Managing blood glucose levels is crucial for individuals with diabetes to maintain overall health and well-being. One key aspect of managing diabetes is understanding your average blood glucose levels throughout the day. By monitoring fluctuations in your blood sugar, you can make informed decisions about your diet, exercise, and medication.
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In general, both A1C and eAG readings provide the same information about your recent blood glucose levels, for instance, whether your treatment plan is helping. In the morning, the liver increases glucose production to give the body ample energy to wake up, triggering the pancreas to release insulin to keep blood sugar levels in check. Taking steps to monitor and manage your blood sugar levels is key to maintaining good health and avoiding the long-term complications of diabetes. With proper care and regular check-ups, it’s very possible to manage your blood sugar levels. Individuals should test their blood sugar levels again 15 minutes after attempting to raise their blood sugar to determine whether glucose levels have reached 70 mg/dL or higher.
What is your average blood glucose through the day?
Your average blood glucose level through the day refers to the overall range of blood sugar readings you experience from morning until night. This average provides insight into how well you are managing your diabetes and can help your healthcare provider tailor your treatment plan accordingly.
A registered dietitian can provide medical nutrition therapy, which includes counseling to help you create and follow a meal plan. Your health care team may be able to recommend other resources, such as a healthy lifestyle coach, to help you with making changes. Ask your health care team or your insurance company if your benefits include medical nutrition therapy or other diabetes care resources. Talk with your doctor or other healthcare professionals about the best times to check your blood glucose. Episodes of hyperglycemia over an extended period may lead to either diabetic ketoacidosis or a hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state. Untreated hyperglycemia may cause the client to enter ketoacidosis, using fatty acids for gluconeogenesis to produce the energy required for cellular function.
The less circulating insulin it senses in the blood stream, the harder the liver will work to put more glucose into the blood. In a healthy person, the liver keeps the fasting blood sugar concentration near 85 mg/dl (4.7 mmol/L) at all times. As a result, many diabetes professionals have moved away from considering the A1C the sole ‘gold standard’ for someone’s diabetes management. Instead, they use that A1C in addition to time in range (TIR) figures, showing how often your glucose levels are in your individualized target range.
Factors that Influence Blood Glucose Levels
Meanwhile, this study is just one of the many that have shown in recent years how CGM use helps increase your time-in-range. This device monitors glucose levels under the skin, providing real-time results every 1 to 5 minutes. You insert a CGM on your body and wear it for 7 to 14 days, with the diabetes data being streamed to a separate handheld receiver or your smartphone app.
When you volunteer to take part in a clinical study, you help health care professionals and researchers learn more about disease and improve health care for people in the future. The physical activities you do may need to be different if you are age 65 or older, are pregnant, or have a disability or health condition. Physical activities may also need to be different for children and teens. There is no clear proof that specific foods, herbs, spices, or dietary supplements’such as vitamins or minerals’can help manage diabetes.
- Diet: The types and amounts of food you consume can directly impact your blood sugar levels.
- Physical Activity: Exercise can cause fluctuations in blood glucose levels, so it’s important to monitor before and after workouts.
- Medication: Insulin or other medications prescribed for diabetes management can also affect blood sugar levels throughout the day.
How to Monitor Your Average Blood Glucose
- Use a blood glucose meter to check your levels regularly, especially before and after meals.
- Keep a log of your readings to track patterns and identify any trends in your blood sugar levels.
- Discuss your average blood glucose levels with your healthcare provider during regular check-ups to make necessary adjustments to your treatment plan.
By staying vigilant and proactive in monitoring your blood glucose levels throughout the day, you can effectively manage your diabetes and lead a healthier life. Remember, knowledge is power when it comes to controlling your blood sugar levels and minimizing the risks associated with diabetes.
