Normal blood glucose levels are essential for the optimum functioning of all the organs of the body. Any alterations, whether increased or decreased glucose level may lead to various conditions. Normal blood glucose level depends upon various factors and thus have different values. Time of the day and the meals commonly affect the glucose levels. The fasting normal blood glucose level should be less than 100 mg/dl for people who are non-diabetic and should have a target range of 70-130 mg/dl in patients with diabetes. Feeding blood glucose level, i.e. two hours after a meal should be less than 140 mg/dl in non-diabetics and less than 180 mg/dl for non-diabetics.
| Test | Normal | Prediabetic | Diabetic |
|---|---|---|---|
| HBA1C (%) | < 5.7 | 5.7 to 6.4 | > 6.4 |
| Fasting Glucose Level (mg/dl) | < 100 | 100-125 | > 125 |
| OGTT (mg/dl) | < 140 | 140-199 | > 199 |
Prediabetes is considered a warning sign that you are at high risk of developing diabetes in the future. Progression of prediabetes to diabetes can be delayed or prevented by modifying lifestyle and increasing physical activity. If the fasting glucose is in the range of 100 -125 mg/dl, you are suffering from prediabetes or impaired fasting glucose.
Diabetes is the condition diagnosed when the fasting plasma glucose level is greater than 125 mg/dl. The HBA1C in such patients is 6.5% or higher. Diabetes may be type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes.
Hypoglycemia is a condition characterized by low glucose levels in the blood. For diabetic patients, the level below 70 mg/dl is considered hypoglycemia. In non-diabetics, hypoglycemia is diagnosed based on symptoms and improvement in symptoms after normalizing the glucose levels. In general cases, a glucose level of less than 50 mg/dl is considered hypoglycemic when measured without eating or performing any physical activity.
There are various causes of increased glucose levels. Some of the causes are;
Following are the various symptoms of high glucose levels;
Low blood sugar significantly affects the functioning of the central nervous system.
Following are the various symptoms of low glucose levels;
Increased glucose levels, if not treated, may lead to serious complications. These complications may include;
If the glucose levels are not controlled in the prediabetic stage, there is a high risk of transforming it into diabetes.
High glucose level damages the nerve cells especially in the extremities such as hands and legs.
In prolonged uncontrolled diabetes, renal damage may occur.
High glucose levels may damage the cells of retina leading to vision problems.
In diabetic patients, wounds are difficult to treat and, in many cases, foot amputation is required.
People with diabetes are prone to fungal and bacterial infections of the skin.
High glucose levels may lead to various neurological disorders such as depression or Alzheimer’s disease.
It is extremely essential to treat low glucose levels as this may lead to life-threatening complications. These complications include;
There are various methods to evaluate Glucose levels;
HBA1C is the measure of blood glucose level which indicates average reading of the past 2-3 months. As the glucose level of blood rises, it gets attached to the hemoglobin. The glucose attached to hemoglobin levels is then measured. The normal level of HBA1C is less than 5.7%.
The main requirement for fasting blood glucose is that the person should not eat or drink anything for at least 8 hours before having this test. The blood is drawn and analyzed for sugar.
In this test, the sugar levels are measured before and 2 hours after the person drinks a sweet drink of appropriate concentration.
Following are the various treatment options for maintaining normal blood glucose levels;
Rohit Jain is an IPR Specialist and Medical Content Writing Expert. For over a decade, he has written several articles in the areas of female infertility, Erectile dysfunction, hemangioma, cervical cancer, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, mononucleosis, mitral valve disorder, nerve sheath tumor, shin splints, mild cognitive impairment, cellulitis, brain metastases, atelectasis, MCAD deficiency, lymphoma, sepsis, cardiac rehabilitation and metabolic disorder among others.
Walking pneumonia, also known as atypical pneumonia, is a milder form of pneumonia that, while…
Internal bleeding is a medical condition where blood escapes from damaged blood vessels and accumulates…
Serotonin, commonly referred to as the "feel-good" neurotransmitter, plays a critical role in regulating mood,…
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are two neurodevelopmental conditions that, while distinct,…
The year 2024 has seen a significant Listeria outbreak, raising alarms across several countries. Listeria…
Metabolic conditioning (MetCon) has gained significant attention in the fitness world, often hailed as a…