Your glucose level is an important part of the homeostasis of your body. If it becomes too high or too low, it can have very serious health repercussions that could even result in death. Knowing what is normal glucose level is especially important to those who suffer from diseases or disorders which cause irregularities in blood sugar.
Diabetes and hypoglycemia are two quite serious illnesses which wreak havoc on homeostasis by causing the amount of glucose in the blood to be too high or too low. Those with diabetes have lower than normal volumes of insulin in their system, making it difficult to regulate the blood sugar level, which can rise to abnormal heights. As a result of this, diabetics must watch what they eat, and some must monitor glucose levels and take insulin injections. Hypoglycemia may seem a little less life threatening, but this ailment causes blood sugars to run low, which can make individuals weak, dizzy, and prone to fainting spells; it too can be dangerous if not properly managed.
Finding Your Blood Sugar Level:
Finding the blood sugar level means testing, and there are two main ways that this can be done. One includes a urine test and chemical strips. While this does work, and is often used when testing blood sugar levels in pregnant women, it is not as effective as a blood drop test, which can be slightly more uncomfortable, but much more reliable.
Men and women with disorders which cause glucose levels to fluctuate may need to prick their finger to performe a blood test regularly. This helps them realize what is normal glucose level, and know when it is okay to eat foods that have higher natural sugars in them.
Measurements of Millimoles:
The answer to the question, "what is normal glucose level?" comes with a few possible answers. For adult humans who do not suffer from diabetes, the normal level is about 5.5 mmol/L or mM. This measurement stands for millimoles per liter or millimolers, and depending on where you live you may use one more over the other, but they both stand for the same measurement.
In an adult human with diabetes it could fall anywhere between this normal range and 7.2 mmol/L. This number spikes when eating, rising to just below 7 mmol/L in non-diabetic adults and 10 mmol/L in diabetic adults.
Scientific Findings:
In studies, measurements used to find the normal mean for blood sugar levels were taken when human adults were fasting to keep spikes caused by food out of the equation when testing various subjects. Science tells us that glucose levels are measured in mass concentration using mg/dL, therefore, the normal mean for blood sugar is 100 mg/dL when falling into the measurement of 5.5mmol/L. These tests were performed using plasma in clot tubes.
Studies also found that these numbers fluctuate based on alcohol intake or the use of specific medications and drugs. Those who are overweight, don't eat or exercise properly may also have varying blood sugar levels, or difficulty maintain healthy levels over time. For some, this can be remedied through healthy living, while others may eventually depend upon a strict diet or medication.