What is the normal blood sugar level for adults with diabetes. Blood sugar is actually a representation of simple sugar molecules or glucose that results from the digestion of food. In the digestive process, carbohydrates are broken down into glucose and then distributed throughout the body through the bloodstream.
Blood sugar or glucose has a very important role in the body. After being processed by insulin, blood sugar is converted into energy which is the driving force for cells in the body. Therefore, the body will feel weak if blood sugar levels are too low.
Normal blood sugar levels for adults and children
What is the normal blood sugar level for adults with diabetes. Checking blood sugar levels has now become much easier thanks to the blood sugar check tool. You can even check your blood sugar at home. But after knowing the blood sugar levels in the body, what conclusions can be drawn from the numbers shown?
Actually, there are no exact numbers that can show normal blood sugar levels. However, there is a normal range of blood sugar that can be used as a benchmark. The following is the range of normal blood sugar levels for women and men adults:
- Blood sugar levels while fasting or after not eating for 8 hours: less than 100 mg/dL;
- Pre-meal blood sugar levels: 70-130 mg/dL;
- Blood sugar level 1-2 hours after eating: less than 180 mg/dL;
- Blood sugar level before bedtime: 100-140 mg/dL.
Normal sugar levels apply to adults and the elderly. However, in addition to referring to the normal values for blood sugar above, it is also necessary to know that age also affects the normal limits of blood sugar levels. Children’s age has its own standard blood sugar values. For more details, here are normal blood sugar levels for children.
- Blood sugar levels of children under 6 years old;
– Normal: 100-200 mg/dL
– Fasting: approx. 100 mg/dL
– After meals and before bed: about 200 mg/dL - Blood sugar levels of children aged 6-12 years;
– Normal: 70-150 mg/dL
– Fasting: approx. 70 mg/dL
– After meals and before bed: about 150 mg/dL
To be able to identify blood sugar levels, both for children, adults, and the elderly, you can refer to the numbers above. By referring to normal blood sugar levels for age, you can draw more precise conclusions.
High or Low Blood Sugar, What Effects on the Body?
Previously explained about the function of blood sugar and normal blood sugar levels. The question now is, what effect does it have on the body if blood sugar is too high or too low?
Blood sugar is said to be too high if it exceeds 200 mg/dL or too low if it is less than 70 mg/dL. In medical terms, high blood sugar is commonly referred to as hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia for low blood sugar. Although health problems are more often associated with hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia can also be just as dangerous.
Low blood sugar in adults can have several negative effects on the body. For example, the body feels weak, the skin looks pale, sweats a lot, fatigue, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, irritability, tingling in the mouth area, difficulty standing or walking, seizures to heart palpitations.
Conversely, in high blood sugar symptoms in adults, appetite will usually increase. In addition, other effects are also felt, such as feeling tired, thirsty, frequent urination, restlessness, blurred vision, frequent dental infections until the skin becomes dry, red, and feels hot. Those with high blood sugar also tend to lose weight.
High or low blood sugar levels can indeed happen to anyone. As long as it does not continue and occurs for a long time, the risk of experiencing more serious problems can be avoided. For this reason, it is important to always check blood sugar and keep it normal.
How to Check Blood Sugar and When to Do It
Basically, blood sugar checks can be done independently or with the help of medical personnel. You can choose it according to your needs. But keep in mind that there are several types of blood sugar tests to choose from. Based on the time, the following types of blood sugar tests are commonly used.
Fasting Blood Sugar Test (GDP)
This fasting blood sugar or GDP test is done after fasting or not eating for 8 hours. GDP itself is done not only to determine normal sugar levels or not. Usually, this test is used to check the risk of prediabetes or diabetes. The normal criteria for a fasting blood sugar test are below 108 mg/dL. If the test results show 108-125 mg/dL, there is a risk of prediabetes. However, if the number is above 125 mg/dL, there is a risk of diabetes that must be watched out for.
2 Hour Postprandial Blood Sugar Test (GD2PP)
This blood sugar test is done to determine changes in blood sugar levels between before and after eating. Therefore, a 2-hour postprandial blood sugar test was performed 2 hours after the time of the last meal.
In normal people, the GD2PP test value will show a number below 140 mg/dL. However, if the result is 140-199 mg/dL or more than 200 mg/dL, there is a risk of prediabetes or diabetes that should be a concern.
Periodic Blood Sugar Test (GDS)
To find out the range of normal blood sugar levels in a day, this temporary blood sugar test is used. As the name implies, an intermittent blood sugar test or GDS can be done at any time with a record of checking done on the same day.
In normal people or non-diabetics, normal blood sugar values will show numbers below 200 mg/dL. However, if the test results are above 200 mg/dL, this could be an indication of diabetes.
HbA1c
High accuracy is obtained by checking blood sugar levels regularly over a long period of time. For this purpose, the HbA1c test was performed. The HbA1c test is done to determine the average blood sugar level over the last 2 to 3 months.
For normal sugar levels, the test results are below 42 mmol/mol or 6%. However, if the test results show 42-47 mmol/mol (6-6.4%) or more than 48 mmol/mol (6.5%), it is likely that the patient already has prediabetes or diabetes.
Blood sugar checks can be done as needed. Different health conditions, different intensity of checking. In normal people, the blood sugar test is when it is enough. However, in diabetic patients, checking blood sugar levels can be done 2-6 times a day. This figure can be higher in patients who are undergoing insulin therapy.
Read also: How To Calculate Average Glucose From A1c
How to Keep Blood Sugar Levels Normal For Adults
Maintaining blood sugar levels is not only done by adults who have been diagnosed with diabetes. For those of you who are still healthy, maintaining normal blood sugar levels is equally important. This is how to keep the body healthy and avoid diabetes. To keep blood levels crazy, here’s how.
Maintain Carbohydrate Intake
What you eat will affect the condition of the body, including blood sugar levels. If the food you consume is low in sugar and sufficient in nutrients, your blood sugar will be maintained. For this reason, carbohydrate intake as an energy source must be carefully controlled.
A portion of good food to maintain blood sugar is a balanced diet and contains enough carbohydrates, protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Reduce your sugar intake and make sure you don’t consume more than 6 teaspoons per day.
Read also: How To Reduce Carbs In Rice
Maintain Weight
Those who are overweight tend to be more at risk of high blood sugar. For this reason, maintaining an ideal body weight can be an effective way to maintain normal sugar levels. Maintaining weight can be done by maintaining a healthy diet and being active. Thus, it is not the only bodyweight that is maintained. The body also becomes healthier.
Enough Rest
During sleep, the body does not completely stop working. On the contrary, many organs in the body become more active in cleaning themselves during sleep. Because during sleep you do not eat, basically the body is also detoxifying. Keep in mind, the body needs adequate rest. The exact number does not exist. But in general, adults need about 6 hours of sleep.
Manage Stress
It’s normal to feel stressed, either because of work or problems. Just don’t let the stress drag on. Uncontrolled stress can be toxic and interfere with health. Blood sugar levels are also out of control because of it.
Exercise Regularly The
recipe for a healthy life is basically always the same. To normal blood sugar levels and avoid diabetes, your body also needs exercise. An active body tends to be more sensitive to insulin. That’s why glucose absorption becomes easier.
Regular Diet
In addition to paying attention to nutritional intake, eating patterns must also be considered. Simply put, eat when your stomach starts to feel hungry and stop before you are full. Also, don’t eat too late or close to bedtime. Eating too late at night can actually burden digestion and potentially increase blood sugar.