When it comes to determining the normal fasting blood glucose level the numbers are sometimes subject to the individual. In most cases, however, a normal fasting blood glucose level is considered to be between 60 and 100 mg/dl. This is not a hard and fast rule however, as at times blood glucose levels can be influenced by age, weight, and even underlying health problems. The number one concern is that if you or someone you know suddenly develops increased thirst, increased appetite, and increased urination, and/or if there is a family history of diabetes it is probably time for a trip to the doctor to test for a normal fasting blood glucose level.
The Becton-Dickinson company is one of the world leaders in supplying medical equipment and is the supplier of the BD glucose test meter. The BD glucose test meter is a one of the new breed of compact glucometers. The BD glucose test meter is so small that is fits neatly in the palm of the hand and so light at to be practically unnoticed when stowed in a purse of carry bag for easy travelling.
The newest BD glucose test meter is a miniature when compared to the bulky meters that were available just a few years ago, and it is so sensitive that it takes only the smallest amount of blood to read the glucose level. This means that a thinner gauge lancet can be used to obtain the blood sample and this of course means a great deal less discomfort than the meters that were used just a few years ago.
If you are in the market for new diabetes test equipment be sure and compare blood glucose meters before you buy. Anytime you have a large number of options on the market, whether you are looking for a new car, a new home, or even food items it is a good idea weigh your options, so compare blood glucose meters before you make a decision as to which one is right for you.
After all with so many options on the market there is no excuse for not getting the one that is the best fit for your medical care and your lifestyle. You can compare blood glucose meters online, in magazine articles, or even in the store, but this is a situation where you should resist the urge to buy based solely on impulse or on the basis of price alone.
Let’s face it, why waste money on a product unless it the one that suits you best. If you are a technophile you may want the model that has a USB port so you can load data from the meter into your computer. If you travel a lot you may want the smallest and most compact model. If your fingers get sore from checking your sugar often you may want to get the model that can take blood from the forearm or some other location other than the fingertip.
If you are always on the go you may want the model that works the fastest. Maybe you just want a basic model with a minimum of added features. If you don’t but the type of meter that suits you and your lifestyle best you are not as apt to use it as often as you need to and this should be the first thing on your mind when you compare blood glucose meters.
With so many different options available make your choice carefully, do your research before purchasing. Be sure and compare blood glucose meters, then buy the one that suits you best.
What is a good blood sugar level? This is becoming a question that is being asked more and more often in doctor’s offices and other healthcare facilities all across the globe. In most places heart disease, stroke, and cancer rates are on the decline, but the numbers of new cases of diabetes continue to rise each year. Not long ago, very few people would have ever thought to ask such a question as “what is a good blood sugar level?” but nowadays the question may be the answer to the difference between a long and happy life and a shorter life plagued with diabetes associates health problems.
Diabetes occurs when the body either does not produce enough insulin or the cells of the body have become resistant to the action of the insulin that is produced. In either case the lack of insulin action will not allow the glucose in the blood to pass into the cells to be used up for energy.
This results in a build-up of insulin in the bloodstream. Glucose, a simple sugar, is usually used by every cell in the body as fuel, but when glucose levels get too high the glucose can cause damage to nearly every system in the body. This damage may manifest itself as heart disease, kidney failure, hypertension, peripheral neuropathy, or even coma and death. So, “what is a good blood sugar level?” is a very important question.
“What is a good blood sugar level?” can be a difficult question to answer due to the fact that everyone is different, but generally speaking a blood glucose level between 60 and 110 is considered normal. If you or anyone you know begin to develop the symptoms of sudden increased thirst, increased appetite, and increased urination it may be time to visit the doctor and ask the question, “what is a good blood sugar level for me?”
What are normal glucose levels? This is the kind of question that most people never ask. Most people could care less about blood glucose levels and live blissfully unaware of how glucose levels can affect health, unless they suddenly find themselves diagnosed with diabetes.
Heart disease, cancer, and stroke rates are all on the decline, but diabetes rates are rising at a staggering rate and an increasing number of people find themselves concerned with the question of, “What are normal glucose levels?”
In order to answer the question, “what are normal glucose levels?” one should first understand what glucose is and how it works. Glucose is basically what fuels every cell in the body. When we ingest sugars and carbohydrates the body metabolizes them into glucose which is actually a type of simple sugar. The glucose goes into the bloodstream where insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, causes the cells to “open up” so that the glucose can enter the cell and be used for fuel.
Without glucose the body would cease to function as surely as trying to run a car without gas, and higher than normal levels of glucose can damage many different body systems, causing kidney damage, heart problems, neuropathies, glaucoma, or even coma and death. Like most everything in medicine the answer to the question, “what are normal glucose levels?” may vary from patient to patient based on factors such as age, weight, other health conditions, and even exercise levels. Because of this, there are no hard and fast answers, but in most cases if you asked a doctor “what are normal glucose levels?” he would answer that normal glucose levels are usually between 60 and 110 in a normal person. If you check your sugar regularly and find that it is running higher than 110 or lower than 60 it is probably a good idea to stop asking “what are normal glucose levels?” and go see your doctor to find out if your body is metabolizing glucose correctly.
