Normal blood sugar levels are necessary for a properly functioning body. Sugar (glucose) is found in your blood and is your body's main source of energy. During digestion, carbohydrates (e.g., sugars, starches, and fiber) are turned into glucose. Your body can use glucose for energy, or store whatever it doesn't use in your cells for later. Show
Your blood sugar level is influenced by the food you eat, your age, stress, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol use. Your blood sugar can also be affected by heart conditions and diabetes. This article will go over what normal blood sugar levels are. You will also learn about the range of glucose levels a person may have after eating, as well as how different types of food affect blood sugar, and how to manage blood sugar through diet. Danie Drankwalter / Verywell If you want to get an idea of what your normal blood sugar levels are, you'll need to check them. Your provider might want you to check at different times of the day, but you can start by checking your blood glucose levels one to two hours after eating. Seeing what your blood sugar is after a meal or snack can help you better understand how your levels are affected by the food you eat as well as when you eat. If you have diabetes, checking your blood sugar regularly helps you figure out if you're taking the right dose of insulin (and if not, you can talk to your provider about your dose). As a general rule, your blood sugar level should be below 180
mg/dL one to two hours after you start eating a meal or snack. However, your target blood sugar range will depend on:
Target Blood Glucose Levels After Meals by AgeYour target blood sugar level after eating will depend on how old you are, whether or not you have diabetes and how you are treating it (e.g., with insulin), and whether or not you are pregnant. Here are some general guidelines for post-meal blood glucose levels:
Do I Need to Check If My Blood Sugar Level Is Normal?If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, tracking your blood sugar regularly will help you understand how medication, food, and physical activity affect it. Checking your blood glucose level also gives you the chance to see when it's rising and take action to correct it. Managing your blood sugar levels is the most important thing you can do to prevent complications from diabetes, like blindness, heart attacks, amputation, kidney disease, and stroke. Others who may want to track their blood glucose regularly include people:
How Can I Measure My Blood Sugar Levels?You can measure your blood glucose levels with a glucometer. First, you prick your finger with a small device called a lancet to get a drop of blood. Your blood goes on a test strip which you put into the glucometer. Then, the device tells you your blood sugar levels. You can also use a continuous glucose monitoring device, which uses a sensor that's placed under your skin to automatically check your levels every few minutes. How Does Food Affect My Blood Sugar?When you eat, your body breaks food down into carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals. You need all of these parts for a healthy diet, but carbohydrates (carbs) are really important when it comes to your blood glucose level. However, not all carbs change into blood sugar at the same rate.
Examples of foods that fit into each carb category include:
The glycemic index (GI) is a carb ranking system that uses a scale ranging from zero to 100. You can use the GI to find out how different foods affect your blood sugar levels. High GI foods are quickly processed and can cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels. Low index foods are more slowly processed which leads to smaller blood glucose level changes. Diet for Keeping Normal Blood Sugar LevelsThere are several ways you can manage your blood sugar through your diet and keep your levels as consistent as possible. For example, eating several smaller meals throughout the day rather than two or three big meals may help. Plate MethodThe plate method is a simple way to plan well-balanced meals. Here are the steps to using the method to build your meals:
Now that your plate is divided, you need to fill it up! Here's an overview of how each food component should fit into your meal. Nonstarchy Vegetables Fill the largest section with nonstarchy vegetables to ensure you get a healthy mix of foods that provide fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Examples of nonstarchy vegetables:
What If My Meal Doesn't Fit the Plate Method?Your goal is for the largest portion of your meal to be non-starchy veggies. If you’re not eating a meal that fits perfectly into each sectioned portion of your plate (like a soup or pizza) try to include smaller portions from the other two categories. Lean, Low-Fat Protein Next, fill one-quarter of your plate with lean and lower-fat proteins. Keep in mind that some plant-based proteins like beans and legumes are high in carbohydrates and can raise blood sugar levels. Examples of lean and lower-fat proteins include:
Carbs Fill the remaining quarter of your plate with carbs—the foods that will have the greatest effect on your blood sugar. Remember that many types of foods can fit into the carb category, including fresh and dried fruits, yogurt, sour cream, milk, and milk substitutes. Don't Forget WaterYou need to drink enough fluids throughout the day to help your body remove excess sugar. While water is best for staying hydrated, you can also choose low-calorie and low-sugar drinks. Counting CarbohydratesAnother way to manage your blood sugar through your dietary choices is counting the number of carbohydrates in grams per meal. Carb counting when you have diabetes varies depending on whether you take mealtime insulin, which is taken before or after meals to help prevent blood sugar spikes. If you do not take insulin at meals, you can keep track of your carbs by adding them up. This will give you a better idea of how your food choices affect your blood sugar. Insulin-to-Carb Ratio (ICR) If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and take mealtime insulin, you'll calculate the insulin-to-carb ratio (ICR) to manage blood sugar. You will need to count the total grams of carbs and match that to the dose of rapid-acting insulin to lower blood sugar:
What Is My ICR?Everyone’s insulin-to-carb ratio (ICR) is different. Some people will even have different ICR ratios for breakfast than for other meals. If you do not know your ICR, ask your healthcare provider or dietitian. How many carbs you should eat will depend on many factors. If you aren't sure, reach out to your provider or dietitian for advice. Medical Nutrition TherapyMedical nutrition therapy is a support service that you may need in addition to the dietary changes you make on your own. The goal is to empower you to make healthy food choices based on factors like your overall health, diet, and activity level. This kind of support is offered by registered dietitians. They can do a nutritional assessment and offer counseling to help you with goal setting over several one-on-one sessions. SummaryNormal blood sugar levels are important for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. If you have diabetes, tracking your blood sugar can help prevent serious health complications. In general, your goal should be to have a blood sugar level below 180 mg/dL one to two hours after you have a meal or snack. However, what is considered normal blood sugar varies depending on your diabetes status, your age, and any other health conditions you have. While carbohydrates play a significant role in blood sugar levels there are many ways to manage blood sugar through your dietary choices, as well as with medical nutritional therapy. A Word From VerywellNormal blood sugar levels after eating are along a range because what is considered normal or healthy is different from person to person. Learning how food and medication affect your blood sugar can help you keep track of what your normal is and empower you to make choices that help you meet your blood sugar level goals. Frequently Asked Questions
What is high blood sugar 2 hours after eating?1. What is the blood sugar 2 hours after eating? Normal blood glucose level is less than 100 mg/dL after not eating (fasting) for at least 8 hours. This number is less than 140 mg/dL 2 hours after eating.
Should I test my blood sugar 1 or 2 hours after eating gestational diabetes?when and how often to test your blood sugar – you'll usually be advised to test before breakfast and 1 hour after each meal. what level you should be aiming for – this will be a measurement given in millimoles of glucose per litre of blood (mmol/l)
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