Type 1 Diabetes Blood Sugar Levels Chart

Blood Glucose Testing

Diabetes makes many demands on the individual, not least of which is the need for frequent testing of blood glucose levels. In the early days, blood glucose testing was usually advised only for people with Type 1 diabetes. Nowadays, since the importance of blood glucose control has been fully realised, all people with diabetes are recommended to monitor their blood glucose levels at home on a regular basis. What's covered on this page The Importance of Blood Glucose Monitoring The main characteristic of diabetes is a higher than normal blood glucose level. This may cause distress and suffering in the short term, and can have a devastating effect over the long term. The responsibility for your day-to-day diabetes care lies in your hands. The ONLY way that you can accurately* assess how well your treatment plan is working is to measure your own blood glucose levels at certain times throughout the day and, occasionally, in the night. You will need commitment and a certain level of understanding. Testing your blood glucose should not be painful, but you may find it a nuisance; it is so often tempting not to bother. Frequency of blood testing is positively correlated with improved diabetic control so your perseverance should reward you with improved general well being and reduced risk of long term complications. *HbA1c is often preferred by health professionals as the main indicator of blood glucose control in people with Type 2 diabetes, and especially those on no medication or on metformin only. See the blog post “Finger-prick blood glucose testing for Type 2’s” for further discussion. Terminology Blood samples Blood is pumped around the body by the heart. The major vessels that take blood away from the heart are called arteries. The major vessels that take blood bac Continue reading >>

Normal Blood Sugar Levels Chart

Human body requires glucose for the production of energy and carbohydrates are the main source of glucose. Scarcity of glucose can affect body metabolism seriously. Glucose in blood is commonly known as blood sugar. Not only low glucose levels but elevated glucose levels also can lead to serious health complications, for example, diabetes and stroke. If serious fluctuations in the levels of blood sugar are not treated promptly, they can prove to be fatal. Blood Sugar and Diabetes If you notice symptoms like excessive thirst and hunger, excessive urination, low energy, weight loss, a wound not healing quickly (despite medications), etc. you should consult your physician. Blood tests help diagnose diabetes. Blood sugar is checked twice, first after fasting for about 8 hours (generally overnight) and then two hours after lunch. The first one is known as fasting blood sugar level and the latter is known as postprandial blood sugar level. Blood sugar measured randomly, at any time of the day is referred to as random blood sugar. Insulin, produced by pancreas plays an important role in the process of absorption of glucose by the cells. Dysfunction of the beta cells of the pancreas results in insulin deficiency. This adversely affects the process of breakdown of glucose and leads to an abnormal rise in blood sugar levels. This condition is known as type 1 diabetes. Sometimes body cells don't respond to insulin, and do not absorb glucose present in blood. This results in high blood glucose levels. The condition is known as insulin resistance or it is also referred to as type 2 diabetes. Increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination, nausea, excessive fatigue, blurred vision, frequent infections, weight loss, dry mouth, slowly-healing wounds, tingling sensation, numbness in fi Continue reading >>

Blood Glucose Monitoring

One of the main aims of diabetes treatment is to keep blood glucose levels within a specified target range. The key is balancing your food with your activity, lifestyle and diabetes medicines. Blood glucose monitoring can help you understand the link between blood glucose, food, exercise and insulin. Over time your readings will provide you and your health professionals with the information required to determine the best management strategy for your diabetes. Maintaining good blood glucose control is your best defence to reduce the chances of developing complications from diabetes. Self-blood glucose monitoring allows you to check your blood glucose levels as often as you need to or as recommended by your doctor or Credentialled Diabetes Educator. To test blood glucose levels, you need: A blood glucose meter A lancet device with lancets Test strips. Blood glucose meters are usually sold as kits giving you all the equipment you need to start. There are many different types, offering different features and at different prices to meet individual needs. Most of these are available from Diabetes Australia in your state or territory, pharmacies and some diabetes centres. Your doctor or Credentialled Diabetes Educator can help you choose the meter that’s best for you, and your Credentialled Diabetes Educator or pharmacist can show you how to use your meter to get accurate results. To test your blood glucose levels, you prick your finger with the lancet and add a small drop of blood onto a testing strip. This strip is then inserted into the meter, which reads the strip and displays a number – your blood glucose level. When and how often you should test your blood glucose levels varies depending on each individual, the type of diabetes and the tablets and/or insulin being us Continue reading >>

