Saturday, March 16, 2024
HomeWhat Should Blood Sugar Be At Bedtime For Non Diabetic

What Should Blood Sugar Be At Bedtime For Non Diabetic


What Causes High Morning Blood Sugars

Bedtime Snack For Gestational Diabetes (for good blood sugar levels)

Two main culprits prompt morning highs: the dawn phenomenon and waning insulin. A third, much rarer cause, known as the Somogyi effect, may also be to blame.

The occasional morning high will have little impact on your A1C, a measure of your average blood sugar levels over time that indicates how well managed your diabetes is. But if those highs become consistent, they could push your A1C up into dangerous territory.

What Is The Latest Time A Diabetic Should Eat

The latest time a diabetic should eat is about two hours before bedtime. Be sure not to eat too close to bedtime as this may cause a spike in blood sugar levels and disrupt sleep patterns. It’s best to have a light snack for about 30 minutes before bedtime, such as those described above to give you a healthful boost.

Lack Of Movement During The Day

You might be aware that insulin is responsible for pushing glucose into muscle cells for storage, which is called insulin-mediated glucose uptake. But glucose can also be stored in your muscle cells through simple mechanical contraction in a process called non-insulin-mediated glucose uptake.


Even gentle movement such as leisurely walking can significantly lower glucose values. Our skeletal muscles take up 80% of our circulating glucose values, so any type of movement helps to stabilize glucose levels.

Also Check: How To Dispose Of Insulin Pens

Signs Of Diabetes In Kids

It can be challenging to spot the signs of diabetes in children because they may not be able to communicate their symptoms to you. According to the Mayo Clinic, here are some signs to look out for:

  • Increased thirst
  • Frequent urination, especially within a short amount of time
  • Extreme hunger, accompanied by weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Blurred vision
  • Nausea and vomiting

Bed-wetting is another diabetes red flag, Cara Schrager, RDN, a certified diabetes educator at Harvard’s Joslin Diabetes Center, tells LIVESTRONG.com. Diabetes in children is typically diagnosed after they have been potty-trained, so “bed-wetting is a big giveaway,” she says. “If a child starts wetting the bed again, it’s important to bring it up with their pediatrician.”

Warning

Nausea and vomiting are particularly important signs to watch out for because they are symptoms of a rare but life-threatening diabetes complication called diabetic ketoacidosis .


What Are Normal Blood Sugar Levels

Pin on Other

You might want to measure your blood sugar before meals to get a baseline, and then two hours after your meal to measure your normal blood sugar level. Your doctor might also suggest measuring blood sugar before bed to be sure you have been eating well throughout the day and can go to sleep with peace of mind.

These are considered within the range of normal:

  • Less than 140 mg/dl if you do not have diabetes.
  • Less than 180 mg/dl if you have diabetes.

Don’t Miss: What Is The Difference Between Diabetes 1 And 2

Easy Before Bed Routines For People With Diabetes

You might be surprised to learn what your blood sugar should be at bedtime. The range is usually 5.0-8.3 mmol/L , and its important to check what yours is before going to bed. Checking your blood sugar before you go to sleep will give you information about what caused any spikes or dips in the day that you might not have noticed. For instance, if your nighttime reading were high, this would tell us that something may have happened during the day that could affect your diabetes management plan.

Creating a bed routine can also be helpful if your blood sugar at bedtime is higher than what youd like it to be. For instance, rather than eating or drinking anything sweet before bedtime and then checking how what should happen next for diabetes management will depend on what the readings are in the morning, try adding this into a routine:


  • Eat dinner earlier in the evening
  • Don’t drink sugar-sweetened beverages before bedtime
  • Eating a nitrile snack before bed helps maintain your blood sugar normal and prevents your liver from releasing excess glucose
  • Limit alcoholic beverages to the extent they disturb sleep
  • Too close to bed exercises often can cause poor sleeping habits
  • Avoid eating caffeine within several hours of going to bed
  • Take medicine if needed to lower your blood sugar levels, but dont take too much insulin so you wont have a low reading in the morning.

Always consult with your doctor before changing anything to your diet, insulin plan, or diabetes management.

