The blood transports glucose from foods you eat to cells where it is converted to energy. Blood glucose, or blood sugar, is the term used for the measure of this glucose. Insulin, a hormone secreted from the pancreas, helps the glucose enter the cell. A high blood glucose level can indicate that you have diabetes, which means you don't produce enough insulin (type 1) or the insulin you do have isn't functioning properly (type 2). Both can result in dangerous medical conditions, making it important to know your blood glucose level and the ranges for classification.
Types of Blood Glucose Tests
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), there are two ways to measure your blood glucose to determine the range in which your measurement fits. Recommended by the ADA because it is quick and less expensive, the fasting plasma glucose test (FPG) requires you to fast for at least eight hours and then have blood drawn, which is sent for analysis of blood glucose content. The second option is the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which requires that you fast for eight hours, drink a sweet liquid provided by the doctor and have blood drawn after two hours for analysis.
Normal Range
Individuals within a normal blood glucose range will have a fasting blood glucose reading between 70 and 100 mg/dl, according to the ADA. Having a normal blood glucose range means that your body is producing enough insulin and your insulin is functioning properly to transport glucose into the cells for the production of energy. This number should not be used as an indicator that you have a reduced risk of developing diabetes later in life, but it indicates you have a normal, healthy blood glucose level at the present time.
Pre-Diabetes Range
If you have a blood glucose reading of 100 to 125 mg/dl after a FPG test or a reading of 140 to 199 mg/dl after a OGTT, this indicates that you are pre-diabetic. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, pre-diabetes is a classification that means your blood glucose is not high enough to determine you have type 2 diabetes, but it does mean you are at increased risk for developing it. In addition a pre-diabetes classification also puts you at increased risk for heart attack and stroke. At this range, healthy eating, exercise and losing unhealthy weight can reduce your glucose reading into the normal range and reduce your risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes Range
A blood glucose reading of 126 mg/dl or higher after a FPG test or a reading of 200 mg/dl or higher after a OGTT would lead a doctor to diagnose you with diabetes. The diagnosis requires a close monitoring of the foods you eat and your glucose levels as well as the possible need for insulin injections and oral medications. These steps work to prevent adverse conditions caused by diabetes such as heart disease and kidney damage.
