subject: What Are The Differing Ranges Of Glucose Plasma Levels And When Are They Unhealthy? [print this page] Most healthy peoples blood sugar levels that stay within certain limits. If you are suffering from diabetes your blood sugar levels, or your plasma glucose level as it is also called, will be consistently outwith the normal range. Glucose blood levels are measured by millimoles. So what are the different ranges of blood sugar levels?
The blood sugar levels of a healthy person vary from between 4 mmols and 7 mmols. These levels will vary during the day and night, but as a general rule your levels should be between 4 mmols and 7 mmols before meals, 10 mmols ninety minutes after a meal and around 8mmols before you go to bed. You can buy a simple kit to keep an eye on your blood sugar levels.
If you have been diagnosed with diabetes then it is likely that your sugar levels vary from the 'normal' range. Even when a persons diabetes is under control sugar levels can drift. It is very important that you keep an eye on your blood glucose as not doing this can lead to serious illness.
Retinopathy is a condition that causes blockages and swelling in the small blood vessels in the back of the eye, this damage is caused by a long term environment too high in blood sugar. It can lead to complications such as protein leaking out into the retina of the eye and, in extreme cases blindness caused by swelling leading to oxygen not being able to reach the eye.
The kidneys can be affected by lengthy irregularities in blood glucose plasma levels too. Nephropathy is the name given to diabetic kidney disease, it is caused by the same clogging and inflammation that causes retinopathy and the symptoms, once the illness has progressed, are nausea, a metallic taste, fatigue and heartburn. You are at higher risk of developing the illness if you are of Afro Caribbean or Asian origin or have type 2 diabetes.
Diabetic nerve damage or neuropathy occurs when the small nerve fibers leading to the bodies extremities, usually the feet, become damaged due to a long term excess of sugar in the blood. This damage can cause a lack of feeling in the feet meaning that ulcers or wounds go unnoticed possibly leading to infection. It is possible to minimize the risk of developing these illnesses. By monitoring and controlling your blood sugar levels.
Different types of diabetes require different frequencies of monitoring. Insulin controlled diabetes tends to need to be monitored before every meal and tablet or diet controlled is usually twice a week. Always make sure you check with your health care provider though as every ones needs change and are different.
The monitoring of your blood glucose plasma levels is one of the most important parts of controlling your diabetes. By not medicating or checking that your levels are being controlled you run the risk of an increased chance of developing a related illness
