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Normal Blood Sugar

For any one to maintain good health and reduce the risks of becoming diabetic, he or she will first need to understand what constitutes normal blood sugar. The levels of blood sugar in the body will often change, depending on several factors: the amount of food eaten, the kinds eaten, when eaten, and whether or not exercise is included. Also, the American Diabetes Association has categorized normal blood sugar levels, according to how the levels are tested: fasting blood glucose test which is taken after the person has fasted for eight hours with normal blood sugar less than 110 milligrams/deciliter; random blood glucose test is a test which takes place anytime with the normal blood sugar testing in the range of low to middle hundreds; and then there is the oral glucose tolerance test which is taking after overnight fasting and drinking a sugar-water drink, normal blood sugar will read less than 140 mg/dl after two hours of drinking the liquid.

If the blood sugar levels test between 140 mg/dl to 199 mg/dl, the individual who is being tested may be classified with prediabetes. If the blood sugar levels test 200 mg/dl or higher after ingesting the sugar drink, the individual may be classified as having diabetes mellitus. Since the threat of complications due to high blood sugar, certain steps will need to be taken by the individual to modify his or her behavior in order to bring down their sugar levels to a normal blood sugar.

Some of these steps will include remaining under the medical healthcare professional’s supervision. The diabetic or prediabetes individual will follow the “doctor’s orders” when seriously beginning the journey to bringing blood glucose levels down and living healthier. Both individuals will follow diet modifications in order to eat a diabetic diet, including a wide variety of foods which will list fruits, vegetables, high fiber whole grains, legumes, lean meats, fish, limiting salt, sugar, and fat intake, and eating more complex carbohydrates, as well as drinking more water and non-caloric liquids.

Another good practice to bring the levels to the normal blood sugar numbers is to keep a food diary, listing what foods are eaten, how much, when they are eaten, and what feelings may have accompanied it, whether hunger or emotions had instigated the meal. To decrease the risks of developing diabetes mellitus or even increase the effectiveness of diabetes management, the individual will need to incorporate exercise as an important part of his or her daily life. In doing so, the risks for the prediabetes person in becoming diabetic have dropped 35 percent. The person who is already diabetic may begin to see every one of his or her symptoms of diabetes disappear and a drastic improvement in blood glucose readings. The exercise should last at least 30 minutes for at least three to five times a week. Exercise can take the form of walking, bicycling, swimming, or any activity that increases the heart rate.

Either individual should begin setting specific goals for weight loss (or maintenance) and exercise. Generalized goals rarely inspire any one to achieve them; for example, setting a goal of “lose some weight” is too vague. A specific goal would be something such as, “lose 5 pounds in a month.” Another specific goal to set could be: “join the walk club next Thursday.” These goals can be set up and realistically met. In setting them on paper and marking each one off as each has been reached, both individuals will definitely grow more confident of controlling their blood sugar and their lives.

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