Managing blood sugar (glucose) levels is one of the most vital aspects of living with diabetes. Proper control helps you feel better in the short term and supports overall health and fitness in the long run.
The National Committee on Prevention Detection Evaluation, along with research on chromium and other topics, has highlighted important information about blood sugar management. In people without diabetes, blood glucose levels remain within a narrow range most of the time. This balance is maintained by the beta cells in the pancreas, which produce just the right amount of insulin at the right time, continuously fine-tuning blood sugar levels. However, individuals with diabetes lack this exact level of control.
This lack of control may occur because the beta cells have been destroyed, resulting in no insulin production, as seen in Type 1 diabetes. Alternatively, in Type 2 diabetes, the body may resist insulin or produce insufficient amounts when needed. While the management approaches for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes differ slightly, both require individuals to actively regulate their blood glucose levels.
Controlling blood glucose is like trying to tame a wild animal. Blood sugar is constantly changing and influenced by many factors, including your food choices, meal sizes, timing of medication or insulin, emotions, illnesses, body weight, and insulin sensitivity.
Some factors remain fairly consistent day to day and are easier to manage, while others vary greatly. No two days are exactly the same or fully predictable, which makes managing blood sugar challenging. In other words, blood glucose is not easily controlled.
Practically speaking, you’ll need to learn what causes your blood sugar to rise and fall, then balance these influences daily—and sometimes even hourly. This means coordinating your medication, diet, and activity levels, while also accounting for stress, illness, or changes in your routine.
Your goal will be to avoid extreme highs and lows and steer your blood glucose toward a healthy range. You’ll perform regular finger-prick tests and use the results to balance factors that raise your blood sugar with those that lower it. Even after stabilizing your blood glucose, you’ll need to keep monitoring and adjusting as needed.
Managing blood glucose is an ongoing, lifelong process that requires your attention. Don’t worry—it may seem overwhelming at first, but over time it will become second nature.
In most people without diabetes, blood glucose levels typically stay between 4 and 8 mmol/L. Generally, people with diabetes should aim to keep their blood sugar between 4 and 10 mmol/L most of the time. Some groups—such as pregnant women—may need tighter control, while others—like young children, the elderly, or those at risk for severe hypoglycemia—may require higher targets.
Your healthcare team will provide personalized guidance on the blood glucose levels best suited for you.
In the short term, maintaining blood glucose within your target range is important to avoid diabetic emergencies caused by dangerously high or low blood sugar. Both situations can cause discomfort and lead to significant health dangers.
In Type 1 diabetes, high blood sugar due to insufficient insulin can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a potentially life-threatening condition that requires prompt treatment.
