What Is the Relationship Between Diabetes and Glucose
When people eat ordinary table sugar, called sucrose, the body digests it into fructose and glucose. Glucose is a simple sugar that the body uses to provide the cells with energy. The body normally protects itself from the damaging effects of high glucose levels by neutralizing the glucose it does not need. Insulin is the main substance used to keep blood glucose levels from becoming too high, but people who have diabetes might either have a resistance to the effects of insulin or might not produce insulin at all. This is how diabetes and glucose are related.
There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. In type 1 diabetes, the sufferer does not produce insulin at all. People who have type 2 diabetes do produce insulin, but their bodies do not respond to it as well as a healthy body would. In either type, the relationship between diabetes and glucose is direct. Untreated diabetes causes blood sugar to rise to unhealthy levels.
Diabetes and glucose levels can be controlled by diet, exercise or medication. The mode of control depends on the severity and type of the disease. People who have type 1 diabetes always have to take insulin because their bodies simply do not produce it. Control of type 2 diabetes might never involve the use of insulin treatment if the patient is compliant with prescribed medication and lifestyle modification.
There is a direct correlation between diabetes and glucose tolerance. Glucose tolerance is sometimes tested as part of the process of diabetes diagnosis. The patient drinks a solution of sugar and water right after having his or her blood sugar level tested. Blood sugar is tested two to three hours after drinking the solution. A blood sugar level of 99 to 199 might indicate prediabetes, and levels of 200 and above call for a clear diagnosis of diabetes.
Another test for diabetes involves checking the blood glucose level after the patient has been fasting for at least eight hours. If the level is high enough to arouse suspicion, the practitioner might perform the same test on another day to confirm the diagnosis. Further testing and medical history helps determine the type of diabetes, which will in turn determine the course of treatment.
Hemoglobin A1C is a test that indicates average blood glucose levels over the three months prior to taking the test. Most practitioners use hemoglobin A1C to determine how effective the current treatment is in keeping diabetes and glucose under control. Patients should take this test several times a year to be sure that the prescribed treatment is still working.
What Is Pre-Diabetes
People who have pre-diabetes have blood sugar levels that are higher than they should be but not quite high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes. The condition is quite common in the United States and affects about 57 million people, some of whom may not know that they have the condition since it is usually asymptomatic. Pre-diabetes, formerly known as borderline diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, usually leads to type 2 diabetes unless the patient takes steps to prevent or reverse the condition.
When a person has type 2 diabetes, his or her body is usually unable make or use insulin to metabolize the glucose, or sugar, found in many foods. The sugar then builds up in the blood and can cause damage to the heart, kidneys, and central nervous system. People who have type 2 diabetes are at a higher risk of heart disease and stroke. Likewise, people with pre-diabetes also face a higher risk of these conditions.
Although the risks are high, many people do not know that they have pre-diabetes. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that adults who are overweight and over 45 years old talk with their doctor about being tested for the condition. There are two tests for pre-diabetes, both of which measure the level of glucose in the blood. Both tests are considered equally effective.
Before taking either test, the patient must fast for at least eight hours. For the first test, known as the fasting plasma glucose test, a blood sample is taken and the glucose level is measured. If the glucose is between 100 and 125 mg/dl, then the patient has pre-diabetes. During the oral glucose tolerance test, a patient’s glucose is tested after a fast. He or she then drinks something high in sugar and has his or her blood tested after two hours. If the level in glucose is between 140 and 199 mg/dl after two hours, he or she is pre-diabetic.
After a person is diagnosed with pre-diabetes, he or she can take steps to slow the progression to type 2 diabetes or to even reverse the condition. Patients who lose about 5 percent of their body weight often slow down or prevent the development of diabetes. Patients may also benefit from increased exercise and a change in diet, such as cutting back on sweets and making sure to eat nutritious meals. Cutting back on risky behaviors, such as smoking, and working to lower blood pressure and cholesterol can also cut a patient’s chances of developing diabetes-related illnesses.
What Is Vildagliptin?
Vildagliptin is a substance used to treat diabetes mellitus type 2, more commonly known as type 2 diabetes. It is used for patients who cannot control their blood sugar, or glucose in their blood, with other anti-diabetic medicines. Swiss-based multinational pharmaceutical company Novartis International AG markets the drug under the trade name Galvus.
The medical condition that vildagliptin fights against is the most common form of diabetes. It is sometimes called adult onset diabetes to set it apart from type 1 diabetes, or juvenile diabetes. Either way, the presence of diabetes indicates the lack of the insulin hormone, which leads to an increase of blood sugar. Vildagliptin is introduced to increase the amount of two hormones named glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), which contribute to the control of the body’s glucose level. The anti-diabetic drug does this by inhibiting dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), a protein that inactivates GLP-1 and GIP.
What Is Vildagliptin
Vildagliptin can also be combined with other antidiabetic drugs. Perhaps the most common combination is Eucreas, another trade name from Novaris, which is a combination of vildagliptin and metformin. The latter is actually a first-line drug for type 2 diabetes treatment and is one of the most widely used anti-diabetic drugs in the world.
Another popular candidate for combination, sulphonylurea, works by increasing the insulin from the pancreas organ’s beta cells. Other anti-diabetic drugs that are commonly joined with vildagliptin include rosiglitazone, brand name Avandia; and pioglitazone, brand name Actos. Both belong to a class of five-membered heterocyclic ring-possessing medications called thiazolidinediones.
Side effects of vildagliptin include constipation, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nausea, swelling of legs and ankles, tremors, weakness and weight gain. Most of these side effects are caused when the drug is combined with metformin, sulphonylurea or glitazone. Physicians can withhold vildagliptin if the patient is over 75 years of age, has mild heart failure, or is taking angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which are drugs used to treat the aforementioned condition, as well as hypertension.
On 26 September 2007, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) authorized vildagliptin. The European Commission, the executive body of the European Union (EU), then approved the drug on 1 February 2008 for launch in its member nations. Twenty-four days later, the same body approved Eucreas.
Since then, vildagliptin has launched in 37 countries and has been approved in 70 countries. Novaris, however, has not submitted the drug to the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This has placed a halt of the medication’s approval in the U.S., since the FDA has called for additional clinical data in light of skin lesions and kidney problems that have appeared in animal studies.
What Is Metformin?
Metformin is a medication that is utilized by people with Type 2 diabetes to maintain healthy blood glucose levels. When taken at strategic times during the day, the drug helps to support the body’s use of carbohydrates in a manner that minimizes blood sugar spikes. When used in conjunction with a sensible diet and regular exercise, this medication can allow diabetics to enjoy many more years of good health without the damage to various body organs that normally result from constantly having high blood glucose levels.
The medication is available as part of a number of different formulas, such as Glipizide and Glyburide, or may be obtained as a stand-alone medication for treating diabetes. One of the more common trade names for the drug in a number of countries is Glucophage. A number of drug companies produce generic products that are marketed simply as metformin, with the cost of the generic versions being considerably less than the name brands.
Metformin helps to minimize blood sugar spikes by blocking the release of glucose in the liver. This means that less glucose enters the bloodstream and is unable to result in the undesirable effects that higher blood sugar has on the function of the eyes, heart, and lungs. In addition, metformin is also helpful in increasing the sensitivity of the body to the insulin that is produced by the body, allowing the individual to obtain greater benefits from that limited amount of insulin release. The end result is that people who are prone to blood sugar spikes are less likely to experience levels outside a safe range, either in terms of high blood sugar or sudden drops that are below normal limits.
While a typical daily dose of metformin is 500 mg, some patients may require additional doses throughout the day. Many doctors recommend that the medication be taken with the largest meal of the day, while others recommend taking 500 mg at breakfast and another 500 mg with the evening meal. The frequency and amount of the dosage will vary, based on the current condition of the patient, and how well he or she responds to the each individual dose.
