Do you know your blood sugar level can tell you a lot about your health? Being aware of your blood glucose (sugar) levels can help you know how your metabolic processes are functioning which can be particularly helpful in managing or preventing diabetes. 

But what actually can normal, low, or high blood sugar levels mean? Let’s find out about blood sugar tests and what different blood sugar levels can signify about your health.

How Blood Sugar Levels are Tested? 

Wondering how can you know about your blood sugar levels? All you need to do is take a blood sugar test. 
Also known as a blood glucose test, a blood sugar test measures the levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood to primarily screen for diabetes. Glucose, a type of sugar, is your body's primary energy source. And it mainly comes from the food and drinks you consume, especially carbohydrates. Your blood carries glucose to all cells in your body, which is used for energy or stored in cells for future use.

Blood sugar tests are performed to monitor how well your body processes sugar. In addition, this test helps detect whether the pancreas makes adequate insulin- the major contributor to maintaining healthy blood sugar. 

Mainly two types of blood sugar tests are performed to reveal your blood sugar levels:

Capillary Blood Glucose Test | During this test, a healthcare expert collects a small blood sample, usually from a fingertip prick. Your blood sample is then examined via a handheld glucometer, giving you a reading of your blood sugar level within seconds.
Venous (Plasma) Blood Glucose Test | In this test, a healthcare professional draws a blood sample from your vein. The sample is then sent to a lab where a scientist will perform the test on machines (analysers).

What Do Blood Sugar Levels Reveal?

A blood sugar monitor revealing your blood sugar levels can help ascertain your metabolic health. They will indicate how much glucose is circulating in your bloodstream at a given time. It can further help identify whether your body is effectively managing blood sugar, which is critical for preventing complications like heart disease, kidney failure, and nerve damage.

Your blood sugar levels can be normal, high, or low. Let’s find out what these blood sugar levels can mean.

What Does a Normal Blood Sugar Level Indicate?

A normal (healthy) blood sugar level indicates that your body is effectively managing glucose. Is your blood sugar within the normal range? It means that your body produces enough insulin to provide needed energy to all body parts.

Here are the typical ranges for normal blood sugar:

Fasting Blood Sugar (before meals) | A healthy fasting blood sugar level normally lies between 70 and 99 mg/dL, which means your body can produce adequate insulin and manage glucose levels even if you haven’t eaten anything.
Postprandial Blood Sugar (after meals) | A healthy postprandial blood sugar level normally is less than 140 mg/dL, which indicates that your body is effectively using insulin to manage the glucose spike from the food you've consumed.

In a nutshell, a blood sugar test showing normal blood sugar levels indicates that you are free from diabetes or other metabolic health-related complications.

What Does a High Blood Sugar Level Mean?

If your fasting blood sugar level came out to be 100 to 125 mg/dL, or Postprandial sugar is between 140-199, it means you have Pre-diabetes, Pre-diabetes individuals are at increased risk for developing diabetes if they do not change their lifestyle including diet and maintain their body weights. When your blood sugar level is 126 mg/dL or higher fasting blood sugar level, you might experience Type 2, Type 1, or gestational diabetes as issues of high blood sugar. 

Does your blood glucose test report show a high amount of glucose in your blood? It means you have high blood sugar or hyperglycemia, which can happen when your body fails to produce enough insulin or your cells don’t respond properly to insulin. 

Common Causes of High Blood Sugar Levels:

Other than diabetes, you can have high blood sugar levels because of the following causes:

• Medical issues with your adrenal glands, such as Cushing syndrome
• Some drugs, especially corticosteroids
• Overactive thyroid or other endocrine diseases
• Experiencing a lot of stress
• Pancreatic health issues

Signs of High Blood Sugar

Although most cases of T2DM are asymptomatic the following symptoms could appear when your blood sugar spikes:

• Gentio-urinary infection
• Frequent changes of  glasses
• Unexplained weightloss
• Poor Healing if wounds.
• Feeling extremely thirsty
• Urinating frequently
• Blurred vision
• Fatigue
• Headaches

If left untreated, high blood sugar can lead to severe health complications like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS), which requires immediate medical help. In the long term, untreated or poorly controlled diabetes causes micro and macrovascular complications. 

What Does a Low Blood Sugar Level Mean?

If your test results indicate that your blood sugar level is 70 mg/dL or below, you have low blood sugar. 

Low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia, usually occurs when your blood glucose levels drop below normal. It can happen if you overindulge in alcohol, skip meals, consume your diabetic medication, or exercise vigorously without eating much.. 

While Type 1 and Type 2 diabetic patients can commonly experience low blood sugar levels, hypoglycemia can also affect people without diabetes in rare cases.

Are you not diagnosed with diabetes? Then your low blood sugar levels might indicate a:

• Kidney disease
• Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
• Liver disease
• Addison disease
• Hypothyroidism 
• Insulinoma 

Symptoms of Low Blood Sugar:

When your blood sugar level drops, you might experience the following symptoms:

• Shakiness
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Confusion
• Irritability

If you don’t balance out your low blood sugar levels, severe hypoglycemia can result in seizures, unconsciousness, and even death.

Managing and Preventing High and Low Blood Sugar Levels

Knowing your blood sugar levels is essential to avoiding serious medical conditions and preserving general health. Whether you're managing diabetes or just aiming to prevent blood sugar imbalances, following these tips can help manage or prevent too high or low blood sugar levels:

• Monitor Blood Sugar Regularly: You should regularly check your blood sugar levels via blood sugar monitor to identify blood glucose patterns and take corrective actions if your levels are consistently high or low.
• Take Care of Your Diet: Ask your diabetology dietician about what you can eat and what not to maintain your blood sugar levels within a normal range. It’s recommended to limit processed carbohydrates and sugary foods, as these can cause blood sugar spikes. And if you’re prone to hypoglycemia, always have fast-acting carbohydrates like glucose tablets or fruit juice on hand to raise your blood sugar quickly.
• Exercise Regularly: Engaging in moderate to intense physical activity can help your body use insulin more efficiently and stabilise your blood sugar levels. 
• Limit Alcohol Intake: You shouldn’t drink alcohol on an empty stomach as it can cause a drop in your blood sugar. But if you drink, do so in moderation and always have it with food.
• Take Medications as Prescribed: Seek medical guidance from your doctor for the medications you should take when experiencing frequent episodes or high or low blood sugar.
• Stay Hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help your kidneys flush out excess sugar from your blood, preventing your blood sugar from spiking. 

The Bottom Line!

Your blood sugar level is a window into your overall metabolic health. Regularly monitoring your blood glucose levels, you can maintain healthy glucose levels and avoid diabetes or other metabolic conditions. In addition to keeping track of glucose in your bloodstream, you should follow the tips discussed above to manage and prevent your blood sugar levels from spiking too high or low.