Measuring your glucose levels after a meal can tell you how effectively your body is able to process glucose. After you eat, your pancreas produces insulin to move glucose from your blood into your cells for use as energy. If you have type 2 diabetes, either your body doesn't produce enough insulin or the insulin isn't totally effective, and you may need supplemental insulin. If you have type 1 diabetes, also called insulin-dependent diabetes, your body does not produce any insulin. If you don't have diabetes, your glucose readings will be lower than a diabetic's glucose level after eating.
Non-Diabetic Glucose Readings
If you don't have diabetes, but feel you may be at risk for developing type 2 diabetes, avoiding postprandial hyperglycemia -- high blood sugar after eating -- can reduce insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a symptom of pre-diabetes. According to MayoClinic.com, people with pre-diabetes are likely to develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, if they don't make healthier lifestyle choices. People without diabetes should have a smaller range of glucose readings, without the lows of hypoglycemia or the highs of hyperglycemia. Before eating, your normal glucose reading should be between 70 and 100 mg/dL, and after eating, your glucose shouldn't go above 135 mg/dL.
Type 2 Diabetes Glucose Readings
If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be taking supplemental insulin or you may be controlling your glucose levels with diet and exercise. Hopefully you have met with a dietitian to design a personalized meal plan and learn how to make healthy food choices as part of your diabetes treatment. According to the National Institutes of Health, your preprandial glucose level should be between 70 and 130 mg/dL, and your postprandial reading should be less than 180 mg/dL within two hours after eating.
Type 1 Diabetes Glucose Readings
If you have type 1 diabetes, you are completely insulin-dependent. Your target glucose ranges are similar to someone with type 2 diabetes, except that you should not let your blood sugar dip below 90 mg/dL before a meal. Therefore, your preprandial glucose level should be between 90 and 130 mg/dL and back below 180 mg/dL within one to two hours after eating. The younger you are, the higher your blood sugar should be. Children between 6 and 12 years old should have a preprandial glucose level between 90 and 180 mg/dL and children younger than 6 shouldn't ever have a glucose reading under 100 mg/dL.
Lowering Your Postprandial Glucose Readings
If your glucose reading is too high after eating, you may have eaten too many carbohydrates, not burned enough calories through physical activity, not taken enough insulin, be ill or be under a great deal of stress. Illness, stress and pregnancy can raise your glucose levels regardless of your food, exercise and medication. To help lower your blood sugar after eating, try exercising for 10 to 20 minutes; a brisk walk after your meal will help your body use extra glucose in your bloodstream. Avoid high glucose readings by eating fewer carbohydrates or eating only carbohydrates low on the glycemic index, which have less impact on your blood sugar levels. Adding fiber to your meals might also help, as fiber slows the absorption of glucose into your bloodstream.
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