A blood sugar level or blood glucose level is the measurement of just how good a person’s body is processing the sugar that’s taken in via the diet. Test results might be secured by a simple finger poke with a glucometer or using a conventional lab venipuncture. There are various medical tests which will determine blood glucose levels at different stages, like a fasting, random, 2-hour glucose tolerance test, and glycated hemoglobin check. All of these assessments evaluate blood sugar levels using a easy procedure, but the final results can easily differentiate between normal, pre-diabetes, and type 1 or type 2 diabetes. There may also be other indicators present which have been indicative of a blood sugar level being too low or too high.
Most of the time a blood sugar level is drawn randomly, unless the primary care provider has specifically requested a patient to fast before having the evaluation performed. A random check doesn’t take into consideration the last time a person ate a meal or a snack. According to the Mayo Clinic, a usual random reading ought to be less than 100 mg/dL; pre-diabetes is suggested if the level is greater than 100 mg/dL but much less than 199 mg/dL. A level above 200 mg/dL or higher is indicative of either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. A fasting blood sugar level is drawn after an eight hour period with no food or beverages with sugar or calories. This examination is typically drawn first thing in the morning, and is considered regular if the level is below 70 mg/dL. If diabetes is suspected after preliminary tests, then a 2-hour glucose tolerance test is ordered. Fasting is also required for this check to get accurate final results. Patients first drink a sugary liquid and then have their blood drawn two hours later. A standard reading is less than 140 mg/dL, pre-diabetes is suggested if stage is between 140-199 mg/dL, and type 1 or type 2 if level is 200 mg/dL or higher. The glycated hemoglobin or hemoglobin A1C examination is used not to diagnose diabetes, but to manage ongoing treatment. It measures the average blood sugar level for the previous three month period, and indicates how well diabetes has been managed during that time.
It’s recommended that everyone have their blood sugar level checked from time to time to make sure that glucose is within the normal range. Low and high blood sugar levels are typically accompanied by symptoms which can be related to how low or high glucose is inside the bloodstream. Once diabetes is diagnosed, patients are instructed to check their blood sugar levels frequently for proper management of their disease, cut out refined sugar from the diet, get enough exercise on a regular basis, and follow their prescribed plan of care for the best results.
Check out this site for more info: www.fastingbloodsugar.org
Here are some other articles related to this topic:
-Reasons, Signs And Treatments For Type 1 Diabetes
-Fasting Blood Sugar: Diabetes And Its Causes
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