule. A normal hemoglobin A1c is less than 5.7%. The A1c is a good indicator of long-term blood sugar because it\u2019s an average over several months. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some women develop gestational diabetes<\/a> (GDM) during pregnancy without having diabetes already. Some women develop insulin resistance during pregnancy due to hormonal changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s imperative to control blood sugar levels during pregnancy for the health and wellbeing of the mother and baby. Gestational diabetes often goes away after pregnancy, but having GDM does increase the risk of developing diabetes later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fasting blood sugar is considered borderline high when it\u2019s between 100-125 mg\/dL. People with borderline high fasting blood sugar may be considered to have prediabetes. Prediabetes<\/a> is a condition where blood sugar levels are high, often due to insulin resistance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fasting blood sugar in gestational diabetes should be less than 95 mg\/dL. The goal for GDM is more strict because of the risks of high blood sugar for the mother and baby. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Having prediabetes is a significant risk factor for eventually developing type 2 diabetes. In fact, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that up to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within five years of their prediabetes diagnosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Postprandial blood sugar is considered high when it\u2019s above 140 mg\/dL within two hours of starting a meal. For gestational diabetes, postprandial blood sugar is high when it\u2019s above 120 mg\/dL within two hours of starting a meal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hemoglobin A1c is considered borderline high (prediabetes) when it\u2019s 5.7%-6.4%. The A1c is a more accurate way of diagnosing prediabetes because it\u2019s over a longer period of time than just one fasting blood sugar test<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Not everyone will have symptoms of high blood sugar<\/a>. Symptoms often occur once blood sugars have reached the point of a diabetes diagnosis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Common symptoms of diabetes<\/a> include unintentional weight loss, increased hunger, and thirst and frequent urination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Low blood sugar is also referred to as hypoglycemia<\/a>. Low blood sugar is below 70 mg\/dL. Having low blood sugar<\/a> is dangerous and can even lead to coma and death if left untreated. Some symptoms of low blood sugar<\/a> include feeling dizzy or shaky, being hungry, sweating, and fainting<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t already have diabetes, you will most likely have your blood sugar checked at your healthcare provider\u2019s office. Many health insurance companies cover the cost of blood sugar testing<\/a> as a part of an annual preventive health visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your blood sugar will likely be checked using a venous blood draw, which is when a vial of blood is collected and sent to be analyzed. A venous blood draw is necessary to check hemoglobin A1c, as well. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The test will most likely be done fasting unless your healthcare provider instructs you otherwise. The A1c test does not require fasting and is often done during preventive visits as a diabetes screening tool. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Blood sugar levels<\/a> can also be tested with instant results using a point of care, or POC, glucose test. This test is done using a handheld glucometer and fingerstick glucose; a small needle will pierce the skin of the finger to analyze a small drop of blood for its glucose content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If a healthcare provider is very concerned that a person may have undiagnosed diabetes, they may order a POC glucose to discuss the results with their patients that same day. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have diabetes, you can check your blood sugar multiple times per day using a home glucometer kit. A healthcare provider prescribes these kits, and insurance usually covers the cost for people with a diagnosis of diabetes<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Glucometers provide blood glucose results within a few seconds of testing in the form of mg\/dL. Hemoglobin A1c tests cannot accurately be tested at home, though there are some home kits marketed for this purpose. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you already have diabetes, the American Diabetes Association recommends checking your hemoglobin A1c checked every 3-6 months, depending on your blood sugar control. <\/p>\n\n\n\n How often to check to fast and postprandial blood sugars depends on the medications you take, as well as other aspects of your diabetes self-management plan<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have risk factors for diabetes, you should get your blood sugar screened every three years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n If blood sugar is borderline high, such as the case with prediabetes, lifestyle changes are the only way to bring blood sugars down to a healthy level without medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting at least 30 minutes of physical activity most days of the week and making healthy eating choices are some of the best lifestyle habits to help improve insulin resistance<\/a> and reverse prediabetes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When blood sugar is high enough for a diabetes diagnosis, then an individualized plan should be made between the patient and their healthcare provider. Some people prefer to try lifestyle modifications<\/a> before starting medications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If blood sugar is dangerously high, some healthcare providers recommend starting medications immediately to reduce the risk of life-threatening complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A complication of very high blood sugar in type 1 diabetes is diabetic ketoacidosis<\/a> (DKA), which is an emergency and should be treated promptly by a medical team. