Normal Fasting Blood Sugar Levels

Blood sugar is an important health indicator and is the measurement of the level of glucose in the bloodstream, as it helps determine the functioning of many enzymes like insulin, and even organs like the pancreas and kidneys. Most importantly, blood sugar levels are measured to help diagnose the condition of diabetes. There are two types of blood sugar measurements - fasting blood sugar levels and postprandial blood sugar levels. Fasting blood sugar levels are measured either six to eight hours after a meal, or just before a meal. These are the levels that signify the amount of glucose circulating in the blood when the person is on an empty stomach.

What is the Normal Level of Fasting Blood Sugar?
The normal fasting blood sugar for women is said to be around 83 mg/dl or less, and the same for men is said to be around 90-130 mg/dl. However, normal fasting blood sugar for children is slightly on the higher side and is said to be around 100 mg/dl. It is important to know the normal levels of fasting blood sugar in children, so as to keep an eye out for the presence of juvenile diabetes. It is reported that many adults that have normal blood sugar levels show reading of fasting blood sugar at around 70 mg/dl. Most doctors claim that fasting blood sugar levels under 100 mg/dl is said to be normal. Research is said to point the fact that fasting blood glucose levels of anything around 90 mg/dl in an adult is a predictor of diabetes in old age.

Fasting Blood Glucose Levels Readings

Blood Sugar Levels (mg/dl)	Category
Less than 70	Low levels
70 - 100 mg/dl	Normal level
101 - 126 mg/dl	Pre-diabetes/impaired glucose tolerance
More than 126 mg/dl	Diabetic Blood Sugar Levels

What Do Changes in Fasting Blood Sugar Signify?
Any kind of deviation or rise in fasting blood sugar levels will depend on the extent and severity to which it occurs. If the blood sugar only deviates slightly from the normal range, then it is not a major cause of worry, as some simple changes in lifestyle, like cutting down on the intake of fatty foods and regularly exercising, will help keep a check on the blood sugar levels and will help bring them under control. However, if the fasting blood sugar rises to say 120 mg/dl, then it is advisable that the person get his postprandial blood sugar levels checked as well. This will help confirm the diagnosis of diabetes. Along with taking the help of the test, the person can also check for other possible diabetes symptoms, like increased hunger (polyphagia), increased thirst (polydipsia) and increased urination (polyuria). If the person is showing the signs and symptoms of this classic triad, then the chances are high that he is suffering from diabetes. In such cases, it is necessary that the person will need to go to the doctor and get a proper and detailed treatment plan chalked out, as merely making lifestyle changes at this stage will only help in bringing down the sugar levels on a long term basis. However, in such cases, along with proper diabetes treatment, the person will need to make certain lifestyle changes so as to keep the disease at bay in the future.

This is an important indicator of diabetes and helps in detecting this disease in its early stages. Hence, the readings of this test should not be ignored, as it helps in catching diabetes in its incipient stage, which can help prevent complications and problems related to this dreadful disease in the future.