What exactly is blood sugar level?
An individual’s blood sugar level (often called serum glucose level or plasma glucose level) is really just the volume of glucose (sugar) found in their blood at any moment.
Why is glucose essential?
Glucose (also called dextrose) is a simple sugar that is generated by the body from the carbohydrate food that people consume. It’s important for a wide range of fundamental physiological processes. Notably, it is vital since it supplies energy to our cells, nervous system as well as the brain.
Glucose is carried from the digestive tract or liver to cells through the blood stream, and is made available for cell absorption through the hormone insulin, made by the pancreas.
Glucose that isn’t directly used as a source of energy by brain cells, intestinal cells and red blood cells is transported to the liver, adipose tissue and muscle cells, where it’s taken in and stored as glycogen. This glycogen can be changed back to glucose and returned to the bloodstream any time insulin is low or absent.
How’s blood sugar level assessed?
Blood sugar is typically measured in molecular count, the unit for which is mmol/L (millimoles per liter). It is also occasionally measured as a weight in grams, the unit for which is mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).
So what is a healthy or regular blood sugar level?
Ordinarily, the body sustains 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 standard blood glucose level in people is around 4 mmol/L (or 72 mg/dL), although the level clearly fluctuates during the course of the day. As perhaps you may suspect, glucose levels are likely to be at their lowest in the morning, before the first meal of the day and surge immediately after eating for 1 – 2 hours by a few milliMolar. Having said that, with regards to diabetes sufferers, blood sugar varies more widely – see further below.
Just how does blood sugar / glucose levels affect your overall health?
As stated before, glucose supplies a person’s body with the power that it must have to complete very important biological functions. Too little sugar / glucose (a low blood sugar level) or excessive sugar / glucose (a high blood sugar level) can lead to significant illnesses and blood sugar levels outside the normal range could be indicative of an underlying disease.
Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
A continually high blood sugar level is referred to as hyperglycemia, while low levels are labelled as hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia is a life-threatening condition. Signs and symptoms include lethargy, impaired mental performance, irritability, trembling, twitching, a weakness in arm and leg muscles, pale complexion, perspiration, paranoid or aggressive mentality and loss of consciousness. In extreme cases, brain damage is possible.
By contrast, hyperglycemia involves the appetite being suppressed for the short term, with long term health problems including coronary disease, diabetes and eye, kidney, and nerve damage.
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is characterised by continual hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) either because the person’s body fails to manufacture enough insulin, or due to the fact that their cells fail to react to the insulin which is produced. It happens to be the most commonly encountered disease linked to failure in blood sugar regulation.
For all those with diabetes, it is of course especially critical to keep blood sugar levels inside standard ranges, or else considerable health complications can occur. For instance, nephropathy (kidney disease), neuropathy (nerve disease), retinopathy (eye disease) and cardiovascular diseases (heart diseases).
Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance (a manifestation of polycystic ovarian syndrome) is yet another example of an ailment where blood sugar levels are pertinent. In this case, the body does not recognise the consumption of sugars and carbohydrates which means that it continues to pump out insulin which is not needed. If this keeps on for a protracted time period, the pancreas can pack up and stop producing insulin altogether. If proper care isn’t taken by individuals who have this condition to ensure a healthy diet and balanced blood sugar levels, it has the potential ultimately lead to type two diabetes.
What else can change blood sugar levels?
Various things can affect an individual’s blood sugar level. For instance, it can be temporarily elevated as a result of severe stress (such as trauma, stroke, myocardial infarction, surgery or sickness) or on account of drug / medication use, which can cause glucose levels to increase or reduce.
Alcohol intake likewise causes an initial rise in blood sugar, but later has a tendency to cause levels to drop.
Maintaining your blood sugar level within healthy ranges
Making positive and healthy lifestyle choices (and, if necessary, changes) is a good starting point in keeping your blood sugar levels in control. For instance, taking regular exercise and (if needed) reducing your weight in a smart and healthy way.
Dietary modifications, particularly, are often amazingly helpful in keeping blood sugar levels within normal ranges. For all those with limited diets (such as diabetics), it can certainly be a struggle to ensure an optimum intake of vitamins and minerals every single day. Many individuals find that top quality, nutrients-fortified meal replacement powders / shakes can help with this.
MEALtime is a liquid meal / meal replacement shake that is rich in quality protein, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, nutritious herbs and psyllium husks. On top of that, it’s suitable for diabetics and others wanting 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!
Naturally, prior to changing your diet or taking health supplements, always be sure to talk to your physician or qualified health practitioner (particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medications).