The normal range of blood sugar levels means the level of sugar (glucose) in your bloodstream is not too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia). There are a number of specific situations that can affect your blood glucose level to fluctuate. The main ones are after eating and fasting.
The normal metabolism of glucose
Almost all foods that you eat will be digested, and some that contain sugar will break down to become a simple sugar called glucose. This glucose then can directly go into the bloodstream so the body can convert it to become energy. In other words, glucose is the primary component for the fuel of your body.
When glucose goes into the bloodstream, there is a kind of hormone to regulate the level or volume of glucose in the blood. This hormone is called insulin – it is produced in the pancreas. Your body needs insulin to facilitate the distribution of glucose from the bloodstream to the tissues or cells of the body.
The excess glucose in the blood is usually converted to become glycogen and then stored in the liver. Some also can be stored in fat cells in a form as ‘fat’. Either glycogen or glucose in a form of fat can be a source of energy for your body between meals.
If your insulin doesn’t work properly, the normal mechanism of your glucose metabolism goes awry. In diabetes, this condition is often called as insulin resistance.
The normal blood sugar levels based on FBG (fasting blood glucose)
FBG, also known as FBS (fasting blood sugar), is a procedure to measure the level of your blood glucose after fasting (when you don’t drink and eat anything for at least eight hours). Normally, the fasting blood sugar in adults is around 100 mg /dL or lower.
But if it is higher than 100 mg /dL, it is considered abnormal. If left untreated, it may rise higher than 130 mg /dL which can be considered as hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is commonly found in diabetes, but sometimes it may also occur in non-diabetics.
Prolonged higher level of FBG could be a warning sign of insulin resistance, a condition in which your insulin cannot work optimally to help the absorption of glucose from the blood plasma (bloodstream) into the cells and muscles of the body. It may point to a condition called pre-diabetes (the phase prior to diabetes – as the name suggests).
If you experience any diabetes symptoms, even though if you’re not a diabetic, see a doctor to find help. You may be scared of pre-diabetes diagnosis, but don’t worry! You still have a good chance to reverse and prevent type-2 diabetes if you are diagnosed with pre-diabetes. See also about foods to prevent diabetes onset in here!
Blood sugar levels normal range before and after eating – how far you should go?
Typically, the lowest levels of blood sugar occur at the times just before you get your meals (especially in the morning before breakfast).
In healthy, non-diabetics; the range of blood sugar levels before eating (between meals) is commonly about 70 mg /dL to 80 mg /dL. Depending on the fit status of each individual, sometimes the range of 60-90 mg /dL before meals is still considered normal. What’s more?
I hate getting my blood drawn for 2 labs. I get tired, nausea, anxiety for days. I noticed my blood sugar reached 154 about 24hours after when I was still feeling sickness and then dropped to 104 in about hour or two of activity. (I check other peoples bs and checked myself) My sugar is usually normal and I have a very physically active job. I am very fearful and reluctant to get my blood drawn and everyone knows about it. I’ve even made them do the labs separately and use the smallest test tubes etc. Sometimes I schedule on less stressful days or when I’m off work. So dreadful for me. I just know something is going on with me when I feel this way. I won’t allow any testing A1C anymore they all come out normal.
My blood sugar can reach up into the 220’s to 250’s after a meal. It will drop over time back down into the 130’s or 140’s before the next meal. This way I avoid hypo’s. I take Lantus in the A.M. every day, and am trying to figure out how much to take. Right now…13 units. The advice nurse said that I was doing O.K., but I am not that confident.
Sometimes medications are necessary to control blood sugar levels. As long as ‘Benefits far outweigh the risks’, there should be nothing to worry.
Just keep In mind that doctors prescribed cigarettes in the past also. Has anyone tried going keto? How about eating raw fresh ginger a small piece everyday, and cylinder cinnamon
My blood sugar at 9.30am was 114, after lunch within 2 hrs it was 220. What to make of this?
Blood sugar level after fasting is not always easy to understand. Sometimes it’s not enough to tell you whether it’s diabetes or something else. So sometimes other tests are probably required!