Blood sugar level or blood glucose level refers to the amount of sugar present in the blood. It varies from person to person however, if the blood sugar level is above or below a certain number then it can be due to some health issues. Glucose is present in the blood, it is the type of sugar that provides energy to the body which is derived from the food you eat. Having a stable blood sugar level is necessary to ensure the smooth functioning of the body. It also determines your overall health and prevents you from various health complications like vision loss, heart problems, and kidney problems. Maintaining the level of your blood glucose can also help you in preventing a sudden drop in energy and mood.
Factors affecting the blood sugar levels
Blood sugar levels can change within a few hours depending upon various factors such as:
- Stress
Everyone deals with stressful situations, it can be said that the younger age group is more likely to affect their health due to stress. When you experience stress for a long time be it emotional stress or physical stress, your body releases hormones like adrenaline. This results in high blood pressure and also increases the amount of sugar in the blood. Constant stress can also make your blood sugar levels irregular. It can also lead to other problems like anxiety, depression, and heart problems. Hence it becomes necessary to manage stressful situations to ensure normal blood sugar levels as well as to prevent the development of other health problems.
- Diet
One’s diet should contain a mix of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins. Each component is said to affect your body however when carbohydrates affect the body majorly and can change the blood sugar levels also. This happens because carbohydrates once consumed convert into glucose. Hence we can say that the higher the carbs intake the more will be the blood sugar level. Although this doesn’t affect a healthy person significantly, it can influence the reading of your blood sugar level. Hence it is recommended to avoid eating processed carbs in excess. It is also advised to eat whole foods before getting your glucose level checked. Foods like grains, beans, legumes, nuts, seeds, fruits, and vegetables are considered great for your health. They also help in getting an accurate reading and prevent any sudden change in glucose levels.
- Sports and activity
Physical activity is considered necessary for maintaining overall health. Playing any sports and indulging in more physical activities enables a person to stay fit and also in maintaining a healthy blood sugar level. When you indulge in sports activities, the body needs energy and to get energy the cells take sugar from the blood. Various other factors can affect the blood sugar level like the intensity of the exercise, duration, and how often you workout. Based on these factors one can maintain a healthy blood sugar level for a long time. Working out regularly also reduces your chances of being obese which can also help in keeping the blood sugar level normal as obese people are more likely to experience fluctuating blood sugar levels. It is not necessary to carry out an intense workout for long hours as this will only make you exhausted. It is necessary to understand that moderation is the key and it helps you in keeping your glucose levels in control.
- Age factor
Studies have found that older adults have more fluctuating blood sugar levels. It was also seen that although obese people are more likely to get fluctuations in their glucose levels and young obese people are at lower risk. Hence older adults are the only group of people who are at more risk. It can be said that older adults should check their glucose levels more often as compared to others to avoid developing other health problems. This does not mean that other age groups can ignore keeping a check on their glucose levels as they can also develop such problems.
There are various other factors like the menstrual cycle, medical condition, usage of certain medication, dehydration, intake of alcohol, etc. That can affect the blood glucose levels whether you suffer from diabetes or not.
Range of normal blood sugar levels
Ranges of glucose levels vary for people with diabetes and non-diabetic person. Blood glucose levels are not checked right after you have a meal, there should be a gap of around 90 minutes after you consume a meal. The range after 2 hours of a meal for a non-diabetic person will be less than 140mg/dl. In other words, it will be less than 7.8 mmol/l. For a person with pre-diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, the range after 2 hours of a meal varies from 140-199mg/dl or it can range between 7.8-11 mmol/l. For people who have type 1 diabetes, the range after 2 hours of a meal should not be more than 180 mg/dl or not more than 10mmol/l. For a person suffering from type 2 diabetes, the range after 2 hours of a meal will be more than 200mg/dl or it will be more than 11.1 mmol/l. For children who suffer from diabetes, the range after 1-2 hours of eating can be around 180 mg/dl, and at bedtime, it can range from 110-200mg/dl. A normal blood glucose level should be no more than 100mg/dl, regardless of the fact that you are diabetic or not. This can help you to understand your blood sugar levels in a better way.
The ranges given above can help a person to determine their blood sugar level. After eating, the maximum reading can go up to 140 mg/dl or 7.8 mmol/l in case of the normal range. If you get reading more than this it is advised to consult a doctor as this can be an indication of pre-diabetes or others. Children who suffer from diabetes can experience fluctuating blood glucose levels. It is advised to check their levels frequently to identify what works best for them.