How to Identify Normal Blood Glucose Ranges
Glucose is a major source of energy in the body. Too much glucose in the blood is called diabetes, while too little is called hypoglycemia. Both of these are major medical conditions. Measuring the amount of blood glucose, or blood sugar, in the body is done with a monitoring device called a blood glucose monitor. Normal blood sugar ranges will vary depending on when you take the reading.
Items Needed
- Blood Glucose Monitor
- Test Strips
- Lancet or Autostick Device
- Check your blood sugar upon rising in the morning, prior to food or drink. This is called a fasting blood sugar reading.
- Put a test strip into the blood glucose monitor and make sure it is on and ready to test.
- Prick your finger with a lancet or an autostick device. Get a small amount of blood squeezed up from the fingerprick.
- Move the test strip to the blood from the fingerprick and make sure it draws the blood into the strip.
- Watch the monitor begin to count down as it is reading the sample of blood.
- Check the monitor when the reading is complete and see what the number is showing. For a normal reading this should be under 100 mg/dl. Over 126 mg/dl on two readings show diabetes. Under 70 mg/dl shows hypoglycemia.
If the blood glucose reading is done at random times and not first thing in the morning, the results should be different. 200 mg/dl or above with symptoms of thirst, fatigue, and excess urination indicate diabetes. Normal readings taken throughout the day should show low to mid 100s; however this can be higher an hour or two after eating.