While metformin alone is an effective medication for many diabetics, it is sometimes combined with other medicines in order to produce the desired result. For example, drug products containing both metformin and sitagliptin may be necessary if metformin used along with a low carbohydrate diet and regular exercise is not sufficient to control blood glucose levels. In any of its forms, metformin represents a first line of defense for people needing assistance with controlling blood sugar, providing results that are far superior to medications used in past decades.
What is Diabetes Mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus is a broad term describing a condition where a person ends up with too much sugar, or glucose, in their bloodstream, and not enough getting into their cells to be burned as energy. Although all types of diabetes have the same end result, there are vastly different conditions that fall under the umbrella of this term.
What is Diabetes Mellitus
Type 1 diabetes is a type of diabetes mellitus where a person’s blood sugar becomes high because their body can no longer produce insulin, the hormone that moves glucose out of the bloodstream and into the cells, where it is used for energy. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the beta cells in the pancreas, which produce insulin, are destroyed. Usually this is because of an autoimmune disease, where the person’s immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells.
Although we know that autoimmune diseases are genetic, it is still unknown what triggers the autoimmune response. It can occur at any time. A person can therefore be diagnosed as type 1 diabetic at any age, and not just in childhood as previously thought. Furthermore, by the time a person is diagnosed as diabetic, the antibodies that kill the beta cells have been at work for some time: The pancreas has the ability to compensate for the loss of insulin-producing cells until as much as 90 percent of the beta cells have been destroyed.
Type 2 diabetes is a completely different condition, and accounts for nine out of ten people with diabetes mellitus. People with this disease still produce insulin; in fact they usually produce more insulin than they actually need. Their bodies have just become resistant to insulin, which means they use it much less efficiently than they should.
The causes of type 2 diabetes are more complicated than type 1 diabetes. Some people are diagnosed with type 2 as they grow older, and their bodies presumably become less efficient. However, a growing number of type 2 diabetics have developed the disease because of poor diet, lack of exercise, and obesity, particularly in the United States. In fact, until very recently this disease was thought to occur only in middle-aged and elderly people; now it is being diagnosed in younger adults and even in children, presumably because the deterioration of healthy practices such as proper nutrition and exercise, and the growing number of obese people in the United States.
Whether the disease is type 1 or type 2, the symptoms of diabetes are the same. When blood sugar is too high, the kidneys filter out much of the extra glucose, unfortunately taking a lot of fluids with it. As a result, a diabetic with uncontrolled sugars suffers from constant thirst and frequent urination. Other symptoms of diabetes include muscle cramps, caused by the body filtering potassium out of the bloodstream along with the glucose and fluids, and blurry vision, caused by high glucose levels in the eyes. Additionally, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus often produces rapid weight loss: Although the person may be eating considerably more than normal, and although his or her blood sugar is high, the body’s cells are in essence starving to death because they are not able to access any of that glucose.
Anyone with diabetes mellitus struggles with the same end result: too much glucose in the bloodstream. However, because this occurs for different reasons depending on whether the disease is type 1 or type 2, the treatment is very different for each. Type 1 diabetics cannot make their own insulin, therefore they have to be injected with it. The amount of insulin varies according to the individual’s diet, lifestyle, and other factors.
Type 2 diabetics, on the other hand, usually take drugs to help them use their own insulin more efficiently. They also are usually advised to exercise regularly and follow a healthier, low-carb diet. In fact, in some type 2 diabetics, exercise and diet alone can control and even reverse the onset of diabetes mellitus. However, type 2 diabetics who have poor control of their blood sugars may need to compensate for their body’s lack of efficiency by injecting supplementary insulin.
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which the body fails to make or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone the body uses to convert starches, sugar, and other food products into energy for the body to use to allow it to function properly. The four major types of diabetes are Type 1, Type 2, gestational, and pre-diabetes.
