Many people suffer from diabetes and high blood sugar. It is important to understand that high blood sugar levels can not only predispose you to diabetes, but it is always unhealthy to overload your blood with too much sugar. Normal blood sugar levels should be maintained optimally, and if you have a history of diabetes in your family, it is very important to check your blood sugar levels at least every 6 months.
What are Blood Sugar Levels?
Blood sugar or blood glucose levels are the levels of glucose present in the blood. Glucose is the primary source of energy for our body, and in order to sustain life, blood glucose has to be at a certain level for us to function optimally. In a normal person, excess blood glucose is transferred to the body tissues with the help of a hormone called ” “insulin” . When there is a deficiency of this hormone or if there are other reasons that impede the normal transfer of glucose from the blood to the body tissues, then a condition called “diabetes mellitus” can develop.
What Are The Tests That Determine Blood Glucose Levels?
There are two common tests that determine blood glucose levels and whether they are in the normal range or not. These tests are ” “fasting” blood glucose and ” “random” blood glucose tests. In the fasting test one has to fast for approximately 12 hours before giving blood for the test, and in the random test, blood can be given any time of the day to check for normal blood glucose levels. Other tests that check for glucose levels are:
- Glucose urine test
- Oral glucose tolerance test
- Glycosylated hemoglobin
- Two-hr postprandial blood sugar test
What Are the Normal Ranges of Blood Glucose?
In a normal adult the amount of glucose present in the blood should not exceed 110 milligrams per deciliter in a fasting blood glucose test. The normal range is from 80-110 mg/dl. If the amount of glucose in your blood exceeds this amount in at least 3 tests and if your blood glucose levels are raised in other blood and urine tests that check for glucose levels in the body, then you should get yourself checked for diabetes.