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Diabetes: Live A Healthy Life With A Balanced Diet And Regular Exercises

15 November 2022

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Optimum glucose level changes with age. Check out our sugar level chart age wise to determine if your blood sugar levels are in the target range.

Do you know that our brains are conditioned to like sweet foods? This is because our bodies use glucose or sugar as a primary source of fuel and energy. Eating something sugary activates the “mesolimbic dopamine system” or, in other words, the brain’s reward system. The brain then releases a feel-good neurotransmitter called dopamine. It makes us feel good but also makes us crave more sugar.

Sugary foods could be dangerous for someone with diabetes as their bodies, unfortunately, do not produce enough of the insulin hormone, and even if they do, their cells do not respond appropriately. This results in high glucose levels because the sugar accumulates and circulates in the bloodstream.

If you have high blood sugar levels, contact your healthcare professional for a personalised approach to find out ways to reverse or manage Type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes. Check our age 50 70 sugar level chart age wise to find out if you need urgent medical advice.

What Should Your Blood Sugar Level Be? Here is an Age-Wise Sugar Level Chart for Reference

Blood Sugar Levels for Children

Fasting: 80-180 mg/dL
Before meal: 90-180 mg/dL
Two hours after eating: Up to 140 mg/dL
Bedtime: 100-180 mg/dL

Blood Sugar Levels for Teens

Fasting: 70-150 mg/dL
Before meal: 90-130 mg/dL
Two hours after eating: Up to 140 mg/dL
Bedtime: 90-150 mg/dL

Age 50 70 Sugar Level Chart Age Wise

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Without Diabetes

Fasting value (8 hours not eating): Minimum — 70 mg/dL, Maximum —90 mg/dL
Two hours after eating — less than 140 mg/dL

Pre-Diabetes

Fasting value (8 hours not eating): Minimum —100 mg/dL, Maximum —125 mg/dL
Two hours after eating —140-180 mg/dL

Diabetes

Fasting value (8 hours not eating): Minimum — more than 126 mg/dL, Maximum — can go to extremely high levels
Two hours after eating — more than 200 mg/dL

Blood Sugar Levels for Older Adults (65+)

Without Diabetes

Fasting value (8 hours not eating): Minimum — 70 mg/dL, Maximum —90 mg/dL
Two hours after eating — less than 140 mg/dL

Pre-Diabetes

Fasting value (8 hours not eating): Minimum —100 mg/dL, Maximum —125 mg/dL
Two hours after eating —140-180 mg/dL

Diabetes

Fasting value (8 hours not eating): Minimum — more than 126 mg/dL, Maximum — can go to extremely high levels.
Two hours after eating — more than 200 mg/dL.

For older adults, other factors like health conditions need to be factored in. For instance, heart conditions and renal ailments can affect sugar levels. If there are none or few conditions, then the target HbA1C has to be less than 7.5%, a fasting target of 90-130 mg/dL, and a bedtime target of 90-150 mg/dL.

If there are other health conditions, then the target HbA1C has to be less than 8%, the fasting target of 90-150 mg/dL, and the bedtime target of 100-180 mg/dL.

If the conditions are severe, then target HbA1C has to be 8-9%, fasting target of 100-180 mg/d, and bedtime target of 110-120 mg/dL.

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Exit Sugar, Enter Sweetener?

Artificial sweeteners are sugar substitutes. These contain chemicals that can make foods and beverages taste sweet. Sugar-free substitutes taste similar to table sugar. Even though they do not contain sugar, they are recognised by the tongue’s sweet receptors. If you have checked your blood sugar levels and found that they are in the higher range – as per our age 50 70 sugar level chart age wise – then do get in touch with your doctor to learn to manage this health condition.

The most commonly used sugar-free substitutes are aspartame, sucralose, saccharin, neotame, and acesulfame potassium. Take a look at them:

Aspartame: Estimated to be 200 times sweeter than table sugar.
Acesulfame potassium: Suited for cooking and baking.
Saccharin: This one is 700 times sweeter than table sugar.
Sucralose: More than 600 times sweeter table sugar, it is suited for cooking, baking, and mixing with acidic foods.
Sugar-free substitutes are generally considered safe for human consumption. However, people with phenylketonuria – a rare metabolic disorder – cannot metabolise the amino acid phenylalanine, found in aspartame, and, therefore, should avoid it. Also, those allergic to sulfonamides should avoid saccharin, which can lead to breathing difficulties and rashes.

Always consult with a doctor before adding artificial sweeteners to your diet.

How to Maintain an Optimum Blood Sugar Level?

First, to understand what the ideal glucose levels are, refer to the age 50 70 sugar level chart age wise. Here are some tips to keep your blood sugar levels from fluctuating:

Eat a healthy and sugar free diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Do regular physical exercise.
Reduce stress levels through walks, meditation and breathing exercises.
Monitor food, drink, and physical activity.
Swap water for sweetened soda and complex carbohydrates for simple sugars (whole wheat and oatmeal instead of refined flour).
Limit alcohol intake.
Limit alcohol intake.
Drink lots of water to reduce insulin resistance and hunger.
Monitor blood sugar levels.
Eat at regular intervals.
Choose foods lower in calories – pile up on veggies, cut the carbs
Be wise in your fruit choices, as some contain more sugar than others. While eating fruits, remember that one serving should have 15 grams or less of carbohydrates – that’s 1/2 medium apple or banana, 1 cup blackberries or cubed honeydew melon, or 1 orange.

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Recap: Sugar Highs and Lows

If you have checked your blood sugar levels and found that they are in the higher range – based on our age 50 70 sugar level chart age wise – and you have a predisposition to diabetes, are prediabetic or diabetic, consult a doctor for treatment.