Do you know what is considered a normal glucose level? Normal glucose levels fall between 70mg and 150 mg. Other important points to know are:
- Levels are lower in morning and rise after meals.
- Sugar levels consistently above 150 are indicative of hyperglycemia or high blood sugar, similarly levels falling consistently below 70 are suggestive of hypoglycemia or low blood sugar.
Hypoglycemia: can be fatal; symptoms include: irritability, lethargy, impaired metal function, and loss of consciousness.
Hyperglycemia: persistent hyperglycemia causes diabetes mellitus , which is a major concern now.
Fasting blood sugar test – Checks glucose levels after an 8-hour fast. It is often the first test performed when checking for diabetes. Normal levels for this test are 70 mg -99 mg.
Two-hour postprandial blood sugar test -Measures glucose levels 2 hours after taking a meal. Normal levels for this test are 70 mg to 145 mg.
Random blood sugar test – Measures sugar levels randomly throughout the day, irrespective of meal timings. In this test, widely varying levels could be a problem. Normal levels for this test are 70 mg -125 mg.
Oral glucose tolerance test -Checks glucose levels after taking a glucose drink.
Source: MeAndMyCaregiver Newsletter
