Blood Sugar Levels | Diabetes Healthy Solutions

Good Blood Sugar Levels

So what is considered to be a good blood sugar level?

Maintaining good blood sugar levels is the optimal way of being able to keep up with maintaining your diabetes and keeping your body healthy. Good blood sugar levels are generally been said to be good when they fall in between the 80 to 125 range. Otherwise, if they fall below you could be hypoglycemic and if they fall too high then you can be hyperglycemic. Both of which can start causing medical problems and diabetes complications, which if left untreated can lead to a lifelong medical battle.

Ideal blood sugar levels vary from person to person because everyone is so different. Everyone’s body type is different which makes their blood sugar vary as well.

There are general guidelines that have been set by the American diabetes association regarding criteria by which doctors and physicians go by when determining what is considered a good blood sugar level, a low blood sugar level, and what is considered high.

Having a chart that allows people to know what their good blood sugar levels are will allow them to feel good when they meet those areas and they know that they are maintaining their diabetes.

Normal Blood sugar Levels

For a large portion of healthy people, these levels would be the normal blood sugar levels:

Between 4.0 to 5.4 mmol/L (72 to 99 mg/dL) while fasting.

Up to 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) 2 hours after eating.

For diabetics, these would be the blood sugar level targets.

Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/L for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

After meals: under 9 mmol/L for people with type 1 diabetes and under 8.5mmol/L for people with type 2 diabetes

Why are Good Blood Sugar Levels so Important?

It’s really important that you make every effort to keep your blood glucose levels under control as best you can. If you have levels that are too high and they remain high for long periods of time, this will certainly increase the risk of developing complications of diabetes.

So What are the Main Complications of Diabetes?

Nerve Damage (diabetes neuropathy): Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain occurs when the diabetic or person is having trouble seeing, using their muscles and limbs, and is in just a great amount of pain from overworking them.

Retinal Disease: Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness.

Heart Disease: Together, heart attacks and strokes are the most important complications of diabetes type 2. They are also among the most preventable.

Foot Damage: Diabetics are more susceptible to foot problems than healthy people. When Diabetics cut themselves, or have an ulcer or even just a blister, this can lead to infection and if not treated can certainly cause life-threatening problems.

High Blood Pressure: Diabetes makes the blood vessels stiffer and in turn they are less able to relax, increasing the pressure inside the blood vessels

After all who wants to worry about their blood sugar numbers all the time when you can find what works best for you so that you can be stress-free and know that you have your diabetes under control?

Make sure you visit your healthcare member and find out what your blood sugar levels should be – Most of the time when a person first finds out that they are diabetic, the doctor will ask them to monitor their blood glucose levels for a certain period of time and then they will have them come back into the office and compare them in order to find what good blood sugar levels are for them.

Top 7 Side Effects of High Blood Sugar

High blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia is a condition that occurs as a result of a buildup of too much glucose in the blood. Although this is more often a concern for people with diabetes it can also occur in people suffering from other conditions as well as perfectly healthy individuals.

The main goal of a diabetes treatment plan is blood sugar control. Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar can affect both type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients. There are 2 main kinds of high blood sugar:

Fasting hyperglycemia

This is a condition that occurs when blood sugar levels exceed 130 mg/dL after not drinking or eating for a period of at least 8 hours.

After-meal or postprandial hyperglycemia mg/dL

This is when blood glucose levels exceed hours after eating. For people without diabetes, their blood sugar levels rarely exceed mg/dL after meals, unless they are really large.

Ongoing or frequent high blood glucose levels can cause damage to blood vessels, nerves, and organs. Hyperglycemia can also lead to other potentially life-threatening conditions. For instance, people with type 1 diabetes are particularly prone to ketoacidosis, as a result of excess acids in the bloodstream.

When it comes to type 2 diabetes patients or people who are at risk for it, hyperglycemia can lead to hyperglycemic hyperosmolar non-ketotic syndrome (HHNS), a condition where the body’s ability to process sugar is significantly impaired. It’s mainly characterized by frequent urination at first and less frequent later on. As the condition progresses, urine tends to become darker and patients may become severely dehydrated. Symptoms of high blood sugar should be treated immediately to help prevent serious complications.