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If blood sugar is running higher than usual for a prolonged period of time, it\u2019s best to visit with your regular healthcare provider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Medications can be adjusted in order to achieve target blood sugar levels if current medications aren\u2019t doing enough. It\u2019s also vital to address chronically high blood sugar, as it can be a sign of something more serious, like an infection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If blood sugar is below 70 mg\/dL, the recommended treatment is to eat a portion of food or drink something containing 15 grams of carbohydrates. Sugary drinks and hard candies are preferred as they turn into sugar quickly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You don\u2019t need much juice to get to 15 grams of carbohydrates; about one-half cup is enough. After taking some carbohydrates, recheck blood sugar in 15 minutes. If it\u2019s still below 70 mg\/dL, repeat the treatment and retest blood sugar in another 15 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are several things you can do to help lower blood sugar. Depending on the type and severity of a person\u2019s diabetes, lifestyle modifications aren\u2019t always enough to control blood sugar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If this is the case, it doesn\u2019t mean that the person isn\u2019t doing a good enough job to control their blood sugar. It means that the pancreas isn\u2019t making enough insulin, and the body needs some help in the form of medications such as injectable insulin. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Having chronically high blood sugar is hard on the entire body. It can cause many irreversible diabetes complications<\/a>, including heart disease, neuropathy, kidney disease, retinopathy, and poorly healing wounds leading to amputations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, fasting blood sugar tests are considered very accurate. These tests aren\u2019t affected by diet because the individual should have abstained from eating for at least eight hours prior to the test. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A fasting blood sugar test wouldn\u2019t be accurate if the person had something to eat or drink (other than water) within the previous eight hours. Illness and stress can also cause high blood sugar in some people, so that could alter the effectiveness of the test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n User error could also impact the accuracy of the test, but if it\u2019s performed in an accredited laboratory, the user error rate should be low. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because of normal day-to-day fluctuations in blood sugar<\/a>, many healthcare providers prefer using the hemoglobin A1c test to get a bigger picture of blood sugar trends. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For people not requiring medications to control their blood sugar, supplements may be beneficial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s important to choose a reputable supplement brand and to realize that not everyone will experience the same outcomes taking supplements. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While these supplements may help improve blood sugar and insulin sensitivity<\/a>, they shouldn\u2019t be used as a sole method to control diabetes symptoms. Diabetes symptoms occur when blood sugars are very high, which warrants a visit with a healthcare provider. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Normal blood sugar levels are important for promoting overall health and wellbeing. In the case of prediabetes and diabetes, blood sugar levels are considered higher than the normal range. <\/p>\n\n\n\n High blood sugar over a long period of time can lead to unwanted complications, and low blood sugar also poses a health risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Blood sugar can be tested in a laboratory per your healthcare provider. If you already have diabetes, you can check blood sugar levels at home regularly using a glucometer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can promote healthy blood sugar levels by being physically active and eating a mindful, balanced diet<\/a>. Other aspects of a diabetes care plan include taking diabetes medications and checking blood sugar regularly and have a blood sugar target. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Supplements<\/a> may also be used to promote healthy blood sugar, but they shouldn\u2019t be used in place of the recommendations of your healthcare provider. <\/p>\n\n\n\nNormal range for blood sugar <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What is considered too high for blood sugar? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What is considered too low for blood sugar? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How to check your blood sugar level <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How often should you get your blood sugar checked? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Importance of normal blood sugar <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Some lifestyle tips to help lower blood sugar include: <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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How accurate is a fasting blood sugar test? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Best supplements for maintaining blood sugar <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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