blood sugar levels are measured several hours after eating, as this provides a more accurate picture of a person's glucose levels. In most cases, fasting blood sugar levels should be below 5.7%.
Blood sugar tends to peak about an hour after eating and then drops. Fasting
According to the American Diabetes Association, 5.7-6.4% of the indicators indicate prediabetes. At 6.5%, doctors diagnose diabetes.
High fasting blood sugar levels indicate insulin resistance or diabetes, while abnormally low fasting blood sugar may be caused by diabetes medications.
Knowing when to get tested and what to look for can help people stay healthy, especially if they have diabetes or are at risk of developing it.
Read on to learn more about fasting blood sugar levels, including testing information and tips for maintaining normal levels.
Fasting blood sugar levels
The body needs glucose for energy, and glucose comes from the food people eat. However, the body does not use all of this energy at once. Insulin stores and releases glucose as needed.
Blood sugar levels rise after a meal, usually peaking about an hour after eating.
The degree to which blood sugar rises and the exact time when it peaks depends on a person's diet.
Food-related factors that could trigger significant increases include:
- eating large meals
- Consumption of sugary foods and drinks
- eating foods that contain simple carbohydrates or carbohydrates, such as bread and sweets
As blood sugar rises, the pancreas releases insulin. Insulin lowers blood sugar and breaks it down so the body can use it for energy or store it for later.
However, people with diabetes can have difficulty using insulin in one of two ways.
People with type 1 diabetes don't produce enough insulin because their bodies attack their insulin-producing cells. People with type 2 diabetes do not respond well to the insulin in their body and may not produce enough insulin afterwards.
In both conditions, people experience high blood sugar and have difficulty using glucose, or blood sugar.
Fasting blood sugar depends on three factors:
- Contents of one's last meal
- the size of their previous meal
- their body's ability to produce and respond to insulin
Blood sugar levels between meals can give us insight into how the body manages sugar. High levels of fasting blood sugar indicate that the body is unable to lower blood sugar levels.
This suggests that insulin resistance leads to insufficient insulin secretion, or in some cases both.
