blood glucose level | Diabetes Healthy Solutions

Fasting blood glucose level

Let’s face it we all hate to hear our doctor’s tell us that we need to come in for a fasting blood glucose level test. Is it because of the stuff we are required to drink or because we have to go for long periods of time without food or drink? Who knows, we just hate it.

A fasting blood glucose level test is used for many reasons such as family history and diabetes prevention. For many of us, if asked we can tell you someone in our family that we are related to who is diabetic, so by being able to monitor our fasting blood glucose level we can prevent from being diagnosed with diabetes. A fasting blood glucose level test is also performed if a patient starts having signs or symptoms related to diabetes.

A fasting blood glucose level test can be performed in several different ways such as coming into the doctor’s office first thing in the morning after you have been fasting, they will generally stick your finger, take blood or ask for a urine sample and then you may be asked to drink a bottle of basic sugar water or glucose within a certain timeframe and then have your fasting blood glucose level checked again.

Often times even during pregnancy you will be asked for a fasting blood glucose level if you fall into a certain age category, have a family history or are having signs and symptoms of diabetes. Often times when someone is having multiple births or pregnant with multiples such as twins or triplets they may be tested for fasting blood glucose level. By being able to test for diabetes during pregnancy the baby can be prevented as well from possibly having gestational diabetes later on after birth. If a woman is diagnosed as having diabetes during pregnancy she can take the precautionary measures in preventing from later having full blown diabetes.

The dangers of low blood glucose levels

What is the danger of a low blood glucose level? A Low blood glucose level is extremely dangerous. It can cause confusion, dizziness, altered mental status, and even fainting, all of which can lead to serious harm to the person.

Hypoglycemia (as it is called) is the opposite of Diabetes. With diabetes the low blood glucose range is about the same as a normal person average glucose levels, meaning the glucose levels are extremely high (and this is dangerous in the long run). However with hypoglycemia the low blood glucose level is extremely low. This is caused by either lack of food or too much insulin in the body. This can be reversed if food is taken such as simple sugars to boost the body and complex carbohydrates following quickly afterwards.

The average low blood glucose level is 60.8 mg/dl and the high blood glucose level being 104.4 mg/dl. The amounts for a person suffering from hypoglycemia can be as low as 50 mg/dl. At these levels the brain does not get the amount of glucose needed, and this can result in serious damages. At first the person will suffer dizziness and confusion, but as it progresses shaking, altered mental status, and fainting will occur al are very dangerous.

There is several ways to treat a low blood glucose level. The first is going to your doctor (which is always best, especially if you suffer with this often). The second (which your doctor may prescribe) is using a blood glucose meter. A blood glucose meter is a small hand held item that is used to measure the amount of glucose in the blood. The unit uses small plastic strips to measure the amount s in the blood and display the results on the side in seconds. So using this unit is the best way to treat a low blood glucose level.

Do you know how to lower glucose level?

Do you know how to lower glucose level? Knowing how to lower glucose level is very important for those with the disease diabetes. Diabetes is a very serious disease that affects many people the world. Not only does it affect those who have it but it effects all who come in to contact with them.

Diabetes is where the organ known as the pancreas quits or slows in the production of insulin. Insulin is a vital chemical of the body; it is responsible for feeding your body’s cells.

The chemical takes the glucose (sugar) in the blood and transforms it into a form of fuel that the cells can use. So without it the body doesn’t get the required fuel amounts. This also results in the glucose amounts to skyrocket which is very dangerous. Over time the increased amounts of glucose in the blood causes damages such as heart disease, heart damage, kidney damage, nerve damage, and eventually blindness. All of this will make a diabetics life miserable in the long run, but with the proper care the effects will be limited. So learning how to lower glucose level is very important.

Lowering the blood glucose level can be quite easy with a few simple things such as diet, exercise, monitors, and charts. The proper diet can drastically improve the life of both diabetic and normal person. But a diabetic needs a correct diet because such foods as candy and fruits can wreak havoc on the blood sugar levels. Exercise is also very important and can help with lower fasting glucose level. But with both of these a doctor should be consulted with as he can give the correct amounts of each needed. A blood glucose monitor is also very useful as it allows you to check your blood sugar at any time. A chart can be made to record each test, but this can be applied to help lower cholesterol level to. So now you know how to lower glucose level.

How to test for diabetes

Knowing how to test for diabetes is extremely important. Diabetes is a disease that has taken America by storm. The large amounts of sweets in today’s world have a large effect on this (plus the defective diabetes gene being passed on). Diabetes changes lives for better and for worse and is a complicated life to live.

Diabetes is where the organ known as the pancreas stops or slows in the production of a chemical known as insulin. Insulin is responsible for all of your energy as it converts the glucose in the blood into fuel that the body cells are capable of using. So when the insulin levels are low the glucose is high and this can cause a severe amount of damage. The damage that can be done include heart damage, kidney damage, nerve damage, blindness. So knowing how to test for diabetes and knowing whether you have it is vitally important. So do I have diabetes?

Some of the tests that you can give yourself and your doctor can do include a blood sugar test and keto test. A blood sugar test is done with a blood glucose unit. This small handheld device can accurately measure your blood glucose level in seconds. The unit has small plastic strips that take a small amount of blood and measures it. The small unit then displays the results on the side where it is easily read. Some units also store up to 500 tests and their information. Diabetes symptoms include excessive eating, weight loss, urination, and altered mental status. So if you are concerned due to these symptoms contact your doctor or give yourself a test. If you have been diagnosed a small glucose meter will be needed. Also talk to your doctor about it and how to test for diabetes.

The Normal Fasting Glucose Level

Not long ago, a normal fasting glucose level was never a chief concern for very many people, as the main health worries of the day were heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure.

Sure there have always been diabetics, but in recent times the number of people diagnosed with diabetes has skyrocketed, even as the number of people diagnosed with heart disease, hypertension, and many forms of cancer have begun to decrease. If the current trend continues, diabetes and diabetes related issues may well become the most important health care concerns of the new millennia. This means that for a growing number of people, having a normal fasting glucose level is more important than ever.

The symptoms to watch for in cases where diabetes may be developing include increased thirst, increased hunger, increased urination, increased fatigue, blurred vision, and lightheadedness. If a person is experiencing two or more of these symptoms it may be time to schedule a test with their physician to determine if they are maintaining a normal fasting glucose level. This is especially true if there is anyone else in their family that has diabetes.

The most common glucose tolerance test is the oral glucose tolerance test, or OGTT. For the OGTT the patient is usually asked to fast for 8 to 10 hours. After the fasting blood glucose level is determined, the patient is given a solution to drink which contains a known quantity of glucose. The blood glucose of the patient is them measured at intervals to determine if their body is correctly metabolizing the glucose which has been ingested. The normal fasting glucose level is usually considered to be between 70 and 99 mg/dl and any reading outside this range may mean that more tests should be run and a possible diagnosis of diabetes.