Normal blood sugar reading that you need to know, avoid diabetes

Blood sugar reading refers to glucose levels in a person’s bloodstream.

Glucose is important as the main source of energy, but when the level is out of control, it can invite various health problems, especially diabetes.

Understanding blood sugar reading is an important step in preventing complications such as nerve damage, kidney, and eyes.

In this article, we will be deeper about the meaning of reading blood sugar, abnormal reading, warning signs, and ways to control them.

What is the meaning of reading blood sugar?

Blood sugar reading is usually measured in the unit millimol per liter (Mmol / l).

This reading can be measured in fasting or after eating.

Normal fasting reading is around 4.0 – 5.5 mmol / Lwhen reading after eating is usually less than 7.8 mmol / L.

If your blood sugar reading is always outside this range, it may be an early sign of pradiabetes or diabetes (diabetes).

It is important for us to do routine inspections because many are not aware of high sugar levels until complications occur.

Normal blood sugar reading

Normal blood sugar reading is very important to keep the body function properly and to avoid the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes.

This reading is usually measured in milllimol units per liter (mmol/l).

For healthy individuals, the reading of normal blood sugar during fasting (after not eating at least 8 hours) is between 4.0 to 5.6 mmol/L.

After eating (usually two hours afterwards), glucose reading must be less than 7.8 mmol / L.

If your glucose reading is outside this range, it can be a sign of health problems that require attention.

Read between 5.7 to 6.9 mmol/L During fasting is considered a Pradiabetes, when reading 7.0 mmol / L The above shows the possibility of diabetes.

Understanding and monitoring the reading of blood glucose levels regularly is a wise step, especially for those who have risk factors such as family history of diabetes, an overweight lifestyle or less active.

By maintaining blood sugar reading at a normal level, you can help prevent health complications in the future.

Always consult with your doctor for more advice if you find your sugar reading abnormally.

Also read:

Save hypoglycemia warning signs, can cause seizures!

Causes of reading abnormal blood sugar

Here are some of the causes that often cause glucose levels to be high or low:

1. High food intake and carbohydrate carbohydrates
   Sweet and high carbohydrate foods dramatically increase blood sugar.
2. Less exercise
   Physical activity helps cells use glucose for energy. Lack of moving can cause increased blood sugar levels.
3. Hormone problems or certain diseases
   Diseases such as cushing syndrome or pancreatic disorders can affect blood sugar control.
4. Take certain drugs
   Some drugs such as steroids can increase blood sugar levels.
5. Stress and lack of sleep
   Chronic stress or insufficient sleep can affect hormone balance and interfere with blood sugar levels.

Signs of reading abnormal blood sugar

Recognize the initial signs that show your glucose reading may be out of control:

1. Weight loss loss for no apparent reason
The body begins to burn fat and muscles for energy because it cannot use sugar.

2. Often thirsty and frequent urination
This happens when the body tries to remove excess sugar through urine.

3. Tired quickly and weakly
Cell sugar that is not used causes the body to lack energy.

4. Blurred Vision
High sugar levels can cause lens changes.

5. Slow wound healed
High glucose reading affects wound healing.

How to control blood sugar reading

Controlling blood sugar reading requires a combination of healthy lifestyle and routine monitoring.

Here are the steps that can be practiced:

Practice a balanced diet
Choose low glycemic foods, high fiber such as vegetables, full cereals and nuts.

Exercise consistently
Try to exercise at least 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week.

Monitor blood sugar levels at home
Use a glucometer to identify your sugar reading patterns.

Reduce stress and sleep enough
The practice of meditation, yoga or relaxation techniques can help control blood sugar levels.

Follow the doctor’s advice
If necessary, your doctor can recommend drugs or insulin injection to stabilize your blood sugar reading.

Complications

If the reading of blood sugar is not well controlled, they can cause serious complications such as:

1. Heart disease and stroke. Excessive blood sugar contributes to narrowing of blood vessels.
2. Neuropathy (nerve damage). Usually starting from the feet or hands, causing numbness or pain.
3. Nephropathy (kidney damage). Can cause kidney failure.
4. Retinopathy (eye damage). The risk of blind if not treated.

Normal sugar reading in the blood of pregnant women

For pregnant women, control of glucose levels is very important for the health of the mother and baby in the uterus.

Excessive sugar levels can cause complications such as gestational diabetes, large babies (macrosomia), premature births, and the risk of mother’s diabetes 2 after giving birth.

Therefore, the reading of blood sugar in pregnant women has a tighter range than ordinary individuals.

Here are the normal reading of blood sugar that is recommended for pregnant women:

• Before eating (fasting): 3.5 to 5.1 mmol/l
• One hour after eating: less than 7.8 mmol/l
• Two hours after eating: Less than 6.7 mmol/L

If the sugar reading exceeds this level, doctors will usually do further tests such as oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) to confirm pregnancy diabetes.

It is important for pregnant women to monitor blood sugar regularly, practice a balanced diet, exercise lightly, and follow your doctor’s advice to ensure healthy content until the end of pregnancy.

If you are pregnant and worry about sugar reading, talk with health experts as soon as possible.

The following is a Moh blood sugar reading chart for pregnant women who refer to the guidelines Clinical Practice Guidelines (Diabetes in Pregnancy) and Handbook of Pregnant Health Records 2019/2020 (KIK/1 (A), KIK/1 (B)) by the Malaysian Ministry of Health:

• Moh set the reading Fasting or before eating should not exceed 5.3 mmol/l
• Read 1 hour post-prandial (After eating) targeted ≤ 7.8 mmol/l.
• When reading 2 hours after-prandial It must be ≤ 6.7 mmol/l.

This guide line is used for pregnant women, especially those who experience or risk of gestational diabetes.

This is also recorded in Moh’s antenatal notebook and is based on Diabetes Clinical Practice Guidelines in Pregnancy 2017.

Important Tips:

• Maintain this reading balanced diet, Light exercises (such as walking or swimming), as well as routine monitoring in clinics or hospitals.
• If the reading exceeds the recommended range, follow the promise of meeting such as OGTT (oral glucose tolerance test) will usually be regulated.
• The use of glucometers at home allows more frequent monitoring; But official clinical decisions must be based on tests at health facilities.

If you are pregnant and worry about sugar reading, you must talk to health workers for further evaluation and monitoring.

Conclusion

Glucose reading is not just a number in your glucose meter.

This is a reflection of your overall lifestyle and health.

Important for all of us – no matter what diabetes or not – monitor blood sugar levels regularly.

With healthy eating habits, consistent exercise and periodic monitoring, we can reduce the risk of chronic diseases.

Consult your doctor or nutritionist for the right health plan.