What Is Diabetes?
World-wide, diabetes affects huge numbers of people. In the United States alone, over 6% of the population — roughly 18 million people — are diabetic. While the exact causes remain a mystery, researchers have discovered certain symptoms. These symptoms include extreme thirst and hunger, frequent urination, blurred vision, weight loss, fatigue, and irritability.
For people with Type 1 diabetes, insulin must be taken every day. A diabetic will generally administer the insulin shot using a syringe or have someone else administer the shot for him. This type is more common in Caucasians and in people who live in colder climates.
Type 2 diabetes can often be controlled by monitoring the food one eats and by partaking in regular physical exercise. Some Type 2 diabetics may also need to take insulin shots or pills to regulate their blood sugar levels. Obesity is a major factor in developing this form. If a person has an unhealthy diet of fatty food and exercises infrequently, he or she may be walking a path that will lead directly to this disease.
Pregnant women who become diabetic during their pregnancy have what is called gestational diabetes. This form of the disease affects approximately 4% of all pregnant women in the United States. Women who become diabetics during their pregnancy are likely to have a family history of the condition. Obesity again may play a factor.
Pre-diabetes is simply a term for an individual who has blood glucose levels higher than normal. People with this condition are not quite at diabetic levels, but are more likely to develop the disease.
Though children of diabetics will not necessarily inherit the disease from their parents, research has shown that these children are more likely to get it than children of non-diabetics. Type 1 is also less common in people who were breastfed as infants.
Diabetes is a serious disease which can lead to heart problems, strokes, loss of limbs due to poor circulation, and death. Research continues to indicate that regular exercise and a healthy diet are two factors which can help people avoid this condition, as well as allow diabetics to have functional lives. Anyone who experiences some of the symptoms of diabetes should seek the advice of a medical professional. Unfortunately, millions of people across the globe have the disease, but it goes undetected because they ignore the symptoms and do not seek medical attention.
Low GI Diet for Diabetics
When the insulin in the body does not function properly or is not produced in sufficient quantities in the body, the person suffers from a disorder known as diabetes. It is one of the most common conditions found all over the world today. Its exact cause is unknown. There are several factors that are responsible for causing it. Although there is no cure for diabetes, following certain methods and making changes in the lifestyle can help in bringing the condition under control. The low GI diet is planned in order to bring diabetes under control. Let us know more on it.
Low GI Diet and Diabetes
In the recent years, we have observed that the major part of our diet consists of refined or processed foods. These foods are known as high glycemic foods, i.e., they contain a high amount of sugar. When we eat foods with high amount of sugars (not literal table sugar, but, sugars found in refined foods), the sugar level in our body rises very rapidly. This brings about a temporary but quick feeling of fullness. However, the sugar level also drops at the same speed as it rises. Therefore, we feel hungry after some time and tend to eat more. Therefore, consuming foods with high glycemic index can lead to disorders like obesity; and also have a negative effect on the body if a person suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure.
Now, on the other hand, foods with low glycemic index contain a low amount of sugar and hence, do not affect the blood sugar levels. Secondly, as low glycemic foods comprise complex carbohydrate foods, they get digested in the body very slowly and hence, there is a steady flow of energy. These foods do not exert stress on the body to maintain proper levels of blood sugar. Therefore, a low GI diet, meant for diabetics, is very beneficial in maintaining a proper level of blood sugar and preventing the complications. At the same time, it should also be noted that following this diet regularly can also help in prevention of diabetes and obesity. Secondly, doctors also prescribe low GI diet for high blood pressure to prevent heart diseases caused due to obesity and high blood pressure.
Low GI Foods
The following is a list of foods that can be included in the low GI meal plan for diabetics. Although there are many other foods that have low GI like yams and sweet potatoes, but cannot be included in the diabetes diet. These foods will help in maintaining a healthy weight and normal blood sugar levels.
