What is Normal Blood Sugar and the 3 Ways to Test Your Blood Glucose Level

What is normal blood sugar levels for diabetics can be very different to people that do not suffer from diabetes. People with diabetes mellitus have abnormally higher levels of blood sugar because their bodies are not able to regulate them to the normal levels of 70-110 mg/dL.

There are several tests that measure the amount of glucose in the blood. What is normal blood sugar levels can vary from test to test. Let us take a look at these. One type of test is the fasting blood glucose test. Fasting for at least eight hours is required for this test.

 If not eating or drinking anything for eight hours seems daunting, a good way to achieve this is to take the test after waking up in the morning, provided that you have not eaten anything and have slept for eight hours. The normal blood sugar level for this test is 70-99 mg/dL.

Another test used to measure blood glucose levels is the post prandial test. This test is administered exactly two hours after eating a meal. What is normal blood sugar level for this test is 70-145 mg/dL. A third kind of test is the random or casual blood glucose test. A blood sample is tested several times throughout the day to determine the average level of sugar in the blood. The normal range for this test is 70-125 mg/dL.

There is also such a thing as "high normal" blood sugar levels, when the sugar levels are at the higher end of the range. It is still considered normal, but consistently having the levels at the higher end can raise a cause for concern.

Falling below or above the normal ranges can cause either to these conditions: hyperglycemia is defined as having an excessively high amount of blood sugar, while hypoglycemia is having blood sugar levels that fall slightly or dangerously below the normal ranges.

It is not surprising for diabetics to have normal levels that are slightly higher than the normal range. Hyperglycemia for diabetics is determined when the blood sugar after an eight-hour fast is at 130 mg/dL or more. If using the post-prandial test (two hours after meals), the diabetic's value for hyperglycemia is at more than 180 mg/dL.

Normal people's post-prandial sugar levels are usually below 140 mg/dL. So you see, what is normal blood sugar for non-diabetics widely differs from those for diabetics. Anything below 70 mg/dL is already considered hypoglycemia.

Here are some symptoms to watch out for hyperglycemia. There are times when people do not experience any symptoms at all, which can make it more difficult for people to tell if something is going wrong. Otherwise, having itchy skin even without the presence of irritants can be indicative of high blood sugar.

The development of fungal infections, such as yeast, can also be expected. A lack of appetite and its result of losing weight is a long-term symptom. Having a dry mouth and being unusually thirsty is a common sign, but if you find yourself dehydrated, seek immediate medical attention.

For hypoglycemia, it is more important to identify the symptoms right away, because the lack of glucose in the body can cause the improper functioning of the brain, which handles thinking and most body functions. The worst effect of hypoglycemia can be a coma or even death. Early on, here

Jerrold Tanner is an expert in medical research and has a interest in Diabetes and other blood sugar health issues in Americans today.

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