When Should Blood Glucose Levels Be Measured

The number of times per day blood glucose levels should be measured depends entirely on the diabetics. Type 1 diabetics using insulin should check their blood sugar levels before every meal, sometimes as often as five times per day.

For type 2 diabetics controlling their condition with diet, you should test several times a week.

However, this doesnt apply to everyone, and each individual case should seek expert advice.

Read Also: How To Bring Blood Sugar Down Quickly


Normal Blood Sugar Levels For Non

Blood glucose levels arent just something diabetics have to monitor. Even if you havent been diagnosed with diabetes, you should be checking your levels regularly. The first step to managing it is by learning the range of normal blood sugar levels for non-diabetics.

Your pancreas constantly releases a steady, low level of insulin and appropriate blood sugar levels vary throughout the day and from person to person. Different carbohydrates spike people differently. In fact, a study in the journal Cell looked at the effect different kinds of carbs have on people. They found some people spiking high with a banana but not a cookie, while others can have the opposite reaction.

So, lets take a look at normal blood sugar levels for non-diabetics, how to track your blood sugar level and what you can do to control it.

Cinnamon May Improve Your Glucose Level

What should be the blood sugar levels in a diabetic patient? -Dr.Vijaya Sarathi H A

Besides flavoring food, cinnamon might have potential health benefits. Some research indicates cinnamon may improve insulin sensitivity, Palinski-Wade says. For those with insulin resistance, this may help the body to process glucose more easily, resulting in less of a rise in blood glucose levels.

Also Check: Is Ginger Ale Good For Diabetics


Low Blood Sugar Symptoms

Hypoglycemia;happens when blood glucose levels drop too low. Low blood sugar can be caused by many things including the two different types of diabetes, certain medications, alcohol, endocrine disorders, eating disorders, pregnancy , and disorders of the liver, kidneys, or heart.

Here are some of the most common symptoms that someone with low blood sugar might experience:;;

  • Lightheadedness
  • Fainting
  • Tingling lips;;

If your blood sugar is low you might start to feel some of the first signs of hypoglycemia like dizziness, lightheadedness, or sweating. The only way to know for sure if your blood sugar is low is to test it with a glucose meter or other glucose monitoring device.;

If you dont have access to these tools and start to feel the symptoms of low blood sugar, consume 15 grams of carbs or take a quick dissolve glucose tablet to raise your blood sugar levels and avoid further symptoms, according to the American Diabetes Association . Once your blood sugar is back in its target range, you can have a snack or meal to make sure it doesnt drop again.;;;;

Here are some other lifestyle and medicinal treatments that can help treat hypoglycemia:


  • Eat a healthy diet full of whole foods that are minimally processed.;
  • Take prediabetes or diabetes medications as recommended by your healthcare provider.;;
  • Use a glucagon kit in emergencies. Glucagon is a hormone that raises blood sugar levels quickly.;;

Tips For Tracking Your Blood Sugar Patterns And Using Your Results

Here are some great tips:

Have a blood sugar chart on your phone or a written notebook nearby to compare your numbers

For my patients during the class entitled, Monitoring your Blood Glucose, I pass out individual notebooks, and packs of different colored highlighter pens for pattern management. Inside, there are copies of an enhanced blood sugar log.

Patients log their blood sugars at different times of the day, and color-code them with highlighters. This helps patients to pick out their blood sugar patterns, and to do different things to adjust their blood sugars to get them in a target range.

Patients may either take a walk following a high carbohydrate meal, take more insulin if they are correcting blood sugar with insulin, decrease the amount of carbohydrates at the next meal, etc. By seeing what their blood sugars are at different times of the day, they can work their blood sugars into their target ranges. Once blood sugars are in the target range, their A1C should also be on target.

I have included a copy of the enhanced blood sugar log that I use to make a pattern notebook for my patients. Readers here at TheDiabetesCouncil are welcome to copy the form for their own use in self-managing their diabetes. You can also download our comprehensive log book here.


