What exactly is blood sugar level?
An individual’s blood sugar level (commonly known as serum glucose level or plasma glucose level) is basically the amount of glucose (sugar) within their blood at any given time.
Exactly why is glucose required?
Glucose (also called dextrose) is a simple sugar that’s produced by the human body from the carbohydrates that we eat. It’s necessary for a broad range of necessary bodily processes. In particular, it is crucial as it delivers energy to our tissues, nervous system and the brain.
Glucose is transferred from the digestive system or liver to body cells by way of the circulatory system, and is made available for cell absorption via the hormone insulin, primarily produced by the pancreas.
Glucose that’s not directly used as a source of energy by brain cells, intestinal cells and red blood cells is delivered to the liver, adipose tissue and muscle cells, where it’s absorbed and stored as glycogen. This glycogen can be transformed back to glucose and returned to the bloodstream at any time when insulin is low or absent.
So how is blood sugar level tested?
Blood sugar is normally measured in molecular count, the unit for which is mmol/L (millimoles per liter). Additionally it is often calculated as a weight in grams, the unit for which is mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).
What’s a healthy or usual blood sugar level?
Usually, your body maintains its blood glucose level at a reference range of between 3.6 and 5.8 mmol/L (or 64.8 and 104.4 mg/dL).
The mean standard blood glucose level in human beings is around 4 mmol/L (or 72 mg/dL), though the level clearly changes over the course of the day. As you may expect, glucose levels have a tendency to be at their lowest upon waking, ahead of the first meal of the day and rise just after eating for one to two hours by a couple of milliMolar. Having said that, when it comes to diabetics, blood sugar varies more broadly – see further below.
Just how can blood sugar / glucose levels have an effect on your health?
As stated before, glucose offers one’s body with the fuel that it must have to complete essential biological functions. Inadequate sugar / glucose (a low blood sugar level) or an over-abundance of sugar / glucose (a high blood sugar level) could lead to severe medical problems and blood sugar levels outside the standard range might be a warning sign of a medical condition.
Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
A continually high blood sugar level is technically referred to as hyperglycemia, while low levels are termed as hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia is a life-threatening condition. Symptoms include drowsiness, weakened mental functioning, frustration, shaking, twitching, a weakness in arm and leg muscles, pale appearance, sweating excessively, paranoid or aggressive demeanour and loss of consciousness. In severe cases, brain damage is possible.
By comparison, hyperglycemia usually involves suppressed appetite for the short term, with long term health issues including coronary disease, diabetes and eye, kidney, and nerve damage.
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is characterised by continual hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) either because the person’s body doesn’t make adequate insulin, or because their cells don’t react to the insulin which is produced. It is the most common disease linked to failure in blood sugar regulation.
For people with diabetes, it is of course particularly significant to maintain blood sugar levels within normal ranges, or else major health complications can arise. By way of example, nephropathy (kidney disease), neuropathy (nerve disease), retinopathy (eye disease) and cardiovascular diseases (heart diseases).
Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance (a symptom of polycystic ovarian syndrome) is yet another example of an ailment where blood sugar levels are pertinent. In this case, the body does not recognise the intake of sugars and carbohydrates and this means that it continues to pump out insulin which isn’t needed. If this continues for an extended time period, the pancreas can stop working and stop producing insulin altogether. If proper care isn’t taken by individuals who have this disorder to ensure a well-balanced diet and balanced blood sugar levels, it has the potential eventually trigger type two diabetes.
What else can affect blood sugar levels?
A wide range of factors can impact on an individual’s blood sugar level. For instance, it can be briefly elevated as a result of acute stress (such as trauma, stroke, myocardial infarction, surgery or disease) or on account of drug / medication usage, which can cause glucose levels to go up or go down.
Alcohol intake likewise triggers an initial spike in blood sugar, but later tends to cause levels to fall.
Keeping your blood sugar level within a healthy range
Making positive and healthy lifestyle choices (and, if needed, modifications) is a good first step in keeping your blood sugar levels controlled. For instance, taking regular physical exercise and (if required) slimming down in a smart and healthy way.
Dietary changes, particularly, can often be incredibly helpful in keeping blood sugar levels within normal ranges. For individuals with limited diets (such as diabetics), it can certainly be a problem to ensure an ideal consumption of nutrients on a daily basis. Many people find that high quality, nutrients-fortified meal replacement powders / shakes can help with this.
MEALtime is a liquid meal / meal replacement drink that is rich in quality protein, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, nutritious herbs and psyllium husks. What’s even better, it is suitable for diabetics and others seeking to maintain healthy, stable blood sugar levels because the only sugars included are those found naturally in the ingredient fruits.
MEALtime is a fast and simple way to fuel up on the go. Not only does this meal replacement / protein shake contain an array of important vitamins and minerals, but it also has important amino acids, ginseng and aloe vera for energy!
Needless to say, before altering your eating habits or taking health supplements, always be sure to consult your physician or qualified health practitioner (particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medications).