Your blood sugar levels can be influenced by the foods you eat, your physical activity levels, your stress, an infection and medications. Whether you have diabetes or not, keeping your blood sugar levels within a narrow range will help you have more stable energy levels throughout the day and help you stay healthy. Everybody responds differently to food, but carbohydrate-rich foods always raise your blood sugars levels. Having your blood sugars in the low 80s after eating meat is a sign that your meal was appropriate to help you control your blood sugar levels.
Blood Sugars in the Low 80s
To stay healthy and prevent damaging your heart, brain, kidneys and eyes, you should maintain your blood sugar levels within a specific range. If you have diabetes, the guideline is to keep your blood sugar levels below 130 mg/dL before your meal and below 180 mg/dL two hours after eating. If you do not have diabetes, a normal blood sugar is considered to be below 100 mg/dL before meal and below 140 mg/dL. A blood sugar level below 70 mg/dL corresponds to a low blood sugar level, or hypoglycemia. The rise in your blood sugar levels after eating is the result of eating carbohydrate-containing foods. The less carbs you eat, the less your blood sugar levels will rise after eating. If your meal only consists of a piece of meat, it would be normal if your blood sugar levels do not fluctuate significantly.
Meat and Blood Sugars
Meat does not contain any carbohydrates, unless it in a marinade or sauce that contain sugar or is breaded. As a result, meat won't raise your blood sugar levels. If you only have foods that do not contain carbohydrates, or very little, at your meal, such as meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, cheese, nonstarchy vegetables, fats and oils, it is normal for your blood sugar levels to go to the low 80s, which corresponds to the healthy range, whether you have diabetes or not.
Below 70 mg/dL
If you take diabetes medications or insulin, omitting your carbs at a meal puts you at increased risk of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar. For example, if you only have meat and some asparagus and olive oil for your meal, you could have a low blood sugar levels within a few hours. If you feel shaky, nervous, dizzy, hungry or confused, check your blood sugar levels. A blood sugar level below 70 mg/dL should be treated with either 4 oz. of regular soft drink or fruit juice or 1 tbsp. of sugar dissolved in water, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse.
Keeping Your Blood Sugars Low
The medications or insulin you take need to be in balance with your carb consumption. Reducing your carb intake could help you reduce the fluctuations in your blood sugar levels, but you should first consult your diabetes team for help adjusting your medications or insulin accordingly. Keeping your blood sugar levels below 100 mg/dL is a good way to prevent health complications, but consult your doctor for a blood sugar target that is appropriate for you. Planning low-carb meals based on a source of protein from meat, poultry, fish or seafood, nonstarchy vegetables and healthy fats from olive oil, avocado and nuts could help you keep your blood sugar levels in the desirable range.