Causes of High Blood Sugar

Factors that may trigger an increase in your blood sugar levels include:

Forgetting or skipping your glucose-lowering medicine (oral medication or insulin)
Eating too many carbohydrates
Infections and illness
Stress
Sedentary lifestyle (exercising less than usual or becoming inactive)
Strenuous physical activity when your insulin levels are significantly low and blood glucose levels are high

Signs, Symptoms, and Side Effects of High Blood Sugar

People with diabetes may be familiar with the effects of high blood sugar on the body. However, for people who have undiagnosed diabetes or prediabetes, knowing the signs and side effects of high blood sugar can prompt them to seek medical attention and get a diagnosis in a timely manner to help prevent complications of diabetes. Here are some of the main signs and side effects of high blood sugar:

Fatigue

Feeling constantly tired is one of the early signs of high blood sugar levels.

Mild fatigue can also occur with even the normal or mild blood glucose fluctuations in perfectly healthy individuals or people with prediabetes particularly when they consume large amounts of carbohydrates.

Although there’s nothing wrong with eating carbs, if they always affect you in a specific way that is troubling, such as feeling incredibly sleepy after meals, you may want to seek medical attention.

Frequent urination

In a bid to get rid of excess sugar in the blood, the kidneys pull water with sugar in it and you end up urinating more frequently than usual.

Increased thirst

When you pee more, your body tends to become dehydrated faster and you may feel thirstier. Moreover, if you consume larger amounts of liquids, you get the urge to visit the bathroom more frequently.

Headaches

In addition to worsening your fatigue as earlier discussed, dehydration can also trigger headaches. Although headaches can point to a variety of different causes, it is worth getting checked out if it’s coupled with other signs or if it’s something new.

Blurred vision

Excess sugar can get trapped in the lens of your eyes, causing blurred vision. However, this is usually temporary, unlike the eye damage that occurs in the long term with conditions such as diabetes.

Confusion, nausea, vomiting, and more

According to the United States National Library of Medicine, these seemingly unrelated symptoms are signs of a life-threatening condition known as DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis).

Other symptoms of DKA can include difficulty paying attention, flushed or dry skin, or fruity-smelling breath.

This usually occurs in type 1 diabetes patients and it can be the first sign that they’re unwell. DKA can also occur in type 2 diabetes, but in a milder degree.

Recurrent infections

Consistent high blood sugar levels can impair the immune system’s ability to fight off infections making them more serious, recurrent, or lingering. Moreover, the excess sugar in the urine can help feed bacteria that cause infections making you more susceptible to UTIs.

Other symptoms of high blood sugar include slow-healing wounds and sores, tingling hands and feet, and dental issues. If you have noticed one or more of these signs enough for it to affect your life and raise a red flag, it’s a sign that you should seek medical attention. Experts like primary health care providers can help determine if hyperglycemia due to prediabetes or diabetes is the cause of the symptoms.

Read about diabetes patches for continuous blood glucose monitoring HERE!

What are High Blood Sugar Numbers?

The question of “what is high blood sugar numbers?” is a valid one. A person who has diabetes, heart problems, hypoglycemia or some other medical condition should carefully monitor his or her blood sugar level. If a person’s blood sugar level is more or less than what it should be, this could cause serious heart problems.

What is an Average Blood Sugar Range?

Medical website lifeclinic.com notes that the average person should have a blood sugar level ranging from 70 mg/dl to 120 mg/dl most of the time. Blood sugar up to 140 mg/dl is acceptable right before bedtime. However, each person is different and some people do have a different “safe range” than the one noted above. This range can vary for reasons such as age, family history, eating patterns, daily sugar intake and even ethnic background.

Consulting a medical professional is the only way for a person to establish his or her safe blood sugar average.

What are High Blood Sugar Levels for the Morning?