Table 1 Blood Sugar Levels Chart

Table 1 Blood Sugar Levels Chart Blood Sugar Levels Fasting Values Post Meal Value: 2 hrs after the Meal Normal 70 - 100 mg/dL Less than 140 mg/dL Early Diabetes 101 - 126 mg/dL 140 - 200 mg/dL Diabetes More than 126 mg/dL More than 200 mg/dL Table 2 Normal sugar levels chart during various times of the day Time Blood Sugar Level (mg/dl) After Waking Up 80 - 120 Just Before Meals 80 - 120 About 2 Hours After Meals < 160 Before Sleeping 100 - 140 Table 3 Low Blood Sugar Levels Chart Category Blood Sugar Level Normal 80 - 120 mg/dl Borderline Hypoglycemia 70 mg/dl Fasting Hypoglycemia 50 mg/dl Insulin Shock Less than 50 mg/dl Table 4 High Blood Sugar Levels Chart Category Minimum Level Maximum Level Pre-diabetes Fasting Blood Sugar Level 100 mg 126 mg Pre-diabetes Blood Sugar Level after Meal 140 mg 199 mg Diabetes Blood Sugar Level - Fasting 126 mg More than 126 mg Diabetes Blood Sugar Level After Meal 200 mg More than 200 mg > Blood Sugar Levels Blood sugar, also known as glucose is present in our bloodstream. The body uses glucose as its main form of fuel to produce energy.Glucose is the primary source of energy for the body's cells, produced by digesting the sugar and starch in carbohydrates. Blood lipids are primarily a compact energy store. Glucose is transported from the intestines or liver to body cells via the bloodstream, and is made available for cell absorption via the hormone insulin, produced by the body primarily in the pancreas. Blood sugar level is the amount of glucose (sugar) present in the blood of a human or animal. Glucose levels are usually lowest in the morning, before the first meal of the day, and rise after meals for an hour or two by a few millimolar.The normal range of the blood sugar level maintained by the body for its smooth functioning is Continue reading >>

Blood Glucose Levels Above 400

In order to reduce the risk of long-term health problems, a goal of therapy in diabetes is to achieve near-normal blood glucose, or blood sugar levels. But even in the short-term, it’s important to prevent high blood sugars, since significant elevations may be associated with an array of symptoms including dehydration, increased risk of infections, and the life-threatening conditions diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS). Since DKA and HHS are serious conditions that can lead to coma and death, blood sugar levels above 400 mg/dL should be considered a medical emergency. Video of the Day Diabetes mellitus is a condition that leads to high blood sugar levels. In diabetes, blood sugars tend to run well above the normal range -- which depending on the laboratory is somewhere between 70 to 100 mg/dL. If you have type 1 diabetes (T1DM), elevated blood sugars are caused by an absence of insulin, the hormone that is necessary to remove excess glucose from the blood. In type 2 diabetes (T2DM), blood sugars levels run high due to impaired insulin production or action. Factors that worsen blood sugars include illness, certain medications, inactivity, or diet -- such as eating large portions or excessive carbohydrates. Blood sugars can also increase if diabetes medications are not taken regularly. Measuring your blood sugar is an important way to manage diabetes, as glucose meter results can alert you to a problem well before symptoms occur. Classic symptoms of high blood sugars include thirst, frequent urination, dry skin, fatigue, drowsiness, blurred vision and sometimes unintentional weight loss. Infections -- such as skin or urinary tract infections -- are also more likely to occur when blood sugars are elevated. Symptoms may not be noticed unt Continue reading >>

What Is Normal Blood Sugar Level

The blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose (sugar) present in the blood of a human or an animal. The body naturally tightly regulates blood glucose levels (with the help of insulin that is secreted by pancreas) as a part of metabolic homeostasis. If blood sugar levels are either increased or decreased by a greater margin than expected this might indicate a medical condition. Diabetic patients must monitor their blood sugar levels as body’s inability to properly utilize and / or produce insulin can pose a serious threat to their health. Navigation: Definition: What is blood sugar? What is diabetes? Diagnosis: Diabetes symptoms Levels and indication Normal blood sugar levels Low blood sugar levels High blood sugar levels Managing: How to lower blood sugar level? Children blood sugar levels Blood sugar levels chart Checking for BS: How to check blood sugar? Treatment: How to lower blood sugar level? Can diabetes be cured? Accessories Diabetic Socks Diabetic Shoes What is blood sugar? What does it mean when someone refers to blood sugar level in your body? Blood sugar level (or blood sugar concentration) is the amount of glucose (a source of energy) present in your blood at any given time. A normal blood glucose level for a healthy person is somewhere between 72 mg/dL (3.8 to 4 mmol/L) and 108 mg/dL (5.8 to 6 mmol/L). It, of course, depends on every individual alone. Blood sugar levels might fluctuate due to other reasons (such as exercise, stress and infection). Typically blood sugar level in humans is around 72 mg/dL (or 4 mmol/L). After a meal the blood sugar level may increase temporarily up to 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L). This is normal. A blood sugar level between 72 mg/dL (4 mmol/L) and 108 mg/dL (6 mmol/L) is considered normal for a h Continue reading >>

