Everyone has heard the term, blood sugar before but maybe not everyone is 100% sure as to what it means. Blood sugar diabetes levels are most commonly associated with people diagnosed with diabetes but everyone has a blood sugar level to keep in check, whether they know it or not. When you hear this term, it is referring to the glucose in the blood. Many of the things you eat and drink in a day contain glucose as an ingredient and this ingredient turns to sugar within the blood stream. You can either experience normal blood glucose levels, or high or low levels. Many diabetics suffer from low sugar in the blood and there are many ways to test this.

Blood Sugar Monitoring

Monitoring blood sugar can be done through a number of different tests including the glucose tolerance test and using a glucose meter and test strips from home which is the most common. It is not difficult to test a blood cell or two from home, but it is something that requires a bit of education to ensure you are on the correct track. A person’s whole blood is made up of many different components, glucose blood sugar levels are just the tip of the iceberg but this is the most common aspect brought to light in the medical community today.

Within the recent years, it has become harder and harder to identify normal glucose levels in the blood stream because there are so many underlying factors that can contribute to the blood sugar levels. In order to properly measure your blood sugar, the most effective method to date is through fasting and blood monitoring. This type of glucose test is by far the most accurate to discover what your normal levels actually are and how much the things you eat are affecting your sugar. Men and women alike tend to eat more foods that are high in sugar content and this can greatly throw off your glucose levels. These types of eating habits are what can lead you to diabetes.

Recent studies have shown that men today are far more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than women. Although women are still at risk, the number of men with type 2 diabetes has grown exponentially over the past decade. The key to monitoring your blood sugar at this stage in your health is through diet and treatment, such as insulin. This isn’t to say no matter what you ate yesterday you can take your insulin and bring your glucose levels back down. You need to very intensely monitor your diet in order for insulin to be enough to keep you at normal glucose levels.

Low and high blood sugar

On the complete opposite end of the scale, there is a condition called hypoglycemia. This is a condition referring to the occurrence of low blood sugar instead of the most common, high blood sugar. Monitor blood sugar readings that are below 70 mg/dL because they are  considered too low and this is where you doctor may diagnose you as hypoglycemia. Although you may not hear as much about this condition as diabetes, it is treated in nearly the same way. Diet and exercise is the key to raising your blood sugar levels to the proper readings. The trick with this condition is not to raise them too much so they become high. Glycemia does not have to take over your life, but it should become a major role in it.

By choosing not to monitor the foods and beverages you put into your body, you are expecting your body to keep up with an either too high amount of glucose or too low amount; either way it is not going to be able to function properly this way for long. What this means for you is a lifestyle change for the better. The only downside to choosing healthier foods and drinks is you may no longer get to have your favorite beer every night or your favorite bowl of chips with your movie but you may be surprised as to how many healthy options can be incredibly satisfying.

There is no doubt that we all become creatures of habit when it comes to our eating habits. Whether we eat when we’re hungry, eat when we’re bored or simply eat because we love it, we don’t always choose the best foods for our bodies. By visiting a dietician as well as your doctor you can begin to learn what healthy choices look and sound like and in no time you will be making the right decisions for your blood sugar condition without even realizing you’re doing it.