How blood sugar levels can affect your health
Exactly what is blood sugar level?
A person’s blood sugar level (sometimes called serum glucose level or plasma glucose level) is really just the volume of glucose (sugar) within their blood at any given time.
So why is glucose critical?
Glucose (also called dextrose) is a simple sugar that is produced by the body from the carbs that people eat. It’s critical for a wide variety of key bodily processes. Specifically, it is very important as it supplies energy to our cells, nervous system as well as the brain.
Glucose is carried from the digestive system or liver to cells via the bloodstream, and is made available for cell absorption by way of the hormone insulin, created by the pancreas.
Glucose that’s not directly used as a source of energy by brain cells, intestinal cells and red blood cells is delivered to the liver, adipose tissue and muscle cells, where it is absorbed and stored as glycogen. This glycogen can be converted back to glucose and returned to the bloodstream in cases where insulin is low or absent.
Just how is blood sugar level assessed?
Blood sugar is typically measured in molecular count, the unit for which is mmol/L (millimoles per liter). Furthermore, it is at times measured as a weight in grams, the unit for which is mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).
What exactly is a healthy or regular blood sugar level?
Usually, one’s body maintains its blood glucose level at a reference range of between 3.6 and 5.8 mmol/L (or 64.8 and 104.4 mg/dL).
The mean typical blood glucose level in people is around 4 mmol/L (or 72 mg/dL), although the level naturally fluctuates throughout the day. As you might suspect, glucose levels have a tendency to be lowest upon waking, before the first meal of the day and rise just after eating for 1 - 2 hours by a couple of milliMolar. Having said that, when it comes to diabetics, blood sugar varies more broadly - see further below.
How could blood sugar / glucose levels affect your health?
As outlined above, glucose gives your body with the fuel that it requires to complete essential physiological functions. Not enough sugar / glucose (a low blood sugar level) or excessive sugar / glucose (a high blood sugar level) can result in severe health threats and blood sugar levels outside of the normal range could be an indicator of a medical condition.
Hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
A continually high blood sugar level is called hyperglycemia, whilst low levels are known as hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia is a life-threatening condition. Indicators include lethargy, reduced mental functioning, frustration, trembling, twitching, weakness in arm and leg muscles, pale complexion, excessive sweating, paranoid or aggressive mentality and fainting. In severe cases, brain damage is possible.
In comparison, hyperglycemia usually involves the appetite being suppressed in the short term, with long term health conditions including heart disease, diabetes and eye, kidney, and nerve damage.
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is characterised by persistent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) either because the body fails to make sufficient insulin, or for the reason that their cells do not react to the insulin that’s produced. It’s the most typical disease linked to malfunction in blood sugar regulation.
For anyone with diabetes, it is of course especially vital to maintain blood sugar levels within standard ranges, or else serious health complications may occur. E . g ., nephropathy (kidney disease), neuropathy (nerve disease), retinopathy (eye disease) and cardiovascular diseases (heart diseases).
Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance (a manifestation of polycystic ovarian syndrome) is another example of a condition where blood sugar levels are important. In this case, the body doesn’t recognise the intake of sugars and carbohydrates and this means that it continues to pump out insulin which is not actually needed. If this lasts for a protracted period of time, the pancreas can stop working and stop producing insulin altogether. If care is not taken by individuals who have this problem to ensure a well-balanced diet and balanced blood sugar levels, it could eventually bring on type two diabetes.
What else can change blood sugar levels?
A lot of factors can impact an individual’s blood sugar level. Such as, it can be temporarily elevated as a result of acute stress (such as trauma, stroke, myocardial infarction, surgery or disease) or as a result of drug / medication usage, which can cause glucose levels to rise or go down.
Alcohol intake also causes an initial rise in blood sugar, but afterwards tends to cause levels to drop.
Trying to keep your blood sugar level within healthy ranges
Making positive and healthy lifestyle choices (and, if needed, changes) is a great first step in keeping your blood sugar levels under control. For instance, taking regular physical exercise and (if required) reducing your weight in a smart and healthy way.
Dietary adjustments, in particular, are often remarkably useful in keeping blood sugar levels within normal ranges. For all those with limited diets (such as diabetics), it can certainly be a struggle to ensure an optimum intake of nutrients everday. A lot of people find that high quality, nutrients-fortified meal replacement powders / shakes can help with this.
MEALtime is a liquid meal / meal replacement protein powder which is rich in quality protein, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, nutritious herbs and psyllium husks. Best of all, it’s suitable for diabetics and others trying to maintain healthy, stable blood sugar levels because the only sugars included are those found naturally in the ingredient fruits.
MEALtime is a fast and simple way to fuel up on the go. Not only does this meal replacement / protein shake contain an array of important vitamins and minerals, but it also has important amino acids, ginseng and aloe vera for energy!
Needless to say, prior to altering your eating habits or taking health supplements, always be sure to talk to your physician or qualified health practitioner (particularly if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medications).