What Is Normal Blood Sugar?

Did you know your blood sugar levels constantly change throughout the day, even if you do not have diabetes? Many people believe that only those living with diabetes need to think about their glucose levels. In reality, everyone experiences temporary spikes and dips. Everyday choices and habits, like the foods you eat, your daily physical activity, stress levels and how well you sleep, all influence your blood sugar. You can also experience temporary changes from illness, new medications or natural hormonal shifts. 

Having normal blood sugar levels is part of maintaining good health, so let’s look into what it is. 

What is blood sugar? 

Blood sugar, also known as glucose, is what fuels your body. It acts as the main sugar in your blood, entering your bloodstream after you eat carbohydrates. Blood sugar gives you energy throughout the day and powers your physical activity. It also provides essential nutrients for your organs and muscles.

Healthy carbohydrates, such as whole grains, beans, fresh fruits and vegetables, are the backbone of a healthy diet. However, for some people, too much glucose harms the body. 

What is glucose?

Glucose is simply the medical word for blood sugar. Your body changes much of the food you eat into this specific type of sugar. Once your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose, insulin helps the sugar travel in your blood to all the cells in your body. Your cells need this sugar to give you energy. Without a proper balance of glucose, your body cannot function at its highest level.

What does insulin do?

Insulin is a hormone created by your pancreas. It acts as a key that unlocks your cells so glucose can enter. Insulin helps sugar move from your blood into your cells. Without insulin, your cells cannot get the sugar they need to keep you healthy, which could lead to diabetes. By moving sugar from your blood to your body’s cells, insulin directly helps keep your blood sugar level normal.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease that affects how the body turns food into energy. It means you have too much sugar in your blood. High blood sugar problems start when your body no longer makes enough insulin, or when your body stops using insulin correctly. When you lack enough insulin to lower high blood sugar levels, you have diabetes.

Healthcare providers classify diabetes into three main types: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes (which occurs during pregnancy).

How do you get diabetes?

Diabetes develops when your body struggles to regulate blood sugar levels due to issues with insulin. In Type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly attacks insulin-producing cells, leading to little or no insulin production. 

Type 2 diabetes is common in adults, and the number of young people developing it continues to grow. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough of it. Factors like genetics, being overweight, an inactive lifestyle and poor dietary habits can increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. 

Gestational diabetes can also occur during pregnancy due to hormonal changes. 

Understanding these causes can help you take proactive steps to reduce your risk. Your primary care doctor can help you get tested and recommend best course of action for you. 

Can you get diabetes from eating too much sugar?

Eating too much sugar alone doesn’t directly cause diabetes, but it can contribute to factors that increase your risk. 

Type 2 diabetes is often linked to being overweight or obese, which can result from consuming excessive calories, including those from sugary foods and drinks. Over time, this can lead to insulin resistance, where your body struggles to use insulin effectively. 

While sugar itself isn’t the sole culprit, maintaining a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle is key to reducing your risk of developing diabetes.

What is a good blood sugar level?

Knowing your target numbers is the best way to manage your health. The American Diabetes Association provides clear guidelines for healthy blood sugar ranges, measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). One of the tests is called hbA1c or glycated hemoglobin. It is a blood test that measures the average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. It reflects how much glucose is attached to hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. The result shown as a percentage, with higher percentages indicating poorer blood sugar control.

What is a dangerous level of A1C?

Your HbA1c, or simply A1C, is a blood test you get at your doctor’s office. It measures the amount of blood sugar attached to hemoglobin, a protein found in red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. This test shows your average blood sugar level for the past three months. It reveals your risk of having other health problems because of diabetes.

Your A1C test results serve as the best way to know if your blood sugar stays under control over time. An A1C number of 7 or less is an excellent target for most people managing diabetes. When your A1C rises above this target, your risk for complications increases. Your doctor will decide the exact A1C target that is best for your unique health needs.

What are the worst foods for A1C? 

Here’s a list of the eight worst foods for managing A1C levels:

1. Sugary drinks: Sodas, sweetened teas and energy drinks can cause rapid blood sugar spikes.
2. Refined carbs: White bread, pasta and pastries are quickly broken down into sugar, raising blood sugar levels.
3. Fried foods: High in unhealthy fats, fried foods can lead to weight gain and insulin resistance.
4. Processed snacks: Chips, crackers and packaged baked goods often contain refined carbs and added sugars.
5. Candy and sweets: These are loaded with sugar and provide little to no nutritional value.
6. Sugary cereals: Many breakfast cereals are high in sugar and low in fiber, making them a poor choice for blood sugar control.
7. Full-fat dairy: Products like whole milk, cream and full-fat cheese can be high in saturated fats, which may impact insulin sensitivity.
8. Alcohol: Excessive alcohol can interfere with blood sugar regulation and lead to spikes or drops in levels.

Avoiding or limiting these foods can help keep your A1C levels in check. 

What to do when blood sugar is high

When your blood sugar stays too high, your pancreases work overtime to create more insulin. High insulin levels cause permanent damage to your pancreas over time. Other serious health problems linked to high blood sugar include vision loss, heart disease and kidney disease.

If you notice your blood sugar reading higher than normal, you should talk to your physician. They will review your numbers and map out a clear plan to manage your condition. 

How to lower glucose levels

You hold the power to control your blood sugar levels. People who actively manage their glucose lead full, happy lives. Healthy habits make a massive difference in your daily numbers.

Here are some tips:

• Eat healthy foods in the right amounts
• Focus on whole foods 
• Avoid processed sugars 
• Get physical activity 
• Drinkwater, which helps your kidneys flush out excess sugar from your blood
• Manage stress, which can raise blood sugar levels. Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation
• Take medications or insulin to lower glucose safely if directed by a physician

If you have diabetes, always talk to your doctor before starting a new exercise program as your body could need time to regulate. Here are some tips to start:

• Start slow and warm up a few minutes before and after you exercise
• Find a friend to be active with, as a partner helps you stick with your routine
• Try to exercise one to two hours after a meal when your blood sugar naturally peaks
• Always check your blood sugar before and after you engage in physical activity

How to tell if you have diabetes

You cannot diagnose diabetes purely based on how you feel. A simple blood test from your doctor is the only way to know for sure. However, it helps to know how blood sugar fluctuations impact your body.

Sometimes, people experience low blood sugar, a condition called hypoglycemia. Over-exercising, drinking alcohol, skipping meals or taking too much diabetes medication causes hypoglycemia. The signs include shaking, sweating, anxiousness, a fast heartbeat, confusion and intense hunger.

If you experience these symptoms, or if you suspect your blood sugar runs too high, speak to your physician right away. They prescribe the right medications and guide you through healthy lifestyle changes. 

Learn more about primary care at Ochsner and take an active role in your health today.