The question of what’s considered high numbers for blood sugar in the morning, is difficult to answer across the board for everyone, but generally speaking a person should never have more than 200 mg/dl at this time.

It is interesting to note that even healthy people can expect to have high morning blood sugar numbers.

The reason for this is that your body produces extra blood sugar between three and eight in the morning. At the same time, hormones are released that lower your sensitivity to the high blood sugar level.

The fact that the body makes extra blood sugar for the morning is not bad; in fact, it helps to prepare the body for the day. However, if your blood sugar number is too high, it could indicate that he or she has out of control diabetes and/or needs to make some dietary changes.

High Blood Sugar Level Effects on the Heart and Lungs

Along with the question of “What is high blood sugar numbers” you should also ask the question, “How does high blood sugar affect my heart?” Too much sugar in the blood will cause a person’s blood pressure to rise.

This can result in heart palpitations, an inflammation of the membranes around the heart or even cardiac arrest. Research has determined that having overly high blood sugar for an extended period of time can and does impair lung function. It can make it more difficult for a person to breathe and can exacerbate a lung condition known as Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

What Happens if you Ignore High Blood Sugar Numbers?

If you leave high blood sugar untreated, it can cause the body to start shutting down, organs to start being overworked and a person’s body to go into shock. If a person starts having high blood sugar numbers and leave them untreated or does not administer the proper amounts of insulin when needed the person can start showing symptoms such as :

rapid heartbeat,
stroke,
dizziness
and even can go into a diabetic coma.

Generally a high blood sugar number is considered high if the number falls over 150-177 range, but due to body mass, age and heredity the numbers can vary from person to person.

How Often Should I Monitor Blood Sugar Readings?

When a person is first diagnosed as being a diabetic they are asked to monitor their blood glucose readings very closely normally 2-3 times a day because this will allow the doctor and patient to determine what a high blood sugar number as well as a low number for that specific patient.

If the patient’s blood glucose numbers fall within those categories then they need to contact their doctor or seek treatment immediately, don’t let the symptoms go untreated for long periods of time because if so you could be doing more damage to your body than you realize.

Read about normal sugar levels for diabetics and non-diabetics HERE!

Final Thoughts on Blood Sugar Numbers

So the answer to the question “what is high blood sugar numbers?” is that any number over 120 mg/dl – 140 mg/dl is too high. However, a person who has just woken up should not be alarmed to find that he or she has very high blood sugar.

As with any medical diagnosis always listen to your doctor and follow his or her instructions, although it may be difficult, their advice can help save your life.

More on what is considered high blood sugar HERE

Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS)?

Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS) is a dangerous and life threatening condition caused by extremely high blood glucose levels. HHNS, which is also known as Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State (HHS), can affect people suffering from various conditions, including both types of diabetics. However, it is particularly common among people suffering from type 2 diabetes. In most cases, HHNS is caused by an infection or illness.

Major warning signs of HHNS for people with diabetes.

Elevated blood glucose levels
Fever
Warm skin without sweating
Extreme thirst
Dry mouth
Feeling sleepy
Nausea
Hallucinations
Confusion
Vision Loss
Weakness on one side of the body

Risk Factors of Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS)

Diabetes and other conditions

Infection or periods of illness can raise blood sugar levels significantly, which can lead to Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS) if medication does not lower blood sugar levels effectively.

Having blood sugar levels above 600 mg/dL (33 mmol/L) for an extended period of time increases the risk of HHNS occurring.

Infectious diseases

In kids and young adults with diabetes, HHNS can be caused by infectious diseases or disorders of the genitourinary, respiratory, and circulatory systems. Other factors that have led to a surge in the incidence of HHNS include incessant consumption of beverages that are rich in carbohydrates and obesity.

Medications

Some medications used for the treatment of other conditions and ailments in elderly people with type 2 diabetes can also trigger HHNS. Examples of such drugs are glucocorticoids, beta-blockers, thiazide diuretics, and some antipsychotics.

