Courses
Courses for Kids
Free study material
Offline Centres
More
Store Icon
Store

What does blood sugar level mean?

seo-qna
SearchIcon
Answer
VerifiedVerified
377.1k+ views
Hint: Blood sugar, also known as glucose, is the most common type of sugar found in the body. It is the primary source of energy in your body and is derived from the food you eat. Your blood transports glucose to all of your body's cells, where it is used for energy.

Complete answer:
The amount of glucose in the blood is referred to as the blood sugar level. If you have diabetes, your blood sugar levels can be consistently high. It can harm your body over time and cause a slew of other problems.

Before eating or fasting, the normal range for blood sugar levels in adults who do not have diabetes is 72-99mg/dL, while fasting ranges for those being treated for type 1 or type 2 diabetes are 80-130mg/dL. According to the American Diabetes Association, normal blood sugar levels before and after eating should be 80-130 mg/dL before eating (fasting) and less than 180 mg/dL about 1-2 hours after eating a meal.

Diabetes is defined as a disease in which the body's ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired. Type 1 diabetes is caused by a pancreas that does not produce insulin. People with type 2 diabetes have insulin-resistant cells in their bodies or a pancreas that slows or stops producing adequate insulin levels (blood glucose). Diabetes can result in abnormal glucose levels.

Normal blood levels may vary slightly depending on the blood tests used and the expertise of your doctor, but the differences are minor. Furthermore, what are “normal” ranges for nondiabetics are not the same for diabetics; it is widely accepted that target blood sugar measurements for diabetics will be slightly higher than those without diabetes.

Note: High blood sugar ranges for people who do not have diabetes start at 140 mg/dL or higher, whereas for those who are being treated for diabetes, the high range starts at 180 mg/dL, which is known as hypoglycemia.