Blood Glucose Management: Checking For Ketones

Part 1 of 5 What Are Ketones? Highlights Ketone bodies are acids made when your body begins using fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. A urine test is the recommended way to test for ketones. However, a blood test can also be used. High levels of ketones are toxic to the body. The condition is called ketoacidosis. Ketone bodies are acids made when your body begins using fat instead of carbohydrates for energy. When there is not enough insulin to get sugar from the blood and into the cells, the body turns to fat for energy. When fat is broken down, ketone bodies are made and can accumulate in the body. High levels of ketones are toxic to the body. The condition is called ketoacidosis. Ketones are most likely to show up when there is not enough insulin in the body. This can happen if people who have type 1 diabetes don’t take insulin or don’t inject enough to meet higher demands, such as during illness or stress, or when a pump gets clogged or unattached. It can also happen in people with type 2 diabetes who are insulin-deficient if they get sick. You may have ketone bodies without having ketoacidosis if your diet is very low in carbohydrates or very low in calories and nutrients. Part 2 of 5 How Do You Test for Ketones? A urine test is the recommended way to test for ketones. However, a blood test can also be used. You can be tested for ketones at your doctor’s office or at home. The urine test is simple to do at home but it is important that you follow the directions carefully. Only certain home meters can test for ketones at home. You may be given something called a clean-catch kit. These kits contain a cleansing solution and sterile wipes. This is for use prior to collecting the urine sample. Your healthcare provider may also give you a special diet to follo Continue reading >>

Diabetes

What is Diabetes? Diabetes is a condition that causes high blood sugar (glucose) levels in the body and does not properly process food for use as energy. When you have diabetes your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use its own insulin as well, that results sugars to build up in your blood. This is the reason why diabetes is also referred as sugar. Diabetes can causes some serious complications of health for example blindness, heart disease and kidney failure Blood Sugar Level Chart mg/dl Fasting 2 Hrs Post Meal Min Max Normal 70 100 <125 Pre Diabetes 101 125 140-200 Diabetes >126 >200 Tests Available for Diabetes Blood Sugar Microalbuminuria HBA1c GTT Lipid Profile Types of Diabetes Diabetes is categorized in 2 types Type 1 Diabetes This type of diabetes is categorized as an autoimmune disease. It occurs when the body’s misdirected immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is not completely understood. People with type 1 diabetes have to take insulin daily to manage their condition. How is type 1 diabetes treated? In case of type 1 diabetes, you’ll need to take insulin regularly to help your body use the sugar in your blood. You can also help to keep your blood sugar level in a healthy range with proper diet and exercise as recommended by your consultant. People with type 1 diabetes have to monitor their blood sugar regularly to see how much insulin they need. People with type 1 diabetes should be careful with regular meals and snacks in order to keep their blood sugar stable. A dietitian familiar with diabetes can assist you in developing a healthy balanced eating plan for you. As exercise also affect blood sugar levels, insulin amounts may need to be adjusted according to your l Continue reading >>

High Blood Sugar: Causes, Warning Signs And Treatment

High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, occurs when the body has too much food or glucose, or too little insulin. Potential reasons a person with type 1 diabetes (T1D) might have high blood sugar include: Not enough insulin taken Eating more than usual Eating earlier than usual Eating food with higher glucose content without injecting extra insulin Injecting insulin at a site on the body where the absorption rate is slower Missing or skipping an insulin dose A clog in insulin pump tubing Less exercise than normal Emotional or physical stress Illness or injury Other hormones Medications (such as steroids) Pain Hyperglycemia Symptoms Thirst (dehydration) Frequent urination, including potential waking up in the middle of the night to urinate; and unusually wet diapers in an infant or toddler. Blurry vision Stomach pain Increased hunger Nausea Drowsiness, lethargy, exhaustion Confusion Sweating Fruity, sweet or wine-like odor on breath Vomiting Inability to concentrate Weight loss (a longer-term symptom) that eventually leads to coma Treatments The following recommendations are general treatments for high blood sugar. Specific actions, such as giving additional insulin, should be determined by the adult with T1D, physician or parents (for a child). If blood test results are slightly above normal: Continue regular activity Drink water or sugar-free drinks Monitor blood-sugar levels by checking regularly Chart blood-glucose test results Consider injecting additional insulin as instructed by physician or parent If blood test results are moderately high: Don’t engage in strenuous exercise Drink water or sugar-free drinks Inject additional insulin if instructed by physician or parents Monitor blood-sugar levels by checking regularly Chart blood-glucose test results Try to discover Continue reading >>

Your A1c Levels – What Goal To Shoot For?