Cardiovascular insult

Cardiovascular insults like myocardial infection, angina pectoris, stroke can trigger the release of counter-regulatory hormones. The body’s stress response can lead to increased blood sugar levels causing dehydration, osmotic diuresis with the result being HHNS.

Diet

In the United States, the increase of obesity which is attributed to the consumption of carbohydrate-rich foods in high amounts, there’s an increase in the number of people being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. This trend may lead to an increase in the incidence of HHNS especially in children and young adults.

Ethnic background

There’s also a disproportionately high prevalence of HHNS among Hispanics, Native Americans, and African Americans. This may be related to the high incidence of type 2 diabetes in these population groups.

Age

Serious complications of chronic conditions such as HHNS usually present themselves amongst older folks. This is usually attributed to the fact that older people may be less aware of the signs and symptoms of high blood sugar levels and how they should be treated.

Diagnosis

Physical examination and the patient’s history are very critical in the diagnosis of HHNS. This is largely because in most cases there’s an overlap in the symptoms obderved in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS). In the initial diagnosis, the doctor pays particular attention to overconsumption of foods rich in carbohydrates, missed doses of the hypoglycemic agent, the insulin regimen, or use of drugs that can cause dehydration or hypoglycemia.

If HHNS is preceded by an infectious process, signs and symptoms include:

Malaise
Tachycardia
General weakness
Tachypnea
Fever

If HHNS is preceded by a vascular or cardiac condition, symptoms include:

Dizziness
Headache
Chest tightness
Palpitation
Chest pain

What is the relationship between diabetes and HHNS?

When a person with diabetes develops Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS), blood glucose levels increase significantly and the body gets rid of the excess glucose through the urine. Initially, this causes frequent bathroom trips, and as the condition worsens, the color of urine also changes.

Other symptoms such as dehydration can also occur if the person does not drink liquids regularly. This can lead to other serious complications such as seizures, coma, and even death.

Therefore, when Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS) occurs in people in diabetes, the condition is mainly accompanied by profound glycosuria and hyperglycemia without the classic acetone in the urine or kussmaul breathing observed in diabetic ketoacidosis. The condition was formerly known as hyperosmolar non-ketotic coma (HONK), hyperosmolar hyperglycemic non-ketotic syndrome, and non-ketotic hyperglycemic coma.

Type 2 diabetes is mainly associated with hyperglycemia, which occurs as a result of relative or absolute insulin deficiency. The main function of insulin in the body is to regulate the amount of sugar in the blood by promoting glycogenesis (uptake of blood glucose by the skeletal muscle and adipose tissue). Insulin also prevents lipolysis (breakdown of fat). However, this action is countered by other hormones such as catecholamines and glucagon.

Type 2 diabetes accounts for approximately 90% of all diabetes cases and it mostly occurs in people with obesity. As a result of the high body mass index (BMI) and obesity, resistance to the action of insulin occurs in the peripheral tissue. Although beta cells continue to produce insulin, the amount is usually not enough to counter the effects of the resistance of end organs to its effects.

The mortality rate of Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome (HHNS) is about 20%, which is 10 times higher than the mortality rate in diabetic ketoacidosis. Prognosis and clinical outcome in HHNS is determined by various factors such as the lack or presence of other comorbidities, age, and the degree of dehydration.

How can people with diabetes avoid HHNS?

If you keep your blood sugar levels within the recommended range, you can avoid HHNS. It’s recommended that people with diabetes check their blood sugar levels regularly and take appropriate action if their readings fall outside the target blood sugar range.

Your doctor or healthcare provider should advise you on the effective blood sugar range and what should be done if a reading falls outside of it.

If your blood sugar levels are high and you’re experiencing the signs and symptom of HHNS (Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome), keep yourself well hydrated and seek immediate medical attention.

What is a Normal Blood Sugar Level?

The amount of sugar (glucose, measured in mg/dL) in the blood fluctuates throughout the day. Blood sugar levels usually depend upon what, how much and when you’ve eaten. Your levels can also change depending on your exercise regimen.

