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What exactly is blood sugar level?
An individual’s blood sugar level (also called serum glucose level or plasma glucose level) is really just the amount of glucose (sugar) found in their blood at any given time.
Why is glucose critical?
Glucose (commonly known as dextrose) is a simple sugar that is produced by the human body from the carbohydrate food that people consume. It’s required for a range of necessary physiological processes. In particular, it’s very important as it supplies energy to our cells, nervous system as well as the brain.
Glucose is transported from the intestines or liver to cells by way of the circulatory system, and is made available for cell absorption by way of the hormone insulin, manufactured by the pancreas.
Glucose that isn’t directly used as an energy source by brain cells, intestinal cells and red blood cells is transferred to the liver, adipose tissue and muscle cells, where it is assimilated and stored as glycogen. This glycogen can be changed back to glucose and returned to the bloodstream whenever insulin is low or absent.
So how is blood sugar level calculated?
Blood sugar is typically measured in molecular count, the unit for which is mmol/L (millimoles per liter). It’s also oftentimes measured as a weight in grams, the unit for which is mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).
Just what is a healthy or standard blood sugar level?
On average, 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 normal blood glucose level in humans is around 4 mmol/L (or 72 mg/dL), but the level of course varies during the day. As perhaps you may expect, glucose levels are almost always at their lowest early in the day, ahead of the first meal of the day and surge after eating for one to two hours by a couple of milliMolar. Bear in mind, with regards to diabetics, blood sugar fluctuates more widely – see further below.
How could blood sugar / glucose levels affect your overall health?
As outlined above, glucose supplies your body with the fuel that it requires to undertake essential biological functions. Too little sugar / glucose (a low blood sugar level) or too much sugar / glucose (a high blood sugar level) could lead to considerable health issues and blood sugar levels outside of the typical range may be a signal of a medical condition.
Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
A constantly high blood sugar level is called hyperglycemia, while low levels are labelled as hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia is a potentially fatal condition. Signs and symptoms include listlessness, reduced mental performance, becoming easily irritated, shaking, twitching, weakness in arm and leg muscles, pale skin tone, excessive sweating, paranoid or aggressive mentality and loss of consciousness. In rare instances, brain damage is possible.
In comparison, hyperglycemia usually involves suppressed appetite in the short term, with long term health issues including coronary disease, diabetes and eye, kidney, and nerve damage.
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is characterised by prolonged hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) either because the person’s body fails to make sufficient insulin, or due to the fact cells don’t respond to the insulin which is produced. It’s the most commonly encountered disease related to failure in blood sugar regulation.
For all those with diabetes, it is particularly significant to keep blood sugar levels inside normal ranges, or else major health complications can arise. For instance, 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 instance of a condition where blood sugar levels play a pivotal role. In this case, the person’s body doesn’t recognise the intake of sugars and carbohydrates and this means that it continues to pump out insulin which is not needed. If this keeps on for a protracted period of time, the pancreas can stop working and stop producing insulin altogether. If care is not taken by those who have this problem to ensure a healthy diet and balanced blood sugar levels, it could at some point bring on type two diabetes.
What else can affect blood sugar levels?
A lot of things can affect a person’s blood sugar level. For instance, it can be temporarily elevated as a result of intense stress (such as trauma, stroke, myocardial infarction, surgery or illness) or as a result of drug / medication usage, which can cause glucose levels to rise or decline.
Alcohol intake likewise causes an initial spike in blood sugar, but eventually tends to cause levels to fall.
Trying to keep your blood sugar level in check
Making positive and healthy lifestyle choices (and, if needed, adjustments) is a good first step in keeping your blood sugar levels controlled. For instance, taking regular exercise and (if need be) losing weight in a sensible and healthy way.
Dietary modifications, particularly, are often incredibly useful in keeping blood sugar levels within normal ranges. For those with limited diets (such as diabetics), it can often be a problem to ensure an ideal intake of nutrients everday. Lots of people find that top quality, nutrients-fortified meal replacement powders / shakes can help with this.
MEALtime is a liquid meal / meal replacement shake that’s rich in quality protein, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, nutritious herbs and psyllium husks. Best of all, it is actually suitable for diabetics and others trying 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 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!
*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).
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