Measuring Your A1C An A1C test gives you and your provider insight into all of your blood glucose ups and downs over the past two or three months. It’s like the 24/7 video of your blood sugar levels. Observing your A1C results and your blood glucose (also known as blood sugar) results together over time are two of the key tools you and your health care provider can use to monitor your progress and revise your therapy as needed over the years. Recent research is changing the way health professionals look at A1C levels. Instead of setting tight controls across the board, a healthy A1C level is now a moving target that depends on the patient. In the past, an A1C of 7 percent was considered a healthy goal for everyone. Yehuda Handelsman, M.D., medical director of the Metabolic Institute of America in Tarzana, California, says experts now recommend taking a patient-centered approach to managing A1C levels, which means evaluating goals based on individual diabetes management needs and personal and lifestyle preferences. Current ADA Goals The 2015 American Diabetes Association (ADA) Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes advise the following A1C levels: • 6.5 percent or less: This is a more stringent goal. Health care providers might suggest this for people who can achieve this goal without experiencing a lot of hypoglycemia episodes or other negative effects of having lower blood glucose levels. This may be people who have not had diabetes for many years (short duration); people with type 2 diabetes using lifestyle changes and/or a glucose-lowering medication that doesn’t cause hypoglycemia; younger adults with many years to live healthfully; and people with no significant heart and blood vessel disease. • 7 percent: This is a reasonable A1C goal for many adults with d Continue reading >>

High Blood Sugar (hyperglycemia) In Diabetes

What is high blood sugar? High blood sugar means that the level of sugar in your blood is higher than recommended for you. If you don’t keep your blood sugar at a normal, healthy level most of the time, you will increase your risk of heart and blood vessel disease, stroke, kidney problems, and loss of vision. The medical term for high blood sugar is hyperglycemia. Blood sugar is also called blood glucose. What is the cause? Blood sugar that stays high is the main problem of diabetes. Your body breaks down some of the foods you eat into sugar. Normally the hormone insulin moves this sugar into your cells, where your body uses it for energy. In diabetes the insulin is not moving the sugar into the cells, so it builds up in the bloodstream and starts to cause problems. Sometimes you may have high blood sugar even though you are taking diabetes medicine. This can happen for many reasons but it always means that your diabetes is not in good control. Some reasons why your sugar might go too high are: Skipping your diabetes medicine Not taking the right amount of diabetes medicine Taking certain medicines that increase your blood sugar or make your blood sugar medicines work less well Taking in too many calories by eating large portions of food, choosing too many high-calorie foods, or drinking too many high-sugar beverages Eating too many carbohydrates, such as foods made mainly with sugar, white flour (in bread, biscuits, pancakes, for example), white potatoes, or white rice Not getting enough physical activity (exercise lowers your blood sugar) Having increased emotional or physical stress Being sick, including colds, flu, an infected tooth, or a urinary tract infection, especially if you have a fever If you are using insulin, having a problem with your insulin (for examp Continue reading >>

Is My Blood Sugar Normal?

“Is my blood sugar normal?” seems like a simple question – but it’s not! The answer can vary dramatically based on your situation. Let’s look at some of the factors to consider. Please remember: you should figure out your personal goals in consultation with your doctor. Normal Blood Sugar in Diabetic vs. Non-Diabetic First, a quick note on how we measure blood sugar. In the USA, blood sugars are measured by weight in milligrams per deciliter, abbreviated as mg/dL. Most everyone else uses millimole per liter, abbreviated mmol. If you are in the USA, look at the big numbers, most everyone else look at the small numbers. In a person without diabetes, blood sugars tend to stay between 70 and 100 mg/dL (3.8 and 5.5 mmol). After a meal, blood sugars can rise up to 120 mg/dL or 6.7 mmol. It will typically fall back into the normal range within two hours. In a person with diabetes, the story is much more complex: Below 70 mg/dL Below 3.8 mmol Low Blood Sugars (Hypoglycemia). When blood sugars drop below this level, you may start feeling hunger, shakiness, or racing of the heart. Your body is starved for sugar (glucose). Read how to detect and treat low blood sugars. 70 mg/dL to 140 mg/dL 3.8 mmol to 7.7 mmol Normal Blood Sugar. In this range, the body is functioning normally. In someone without diabetes, the vast majority of the time is spent in the lower half of this range. 140 mg/dL to 180 mg/dL 7.7 mmol to 10 mmol Elevated Blood Sugars. In this range, the body can function relatively normally. However, extended periods of time in this zone put you at risk for long-term complications. Above 180 mg/dL Abovoe 10 mmol High Blood Sugars. At this range, the kidney is unable to reabsorb all of the glucose in your blood and you begin to spill glucose in your urine. Your bo Continue reading >>

