Blood Sugar Levels Chart: Decoding Your Mg/dL and mmol/L Readings Understanding your blood sugar levels is crucial for managing diabetes, prediabetes,...

Blood Sugar Levels Chart: Decoding Your Mg/dL and mmol/L Readings

Understanding your blood sugar levels is crucial for managing diabetes, prediabetes, or simply maintaining overall health. This article provides a comprehensive blood sugar chart, explains the different units of measurement (mg/dL and mmol/L), and offers insights into interpreting your readings.

What Are Blood Sugar Levels?

Blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is the concentration of glucose in your blood. Glucose is a primary source of energy for your body, and its levels are tightly regulated by hormones like insulin. When this regulation fails, it can lead to conditions like hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Why Track Blood Sugar Levels?

Regularly monitoring your blood sugar levels helps you:

Detect diabetes or prediabetes early.
Manage existing diabetes effectively.
Adjust diet, exercise, and medication as needed.
Prevent long-term complications associated with uncontrolled blood sugar.

Units of Measurement: mg/dL vs. mmol/L

Blood sugar levels are typically measured in one of two units:

mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter): This is the standard unit used in the United States.
mmol/L (millimoles per liter): This is the standard unit used in most other countries, including Canada, the UK, and Europe.

You can convert between the two units using the following formula:

To convert mg/dL to mmol/L: Divide mg/dL by 18.
To convert mmol/L to mg/dL: Multiply mmol/L by 18.

Blood Sugar Levels Chart: Normal, Prediabetes, and Diabetes Ranges

The following chart provides general guidelines for blood sugar levels. It is crucial to consult with your doctor for personalized recommendations. These ranges often vary depending on individual circumstances.

Category	Fasting Blood Sugar (mg/dL)	Fasting Blood Sugar (mmol/L)	2-Hour Postprandial (After Eating) (mg/dL)	2-Hour Postprandial (After Eating) (mmol/L)	HbA1c
Normal	Less than 100	Less than 5.6	Less than 140	Less than 7.8	Less than 5.7%
Prediabetes	100 to 125	5.6 to 6.9	140 to 199	7.8 to 11.0	5.7% to 6.4%
Diabetes	126 or higher	7.0 or higher	200 or higher	11.1 or higher	6.5% or higher

Fasting Blood Sugar: Measured after at least 8 hours of fasting (no food or drink).
2-Hour Postprandial: Measured 2 hours after the start of a meal.
HbA1c: This test provides an average of your blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months. It reflects long-term glycemic control.

Factors That Affect Blood Sugar Levels

Several factors can influence your blood sugar levels:

Food: The type and amount of food you eat, particularly carbohydrates, significantly affect blood sugar.
Physical Activity: Exercise helps lower blood sugar levels.
Medications: Certain medications, including insulin and oral diabetes drugs, directly impact blood sugar. Other medications, like steroids, can raise blood sugar.
Stress: Stress hormones can raise blood sugar levels.
Illness: Infections and illnesses can affect blood sugar control.
Sleep: Lack of sleep can lead to insulin resistance and higher blood sugar levels.
Hormones: Hormonal fluctuations, especially in women, can affect blood sugar.

What To Do If Your Blood Sugar Is Too High (Hyperglycemia)

If your blood sugar is consistently high, consult your doctor. They may recommend adjustments to your diet, exercise routine, or medication. In the short term, you can:

Drink plenty of water to help flush out excess sugar.
Engage in light exercise (if safe).
Avoid sugary drinks and processed foods.

What To Do If Your Blood Sugar Is Too Low (Hypoglycemia)

If your blood sugar is too low (typically below 70 mg/dL or 3.9 mmol/L), take action immediately. Common symptoms of hypoglycemia include shakiness, sweating, dizziness, and confusion. To raise your blood sugar quickly:

Consume 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates, such as glucose tablets, fruit juice, or regular (non-diet) soda.
Check your blood sugar again after 15 minutes. If it's still low, repeat the process.
Once your blood sugar is back to normal, eat a snack containing protein and complex carbohydrates to help stabilize it.

If you experience severe hypoglycemia (e.g., loss of consciousness), seek immediate medical attention.

Monitoring Your Blood Sugar

There are several ways to monitor your blood sugar:

Blood Glucose Meter: This is the most common method. You prick your finger with a lancet and place a drop of blood on a test strip, which is inserted into the meter.
Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM): A CGM is a small device that is inserted under your skin and continuously measures your blood sugar levels. It transmits data to a receiver or smartphone app, providing real-time readings and trends. This can be very helpful for managing blood sugar proactively.
HbA1c Test: As mentioned earlier, this test measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months and is typically performed in a doctor's office.

Tips for Maintaining Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

Here are some tips for keeping your blood sugar in a healthy range:

Eat a balanced diet: Focus on whole, unprocessed foods, including fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Limit sugary drinks, processed foods, and refined carbohydrates.
Exercise regularly: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week, plus strength training exercises twice a week.
Maintain a healthy weight: Losing even a small amount of weight can improve insulin sensitivity and help lower blood sugar levels.
Manage stress: Practice stress-reduction techniques like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises.
Get enough sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night.
Monitor your blood sugar regularly: Follow your doctor's recommendations for blood sugar monitoring.
Take medications as prescribed: If you have diabetes, take your medications exactly as prescribed.
See your doctor regularly: Schedule regular checkups with your doctor to monitor your overall health and manage your diabetes effectively.

The Importance of Consulting a Healthcare Professional

This article provides general information about blood sugar levels. It is essential to consult with your doctor or a certified diabetes educator for personalized advice and treatment. They can help you develop a plan that meets your individual needs and helps you achieve optimal blood sugar control. Your personal targets for blood glucose may be different from the values in the table above.