Is There a 'Safe' Blood Sugar Level?

Q: What is the "safe" blood sugar level? I have heard several opinions from other diabetics, and I am very confused. I was told that it was 154 about a year ago, and my doctor didn't recommend daily monitoring. At one time on a morning fasting, my level was 74.

— Theresa,

A: Yes, there is a safe blood sugar level. It is the optimum range that safely provides the body with adequate amounts of energy. For the average person, it is 70 to 105 mg/dl in a fasting state. (Diabetes is diagnosed when the fasting blood glucose level is at or above 126 mg/dl.)

Glucose values vary depending on the time of day, your activity level, and your diet. Your sugar level of 154 mg/dl, which is high, may not have been determined while you were fasting. If it had been, a physician would have repeated the test. Your doctor did, and your level was determined to be normal at 74 mg/dl.

In this case, daily monitoring is probably not necessary. If your levels are elevated in the future, you will be diagnosed with diabetes. Treatment can include lifestyle modification, diet, and exercise. If these strategies are not adequate to control your blood glucose level, your physician may prescribe oral medicines or insulin. Having a laboratory examination during your yearly physical and maintaining a healthy lifestyle are adequate for now.

Why is it important to keep your glucose level within a normal range? An excess of glucose in the bloodstream causes various chemical changes that lead to damage to our blood vessels, nerves, and cells. Each cell in the body has a function that requires energy, and this energy comes primarily from glucose. The energy allows you to perform various tasks, including talking and walking. It allows your heart to beat and your brain to produce chemicals and signals that help you think, breathe, regulate your internal temperature, and digest and absorb food. The body is a veritable industrial complex! But this complex is also quite delicately balanced. The very cells that process glucose and convert it to energy can be damaged by excess glucose. Imagine a car engine being damaged when it is flooded with gasoline.

A lack of glucose is also extremely detrimental to the body and can have serious consequences — including death. Without a source of energy to fuel the vital functions of the body, these functions cease.

Good luck with your blood glucose management, and don't hesitate to ask your doctor about ways to maintain and improve your health.