Phone Apps

You May Like: What Should Be Fasting Blood Sugar Level

Your Blood Sugar Isnt Just Because Of What You Eat

Mainstream media would have you believe that your blood sugar levels are impacted only by what you eat and how much you exercise, but people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who test their blood sugars frequently could tell you otherwise.

Its especially important to keep this mind when looking at your own blood sugars and your goals because there are certain variables and challenges that impact blood sugar levels that you cant always control.

For example:

  • Menstrual cycles: raises blood sugar and insulin needs
  • Adrenaline rushes from competitive sports, heated arguments, rollercoaster rides: raises blood sugar and insulin needs
  • The common cold and other illnesses: usually raises blood sugar and insulin needs
  • Hormonal changes due to puberty and healthy growth in young adults: raises blood sugar and insulin needs
  • An injury which raises overall inflammation levels: raises blood sugar and insulin needs
  • Glucogenesis during anaerobic exercise: raises blood sugar

While you cant necessarily prevent these factors that affect your blood sugar from occurring, you can work with your diabetes healthcare team to adjust your insulin, other diabetes medications, nutrition and activity levels to help compensate for them when they do occur.


For example, when engaging in anaerobic exercise like weightlifting many people with type 1 diabetes find it necessary to take a small bolus of insulin prior to or during their workout because anaerobic exercise can actually raise blood sugar.

Fasting Plasma Glucose Test

Blood Sugar Chart Fasting

A fasting plasma glucose test is taken after at least eight hours of fasting and is therefore usually taken in the morning.

The NICE guidelines regard a fasting plasma glucose result of 5.5 to 6.9 mmol/l as putting someone at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, particularly when accompanied by other risk factors for type 2 diabetes.

Read Also: Can You Be Born With Type 2 Diabetes

Why Is It Important To Maintain Good Blood Sugar Levels

In the human body, the average blood sugar rises gradually, and if it rises to higher than normal levels it causes damage throughout the body. A severe spike in blood sugar levels can cause short-term but critical problems like hyperglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis.


The persistence of uncontrolled blood sugar levels over a long period of time can cause severe, and sometimes, irreversible damage to important organs of the body, including the heart, the kidneys, eyes and the nerves. Diabetes is a deceptive disease and may not show any symptoms for a long time before it is actually diagnosed. Therefore, knowing the normal blood sugar levels for non-diabetic individuals, especially those at risk of diabetes and keeping a regular check on blood sugar levels is very important. Because, sometimes unchecked blood sugar levels may cause heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure and even blindness without any forewarning.

Medically Reviewed By

I am an experienced Medical/Scientific writer with a passion for helping people live a happy healthy life. My thirst for writing has followed me throughout the years it is there when I wake up, lingering at the edges of my consciousness during the day, and teases me at night as I go to sleep.

What To Do When Your Blood Sugar Is High Or Low

High blood sugar can harm you. If your blood sugar is high, you need to know how to bring it down. Here are some questions to ask yourself if your blood sugar is high.

  • Are you eating too much or too little? Have you been following your diabetes meal plan?
  • Are you taking your diabetes medicines correctly?
  • Has your provider changed your medicines?
  • Is your insulin expired? Check the date on your insulin.
  • Has your insulin been exposed to very high or very low temperatures?
  • If you take insulin, have you been taking the correct dose? Are you changing your syringes or pen needles?
  • Are you afraid of having low blood sugar? Is that causing you to eat too much or take too little insulin or other diabetes medicine?
  • Have you injected insulin into a firm, numb, bumpy, or overused area? Have you been rotating sites?
  • Have you been less or more active than usual?
  • Do you have a cold, flu, or another illness?
  • Have you had more stress than usual?
  • Have you been checking your blood sugar every day?
  • Have you gained or lost weight?

