Normal Glucose Levels in Adults

Blood sugar is necessary to keep the body and its organs running. The body functions on energy made by glucose, therefore certain levels are important to maintain. Lifestyle plays a large part in a person's maintenance of blood sugar and can sometimes keep a person from dealing with blood-sugar complications. Often with diet and weight control, a person can refrain from becoming dependent on medication for glucose control.

Blood Sugar Explained

• Glucose, or blood sugar, refers to the amount of sugar in a person's bloodstream. This is determined by a variety of factors, including food consumed, exercise and metabolism, and for someone without diabetic issues, is regulated on its own. Blood sugar is measured and given a recordable value. Blood-sugar levels should remain relatively consistent throughout the day, but vary slightly before and after meals.

Tests

• There are a number of tests that can be done to monitor blood-sugar levels. The most common test is checking with a blood-sugar monitor, in which a small amount of blood is taken from the fingertip and placed into a meter. The meter gives a reading and that number is used to determine the amount of sugar in the blood. This is often done several times throughout the day, generally upon wakening, one to two hours after eating and before bed. For more accurate readings, blood can be drawn in a lab, as venous readings will often vary from capillary (fingertip) readings. Doctors may also check the HbA1c (hemoglobin A1C) levels, which is a three-month average of blood sugars, giving the doctor a more accurate reading of blood-sugar levels.

Hyperglycemia

• Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, is typically defined as blood sugars higher than your doctor recommends. This number varies for different people, and should be discussed with your physician. High blood sugars are often a sign of diabetes, a disease in which the body does not produce enough insulin to convert glucose into energy. Uncontrolled high blood sugar can cause problems over time, leading to other health issues such as blindness, heart disease and kidney disease.

Hypoglycemia

• Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is a frequent condition in those who don't eat properly, or who do not consume enough sugar and carbohydrates. Hypoglycemia can cause a person to feel dizzy, confused, hungry or shaky and can be accompanied by fainting if sugar levels drop too low. This issue is typically treatable quickly with a dose of sugar or insulin and kept up with consuming protein afterwards.

Normal Ranges

• While "normal" ranges from person to person, depending on things such as their gender, weight and activity level, there are suggested levels for which blood sugars should stay for optimum health. In general, the lower side of normal should be from 70 to 100 mg/dL when fasting or before meals, and less than 180 mg/dL after meals. Glucose levels tend to be lowest when fasting, or prior to eating, and higher after eating meals. Levels consistently higher or lower than the normal ranges should be recorded and examined for a pattern to see if it could be a prelude to a health problem, or simply just a need to change eating habits. Often times, eating six small meals daily instead of three large meals will help keep blood sugars within normal ranges, as it keeps the metabolism from spiking and dropping.

Controlling Glucose

• Maintaining stable and healthy blood sugar is extremely important for health reasons, and a variety of things can be done to keep glucose levels reasonable. Regular exercise and a diet high in vegetables and protein and low in carbohydrates and excess sugar can often be enough to maintain normal blood sugar. Other times, a person may need medications such as Metformin or insulin to keep blood sugar in the normal range. Eating regularly and maintaining a well-rounded diet rich in protein and avoiding bursts of sugar can prevent episodes of low blood sugar.