Fit4D :: Personal Diabetes Coaching

Blood Glucose Levels

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Blood Glucose Levels

What is blood glucose?

Blood glucose (blood sugar) is the main sugar found in the blood and the body’s main energy source. When you digest your food, the carbohydrates are broken down to their simplest form (glucose) so they can be transported through the blood and ultimately used for energy. In order for glucose to be used for energy, insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps move the glucose from the blood into the organs and muscles. People living with diabetes do not produce or properly utilize insulin which can cause elevated blood glucose levels.

What is the recommended target blood glucose range?

The American Diabetes Association recommends the following target ranges for blood glucose:

70-130 mg/dl before meals (pre-prandial)
Less than 180 mg/dl two hours after starting a meal (post-prandial)

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends the following target ranges for blood glucose:
Less than 110 mg/dl before meals (pre-prandial)
Less than 140 mg/dl two hours after starting a meal (post-prandial)

*Talk to your healthcare provider about your individualized blood glucose target range.
What can happen if my blood glucose is too high?

Hyperglycemia is the scientific term for high blood glucose. Maintaining a blood glucose level close to normal will reduce the risk of developing the long-term complications of diabetes, such as eye, kidney, nerve and blood vessel disease. Over time, consistently elevated blood glucose levels may increase your risk for these complications. Symptoms of elevated blood glucose levels include:

  • Fatigue
  • Thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Blurry vision

What can happen if my blood glucose is too low?

Hypoglycemia is the scientific term for low blood glucose. It is important to know the symptoms of low blood glucose and how to treat it. Some of the common symptoms of low blood glucose levels include:

  • Dizziness
  • Shakiness
  • Sweating
  • Hunger
  • Headache
  • Confusion
  • Generalized weakness
  • Drowsiness
  • Anxiety

After you check your blood glucose and see that it is less than 70 mg/dl, you should treat it immediately by consuming 15 grams of carbohydrates. Examples are:

  • 3-4 glucose tablets
  • ½ cup (4 ounces) of fruit juice
  • ½ cup (4 ounces) of regular (not diet) soda
  • 1 tablespoon of honey or sugar
  • 5-6 pieces of hard candy

Check your blood glucose 15 minutes after you’ve consumed the 15 grams of carbohydrates to ensure that your glucose level has returned to normal. If it is still less than 70 mg/dl, repeat the treatment. If your next planned meal is an hour or more away, another snack should be eaten after you have successfully increased the blood glucose level to 70 mg/dl or above.

What can I do to keep my blood glucose in the target range?

Blood glucose monitoring is an important part of diabetes management. Testing your blood glucose on a regular basis gives you vital information that can help you maintain blood glucose levels in your target range. Knowing how your diet, physical activity level and medications affect your blood glucose, gives you the tools you need to be able to make adjustments, creating the balance necessary to maintain your blood glucose as close to target as possible.

How can fit4d help me manage my blood glucose level?

Fit4d provides the tools and services you may need to help you manage your blood glucose level. Our free interactive webinars provide information on a number of relevant topics and our monthly e-newsletter has tips to make your day-to-day choices easier. Individual coaching may be extremely valuable, if you would like personalized assistance putting health recommendations into practice. Services are tailored to your personal needs and are delivered through online nutrition and fitness programs, email and phone chats. You may choose a one-time phone call with a fit4d coach for specific questions or an 8-16 week on-going coaching program. The coaches integrate motivational support with custom-made nutrition and fitness plans geared toward blood glucose management.

Meredith Liss, MA, RD, CDN, CDE
Fit4D Nutrition Coach

References

  1. American Diabetes Association www.diabetes.org
  2. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIH http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/hypoglycemia/