A fasting glucose level measures the amount of glucose in the blood after fasting for approximately 8-12 hours. This test assesses the risk of prediabetes and diabetes.
Despite its name, the fasting glucose level test is not related to Ramadan. You can try the test at any time as long as you follow the guidelines set by the medics.
To understand how fasting blood sugar levels work, read the following explanation!
Fasting Glucose Levels
A fasting glucose level test measures blood sugar at its lowest. The test is usually done in the morning, assuming the patient did not eat after sleeping at night.
Before the test, doctors typically advise patients to only drink water and avoid alcoholic beverages, supplements, and smoking. Beyond diabetes, fasting glucose levels can determine the effectiveness of diabetic medications.
Here are the normal fasting glucose limits in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL):
- Normal: less than or equal to 99 mg/dL.
- Prediabetes: between 100 and 125 mg/dL.
- Diabetes: 126 mg/dL or more.
These figures apply to both males and females.
The medical staff draws blood by piercing the fingertip with a needle and dripping the blood on a strip attached to the glucometer.
If the fasting glucose level surpasses 126 mg/dL, the doctor may recommend supporting tests, such as a glucose tolerance test (TTGO) and an HbA1c test, to confirm diabetes.
Fasting glucose levels may vary depending on the diet, physical activity, medication side effects, and more. Keeping blood sugar within the normal range helps avoid adverse health effects.
High blood sugar can cause several problems, such as digestive issues, visual disturbances, tooth and gum infections, nerve damage, and chronic foot infections.
Similarly, low blood sugar can result in heart rhythm disturbances, weakness, lethargy, trouble concentrating, and loss of balance.
How to Maintain Normal Fasting Glucose Levels
There are several tips you can apply to maintain a normal fasting glucose level. Here's how to do it:
1. Exercise Regularly
You can keep your fasting glucose levels at a normal range by exercising regularly. Allocate at least 150 minutes per week to exercise. This routine helps the body increase insulin sensitivity.
Increased insulin sensitivity will help your body to process glucose into energy efficiently. Besides regulating fasting glucose, regular exercise can maintain your body's fitness.
2. Manage Your Diet
During fasting, you naturally have a reduced food intake. However, this shouldn't hinder you from programming a healthy diet plan. Manage your nutritional intake to maintain a normal fasting glucose level. Here are some dietary recommendations you can try:
- Drink more water to stay hydrated during the day.
- Eat fiber-rich foods and reduce carbohydrate consumption.
- Limiting meal portions.
- Eat low-glycemic foods.
3. Manage Stress
Stress can affect your fasting glucose levels. The body suffering from stress releases cortisol and glucagon hormones, which in turn increases glucose levels.
Therefore, manage your stress to maintain a normal fasting glucose level. Do a relaxing activity to manage stress, such as yoga, meditation, or other things you like.
4. Establish a Sleeping Routine
Getting enough sleep helps maintain normal fasting glucose levels. Sleep deprivation affects insulin and cortisol production, which may increase the glucose levels in your blood.
5. Lose Weight
Losing weight can help maintain normal glucose levels. This effort may reduce the risk of diabetes and control fasting glucose levels.
An ideal body weight helps avoid the risk of insulin resistance. In obese people, the excess fat in muscle tissues risks insulin resistance, which potentially causes glucose levels to increase.
6. Drink Enough Water
Well, that's all about the importance of fasting glucose levels in health maintenance. Some tips above can help you maintain fasting glucose levels within normal ranges.
Besides a healthy diet and lifestyle, you should drink enough water to maintain hydration. Therefore, don't forget to #AQUADULU at iftar and suhoor.
Did you know that not all water is AQUA? AQUA's purity is guaranteed because the water is sourced from the deepest part of mountains with a natural protective layer, making it pollution-free. This is why AQUA feels naturally cold even without being refrigerated.
AQUA is sourced from 19 selected mountains. AQUA products are also Halal certified and meet food safety standards as approved by BPOM and SNI.
Therefore, always drink AQUA DULU because AQUA is 100% Indonesian, 100% Halal, and 100% Pure.
