by T.Yeap

Created on: September 25, 2009

WHAT IS BLOOD SUGAR?

Blood sugar also known as blood glucose level refers to amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood cells that supply energy to our body systems. Blood sugar is important to our daily activities because without it, our body will become lethargic and the brain will suffer as sugar is the only main source of energy that they use. Therefore, maintaining a healthy level of blood glucose level is crucial for people with diabetes and also healthy individual. First, we have to know what is the normal range for the blood glucose level:

1) A1C <7.0% (Long term blood glucose control measurement - normally check every 3 months)

2) Preprandial plasma glucose (before a meal) : 70130 mg/dl (5.07.2 mmol/l)

3) Postprandial plasma glucose (after a meal) : <180 mg/dl (<10.0 mmol/l)

HOW TO KEEP A NORMAL BLOOD SUGAR LEVEL?

Usually our pancreas works very well in producing insulin ( hormone that helps body to use and store the sugar produced by foods). However, with people with diabetes or pre-diabetes, the insulin production does not work properly and required the help of medications and dietary restriction. However, if individual has high determination and follow the diabetes dietary guidelines, sometimes medication can be eliminated. Here's how:

1) KNOW YOUR BODY. Everyone's body reacts to different foods and producing different spike in blood sugar level, it's hard for the health care professionals to tell you which one will affect your blood sugars. It's more like a test and run with the foods that may cause your blood sugar to be high. You are the owner of your body, and you know it better than anybody else. You also need to know how much foods you should be eating everyday, having a journal and plan out how much food from each food group you should be consuming will be ideal and easier to follow. It is recommended that between 45-50% of total calories comes from carbohydrate (10-12 servings of high carbohydrate foods), 30% comes from fat, and 20-25% comes from protein (3-4 servings of protein group).

2) LEARN YOUR FOOD GROUP. Every food that you eat eventually turns into sugar after digestion besides meats product (protein). However, the foods that produces the most sugar is carbohydrate and you also have to learn to distinguish which food group has high carbohydrate content. Products that are made from flour are starchy, such as bread, pasta, rice, and desserts. You should also choose whole grains or multi-grains food products compared to regular

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