Exploring treatment options in cancer: tumor treatment strategies

False Elevation Of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin In A Patient With Testicular Cancer

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Helping You Understand 'Normal' Blood Sugar Levels

Your blood sugar goal may vary depending on whether you have diabetes, which type of diabetes you have, and whether you're pregnant.

Keeping track of your blood sugar is a key part of diabetes management.

Achieving a "normal" blood sugar or glucose level is a bit of a misnomer. Often, the word "normal" is used to reference what someone's blood sugars might be if they didn't have diabetes.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the normal fasting range for blood glucose is between 70 and 100 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 3.9 and 5.6 millimoles per liter (mmol/L).

However, it's important to note that this terminology isn't the best. People without diabetes also experience blood sugar spikes, especially after consuming foods high in sugar.

Diabetes is unique to each person, meaning your target blood glucose goals may differ from someone else's based on many factors.

Keep reading to learn more about target blood glucose levels.

There's no magic number for your blood sugar. Target ranges may vary for each person.

People with diabetes strive to keep their glucose levels under 140 mg/dL on average. If you don't have diabetes, consider aiming for 70 to 100 mg/dL.

A healthcare professional may provide a diagnosis of prediabetes if you have the following test results:

Fasting: 100 to 125 mg/dL

2 hours after eating: 140 to 199 mg/dL

The 2024 standards from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) are a set of guidelines followed by many professionals in the diabetes field. This chart details goals for specific groups of people with diabetes:

These guidelines are used by the medical community as a starting point. Individual goals may vary based on your needs. Consider working with a doctor to determine what may be best for you.

Hyperglycemia occurs when fasting glucose levels are greater than 125 mg/dL or when levels are 180 mg/dL or greater within 2 hours of eating.

Hypoglycemia is when glucose levels drop below 70 mg/dL. However, you may not experience any symptoms until they're lower than 55 mg/dL.

Blood sugar levels that drop or rise to a dangerous level may increase your risk of developing life threatening complications.

Get immediate medication attention if you experience symptoms of hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, such as:

Language matters in diabetes

Words make a difference when you're talking about diabetes.

Here are some suggestions on language choices when talking with someone about their blood sugar and glucose levels.

Try to avoid using terms like "good" or "bad" for higher or lower blood sugars.

Instead, try not to tie value judgments to these numbers. Think about them as just numbers, "in range" or not, and pieces of data to help make a decision in diabetes care. Sometimes, glucose numbers are too low or too high, and it's helpful for the person with diabetes to understand why those glucose fluctuations are happening.

Try to avoid judgment and blame with phrases like "What did you do?" when asking about higher or lower blood sugars.

Instead, use phrases like "Tell me about …" or "Do you know why that happened?"

Try to avoid asking a child or adult about their blood sugars as soon as you see them. This can make it seem like diabetes defines them, and all you see is their numbers.

Instead, try talking with them about their day and any highlights before entering the diabetes discussion.

People may feel disappointed, frustrated, and angry about their blood sugars and diabetes management. If they can't achieve what they view as "perfect" results, they may feel shame and guilt. This may lead to diabetes burnout or losing interest in managing diabetes as needed.

What to Eat

Essentials

Blood Sugar

Medications

Insulin

Metformin

A1C measures your average blood sugar over the past 3 months.

When sugar enters your bloodstream, it binds to a protein called hemoglobin. People with high blood sugar have a higher percentage of the hemoglobin protein coated with sugar.

Standard (no diabetes): less than 5.7%

Prediabetes: 5.7% to 6.4%

Diabetes: 6.5% or higher

According to the CDC, the target A1C level is 7% or less.

However, it's important to work closely with your diabetes care team to determine the best A1C goal for you. A1C levels don't reflect all the nuances of diabetes management, such as glucose variability.

A1C is also not the same as your blood sugar average, which might be displayed on a fingerstick meter or a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).

Diabetes professionals use A1C testing in addition to time in range (TIR) figures, which show how often your glucose levels stay within your individualized target range.

Should I use a continuous glucose monitor?

A CGM provides real-time results of your blood sugar levels every 1 to 5 minutes.

The device can help you see how food and exercise affect your glucose levels and catch cases of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia as they happen.

It may also be a lifesaving tool if you experience hypoglycemia unawareness. A CGM can alert you of impending low blood sugars when your body fails to recognize the warning signs.

Learn more about CGM technology.

What is the normal range for blood sugar?

Normal fasting blood glucose levels range between 70 and 100 mg/dL (3.9 and 5.6 mmol/L).

Is a 6.4 blood sugar level normal?

Blood sugar targets vary for each person depending on several factors, such as whether you have diabetes. A blood sugar level between 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.7 and 6.4 mmol/L) is considered prediabetes.

Is an 8.7 blood sugar high?

This will depend on whether you test during fasting or 2 hours after eating. A rest result between 140 to 199 mg/dL (7.8 and 11.0 mmol/L) is considered high if you're fasting and may fall under 180 mg/dL (8.5 to 9 mmol/L) 2 hours after eating.

No magic number exists for "normal" glucose or blood sugar levels. While there are clinical guidelines on target goals for blood sugar levels and A1C tests, it's important to remember that "Your Diabetes May Vary."

Speak with a healthcare professional to best determine your glucose goals. More advanced diabetes technology like a CGM may also be a discussion point with a doctor to achieve ideal glucose levels and a healthy time-in-range.

As Blood Cancer Treatments Evolve, So Does The Patient Journey

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