Depending on your treatment plan, your diabetes educator or doctor may recommend checking your blood glucose levels once a week or even up to 10 times a day. Rather than classifying blood sugar levels as being ‘normal’ or abnormal, you can think of them as being “at goal”, “in target” or “in range”.

Although the ADA (American Diabetes Association) provides clear guidelines for blood sugar goals for people living with diabetes, the goals usually vary depending on the time you’re checking your blood glucose.

Normal Blood Sugar:

Fasting normal blood sugar (before eating the first meal)

Normal fasting blood sugar level (no food for 8 hours) for a person without diabetes: 3.9-5.5 mmol/L (70-99 mg/dL)
American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendation for people with diabetes: 4.4-7.2 mmol/L (80-13 mg/dL)

Postprandial (Normal blood sugar two hours after meals)

Normal for people without diabetes: Lower than 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL)
American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendation for people with diabetes: Lower than 10.0mmol/L (180mg/dL)

HbA1c

Normal for people without diabetes: Lower than 5.7%
American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommendation for people with diabetes: Lower than 7.0%

Blood Glucose Levels and Diabetes

what is a normal blood sugar levels — Blood Sugar Levels Chart

Most people who have been diagnosed with diabetes have wondered at some point what their blood sugar level should be.

Although the responsibility of giving patients the answer to this question rests upon your doctor, physician, nurse practitioner or whoever diagnosed you, not every diabetes patient is given blood glucose goals.

In some cases, you might have been given your glucose goals a long time ago, and they have since been forgotten. However, this shouldn’t be cause for concern – we will discuss all that.

What is blood sugar, anyway?

Blood sugar (or glucose), is glucose that is in the blood. It mainly comes from the food we eat and the main contributors to blood sugar are foods that are rich in carbohydrates, such as fruit, pasta and bread. The cells in your body need sugar for energy in order to perform various functions such as breathing, moving, learning, and thinking. The brain is the body’s command center and it uses about 50% of the energy from blood sugar.

How do things go wrong?

The pancreas is responsible for releasing enzymes and hormones that metabolize food and help the body handle the high glucose levels. Insulin is the main hormone that helps manage blood glucose levels. This is where things can go awry. If your pancreas stops making insulin or doesn’t make enough of it, blood glucose levels can rise too high (type 1 diabetes). Another possible scenario is insulin resistance, where the cells have trouble using insulin properly. This is the main cause of type 2 diabetes.

High blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) can have a wide range of symptoms in the short term, including fatigue, frequent urination and weight loss. If untreated, serious complications can arise, such as ketoacidosis. In the long run (chronic high blood sugar levels), it can lead to more serious complications such as, heart disease, nerve damage, eye disease, as well as disease.

Measuring Blood Glucose Levels

Unless your blood glucose level is too high or too low, you may not always have the signs and symptoms of either low or high blood sugar. In fact, studies show that most people with type 2 diabetes rarely have the symptoms of high blood sugar. As a result, they may go undiagnosed for several years.

One of the best ways to know your blood sugar level is to check it using a glucose meter. The procedure is quite simple and straightforward. It involves doing a finger-stick with a lancet to draw a drop of blood onto the test strip and inserting it into the glucose meter for a reading.

An alternative way of knowing your blood glucose levels is by using a continuous glucose monitor. The continuous glucose monitor (CGM) reads glucose in the fluid stored between cells (interstitial fluid) approximately every 5 minutes.

While some doctors are able to provide patients with glucose meters free of charge, continuous glucose monitoring can be expensive, and is not covered by some health plans.

Therefore, it’s important to consult your health plan for clarification whether they have any “preferred” meters.

So what is considered to be a good blood sugar level?

Normal Blood sugar Levels

Why are Good Blood Sugar Levels so Important?

So What are the Main Complications of Diabetes?

Fasting hyperglycemia

After-meal or postprandial hyperglycemia mg/dL

Causes of High Blood Sugar

Signs, Symptoms, and Side Effects of High Blood Sugar

Fatigue

Frequent urination

Increased thirst

Headaches

Blurred vision

Confusion, nausea, vomiting, and more

Recurrent infections