Diabetes
and blood glucose
Blood glucose
,blood sugar are terms, most diabetics familiar with
alongwith the terms blood glucose test, blood glucose
level and blood glucose meter, but what does blood
glucose really mean? Why do blood sugar levels need
to be controlled? are some common queries among them.
What
are blood glucose levels?
Blood sugar
levels are literally the amount of glucose in the
blood, sometimes called the serum glucose level. Usually,
this amount is expressed as millimoles per litre (mmol/l)
and stay stable amongst non-diabetic people at around
4-8mmol/l. Spikes in blood sugar will occur following
meals, and levels will usually be at their lowest
in the early mornings. When it comes to diabetics,
blood sugar fluctuates more widely.
Why
do blood glucose levels need to be controlled?
Half of
adults have increased risk of fatal heart attacks
and strokes because of raised blood glucose levels,
according to a UK study.High levels of glucose present
in the blood over a sustained period of time end up
damaging the blood vessels. Although this does not
sound too serious, the list of resultant complications
is. Poorly controlled blood glucose levels can increase
your chances of developing diabetes complications
including nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy and
cardiovascular diseases. The time-scale for the development
of these complications is usually years, but be aware
that type 2 diabetes is often not diagnosed until
a relatively late stage.
How
do I find out what my blood glucose levels are?
You can
use home testing kits, although before doing so read
our guide to blood glucose monitors. Measure levels
by putting a drop of blood on a strip and placing
it into the blood glucose meter. Prick your finger
with a specially designed lancet to draw blood.
What
is a good blood glucose level?
A normal
pre-prandial (before meal) blood glucose level will
be between 4 and 7 mmol/l. After eating (post-prandial)
levels should be less than 10 mmol/l when tested 90
minutes after a meal. When going to bed for the night,
levels should be about 8mmol/l.
When
should blood glucose levels be measured?
The number
of times per day blood glucose levels should be measured
depends entirely on the diabetics. Type 1 diabetics
using insulin should check their blood sugar levels
before every meal, sometimes as often as five times
per day. For type 2 diabetics controlling their condition
with diet, you should test several times a week. However,
this doesn't apply to everyone, and each individual
case should seek expert advice.
Are
there special times when blood glucose should be measured?
Any time
you feel ill, and over time if you can feel your blood
sugar becoming too low or too high, you should check
your blood glucose levels. You should also be aware
that a reading over 20mmol/l should prompt a urine
test for the presence of ketones.
What
is an HbA1c test and how does it relate to blood glucose?
The HbA1c
test is a lab test which reveals average blood glucose
over a period of two to three months. Specifically,
it measures the number of glucose molecules attached
to hemoglobin, a substance in red blood cells. HbA1c
is glycated haemoglobin and more of it is produced
in the body by high blood glucose levels. Different
scores of HbA1c show good, fair, poor and bad control
of diabetes. Increasing HbA1c levels indicate greater
risk of complications.