Whole wheat, all bran, rolled oats, oat bran, mixed grain
Whole wheat pasta, brown rice
Black beans, pinto beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, split peas, soy, linseed, lentils
Carrots, broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower, lettuce, red peppers, eggplant, onions
Cherry, grapefruit, plums, prunes, walnuts, peanuts, cashew nuts
Whole milk, low-fat yogurt
There are a few guidelines that you need to follow if following the low GI diet. For e.g. you should substitute white bread and white pasta with the whole grain versions. Secondly, it is better to cut fruit and eat it fresh rather than going for fruits’ juices which are loaded with sugar. Thirdly, you should go for low-fat versions of as many foods as possible. You do not have to give up any foods; just substitute the unhealthy foods with healthy ones!
The low GI diet has proven to be very effective and with no side effects. You can also check on the Internet for low GI recipes for diabetics. Lastly, note that this information is used only for educational purposes. It is recommended to consult the doctor before making any changes in the diet, if you are suffering from diabetes or high blood pressure. Take care!
Fruit Diet for Diabetics
Diabetics have high blood sugar level due to which considerable restriction is imposed on their eating habits. Carbohydrates and sugars are completely eliminated from their diet when blood glucose levels rise at abnormal level. The widely accepted American Diabetic Association Diet recommends intake of fruits and vegetables regularly. Dairy products devoid of fats and carbohydrates are also allowed to consume in moderate amounts. In this article we shall present you a sample fruit diet for diabetes patients.
Fruits to Avoid for Diabetics
Many people believe that incorporation of fruits in their diet helps to bring down blood glucose levels. If you think on the same lines, then you must plan your fruit diet wisely. This is because not all fruits are safe for you. Some fruits have high percentage of sugars and the calorie contained in them in considerably high. The fruits that you must avoid are:
Banana
Tangerine
Cherry
Grape
Pomegranate
Fig
Kiwifruit
Orange
Pineapple
Pear
Strawberry
The fruits that have been listed in the aforementioned content are rich in sugars and should be avoided as much as possible. However, you can have their juice once a while because juicing reduces the sugar content. If you have planned to go on a fruit diet, then you can follow this diet plan.
Fruit Diet For Diabetes: Menu
Morning
Begin your day with a glass of lemon juice and 1/3rd teaspoon of honey.
Have a glass of fresh apple juice or a whole raw apple.
Assort a plate with blackberries, dragon fruits and watermelons.
You can also prepare a mixed juice from all these fruits.
Afternoon
Juice out papaya and guava. Blend them and have fresh.
Prepare fruit salad from nectarine, honeydew melons and peaches.
Take a pulpy delight by mixing sapodilla and grapefruits
You can have orange juice or cubes of sweet lime as well.
Evening
Have smoothie prepared from apricots, apples and skimmed milk.
Treat yourself with blueberries, guavas and peaches.
You can also have apples in boiled form for dinner.
A glass of juice prepared from grapefruits and sweet limes.
Fruit Recipes for Diabetics
Raw: Cut slices of the fruits that are considered to be safe. You can garnish with zest of lemon and pepper, but no sugar.
Smoothie: Prepare the smoothies with skimmed milk. Add minimal jaggery, honey or unsweetened sugar (Splenda) for developing the sweet taste.
Juice: Have fresh juices. Combine two or more fruits, chill them and then drink.
Fruit dish recipes are very limited for diabetes patients as addition of creams, cheese and butter is strictly restricted. Having them in fresh form probably brings about the best results. Those who are in a weight loss diet can have those pulpy fruits in boiled form as well. You can also make pies and cakes, but make sure they are devoid of sugar and simple carbohydrates.
Benefits of Fruit Diet
Fruits are rich in antioxidants, that detoxifies your body from harmful toxins and free radicals.
The fat content of fruits is also very low which relieves you from the worry of weight gain.
Fruits are also rich in vitamins, minerals and amino acids. These compounds reduce absorption of glucose.
