Ideal Blood Sugar Health
By Dr Joseph J Collins, ND, RN
By Dr Joseph J Collins, ND, RN
This article is part of the Blood Sugar Health Educational Module
Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
Glucose is the primary source of energy for every cell within your body. Therefore, every cell, tissue and organ in your body functions best when you blood glucose levels are within optimal range.
Blood sugar levels should ideally be less than 100 mg/dL after fasting (not eating) for at least eight hours. Some people may do well with fasting blood glucose levels 60 mg/dL, while other people may find that they feel better with their fasting blood glucose in the 90s. Fasting blood sugar consistently greater than 120 mg/dL indicate increased likelihood of having insulin resistance and prediabetes. Elevated glucose levels in the blood is hyperglycemia.
Glucose is the primary source of energy for every cell within your body. Therefore, every cell, tissue and organ in your body functions best when you blood glucose levels are within optimal range.
Blood sugar levels should ideally be less than 100 mg/dL after fasting (not eating) for at least eight hours. Some people may do well with fasting blood glucose levels 60 mg/dL, while other people may find that they feel better with their fasting blood glucose in the 90s. Fasting blood sugar consistently greater than 120 mg/dL indicate increased likelihood of having insulin resistance and prediabetes. Elevated glucose levels in the blood is hyperglycemia.
Postprandial Glucose Levels
Ideally, blood sugar should be less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating a meal which contains carbohydrates. Blood sugars tested after eating are also called “postprandial” (from the Latin words for after a meal). Postprandial glucose levels at three hours should also be less than 140 mg/dL. Elevated 2 hour or 3 hour postprandial blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) are seen in insulin resistance and prediabetes.
The presence of postprandial hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) can result in excessive postprandial insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia). The excessive insulin levels can result in an excessive drop of blood sugar levels in people, which occurs hours after they have eaten. Low blood sugar hours after a meal is called postprandial hypoglycemia (“hypo” = low, “glycemia” = blood sugar).
This postprandial hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is more likely to occur in people that have non-alcoholic-liver-disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is frequently associated with insulin resistance, prediabetes and diabetes. NAFLD may worsen and become nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a liver disease that is also associated with insulin resistance, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
The occurrence of hypoglycemic episodes in people with insulin resistance, prediabetes or diabetes is very significant because it highlights the fact that Blood Sugar Health involves the prevention of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), as much as it involves the prevention of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
During the day, blood sugar (blood glucose) levels will typically drop just before your next meal. For many people without diabetes, blood sugar levels before meals may be close to around 70 to 80 mg/dL. Blood sugar greater than 120 mg/d before meals (4 hours after eating) indicate increased likelihood of having prediabetes.
A true diagnosis of diabetes requires a licensed healthcare professional. However, if you find that your fasting blood sugar is too high, or that your blood sugar is too high when you check it two hours after eating, then you may consider yourself at risk for developing diabetes, or prediabetic.
Ideally, blood sugar should be less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating a meal which contains carbohydrates. Blood sugars tested after eating are also called “postprandial” (from the Latin words for after a meal). Postprandial glucose levels at three hours should also be less than 140 mg/dL. Elevated 2 hour or 3 hour postprandial blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) are seen in insulin resistance and prediabetes.
The presence of postprandial hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) can result in excessive postprandial insulin levels (hyperinsulinemia). The excessive insulin levels can result in an excessive drop of blood sugar levels in people, which occurs hours after they have eaten. Low blood sugar hours after a meal is called postprandial hypoglycemia (“hypo” = low, “glycemia” = blood sugar).
This postprandial hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is more likely to occur in people that have non-alcoholic-liver-disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is frequently associated with insulin resistance, prediabetes and diabetes. NAFLD may worsen and become nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a liver disease that is also associated with insulin resistance, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.
The occurrence of hypoglycemic episodes in people with insulin resistance, prediabetes or diabetes is very significant because it highlights the fact that Blood Sugar Health involves the prevention of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), as much as it involves the prevention of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
During the day, blood sugar (blood glucose) levels will typically drop just before your next meal. For many people without diabetes, blood sugar levels before meals may be close to around 70 to 80 mg/dL. Blood sugar greater than 120 mg/d before meals (4 hours after eating) indicate increased likelihood of having prediabetes.
A true diagnosis of diabetes requires a licensed healthcare professional. However, if you find that your fasting blood sugar is too high, or that your blood sugar is too high when you check it two hours after eating, then you may consider yourself at risk for developing diabetes, or prediabetic.
Prediabetes
The risk of prediabetes can most accurately be revealed by doing an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), which your healthcare professional can order. For the OGTT you will be asked to drink a liquid containing a specific amount of glucose (usually 75 grams) after you have fasted at least eight hours. Your blood will be taken again every 30 to 60 minutes after you drink the solution for up to 3 hours, depending upon your medical history. The benefit to the OGTT is that is uses a precise amount of glucose
The 75 gram OGTT can also reveal the presence of NAFLD in patients who experience postprandial hypoglycemia.
Prediabetes may result in type 2 diabetes if the blood glucose function is not restored to normal. So, prediabetes, with an increased fasting glucose and an abnormal glucose tolerance, is a disorder that is in-between normal blood sugar health, and diabetes.
The risk of prediabetes can most accurately be revealed by doing an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), which your healthcare professional can order. For the OGTT you will be asked to drink a liquid containing a specific amount of glucose (usually 75 grams) after you have fasted at least eight hours. Your blood will be taken again every 30 to 60 minutes after you drink the solution for up to 3 hours, depending upon your medical history. The benefit to the OGTT is that is uses a precise amount of glucose
The 75 gram OGTT can also reveal the presence of NAFLD in patients who experience postprandial hypoglycemia.
Prediabetes may result in type 2 diabetes if the blood glucose function is not restored to normal. So, prediabetes, with an increased fasting glucose and an abnormal glucose tolerance, is a disorder that is in-between normal blood sugar health, and diabetes.
Summary:
Abnormal fasting or postprandial blood glucose levels indicate increased likelihood of having prediabetes as well as non-alcoholic-liver-disease (NAFLD).
GlucoQuench™ contains herbs that can support healthy blood glucose levels.
GlucoQuench™ contains herbs that can support healthy blood glucose levels.
References & Addition Reading
Four grams of glucose
Four grams of glucose
Reviewed & Updated: 07/20/2019