Recommended Reading: Does Red Wine Lower Blood Sugar


Fasting Glucose Goal: 72

Why? Previously we discussed that the ADA considers normal fasting glucose as anything <100 mg/dl. However, multiple research studies show that as fasting glucose increases, there is an increased risk of health problems like diabetes and heart disease even if it stays within the normal range. The highlights of some of the study results include:

  • Men whose fasting blood glucose was greater than 85 mg/dl had a significantly higher mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases than men with blood sugars less than 85 mg/dl.
  • People with fasting glucose levels in the high normal range had significantly increased cardiovascular disease risk than people whose levels remained below 80 mg/dl.
  • Children with fasting glucose levels 86-99 mg/dl had more than double the risk of developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes as adults when compared with children whose levels were less than 86 mg/dl.
  • People with fasting glucose levels between 91-99 mg/dl had a 3-fold increase in type 2 diabetes risk compared to those with levels less than 83 mg/dl.
  • Among young, healthy men, higher fasting plasma glucose levels within the normal range constitute an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes. This means that as fasting glucose increases, even if the level is still considered normal, it could indicate a significantly higher risk of developing diabetes, and this is particularly pronounced if BMI is greater than 30. .

How To Avoid Low Blood Sugar At Night

WHY is my blood sugar UP AND DOWN? Role of diabetic medicines & diet in type 2 diabetes treatment.

A good first step to try and prevent low blood glucose levels is to test your blood glucose levels before bed using your CGM or blood glucose meter. If you know your levels before going to bed you can easily adapt to them. This can help to prevent blood glucose levels drop significantly. Going to bed with stable blood sugars is highly recommended.

If you suspect hypoglycemic episodes overnight, conduct a blood sugar test at 3 am and compare it with your before bed and first thing in the morning tests. You can also adjust your insulin dose according to what you eat. Always consult your doctor before adjusting your insulin yourself.

It’s important to have proper nutrition before hitting the hay. Prevent high blood sugar by taking some carbohydrates before bedtime, and prevent low blood sugar by eating a bit of protein.

To control blood sugar levels before sleeping and preventing low blood sugar you can also:


  • One factor that can affect blood sugar glucose levels in diabetics is basal insulin dosage; it’s important to reduce the nighttime administration of this medicine.
  • Lower the long-acting insulin that you take at night before going to bed by 50%.
  • When you went out for an evening or night of drinking it’s important to eat something that contains carbohydrates
  • Test your blood sugar before going to bed

Read Also: Can Diabetics Get The Covid Vaccine

Take Your Insulin As Prescribed

High blood sugar occurs when your body has too little insulin, or your body cant use insulin properly. Administering insulin can bring your blood sugar levels down.

Talk to your doctor about how much rapid-acting insulin you should administer when your blood sugar is high.

You may want to check your blood sugar about 1530 minutes after taking insulin to make sure your blood sugar is going down and that its not dropping too low.

Sleeping Habits And Diabetes

According to research, insomnia affects how well you respond to insulin. People who sleep more than 9 hours each night also tend to have higher rates of diabetes. Sleep apnea can also increase someone’s probability of diabetes. Researchers have discovered that sleep-induced diabetes could raise the risk of other types of diabetes. More than 400 respondents reported how much sleep they get the night before.


Therefore it’s quite important to have a good night’s rest so you have enough strength throughout the day. Below you can find a few tips to create the perfect routine.

Read Also: How To Use Diabetic Test Strips

High Blood Sugar Symptoms

Hyperglycemia is the medical term for high blood sugar. Hyperglycemia happens when the body doesnt have enough insulin or when it cant use insulin correctly. Many things can cause high blood glucose levels like Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, stress, illness, or the dawn phenomenon. If you have hyperglycemia or suspect you may have it, talking with a healthcare provider is always a good idea. A doctor can help you determine whats causing your high blood sugar levels and lower it to a healthy range.;;;;

Here are some of the most common symptoms that may indicate hyperglycemia:;

  • Fatigue
  • Vision loss ;;

You should seek immediate medical attention if your blood sugar reaches 400 mg/dL or higher.;;;;;

When patients experience any of these accompanied by elevated blood sugar levels, diabetic patients are advised to go directly to the ER to avoid diabetes-induced coma, says Vikram Tarugu, MD, a gastroenterologist and the CEO of Detox of South Florida. Patients who have elevated blood sugar may also present with frothy, ketone-like smelling breath.

Here are some lifestyle changes and medical treatments that can help treat hyperglycemia:;;;;

RELATED ARTICLES

Popular Articles