Apple is one of those essential fruits that effectively reduces blood glucose levels.
Fruits are rich in pectin and galacturonic acid, which are necessary for improvement of your health.
Vitamin B1, an active component of fruits, protects brain cells from damage.
Citrus fruits are rich in calcium, which is effective in preventing absorption of glucose.
Guava, being rich in fiber is always suggested to diabetics. Fiber also lowers blood glucose level.
The fruit diet for diabetics explained in the content above can also be used as a weight loss diet. However, do not consume canned fruit juices as they are artificially sweetened and preserved. Apart from fruits, also include plenty of fresh green vegetables, fibers and proteins in your diet. Blood sugar levels can be controlled effectively only when your diet is perfect.
Fruits and Vegetables for Diabetics
Diabetes, as we know, is a lifelong medical condition in which glucose (type of sugar) circulating in the blood is abnormally high. People say that diabetes is a life limiting disease but that is absolutely untrue because diabetics can also lead a fulfilling life, provided they adhere to certain dietary restrictions. What one eats during diabetes is very important as it influences blood sugar levels. No wonder, it is rightly said that sensible food choices can go a long way in keeping a fleet of health complications associated with diabetes, miles away.
What diabetics eat plays a significant role in controlling blood sugar. The right food choices will allow you to take charge of your health, in spite of suffering from chronic ailments like diabetes. When it comes to dietary changes for diabetics, one simply cannot forget to mention about fruits and vegetables for diabetes. Being a rich source of vitamins and minerals, they form an inseparable part of a diabetic diet. Foods high in carbohydrates are said to elevate blood sugar levels. Simple carbohydrates are the ones that can increase sugar in blood when eaten in excess amounts. Simple carbohydrates get easily converted into sugar in the body, which can lead to sudden rise in blood glucose levels. Therefore one should ensure that daily meals should comprise only a small percentage of simple carbohydrates. It is advised that every meal of diabetics should not contain more than 45-75 grams of carbohydrates.
A point to note that certain foodstuffs, despite containing complex carbohydrates cause drastic rise in blood sugar levels. Keeping this in mind, instead of looking for simple or complex carbohydrates, one should switch over to whole grain carbohydrates as they are never easy to digest, which prevent spike in blood sugar levels. The best sources of whole grain carbohydrates are brown rice, bran cereals and whole grain pasta.
Fruits for Diabetes
When it comes to fruits for diabetics, one should select those that are low in sugar. Whatever fruit you consume, make sure that it is low in simple carbohydrates. In any case, the fruit serving size should not have more than 15 grams of carbohydrates. Some of the fruits that can be added in diabetes diet are given below:
Citrus fruits such as oranges and limes
Apples
Grapefruit
Strawberries
Blackberries
Peaches
Although, strawberries are low in sugar, overeating has to be avoided. For instance, 1¼ cup (approximately 180 grams) strawberries has 15 gm of carbohydrates. Eating more than this specified amount can raise your sugar levels, which is not good for diabetic patients.
