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diabetes
Blood Sugar |
Blood SugarBlood sugar is explained in medical terms as the level of glucose (sugar) present in the blood.
It is the serum glucose level concentration found in the blood of human body. Although there are other sugars such as fructose and galactose, glucose is the one, which is controlled by insulin and glucagon.
Glucose is the prime source of energy for the smooth body functioning of various cells. The normal blood sugar levels ranges from 4 to 8 milli moles/Litre during the day.
Before the meals the normal blood sugar levels are 4 to 7 mmol/L and after meals it should be less than 10 mmol/L. During bedtime the blood glucose levels should reduce back to 8 mmol/L.
So the amount of sugar in the bloodstream is estimated to be 3.3 to 7g on an average throughout the day.
Diabetes mellitus is caused because of high sugar levels present in the blood.
This could be due to insulin resistance or insulin sensitivity. Either ways when the normal blood sugar levels are not maintained, it leads to several complications and risk for a diabetic person. These could be eye/ vision related problems, kidney impairments, nerve diseases, cardiovascular threats such as heart attacks, high blood pressure, poor circulation, etc.
Although sugar diabetes is controlled strictly, it cannot be totally cured so the blood glucose levels will not be always stable.
Blood sugar levels can be measured by oneself using a glucometer which contains a measuring device and a strip. The frequency of blood sugar level testing depends on the severity and the type of diabetes you have according to the consultation of the doctor. In case of type 1 diabetics who often take insulin injections, blood sugar levels should be measured before the meals so as to accordingly adjust the food intake and the insulin dosage.
Type 2 diabetes patients can relax and need not regularly check their blood glucose levels since they rely on oral medications. In case of old people who have frequent urination, urine can be checked to obtain the glucose levels. This should be done before eating breakfast and dinner.
It may also happen that being a diabetic your blood sugar level reduces below the normal levels, leading to hypoglycemia.
In those cases, again your food, insulin and other medications will have to be altered accordingly.
If your blood glucose level is more than 20 mmol/L, immediately test your urine for ketone presence and consult the doctor for ketoacidosis if ketones are present in the urine.
HbA1c test depicts the average blood sugar levels for the past six to eight weeks. If the blood glucose levels are consistently high then the HbA1c levels will also rise. HbA1c of 6% of the total hemoglobin is seen in non-diabetics. Anything less than 7% is good sugar control; 7.5% determines fair control of diabetes and 8.5% & above shows poor control of sugar diabetes.
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