When someone is newly diagnosed with diabetes, one of the first things they want to know is what their blood sugar levels should be; what is normal, too high, or too low? Since everyone’s personal health history and the way their body functions is as unique as a fingerprint, it may affect how the body responds to food, medication, and other factors that influence blood sugar levels.
The food you eat is digested in the stomach and intestine, and during this process, glucose is absorbed in the intestine and is released into your bloodstream. Glucose in your blood is monitored by the beta-cells of the pancreas every few seconds. In response to a rise in blood glucose levels, these cells release insulin in the blood, which acts to move glucose from the blood to body cells for energy. The glucose remaining above the required energy needs is stored in the liver (as glycogen) and in muscles.
Glucose released in the digestive system after food absorption has to cross various cell membranes to reach the body cells. Basic steps in the glucose travel pathway include Absorption and Cellular intake.
For more on Glucose Travel and how it is metabolized, check out our article on Metabolism 101.
Having high blood sugar levels over time can lead to long-term, serious health problems.
It’s a delicate balance to maintain, so the following list can help you familiarize yourself with factors that can cause your blood glucose levels to go up or down.
Based on the ADA guidelines, if your blood sugar is above 180 mg/dL two hours after a meal, it is considered above the normal range. The following factors might cause your glucose or blood sugar to rise
If blood sugar drops below 70 mg/dL, it is below normal levels. This can be caused by a variety of factors, such as:
Uncontrolled high blood glucose levels affect multiple organs in your body. They can lead to cardiovascular complications (heart attack, stroke), nerve damage, kidney insufficiency, eye damage, and skin complications.
Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas to regulate blood sugar levels. Insulin is released by beta cells of the pancreas in response to an increase in blood glucose. However, when the insulin sensitivity or responsiveness to an influx of glucose in the blood decreases, the specific cells of the body become insulin resistant leading to incorrect signaling.
The key feature of insulin resistance is that it makes the cells produce more insulin to act on the increased blood glucose. Still, due to decreased insulin sensitivity, glucose is not taken by the cells, consequently leading to increased blood glucose levels and increased insulin levels. Few cells become insulin resistant, and those which are still insulin sensitive become over-stimulant.
Insulin resistance is associated with multiple chronic conditions and comorbidities. Diabetes is the most common metabolic disorder because of insulin resistance. PCOS is another prevalent condition in females associated with insulin resistance. Other serious and chronic disorders include Cardiovascular Disorders (CVD), breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, and fatty liver disease (non-alcoholic).
Eating Right is the Key to maintaining Optimal Blood Glucose Levels.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and American Diabetes Association (ADA), the Normal Ranges across categories, for HbA1c and Blood Glucose Levels in Fasting & Post-meal are as shown in the table below.
Blood glucose levels increase after meals, and insulin acts to transport this excess glucose into cells, thus maintaining the optimal glucose level for vital organ functioning. When blood glucose levels rise beyond the normal specified levels, the condition is called hyperglycemia. In a person without diabetes, insulin helps to normalize the blood sugar level within a few hours; however, if you have diabetes, the blood glucose levels are higher than normal for extended periods. So now you know why maintaining optimal blood glucose levels are important and how an increase in their levels can put you at risk of diabetes and associated complications.
To know more about the correlation between insulin resistance, insulin sensitivity, blood glucose levels, and risk of diabetes, check out our articles on Insulin Resistance and Diabetes
If you have diabetes, keep your blood glucose meter and sources of fast-acting glucose (like glucose tabs or fruit juice) close by in case your blood sugar drops. This is especially important for people with hypoglycemia unawareness, which is a condition that causes symptoms of low blood sugar to go unnoticed. Eating balanced meals and snacks at regular times throughout the day is a big part of maintaining normal blood glucose levels.
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