Vegetables for Diabetes
Recent studies showed that addition of green vegetables in the diet can reduce the chances of developing diabetes. This clearly suggests how beneficial can green leafy vegetables be in controlling diabetes. Onions and tomatoes being low in carbohydrates can also be included in the diet. Some of the green vegetables that can not only alleviate the risk of diabetes but also contribute in managing this medical condition successfully are given below:
Spinach
Kale
Cauliflower
Broccoli
Cucumber
Cabbage
Lettuce
Lady’s finger
Bitter gourd (bitter melon)
Mustard and turnip greens
Fruits and Vegetables to Avoid
There is no doubt that fruits are a good source of essential nutrients, which can certainly help diabetics to lead a healthy life. However, certain fruits need to be discarded from the diet even though they are high in nutritional value. This is because the sugar content in these fruits is abnormally high and so including them in the diet can make it extremely difficult to manage diabetes. These fruits are naturally too sweet and hence, doctors often warn diabetics to avoid it or eat it in small portions. Some of these are given below:
Mangoes
Bananas
Grapes
Sapodilla
Pineapple
Watermelon
Plums
Cherries
Dried fruits
Certain vegetables can also be troublesome for diabetics, especially when their daily consumption is more than normal. These are starchy vegetables loaded with complex carbohydrates that can raise blood sugar in the body. Hence, one should either avoid or restrict their consumption to keep diabetes under control. Following is a list of starchy vegetables:
Artichokes
Beans
Sweet potato
Beetroot
Colocasia
Yam
Tapioca
In order to combat diabetes, besides a healthy diet, one should devote some time in following an exercise routine. Well, it doesn’t always mean hitting the gym to burn sugar. A 40-45 minutes of brisk walking daily can also benefit in improving and managing diabetes effectively. In fact, light exercise after lunch and dinner is a natural method to regulate blood sugar.
Blood Sugar Levels in Diabetics
It is important to maintain a proper blood sugar level in the blood for maintaining proper health. In today’s fast paced lifestyle we tend to give less importance to health to be ahead in the race. It may result in achieving the goal without realizing the loss or real wealth, and which is one’s health. Hence, it has become extremely important to take proper care of one’s health.
Blood Sugar Levels Explained
Blood sugar level is nothing but the level of blood glucose in our bodies. Our bodies produce this glucose from ingested carbohydrates. This glucose is necessary for essential bodily functions. They are like power houses which provide energy to the tissues, nervous system and the brain. The intestine helps to absorb this glucose directly into the bloodstream, hence increasing the blood glucose level. Now, to make sure that this blood glucose level does not increase rapidly, the pancreas produces insulin to keep its levels low.
Blood Sugar Levels in Diabetics
Blood sugar is normally measured in molecular count for which the unit is mmol/l which is millimoles per liter. It is also measured as per weight in grams, and it’s unit is mg/dl which is milligrams per deciliter. In quite a few countries the unit for measuring the blood glucose levels is mg/dl. For a normal non-diabetic person, the blood sugar level is stable at 4-8 mmol/l. For each and every person this level tends to increase after a meal and is recorded the lowest in mornings. The normal blood sugar levels in diabetics can be anything between 70-140 mg/dl. The difference is hard to interpret on the basis of gender though. Hence, it is important to keep this value somewhere within the range.
High blood sugar is when the sugar level is more than normal. There may be many reasons for the increase in blood sugar levels. It can be either intake of too much of calories, an illness or injury, surgery, or if a person has stopped taking insulin or pills. It is really important to keep a watch on sugar levels. Even a single skipped dose of missed insulin pill can cause your blood sugar level to rise. High blood sugar levels in diabetics is anything more than 180 mg/dl.
Low blood sugar is when the blood glucose level falls below normal. It is most likely to get a low blood glucose level reading when your food intake is relatively low, when you exert a lot, do a lot of exercise and also if you take a lot of insulin pills. Hence, the blood sugar levels in diabetics is low when the blood glucose level is less than 70 mg/dl.
Fasting in diabetes means that the patient has not eaten for approximately eight hours and then the blood sugar levels are monitored. Hence, the blood sugar level normally must be anywhere between 70 to 100 mg/dl or 3.9 to 5.5 mmol/l. If you get a constant blood glucose reading of more than 100 mg/dl to 130 mg/dl, it is a stage of pre-diabetics and there is a need for you to control it, to keep away from diabetes.
To monitor your blood sugar, it is best to get a glucose level testing kit at home, and with the help of it you can keep your blood glucose levels under control. These kits also come with a sugar levels chart for you to understand the readings better. Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia are conditions caused by high blood glucose levels and low blood glucose levels respectively. Both are immensely harmful to our bodies. Hence, to lead a healthy and diabetic-free life it is important to monitor and keep blood sugar levels under control.
Dabetes Doctor 