Current guidelines for sugar standards revolve around the concentration of a protein called hemoglobin HbA1C and blood glucose levels.
See what the experts recommend.
Glucose levels say a lot about our health.
It is worth monitoring it not only if we are in the risk group for diabetes, but in order to catch sugar or carbohydrate disorders in time.
When should glucose levels be tested?
Glucose levels are recommended to be tested at least once a year.
Routine morphology allows us to determine what our health status is and, if the situation requires it, implement appropriate treatment.
Glucose levels should be checked by all pregnant women, as well as those who suffer from insulin resistance or diabetes.
What does a sugar test look like?
To find out the level of glucose in the body, blood is taken from the elbow vein.
The tests are performed in the laboratory, preferably first thing in the morning (you should be either fasting or after a meal – sometimes sugar is taken twice to see what the level is on an empty stomach and after eating a meal).
The results are available for pickup the same afternoon or the next day.
Do I need a referral for a sugar test?
If we are referred for laboratory tests by our primary care physician, he or she will give us a referral.
In this situation, the tests are carried out at the expense of the National Health Fund, which means that you do not have to pay for them.
We can also test sugar levels on our own at a private clinic.
Then you don’t need a referral, but you have to pay for the test.
What is the normal sugar level?
The norm for fasting glucose is 70-99 mg/dl.
Values higher than 100 mg/dl indicate that the body’s glucose concentration is too high.
What should the sugar level be after a meal?
Sugar standards for healthy individuals 2 hours after a meal are as follows:
- Below 140 mg/dl – normal,
- 140-199 mg/dl – sugar exceeded – diabetes emergency,
- Above 200 mg/dl – diabetes.
New insights into hemoglobin HbA1C
Sugar levels can also be measured using the HbA1C test.
The hemoglobin HbA1C test measures the amount of end products of the process of combining glucose molecules with free proteins that have accumulated in the bloodstream over the past three months.
This measurement indicates a person’s average blood sugar level, also known as the estimated average glucose value.
Current recommendations suggest that HbA1C levels in healthy individuals should be between 4 and 5.6%, ensuring that blood glucose levels are within the normal range.
How much sugar in the diet is safe and how to take care of proper blood glucose levels?
Most of the carbohydrates contained in food are absorbed into the bloodstream in the form of glucose.
It is an important source of vital energy, but too much sugar in food can lead to weight gain and metabolic problems.
Unfortunately, there is no simple answer to the question of how much of it in the diet is safe.
According to the American Society of Cardiology, a harmless amount is about 9 teaspoons of sugar per day for men and 5 teaspoons for women.
These values already exceed one can of a popular soda or one chocolate bar with caramel.
Other, not-so-restrictive dietary guidelines say that less than 10% of daily caloric intake should come from sugars.
However, it should be remembered that all these recommendations apply to healthy people who do not suffer from obesity and maintain at least average physical activity.
To take care of proper blood glucose levels, one must always watch the amount of sweets consumed and avoid sweetened colored drinks.
Usually, a large amount of sugar is also contained in fruit nectars, which are better replaced by freshly squeezed juices.
To sweeten coffee or tea, it is best to use xylitol, extracted from the birch tree, which is a natural, low-calorie alternative to regular sugar.
It’s also a good idea to eliminate all sweetened drinks from your diet in favor of plain still water.
How to beat sugar?
To reduce sugar levels, it is a good idea to eliminate all sweet products from your diet.
This is not only sweets or cakes, but also sweet dairy products (such as homogenized cheese), puddings, coffee desserts, ketchups, ready-made sauces. Products rich in carbohydrates, such as bread, potatoes, rice, pasta, should also be eliminated from the diet.
It is worth enriching the diet with vegetables and fruits, which are a source of fiber.
They will help improve metabolic processes and regulate sugar metabolism.
It is also a good idea to choose products with a low glycemic index, the consumption of which does not cause insulin release and increase blood glucose levels.