Blood sugar level test

Do you have a family member who is diabetic? Do you have diabetes that runs in your family or a past medical history of diabetes? If this sounds like you then chances are you have been faced with the dreaded blood sugar level test.

The blood sugar level test can be given in various different ways such as drinking pure glucose. A lot of times your doctor will have you come into the office fasting and then ask you to drink a small bottle of pure glucose which is basically sugar water within a certain period of time and then you will be asked to either give a urine sample or a blood sample so that they can test your blood glucose level in order to see if you are a diabetic or not.

For most people hearing those dreaded words that they need to come in for a blood sugar level test is a hard thing to stomach but it has to be done in order to keep them safe, healthy and happy as well as to be able to live a long and healthy lifestyle. Diabetes is caused by insufficient insulin production or lack of responsiveness to insulin, resulting in hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels). There are 2 primary types of diabetes mellitus, type I (insulin-dependent or juvenile-onset), which may be caused by an autoimmune response, and type II (non-insulin-dependent or adult-onset).

When my grandmother was first diagnosed with diabetes many years ago, it was just a simple life changing habit of changing up some foods and diet and then knowing that she needed to monitor her sugar several times a day. When I have asked her about her trials and tribulations that she has gone through she said that the worst news she got was having her come in for a blood sugar level test which would let her know if she was a full blown diabetic or not.

Blood glucose monitoring device

There are many different types of blood glucose monitoring devices on the market and it is up to you to determine which one is best for you and your needs. Blood glucose monitoring devices are the key to being able to safely maintain and monitor your diabetes and blood glucose levels safely and effectively.

With all the many different types of blood glucose monitoring devices on the market often times a diabetic can feel overwhelmed and unaware of all the different types of diabetic monitoring devices to know which ones are the best ones to get or purchase for their needs.

For example, not only are their diabetic glucose monitoring devices but there are also diabetes watches which are usually worn on the wrist like a wristwatch. The monitor checks blood glucose levels by administering a painless electric shock which draws interstitial fluid from the pores and this is read by the monitor to obtain a blood glucose level. This testing can be done with no pain or other side effects as often as every 20 minutes and the readings are recorded by the monitor, which can also be set to alarm if readings are too high or too low. With this kind of continuous sampling tracking and trending changes in blood glucose levels throughout the day is relatively easy with diabetic watches.

Diabetic watches, diabetic glucose monitoring devices and many other diabetic supplies which can be found on the market today are a vital part to being able to safely and accurately monitor your blood glucose numbers and readings. Why not safely monitor you diabetes with all of the proper diabetic glucose monitoring devices that is now offered on the market so that you can safely and accurately test and keep a watch on your diabetes?

Blood sugar levels after eating

Many foods that you eat contain the sugar vital to your body’s normal function. Sweets, such as candy or cake contain processed sugar. Fruit contains natural sugar. The body converts carbohydrates into sugar. When you ingest sugar from any of these sources, it enters your bloodstream and becomes what is known as blood glucose or blood sugar levels after eating.

You can test your blood glucose level by placing a small amount of blood on a small strip of treated paper that you then insert into a glucose meter. Normal blood sugar levels are between 70 mg/dl to 120 mg/dl (milligrams of blood glucose per deciliter of blood).

Hyperglycemia is when your blood glucose levels are higher than normal. Blood glucose levels below normal can cause a condition called hypoglycemia.

When sugar enters your bloodstream, your pancreas is triggered to produce a hormone called insulin. Insulin bonds with the blood glucose, allowing it to feed your body the energy that it needs. The pancreas constantly monitors your blood glucose levels and produces enough insulin to fuel your body and keep your blood glucose levels in the normal range. This all effects your blood glucose levels after eating.

There are several activities that can cause normal fluctuations outside of the normal range in your blood glucose. The most common are eating a meal, exercise and stress.

When you eat a meal that contains any sugar source, your body is flooded with blood glucose. The pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin to accommodate the sugar, and so your blood glucose levels will rise above a normal level for approximately one to two hours. It is possible that during that first hour, your blood glucose level could be as high as 180 mg/dl.

Your blood glucose levels after eating will vary from what you eat, what time of day it is as well as what types of food you eat. By avoiding foods that are high in sugar and carbohydrates you can take care of your blood glucose levels.

Blood glucose ranges

Blood Glucose Ranges

These will vary from person to person but most will fall into the normal range of 70-100 before a person is considered diabetic. There are many factors to take into consideration before a person is classified as being diabetic such as family history, age, gender and weight just to name a few.

In most normal individuals blood sugar is measured under different circumstances. Fasting blood sugar levels or glucose levels are normally done between six and eight hours after the last meal. Most frequently a blood glucose range will be tested before breakfast in the morning.

After we eat a meal the blood glucose level will rise and won’t generally get above 135 to 140. If a blood glucose level gets below 100 it is referred to as being hypoglycemic or a person with low blood sugar while if it gets up above 140, a person is referred to as being hyperglycemic which means that person falls into the high ranges.

When it comes to blood glucose ranges it is key and essential to keep yours healthy, managed and maintained so that you don’t suffer from other medical problems that may arise such as kidney failure, stroke, heart attack, weakness, infections, neuropathy, poor eyesight and many other problems as well.

You are only given one body, so why throw that away when all you need to do is take care of it and make it last, giving you many more happy and healthy years

With the proper amount of diet and exercise you can have normal blood glucose ranges and be able to maintain your diabetes as well as your health all at the same time.

Exercise for diabetics

Exercise for Diabetics is Vital!

There are many different types of exercise for diabetics, such as running, walking, aerobics, swimming and almost anything else that a healthy person can do. Exercise is extremely beneficial, more so if you have diabetes, as it can help you maintain your blood glucose levels as well helping you maintain a healthy weight and in return, a healthy lifestyle.

Muscles all need fuel, but where do they get it from? Resting muscles happily use fatty acids to provide most of their needs. However, when you start exercising those muscles, they need more fuel and so start to use glucose.

The more you exercise them the more glucose they need. The first place they get this from is the glycogen stored in the muscles themselves but this soon runs out and they then start to use glucose from the bloodstream.

If that runs out there is always the liver to rely on. It has stores of glycogen that it can break down into glucose and send to the bloodstream or it can break down proteins and fats to make more glucose to do the same with. If the liver was not available to supply the extra glucose like this, hypoglycemia would occur in even normal people after about half an hour of exercise.

Exercise for diabetics goes hand in hand, about the same as bacon and eggs! A diabetic cannot expect to keep their diabetes maintained and properly taken care of without exercising and eating the right types and amount of foods. A diabetic needs exercise like a kid wants candy, they both are a necessity in order to get through life.

Exercise for diabetics is a necessity in order to keep your blood glucose levels where they should be.