Blood Glucose Levels: Normal Values

Our body has the ability to convert the foods we eat into glucose. Glucose is then transported by the blood to our cells. They use it for energy. To get inside the cells, glucose needs insulin.

Hyperglycemia vs. Hypoglycemia

In people with diabetes, insulin is a problem. Whether there is or not a proper level of blood glucose, the body encounters difficulty in using it.

Or, in other cases, blood glucose is too low (Type II diabetes). When insulin is not able to do its job, glucose can not enter the cells and gets collected in the blood.

The amount of glucose in the blood glucose level represents the glucose level of each individual. Too much blood glucose leads to hyperglycemia and a too small amount results in hypoglycemia.

Blood Glucose Normal Levels

In order to maintain a healthy body, it’s important to maintain first an optimal level of glucose, by linking nutrition and daily activity with foods, medicine for diabetes or insulin.

In people with diabetes, glucose limits are:

• In the morning, before breakfast: 30-130 (mg / dl)
• Before meals: 30-130 (mg / dl)
• 2 hours after meals: less than 180 mg / dl

Be careful tough! The above limits are based on home blood glucose monitoring performed by the meter, and not on the laboratory.

Blood glucose control

– Check your blood sugar often, at least 2-3 times per day
– Check glucose level more often if:
• you eat too much or too little or tried a new recipe
• you have delayed or skipped a meal
• feel sick
• are stressed
• you haven’t took your diabetes pills or insulin
• you have given yourself a too high dose of insulin
• you took too many diabetes pills
• you skipped your regular exercise program
• you have been working out too much or too heavy

Nutrition and physical activity

For diabetics, we recommend the following tips:

– Follow a strict diet: what, how and when you eat
– Set your meals at the same time every day
– Establish an eating plan based on a nutritionist’s recommendations
– Don’t skip meals and snacks and do not delay
– Consume equal amounts of food every day
– If you are taking insulin, ask an expert how to adjust the dose if you want to increase or decrease the amount of food consumed daily

– Follow an exercise program
– Check your glucose level after the exercise, since they tend to decrease glucose levels for 10 to 24 hours after their completion
– If you are taking insulin, ask for an expert’s advice on the dose adjustments based on your daily exercise program.