A person’s blood sugar level (also referred to as serum glucose level or plasma glucose level) is simply the volume of glucose (sugar) within their blood at any given time.
Why is glucose essential?
Glucose (sometimes known as dextrose) is a simple sugar that is generated by the human body from the carbs that individuals eat. It is vital for a wide variety of imperative bodily functions. Specifically, it’s important because it provides energy to our cells, nervous system and also the brain.
Glucose is transported from the digestive system or liver to cells via the blood stream, and is made available for cell absorption through the hormone insulin, created by the pancreas.
Glucose that is not directly used as an energy source by brain cells, intestinal cells and red blood cells is sent to the liver, adipose tissue and muscle cells, where it’s absorbed and stored as glycogen. This glycogen can be changed back to glucose and returned to the bloodstream in the event that insulin is low or absent.
How is blood sugar level measured?
Blood sugar is ordinarily measured in molecular count, the unit for which is mmol/L (millimoles per liter). Additionally it is occasionally measured as a weight in grams, the unit for which is mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).
What’s a healthy or standard blood sugar level?
In most cases, one’s 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 regular blood glucose level in human beings is around 4 mmol/L (or 72 mg/dL), though the level not surprisingly varies during the course of the day. As you might suspect, glucose levels tend to be lowest in the morning, ahead of the first meal of the day and spike just after eating for 1 – 2 hours by a couple of milliMolar. Having said that, in terms of diabetes sufferers, blood sugar varies more widely – see further below.
How might blood sugar / glucose levels affect your health and well-being?
As mentioned above, glucose provides a person’s body with the fuel that it requires to perform critical physiological functions. Insufficient sugar / glucose (a low blood sugar level) or an over-abundance of sugar / glucose (a high blood sugar level) may cause significant ailments and blood sugar levels outside the typical range may be indicative of a medical condition.
Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
A continuously high blood sugar level is known as hyperglycemia, whilst low levels are generally known as hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia is a potentially fatal condition. Symptoms include listlessness, weakened mental functioning, becoming easily irritated, shaking, twitching, lack of strength in arm and leg muscles, pale colouration, excessive sweating, paranoid or aggressive demeanour and fainting. In rare instances, brain damage is a possibility.
By comparison, hyperglycemia involves the appetite being suppressed in the initial stages, with long term health conditions including heart disease, diabetes and eye, kidney, and nerve damage.
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is characterised by chronic hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) either because the person’s body doesn’t make adequate insulin, or due to the fact that cells do not react to the insulin which is produced. It happens to be the most prevalent disease associated with malfunction in blood sugar regulation.
For all those with diabetes, it’s particularly important to keep blood sugar levels within normal ranges, or else serious health complications may arise. Including, 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 another example of a disorder where blood sugar levels are very important. In this case, the body fails to recognise the intake of sugars and carbohydrates and this means that it continues to pump out insulin which isn’t required. If this proceeds for an extended time period, the pancreas can shut down and stop producing insulin altogether. If proper care isn’t taken by those who have this problem to ensure a balanced diet and balanced blood sugar levels, it has the potential at some point trigger type 2 diabetes.
Can anything else impact blood sugar levels?
Several things could affect someone’s blood sugar level. For example, it can be briefly elevated as a result of intense stress (such as trauma, stroke, myocardial infarction, surgery or sickness) or on account of drug / medication use, which can cause glucose levels to go up or lower.
Alcohol intake also triggers an initial upturn in blood sugar, but eventually has a tendency to cause levels to drop.
Trying to keep your blood sugar level in check
Making positive and healthy lifestyle choices (and, if required, changes) is a good first step in keeping your blood sugar levels in check. For instance, taking regular exercise and (if need be) slimming down in a sensible and healthy way.
Dietary changes, in particular, are often extremely helpful in keeping blood sugar levels within normal ranges. For all those with restricted diets (such as diabetics), it can certainly be a challenge to ensure an ideal intake of nutrients and vitamins every single day. A lot of people find that good 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. On top of that, it is appropriate 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 quick and easy 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!
*Before changing your diet, undertaking a new exercise regime or taking health supplements, always be sure to consult your doctor or qualified health practitioner (particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medications).