The World Health Organization believes that by the year 2030,  336 million people worldwide will be diagnosed with diabetes. 90-95% of those diagnosed have type two diabetes which is largely dependent on weight and lifestyle choices. So, how can you know if you have diabetes and what is normal blood sugar range?

Depending on the time of day you test you will notice that your blood glucose levels will vary. The best time of day to test yourself is six to eight hours after you have last eaten and is known as your fasting blood glucose level. Typically this will be the first thing in the morning. A normal range for fasting blood glucose is 70-100 mg/dl (milligrams/deciliter).

After you eat your blood glucose level will increase and if you are “normal” this level should never go above 140 mg/dl.  If your glucose levels drop below 65 you may experience symptoms such as shaking, racing heart, or a feeling of hunger. When you eat these symptoms will go away but this is known as hypoglycemia. If levels drop below 50 there is a potential for seizures and even unconsciousness.  If your glucose levels are above 180 you are leaving sugars in your blood rather than them being absorbed into your body’s cells. This is known as hyperglycemia and can cause damage to many of your body’s organs if your levels do not decrease.

You can prevent becoming a statistic in the WHO’s database. The best way to keep your levels in the normal blood sugar range is to eat a proper diet that is low in carbs and to get exercise on a regular basis.

While managing your glucose levels is vital when you have diabetes there are times when you may notice that it is too high. If you experience the symptoms of high blood sugar and need to lower blood sugar quickly there are two options that are incredibly successful.

The first option is exercise. Exercise is not only good for your heart and wellbeing but has been proven to help regular blood sugar and improve your body’s insulin sensitivity. If you need to lower blood sugar quickly the best option is to run or jog for 15 minutes. If this is not possible try jumping jacks or any other activity that can increase your heart rate and keep it elevated for at least 15 minutes. If you are wheel-chair bound try swinging your arms windmill style.

The second option is to drink 2 8 ounce glasses of water in quick succession then wait 5 minutes and drink another and urinate as soon as possible.  Excess glucose stays in your blood and you can use the water to dilute the glucose in the blood. The excess will flow over into your bladder and leave your body when you urinate.

The best option is to maintain normal glucose levels on a continual basis. Unfortunately the best option doesn’t always happen. If you find the need to lower blood sugar quickly these two options should help. If they don’t you should contact your physician, especially if your levels are excessively high and you feel dizzy or lightheaded.