![]() When you've eaten in the past two hours, it should be no higher than 140 mg/dL. Your blood sugar level changes depending on what you've eaten, whether you've exercised and other factors (more on that later) but we have some general guidelines to determine what levels are healthy.įor generally healthy individuals (without diabetes) who haven't eaten for eight hours or more, a normal blood sugar level is between 70-99 mg/dL. +26 more See all photos What should my blood sugar levels be? However, it's good to note that this is a fairly cost-intensive way of figuring out your nutrition, and writing down a food diary that includes how you felt after each meal will also help you figure out what to eat.Ĭheck out these blood sugar monitors if you're looking for recommendations on how to keep track of your levels at home. For instance, some people experiment with using a CGM to see how their body responds to different types of food. Say your A1C test comes back with no sign of diabetes - constantly measuring your blood sugar can still be helpful. Blood sugar measurement is also typically included in routine lab work for people without diabetes - your physician will usually order a glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test, which measures your average blood sugar over the past two to three months. If you have diabetes, you probably already keep a watchful eye on your blood sugar through the use of a continuous glucose monitor (a CGM) or a blood sugar meter (which involves pricking your fingertip). Read more: Is All Sugar the Same? The Difference Between 'Good' and 'Bad' Sugars How do I measure blood sugar? ![]() People with Type 2 diabetes, which usually occurs later in life, either don't secrete insulin or are resistant to it. Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which people are unable to make insulin, so they need to inject the hormone in order to keep their blood sugar levels stable. You probably also know about blood sugar in the context of diabetes. Insulin helps regulate your blood sugar levels - if you eat more sugar than you need in the moment, the hormone helps store the glucose in your liver until it's needed for energy. Read more: How Sugar Can Temporarily Sabotage Your Immune Systemīlood sugar is closely related to insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas that helps your body use glucose that's in the carbohydrates you eat. So, eat meals balanced with protein, fat and carbs to avoid this. ![]() High blood sugar can be an issue because it usually leads to sugar crashes, which are no fun - symptoms include fatigue, headaches and the jitters. Fats slow down the digestion of carbohydrates, which causes a delayed rise in blood sugar. Glucose from protein is typically stored in the liver and doesn't enter the bloodstream, so eating protein-rich foods won't raise your blood sugar too much. Glucose mainly comes from the carbohydrates we eat, though our bodies can convert protein and fat into sugar too if needed. ![]() We get glucose from the food we eat, and our blood carries it around to all the cells in the body to give them energy to function. What is blood sugar?īlood sugar, or glucose, is your body's main energy source. Let's get into what blood sugar means, how to measure it and everything else you need to know. While that's no reason to panic, when it comes to our health, it's important to know exactly what's going on inside of our bodies. Blood sugar that's consistently higher than ideal can coexist with Type 2 diabetes and cause serious health conditions like kidney disease, nerve problems or stroke. High blood sugar levels are a problem, even if you don't have a family history of diabetes. ![]()
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