Type 1 And Type 2

National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse Your Guide to Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2 Contents Learn about Diabetes ............................................................ 1 What is diabetes? .............................................................. 2 What is prediabetes?......................................................... 3 What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes? ........................................................................ 4 What kind of diabetes do you have? ............................... 5 Why do you need to take care of your diabetes? .................................................................... 7 Who is part of your health care team? ............................ 8 Take Care of Your Diabetes Each Day ............................ 10 Follow Your Healthy Eating Plan ................................. 10 Be Physically Active ........................................................ 12 Take Your Medicines as Prescribed .............................. 16 Monitor Your Diabetes ....................................................... 21 Keep Daily Records ........................................................ 25 Learn about High and Low Blood Glucose Levels ................................................................ 26 Prevent Diabetes Problems ................................................. 33 Take Care of Your Diabetes during Special Times or Events .................................................................... 36 When Youâ€™re Sick ........................................................... 36 When Youâ€™re at School or Work ................................... 39 When Youâ€™re Away from Home .................................... 41 When Youâ€™re Flying on a Plane ..................................... 4 Continue reading >>

Hyperglycemia And Ketone Testing

Background Hyperglycemia means high blood sugar. For people with type 1 diabetes, hyperglycemia caused by insufficient insulin can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis, a very serious situation that requires emergency medical treatment. Hyperglycemia can also be caused by eating too much food, which requires treatment to lower blood sugar levels but which does not lead to DKA. The only way to determine between the two situations is through ketone testing. Causes of Hyperglycemia Eating too much food relative to the amount of insulin injected Missing an insulin injection Blockage in insulin pump tubing Disconnected insulin pump infusion set Illness or stress Symptoms of Hyperglycemia Frequent urination Frequent thirst Blurry vision Dry mouth Fatigue Testing for Ketones There are two ways to test for ketones: urine testing and blood testing. Just as blood glucose testing proved to be superior to urine glucose testing, so too is blood ketone testing proving to be better than urine ketone testing. Ketones appear first in the blood, then in the urine after being filtered by the kidneys. Thus the body has been producing ketones for a while before you can detect them in the urine. Children with Diabetes Highly Recommends blood ketone testing over urine ketone testing. Since ketones in the blood can be detected well before ketones in the urine, there is the possibility to treat sooner than you would if you waited for urine testing to show a positive result. Blood ketone testing can be easier for parents who have very young children with diabetes who do not always have the ability to urinate on command. Also, being able to test with a finger stick eliminates the need to find a bathroom to test if you're away from home or when kids are at school. Two recent studies (February 2006) demon Continue reading >>

Controlling Blood Sugar In Diabetes: How Low Should You Go?

Diabetes is an ancient disease, but the first effective drug therapy was not available until 1922, when insulin revolutionized the management of the disorder. Insulin is administered by injection, but treatment took another great leap forward in 1956, when the first oral diabetic drug was introduced. Since then, dozens of new medications have been developed, but scientists are still learning how best to use them. And new studies are prompting doctors to re-examine a fundamental therapeutic question: what level of blood sugar is best? Normal metabolism To understand diabetes, you should first understand how your body handles glucose, the sugar that fuels your metabolism. After you eat, your digestive tract breaks down carbohydrates into simple sugars that are small enough to be absorbed into your bloodstream. Glucose is far and away the most important of these sugars, and it's an indispensable source of energy for your body's cells. But to provide that energy, it must travel from your blood into your cells. Insulin is the hormone that unlocks the door to your cells. When your blood glucose levels rise after a meal, the beta cells of your pancreas spring into action, pouring insulin into your blood. If you produce enough insulin and your cells respond normally, your blood sugar level drops as glucose enters the cells, where it is burned for energy or stored for future use in your liver as glycogen. Insulin also helps your body turn amino acids into proteins and fatty acids into body fat. The net effect is to allow your body to turn food into energy and to store excess energy to keep your engine running if fuel becomes scarce in the future. A diabetes primer Diabetes is a single name for a group of disorders. All forms of the disease develop when the pancreas is unable to Continue reading >>