Blood Glucose and Diabetes Essentials

Blood Glucose and Diabetes

Blood glucose levels play a crucial role in maintaining our overall health, particularly for individuals with diabetes. Understanding blood glucose levels and how they relate to diabetes involves examining various aspects such as hypoglycemia, glucometers, hyperglycemia, insulin, and fasting.

Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a condition where blood sugar levels drop below normal range. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include dizziness, confusion, weakness, and sweating. It can occur in people with type 1 diabetes, who have little or no insulin in their bodies. Hypoglycemic episodes can be triggered by skipping meals, eating too few carbohydrates, exercising without adjusting insulin doses, or taking too much insulin.

Glucometer

A glucometer is a device used to measure blood sugar levels. To test your blood sugar level, prick your finger with a lancet and place a small drop of blood on the strip. Then insert the strip into the meter, which will display your blood sugar level within seconds. Home blood glucose meters sold over the counter do not require a prescription from a doctor.

Hyperglycemia

Hyperglycemia occurs when blood glucose levels rise above the normal range. This can happen due to several reasons including medical conditions like diabetes, stress, infection, certain medications, or poor diet. High blood sugars over time can lead to complications such as kidney disease, nerve damage, heart disease, stroke, vision loss, hearing impairment, and depression.

Insulin

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels. People with type 1 diabetes need insulin because their bodies don't make it. Type 2 diabetics may initially produce enough insulin but may eventually also require insulin therapy. There are different types of insulin available, each having its own advantages and disadvantages. They differ in terms of peak action, duration of action, onset of action, and the degree of rapidity of absorption.

Fasting

Fasting refers to a period of not eating food. In relation to diabetes, fasting blood sugar tests are done after going without any calories for eight hours or more. Normal fasting blood sugar ranges between 71 and 99 mg/dL. If you have high blood sugar while fasting, this could indicate the body isn't producing insulin properly or it's not being effectively used.