Normal Range Blood Sugar Levels

Diabetes is one of the most life-threatening diseases in the world today. The number of people falling prey to this disease is increasing exponentially. However, more and more people are becoming aware of this dreadful disease, thanks to the various diabetes awareness initiatives. People are willing to undergo blood sugar test to keep a close check on diabetes. Though, your lab technician would be more than happy to interpret your test results for you, it would be better if you equip yourself with the basic knowledge about your blood sugar, especially your normal blood sugar count.

Factors Affecting Blood Sugar Level
Blood sugar can be defined as the amount of glucose present in the body at any given point of time. Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, resulting in abnormal production of sugar due to inability of the body to produce sufficient amount of insulin. The normal blood sugar levels may vary from person to person depending upon several factors such as:

• Age
• Sex
• Body composition
• Lifestyle

Normal Range Blood Sugar Levels
Blood sugar shows considerable deviations throughout the day. Normally, blood sugar is tested on an empty stomach, preferably in the morning. The normal blood sugar level at this time should be somewhere between 80 to 120 mg/dl (milligrams per deciliter). After meals, there is a gradual increase in the sugar level. Two hours after meal, normal range for blood sugar is about 120 to 160 mg/dl. The sugar level drops slightly during bedtime. Normal blood sugar level tested at this time should fall between 100 to 140 mg/dl.

Any deviation from the normal range blood sugar levels calls for medical intervention. If the blood sugar exceeds the upper limit of the normal range, it is an indication of diabetes. Repetitive blood glucose tests are necessary to affirm this possibility.

If you are already a diabetic, you should refer to the blood sugar levels for diabetics, which are as follows.
Type 1

Test Time	Children	Adults
Before meals	4 to 8 mmol/l	4 to 7 mmol/l
2 hours after meals	under 10 mmols/l	under 9 mmols/l

Those suffering from type 2 diabetes have about 4 to 7 mmol/l glucose in their blood before meals and below 8.5 mmol/l a couple of hours after meals. Blood glucose levels of about 5.6 to 7 mmol/l after 8 hours of fasting are indicative of impaired glucose tolerance, which is often a precursor to diabetes.

However, there are other conditions as well that influence the level of sugar in the blood. These include pregnancy, lactation, fasting, severe injuries and indulging in binge eating. Other factors that contribute in temporary elevation of the blood sugar level are physical exertion and certain ongoing medical treatments. Undergoing for more blood sugar tests is the only way to identify the cause of rise in the sugar level. If all the other conditions are eliminated, your physician may begin medical prognosis for diabetes.

Controlling Normal Range Blood Sugar Levels
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, your physician will prescribe you an appropriate treatment for diabetes. Along with that, you will have to make some changes in your lifestyle to control the sugar level in your blood. Even if you are not diagnosed with it, it is always better to take efforts to control your sugar level so as to prevent diabetes. Following are the tips to control blood sugar level.

• Have an active and healthy lifestyle
• Avoid smoking or drinking
• Eat nutritious and healthy diet only
• Do not skip meals

In case you are already a diabetic patient, ensure that you take your medications properly and follow the treatment regularly. Getting tested for normal blood sugar levels always improves your chances of keeping diabetes at bay.