Managing Fasting Blood Sugar Levels: Highs, Lows, and Healthy Range

Do you know why your doctor asks you to fast before a blood test? The reason is your blood sugar level reveals a lot about your health. It helps to understand how well your body can manage sugar and hence holds importance for both diabetic and non-diabetic people.

Knowing how to control your fasting blood sugar level is very important. Let us walk you through the tits and bits of it.

Healthy Fasting Blood Sugar Level

If you do a fasting blood sugar test, and the result is between 70 to 99 milligrams per deciliter, it is healthy. If the number is between 100 to 125, it displays you are prediabetic. A reading of 126 or higher is considered diabetic. So, keeping your blood sugar level in a healthy range is very important.

Why Does Blood Sugar Go High?

Many reasons can cause hyperglycemia or high fasting blood sugar. Commonly, it is due to the non-response of cells or the absence of insulin, which is a hormone that drives sugar from the blood to the body cells to distribute energy.

Going for a blood sugar test at intervals is what doctors always recommend if you already have diabetes or are suffering from any chronic disease.

Let us look at the other possible reasons:

• Eating a lot of sugar or simple carbohydrates in large meals
• No exercise
• Stress
• Illness or infection
• Taking steroids
• Hormonal changes (during pregnancy)
• Dawn phenomenon (this happens when people do not eat late at night, and the body releases extra sugar into the blood early morning)

Why Does Blood Sugar Go Low?

Hypoglycemia or low fasting blood sugar is not as common as high fasting blood sugar. It happens when you take some high-power medicine, drink too much of alcohol, or if you are suffering from kidney, liver, or hormone problems. It can be dangerous and make you feel weak, sweaty, or shaky at times. 

Ways To Held Your Blood Sugar in a Healthy Range
We all want to come out as a healthy soul and want to live a healthy life. The ways are common and simple. You need to do some alterations in your day to day life.

Let us discuss them in detail.

• Balanced Meal: Almost all the elders, health specialists, and well wishers recommend eating a balanced meal that includes whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Indeed, when they are placed on the same plate, it helps to maintain a healthy range. 
• Exercise: Your body uses sugar as energy when you do any physical activity, making your cells more sensitive to insulin. 
• Tracking your portions: Eat healthy but low quantity meals. Overeating can increase your blood sugar level.
• Don't eat too late: Always have your dinner a few hours before your bedtime. Do not eat and sleep then and then.
• Sleep:  Heard of the phrase, Sleeping beauty! Indeed, sleep has always been important in maintaining your health and managing your blood sugar level. Get enough sleep so it becomes easy for your body to control blood sugar.
• Stress: Managing your stress using deep breathing methods or walking 10 minutes a day can also help.

The Bottom Line

Maintain a moderate range of blood sugar to ensure you are healthy. Remember, small changes may attract big differences in your health. Consult your health specialist and take his assistance if you feel unwell. A healthy life is just a step ahead, so don't miss to reach there!