The normal blood sugar levels when fasting is 70-99 mg/dl, and the normal blood sugar level after 2 hours of consuming food is less than 140 mg/dl. Do not worry if your reports show values other than the above, yet you should not neglect them as well.
Most of us go for blood sugar tests only if our doctors ask us to do that or any family member gets detected with diabetes. However, diabetes takes a long time to develop without any visible signs. The results of the large-scale study led by ICMR in 2023 estimate that there are more than 100 million people who have diabetes in India and millions more who suffer from prediabetes.
In this article, we shall discuss the blood sugar level chart for adults in detail in an easy way for everyone: fasting blood sugar, post-food blood sugar, random blood sugar, and HbA1c. In addition, you will learn about factors affecting blood sugar level, how to test sugar levels at home, and simple tricks to keep your blood sugar at bay.
Blood Glucose Definition
Blood glucose is another term for blood sugar that refers to the sugar in the bloodstream after eating meals. The sugar is derived from the rice, roti, fruits, sugars, and other carbohydrates taken as part of meals, and it serves as the principal fuel for the body.
A hormone produced in the pancreas known as insulin helps move the glucose into the body cells. If there is no enough insulin or the body does not respond to it, sugar starts building up in the bloodstream. After some years, having high levels of sugar damages the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and the heart.
Normal Fasting Blood Glucose
Fasting blood glucose level is the concentration of sugar measured after at least 8 hours without food and any drink except water. This test is popular since it demonstrates the ability of our body to maintain stable glucose levels even in the absence of stimuli such as a meal.
• Norm of fasting glucose: 70 – 99 mg/dL
• Prediabetes (impaired fasting glucose): 100 – 125 mg/dL
• Diabetes mellitus: more than 126 mg/dL on two different occasions
It should be noted that one-time increase of the level above normal values does not always mean diabetes. Stress, sleep disorder, some illness, or late supper may cause a temporary rise in glucose values. Thus, the retest is conducted in order to verify this condition. However, please note that WHO defines the starting point of prediabetes for fasting glucose as 110 mg/dL.
Blood Sugar Reading in the Healthy Person Post-Meal
The blood glucose levels are increased when eating, and in healthy individuals, the blood sugar gets reduced again thanks to insulin after a couple of hours after having eaten. The postprandial or PP test allows determining the effectiveness of this mechanism.
• Normal blood glucose 2 hours post food: less than 140 mg/dL
• Pre-diabetic stage (impaired glucose tolerance): 140 to 199 mg/dL
• Diabetes: 200 mg/dL or more
One hour post-meal the blood glucose levels may peak, and up to 180 mg/dL can be considered as normal one. The key thing in such case is the return of blood glucose readings back to under 140 mg/dL in 2 hours post-meal. The accuracy of the PP test is ensured when 2 hours are counted from the beginning of the meal and when regular diet is followed.
Consult Dr. Praveen MP
For general medical consultation and guidance on blood clot risk factors and prevention, contact:
Dr. Praveen MP
MBBS, DPM (NIMHANS), MD – General Medicine
📍 Electronic City, Bengaluru
📞 +91 7892377288
🌐 www.drpraveenmp.co.in
Comments
Post a Comment