Understanding Your Body's Sugar Needs: A Guide to Normal Blood Sugar Levels

When it comes to maintaining optimal health, one of the key factors is blood sugar control. But what exactly does a normal blood sugar range look like? And how can you achieve and sustain this healthy balance?

The Science Behind Blood Sugar Control Blood sugar levels are influenced by what foods do not spike blood sugar various factors, including diet, exercise, stress, and sleep quality. The body's ability to regulate blood sugar is also dependent on insulin sensitivity – the degree to which the body responds to insulin. Insulin resistance can lead to elevated blood sugar levels, putting individuals at risk for developing conditions like type 2 diabetes.

In a healthy individual, blood glucose levels typically range from 70-99 mg/dL after an overnight fast and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after consuming food. For pregnant women, the recommended range is between 60-100 mg/dL during fasting periods.

The Importance of Dietary Choices A well-balanced diet plays a crucial role in maintaining stable blood sugar levels. Fiber-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can help regulate blood glucose by slowing down carbohydrate absorption. On the other hand, refined carbohydrates like white bread and sugary snacks cause rapid spikes in blood sugar.

In addition to dietary adjustments, physical activity also has an impact on blood sugar control. Regular exercise improves insulin sensitivity and helps manage weight – both critical factors in maintaining a healthy blood sugar range.

Stress Management for Blood Sugar Balance Chronic blood sugar hemoglobin stress can disrupt hormonal balances within the body, leading to fluctuations in blood sugar levels. The release of cortisol due to apple health blood sugar prolonged stress triggers the breakdown of stored glycogen into glucose, which raises blood sugar levels even higher. By managing stress through relaxation techniques like meditation or deep breathing exercises, individuals may find that their blood sugar balance improves.

Monitoring and what does a blood sugar level of 34 mean tracking your individual responses is essential for making informed lifestyle choices to manage and maintain a healthy range of 70-99 mg/dL after an overnight fast.

Blueberries are put to the test against insulin resistance, oxidation, and DNA damage. New subscribers to our e-newsletter always receive a free gift. Get yours here: Berries pack such a nutritional punch that I recommend eating at least ½ cup a day in my Daily Dozen Checklist ( (download the free iPhone ( or Android app ( or print the checklist here ( More benefits of blueberries include: • The Benefits of Acai vs. Blueberries for Artery Function ( • Benefits of Blueberries for Artery Function ( • Benefits of Blueberries for Blood Pressure May Be Blocked by Yogurt ( • Benefits of Blueberries for the Brain ( • Benefits of Blueberries for Mood and Mobility ( • Best Brain Foods: Berries and Nuts Put to the Test ( • Benefits of Blueberries for Heart Disease ( What else may protect against or repair DNA damage? See: • DNA Protection from Broccoli ( • Antimutagenic Activity of Green Versus White Tea ( • Kiwifruit and DNA Repair ( • Spicing Up DNA Protection ( • Carcinogen Blocking Effects of Turmeric ( Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance, but What Causes Insulin Resistance? ( Check out the video. And How May Plants Protect Against Diabetes? ( See also Plant-Based Diets for Diabetes ( and my overview video How Not to Die from Diabetes ( Have a question about this video? Leave it in the comment section at and someone on the NutritionFacts.org team will try to answer it. Want to get a list of links to all the scientific sources used in this video? Click on Sources Cited at You’ll also find a transcript and acknowledgments for the video, my blog and speaking tour schedule, and an easy way to search (by translated language even) through our videos spanning more than 2,000 health topics. If you’d rather watch these videos on YouTube, subscribe to my YouTube Channel here: Thanks for watching. I hope you’ll join in the evidence-based nutrition revolution! -Michael Greger, MD FACLM Captions for this video are available in several languages. To find yours, click on the settings wheel on the lower-right of the video and then "Subtitles/CC." Do you have feedback about the translations in this video? Please share it here along with the title of the video and language: To view the subtitles in transcript format, click on the ellipsis button below the video, choose "Open transcript", and select the language you'd like to view them in. Image credit: Tookapic / Pexels • Subscribe: • Donate: • Podcast : • Facebook: www.facebook.com/NutritionFacts.org • Twitter: www.twitter.com/nutrition_facts • Instagram: www.instagram.com/nutrition_facts_org • Books: • Shop: