How Blood Sugar Levels Change with Age

What Is Blood Sugar?

Glucose, sometimes known as blood sugar, is the body's main source of sugar. It derives from the carbohydrates present in food. The body's cells, particularly those in the brain, depend on glucose for energy. As you eat, move, and sleep during the day, your normal sugar level changes. In a healthy body, normal sugar levels vary between 90 to 100 mg/dL. But occasionally, a number of causes can lead these sugar normal values to fluctuate high or low.

How are Blood Sugar and Diabetes Related?

Diabetes is a disorder that renders it challenging or impossible for the human body to control average glucose levels on its own. When a person has diabetes, their body generally fails to create sufficient insulin or lacks adequate insulin accessible for usage.

As the average blood sugar level can rise or fall depending on what you eat and when, among other things, this necessitates recognizing the average glucose level for various age groups and adapting your way of life suitably. Our bodily cells can absorb glucose with the aid of insulin. Blood glucose levels decrease or return to normal as a result. The process of cell absorption aids in maintaining and managing regular blood glucose levels.

How Is Blood Sugar Tested?

A glucometer is a device that is frequently used to measure blood sugar levels. It calculates the level of glucose in a blood sample. A little drop of blood drawn from the fingers or elbow is also inserted into the glucometer along with a test strip. Within a few seconds, the outcomes are shown on the glucometer's LCD screen.

Blood sugar tests can also be done through Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM), which generally entails applying a single, water-resistant sensor to the back of the arm or stomach. These sensors may be read by a reader and, depending on the manufacturer, can be utilised for three to fourteen days.

Most diabetics check their sugar levels frequently during the day, particularly prior to eating and two hours after them. A doctor may, in some circumstances, prescribe additional tests, such as an oral glucose tolerance test or a fasting glucose test. These tests evaluate blood glucose levels before and after meals or while fasting.

When to Test Blood Sugar

Blood sugar testing, which is especially helpful for individuals who are at risk of contracting the condition, is an essential element of managing diabetes. Your blood sugar testing regimen may alter based on your individual circumstances and the recommendations of your healthcare provider. The two periods that are typically used for blood sugar tests in patients with diabetes are prior to mealtime and right before bed. The best approach to decide how frequently to check your blood sugar is to speak with your physician, who may provide suggestions based on your unique health requirements.

Here are some circumstances in which you should check your blood sugar include:

• After having a meal out or experimenting with different dishes
• When suffering low blood sugar symptoms, such as feeling dizzy,
• Both before and after a workout
• When drinking alcohol
• Sweating or hesitation
• Whenever you're under stress
• Following the overdose of diabetic medicine or insulin
• When you're sick
• The beginning of a fresh medication
• After inappropriate timing of diabetes medication intake

Normal Blood Sugar Levels By Age

It's critical to realize that normal blood sugar levels fluctuate with age, lifestyle choices, and medical conditions. Here is the blood sugar levels chart by age:

Normal Blood Sugar Levels Chart by Ages 6-12 (Children)

Normal Blood Sugar Levels Chart by Ages 13-19 (Teenagers)

Normal Blood Sugar Levels Chart by Ages more than 20 (Adults)

Normal Blood Sugar Levels Chart by Ages more than 65 (Senior/older adults)

What Level of Blood Sugar Is Dangerous?

Low blood sugar is defined as having a blood sugar level of 70 mg/dL or below. It is harmful to have blood sugar levels below 50 mg/dL, which signify severe hypoglycemia. A medical practitioner should be consulted at once to address this degree of low blood sugar.

Hyperglycemia, often known as high blood sugar, is defined as a blood sugar value between 180 mg/dL and 250 mg/dL.

A hazardous value is one of more than 250 mg/dL. Emergency medical care is necessary for this extremely high blood sugar level.

Sequential readings of 300 mg/dL or more are extremely harmful. This could result in serious side effects, including diabetic coma or diabetic ketoacidosis.

A blood sugar level of more than 600 mg/dL is deadly. Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome is the name of this illness.

Warning blood sugar levels are those below 50 mg/dL or above 250 mg/dL. If high blood glucose levels continue despite therapy at home, you should get emergency medical help.

Steps to Take When Blood Sugar Is Too High or Too Low

The following options are available for treating hypoglycemia in patients:

• Consume four glucose capsules
• 4 ounces of apple or orange juice or other fruit juice
• Take a 4-ounce soda
• Consume four hard candy pieces

To check whether levels of glucose have risen to 70 mg/dL or greater, people ought to measure their glucose levels again 15 minutes after trying to boost their blood sugar. Maintain one of the aforementioned therapies if glucose levels don't rise until blood sugar levels are back to normal.

Ketone levels in urine should be checked using an over-the-counter test kit by people with hyperglycemia. When ketone levels exceed 80 mg/dL, you should visit a doctor right away.

The following approaches may help decrease blood sugar if ketone levels are normal, but blood sugar levels are high:

• Exercise regularly
• Remain hydrated
• Manage anxiety and stress
• Get adequate rest

When is it Necessary to See a Doctor?

If you are worried about your blood sugar levels, it's crucial to talk to a healthcare provider about diabetes, as it can turn out to be a dangerous illness. In addition to prescribing treatments, your doctor might conduct tests to confirm a diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes. In order to assist you in maintaining blood sugar levels within the suggested targeted range, they could also propose lifestyle adjustments.

Sustaining good health and preventing diabetes-related long-term consequences depend on taking action to monitor and control your blood sugar levels. Managing your blood sugar levels is fairly doable with the right care and routine checkups.