Post Time: 2025-07-18
Your blood sugar range, also known as your glycemic control, is a critical aspect of maintaining overall health. It measures how well your body regulates its glucose levels after consuming food or during fasting periods. The American Diabetes Association recommends the following ranges for healthy adults:
- Fasting plasma glucose (FPG): Less than 100 mg/dL
- Postprandial blood sugar: Less than 140 mg/dL
When it comes to specific numbers, you might wonder what a blood sugar level of 137 means. Is this considered high or normal? In most cases, the American Diabetes Association classifies FPG levels between 110-125 mg/dL as impaired fasting glucose and those above 126 mg/dL as diabetic.
However, these are not strict thresholds for determining health risks associated with elevated blood sugar levels.
Blood Sugar Fluctuations: The Role of Diet and Lifestyle
When we talk about high or low blood sugar ranges, it's essential to consider what causes fluctuations in the first place. Your diet plays a significant role in managing your glycemic control. Focus on consuming complex carbohydrates like whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
These nutrient-dense foods help slow down glucose absorption into the bloodstream, keeping blood sugar levels stable for longer periods. Conversely, simple carbs found in processed snacks or refined sugars can trigger rapid spikes in blood sugar followed by drops that may leave you feeling lethargic.
Managing Stress to Regulate Blood Sugar Levels
Stress has a significant impact on your body's ability to regulate glucose levels efficiently. When under stress, the production of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline is triggered. These increase the release of stored glucose into the bloodstream (gluconeogenesis), causing an immediate elevation in blood sugar.
Furthermore, chronic stress can impair insulin sensitivity over time – a condition known as metabolic syndrome that significantly increases your risk for developing type 2 diabetes or other conditions like heart disease.
The Impact of Exercise on Blood Sugar Regulation
Regular physical activity is essential not only for maintaining healthy weight but also to enhance glucose metabolism. During exercise, your body's demand for energy sources shifts from primarily fat and carbohydrates stored in the muscles (glycogen) to increased reliance on circulating blood glucose levels.
However, this heightened sensitivity improves insulin action by increasing pancreatic beta-cell function – facilitating greater uptake of post-meal glucose into cells for more effective glycemic control.
272 blood sugar after eating In the final installment of the three part Journey for Women of Color podcast series, special guest moderator Ava-joye Burnett is joined by Johns Hopkins Medicine endocrinologist Dr. Sudipa Sarkar, who serves as the Director of the Inpatient Diabetes Management Service at Johns is cinnamon good for lowering blood sugar Hopkins metamucil to lower blood sugar Bayview Medical Center.