Postprandial Blood Sugar: Tips to handle post-meal blood sugar, all you should know

Postprandial blood sugar, also referred to as post-meal blood sugar, refers back to the stage of glucose within the blood after consuming a meal so monitoring postprandial blood sugar is important for people with diabetes, because it gives useful details about how the physique responds to completely different meals and helps in managing blood sugar ranges successfully. Read on as we delve into postprandial blood sugar ranges, assessments used to measure it, what the outcomes reveal and professional tricks to handle it.

Postprandial Blood Sugar Levels:

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Vigyan Mishra, Chief of Lab at Neuberg Diagnostics, stated, “Normally, blood sugar levels rise after eating and then gradually decline as the body uses the glucose for energy or stores it for future use. For healthy individuals, postprandial blood sugar levels should typically stay below 140 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) two hours after a meal. However, for individuals with diabetes, these levels can be higher, indicating difficulties in regulating blood sugar.”

Postprandial Blood Sugar Tests:

According to Dr Vigyan Mishra, there are two main strategies to measure postprandial blood sugar ranges –

1. Fingerstick Blood Sugar Test: This is an easy and customary take a look at that may be carried out at house. An individual pricks their finger utilizing a lancet to acquire a small blood pattern after which makes use of a glucose meter to measure their blood sugar stage. The take a look at is normally performed earlier than consuming (fasting blood sugar) and once more one to 2 hours after the beginning of a meal to measure postprandial blood sugar.
2. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): This take a look at is commonly performed in a medical setting. The particular person fasts in a single day, and their fasting blood sugar stage is measured. Then, they eat a certain amount of glucose answer, and blood sugar ranges are monitored at common intervals, normally at one hour and two hours after consuming the glucose answer. This take a look at is extra complete and may also help diagnose diabetes or prediabetes.

What Results Reveal:

Asserting that deciphering the outcomes of postprandial blood sugar assessments is essential for people with diabetes and their healthcare suppliers, Dr Vigyan Mishra revealed what the completely different outcomes might point out –

• Normal Postprandial Blood Sugar: For people with out diabetes, a postprandial blood sugar stage under 140 mg/dL (or under 7.8 mmol/L for international locations utilizing the metric system) after two hours is taken into account throughout the regular vary. This means that the physique is effectively managing glucose ranges.
• High Postprandial Blood Sugar: A postprandial blood sugar stage exceeding 200 mg/dL (or 11.1 mmol/L) after two hours might point out poorly managed diabetes. Consistently excessive post-meal blood sugar ranges can enhance the danger of diabetes-related problems over time.
• Prediabetes: If the postprandial blood sugar stage falls between 140 mg/dL and 199 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L and 11.0 mmol/L), it might recommend prediabetes. This situation means the person is at elevated danger of growing sort 2 diabetes and different well being points.
• Gestational Diabetes: Pregnant ladies might bear an OGTT to diagnose gestational diabetes. Elevated postprandial blood sugar ranges throughout being pregnant can pose dangers to each the mom and the infant.

Managing Postprandial Blood Sugar:

Bringing his experience to the identical, Dr Shrey Srivastav, Assistant Professor, Internal Medicine at Sharda Hospital in Greater Noida, insisted that for people with diabetes, managing postprandial blood sugar is important to forestall problems and keep total well being. He beneficial some methods –

• Balanced Diet: Consuming a balanced weight loss program with acceptable parts of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat may also help stabilize blood sugar ranges after meals.
• Regular Exercise: Physical exercise can enhance insulin sensitivity and assist in regulating blood sugar ranges.
• Medication: Some people might require diabetes medicines or insulin remedy to regulate postprandial blood sugar successfully.
• Stress Management: Stress can affect blood sugar ranges, so training stress-reduction strategies will be helpful.

Monitoring postprandial blood sugar ranges is essential for people with diabetes to handle their situation successfully. The assessments assist establish how the physique responds to completely different meals and assist in making vital life-style adjustments and medicine changes.

By understanding and managing postprandial blood sugar, people can scale back the danger of problems and enhance their total high quality of life. Regular communication with healthcare suppliers is important in reaching optimum blood sugar management.