In our time, diabetes is no longer an unfamiliar word, especially for our middle-aged and elderly people, it is quietly following like a shadow. Imagine an average check-up and the news that your doctor tells you that your fasting blood sugar is too high, or that your blood sugar is abnormal after a meal, is enough to worry anyone. However, here's the good news – if we can keep up to date and monitor our blood sugar levels, then the shadow of diabetes is nothing to fear.
Fasting blood sugar: the truth about morning blood sugar levels
Fasting blood glucose, the level of blood glucose measured in the morning before eating, is essential for monitoring and assessing the status of glycemic control in people with diabetes. The normal range is usually defined as 70 to 99 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). A fasting blood glucose level above 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) may be diagnosed as diabetes.
Why is fasting blood sugar important?
Morning is a critical time to assess your body's ability to regulate your blood sugar. Fasting blood glucose reflects an individual's basal insulin secretion capacity and the balance of the liver to produce blood glucose. This indicator is essential for judging prediabetes and its management.
Limitations of fasting blood glucose
Although fasting blood glucose provides important information for glycemic control, it only reflects the blood glucose level at the time of measurement. This means that it is not a complete representation of blood sugar control throughout the day, especially ignoring fluctuations in blood sugar levels after a meal.
Postprandial Blood Sugar: Reveals the immediate effect of diet on blood sugar
Postprandial blood glucose, also known as postprandial 2-hour blood glucose, refers to the level of blood sugar measured two hours after eating. Normal postprandial blood glucose should be less than 140 mg/dL (7.8 mmol/L). For people with diabetes, the control goals may vary slightly, depending on the individual's health condition and the doctor's recommendations.
The critical role of postprandial blood glucose
The measurement of blood glucose after a meal can reveal the immediate effect of food on an individual's blood sugar levels. This has important implications for understanding how specific foods or eating habits affect glycemic control. By monitoring blood sugar after meals, individuals can better understand which foods may be causing blood sugar levels to rise, allowing them to adjust their eating habits to optimize blood sugar control.
Challenges and opportunities
The challenge of managing postprandial blood glucose is how to balance diet, activity, and medication to maintain normal blood glucose levels. However, it also provides an opportunity to optimize blood sugar control through personalized diet plans and lifestyle modifications.
Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c): the gold standard for long-term blood glucose monitoring
Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), an important indicator of blood sugar control, provides doctors and patients with a reliable data that reflects the average blood glucose level over the past 2-3 months. Unlike instantaneous measurement of fasting and postprandial blood glucose, HbA1c provides a more comprehensive and long-term view of glycemic control. The measurement of HbA1c is not affected by a single diet or ad-hoc activity, so it is considered the gold standard for measuring the effectiveness of blood glucose management in patients with diabetes.
Ideal target value for HbA1c
The target value of HbA1c varies from person to person, and it is generally recommended that patients with diabetes maintain it below 7% to reduce the risk of complications. However, for specific groups, such as older patients or those with serious complications, the target may need to be individualized to avoid the risk of hypoglycaemia.
HbA1c and complication prevention
Long-term maintenance of appropriate HbA1c levels can significantly reduce the risk of diabetes-related complications, including cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, retinopathy, and neuropathy. By monitoring HbA1c regularly, changes in glycemic control can be detected in time and treatment regimens can be adjusted, thus effectively preventing the occurrence of these long-term complications.
Overall comparison: Which indicator is more reflective of blood sugar control?
Fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) have their own advantages and limitations. Fasting blood glucose and postprandial blood glucose provide immediate information on blood glucose levels and are very helpful for immediate adjustments to daily diet and activity. However, these metrics are influenced by a variety of factors, including recent diet, exercise, and even stress levels, so they may not accurately reflect long-term blood sugar control.
In contrast, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) provides a more comprehensive view of long-term glycemic control. Not only does it reflect the average blood sugar level over the past few months, but it's also insensitive to small fluctuations in daily life. Therefore, HbA1c is widely recognized as the best indicator for assessing the level of glycemic control and treatment effectiveness in patients with diabetes.
Practical advice
For people with diabetes, it is ideal to combine these three indicators to comprehensively assess and manage their blood sugar levels. Fasting blood glucose and postprandial glucose monitoring are essential for daily diet and lifestyle modifications, and regular testing of HbA1c can provide an accurate picture of long-term glycemic control. With this integrated approach, patients and physicians can more effectively develop and adjust treatment plans to optimize glycemic control and reduce the risk of complications.