Normal Blood Glucose Levels

As the number of people diagnosed with diabetes is increasing at an alarming rate, it is crucial for all of us to educate ourselves regarding the recommended normal blood sugar levels. Though an elevated blood glucose level or hyperglycemia is not actually a disease, it can lead to various health symptoms, which at times, can be fatal. And for such people, lowering glucose levels is essential to minimize the risk of life-threatening complications.

So, what is glucose? and why are people so concerned about normal blood glucose levels? Glucose or sugar is nothing but a simpler form of energy for the body cells and tissues, which is released into the bloodstream after digestion of foods. For a healthy individual, glucose from the blood is used for carrying out the normal body activities. But, the problem arises when glucose is not used and remains in the blood, resulting in hyperglycemia or high blood glucose levels.

Normal Blood Glucose Levels

Blood sugar level refers to the concentration of glucose present in the blood at that particular time. This glucose amount may fluctuate after eating food and/or having medication. And, when we say normal blood glucose levels, the exact value depends on which glucose test has been performed. To be more precise, there are three primary methods for blood glucose tests, namely, fasting, random and postprandial.

Out of the three blood glucose testing methods, the most common is the fasting blood glucose test, which is performed after the candidate fasts for 8 hours. The second method, random blood glucose test can be conducted at any time of the day, either before or after meals. On the other hand, the third method, postprandial blood glucose test is done exactly after two hours of having lunch. Mentioned below are the normal blood glucose levels for children, adults and diabetics:

Normal Blood Glucose Levels for Children
The normal blood glucose level for children is 70-110 mg/dL before breakfast, 70-120 mg/dL before lunch or dinner, below 140 mg/dL if measured one hour after meals and 120 mg/dL or less if measured two hours after a meal. In another data, 100-180 mg/dL glucose reading is healthy for children under 6 years, 90-180 mg/dL for age group 6 to 12 years and 90-130 mg/dL for teenagers.

Normal Blood Glucose Levels for Adults
For adults, the normal blood glucose levels measured by fasting method is 70-99 mg/dL, while the recommended level for a random blood glucose test is 70-135 mg/dL. If measured by the postprandial technique, the normal blood glucose range for adults is below 100mg/dL. Thus, normal blood glucose levels are lowest when measured with the fasting method, while it is highest in case of random testing.

Normal Blood Glucose Levels for Diabetics
Speaking with reference to normal glucose levels for diabetics, frequent monitoring is prescribed to check how well the glucose level is controlled with lifestyle changes and medication. Another technique implemented to determine blood glucose reading for diabetics is hemoglobin A1c, which helps in monitoring the glucose levels for the past 2-3 months. The normal reading for diabetics is below 7 percent hemoglobin A1c, 80-120 mg/dL before meals and less than 160 mg/dL, two hours after a meal.

It is estimated that approximately 2 percent people below 20 years are diagnosed with diabetes. For easy and quick understanding, one can refer to normal blood glucose levels chart, which are available in clinics and hospitals. This chart represents healthy blood sugar levels for normal adults, pre-diabetics and established diabetics in accordance to the three testing methods.

What Causes High Blood Glucose Levels?

As we have seen already, a high blood glucose reading is due to failure of the body cells to use glucose from the blood. But, the question is what is the underlying cause of this? The main culprit for causing hyperglycemia is the insulin hormone, which is responsible for maintaining blood glucose levels. In an individual with diabetes, insulin is not produced in sufficient amounts (type 1 diabetes) or the body cells are non-responsive to insulin (type 2 diabetes). In both cases, the blood sugar remains higher than the prescribed range.

This was a brief overview on normal blood glucose levels and causes for hyperglycemia. For those diagnosed with diabetes, changing lifestyle habits and taking necessary medication are crucial for controlling the blood glucose levels within the medically prescribed normal range. On the concluding note, it is vital for everyone to get their blood glucose levels monitored after regular intervals.