Post Time: 2025-07-26
When it comes to maintaining a healthy blood sugar range, many of us are unsure about what's considered normal and how we can achieve optimal levels. The ideal blood sugar range for healthy living is between 70-99 mg/dL after an overnight fast or up to two hours after eating. However, this can vary depending on factors such as age, weight, and overall health.
For individuals with diabetes or those at risk of developing the condition, maintaining a stable blood sugar range is crucial for preventing complications such as heart disease, kidney damage, and nerve damage. This can be achieved through a combination of regular physical activity, a balanced diet that includes foods high in fiber and low on the glycemic index, and stress management techniques.
The Science Behind Normal Blood Sugar Range Explained
Insulin sensitivity plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy blood sugar range. When we eat carbohydrates, our body breaks them down into glucose, which is then absorbed into the bloodstream. Insulin, produced by the pancreas, helps to regulate blood sugar levels by facilitating glucose uptake in cells throughout the body. However, when we become insulin-resistant – often due to factors such as obesity or a sedentary lifestyle – it can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
Fortunately, research suggests that even small changes to our diet and exercise habits can improve insulin sensitivity. For example, incorporating more fiber-rich foods into your meals has been shown to increase glucose uptake in the bloodstream by up to 30%. Additionally, regular physical activity, such as brisk walking or cycling for just 10-15 minutes a day, can enhance insulin sensitivity.
Controlling Blood Sugar with Diet and Exercise
The type of food we eat plays a significant role in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Foods high on the glycemic index (GI) cause a rapid spike in blood glucose followed by an equally sharp drop – leading to fluctuations that can damage our cells over time. In contrast, low-GI foods take longer to digest and release their energy more gradually.
Some examples of low-GI foods include whole grains like brown rice or quinoa, leafy greens such as spinach or kale, and a variety of fruits including berries, citrus fruits, and apples. When combined with regular exercise – which can improve insulin sensitivity by up to 45% – these dietary changes can have a profound impact on our blood sugar ranges.
Blood Sugar Management: Understanding the Importance of Sleep
Poor sleep quality is often overlooked as a risk factor for developing chronic diseases like diabetes. Yet, studies consistently show that even mild disruptions in circadian rhythms – typically caused by irregular work schedules or poor sleeping habits – can lead to elevated blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. This makes sense when we consider how our body regulates stress responses: when cortisol (our 'stress hormone') is released due to lack of sleep, it increases the production of free radicals that damage cells.
By prioritizing good quality sleep each night, individuals with poor sleeping habits may notice improvements in their blood sugar levels within just a few weeks. Research also suggests that even short bouts of physical activity during the day – say, taking a lunchtime walk or stretching session – can offset negative effects on circadian rhythms and improve insulin sensitivity.
Blood Sugar Range and Diabetes: What You Should Know
For individuals with diabetes, maintaining stable blood sugar levels is essential for preventing complications such as heart disease, kidney damage, and nerve damage. It's estimated that up to 70% of people living with diabetes do not reach optimal A1C levels – which indicates how well the body has controlled glucose over a given period.
While dietary changes can significantly impact insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control, incorporating certain supplements may also support healthy levels. Some options include vitamin D3, omega-3 fatty acids (particularly EPA and DHA), chromium polynicotinate, berberine extract, or alpha-lipoic acid – all of which have been studied for their potential benefits in regulating insulin function.
The Connection Between Stress and Blood Sugar Range Fluctuations
Stress impacts our body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels. When under stress, cortisol is released into the bloodstream at elevated levels. While small amounts can help us respond quickly to threats (like fighting off an infection), chronic release of excessive cortisol has detrimental effects on cell health.
Research suggests that practicing relaxation techniques like yoga or tai chi – even if only for a few minutes each day – may mitigate negative impacts on circadian rhythms and insulin function. By learning effective coping mechanisms, individuals can reduce stress-related fluctuations in blood sugar levels and promote healthy glucose regulation overall.
The Link Between Blood Sugar Range Fluctuations and Mental Clarity
An imbalance of blood sugar ranges is also associated with adverse effects on mental health – affecting mood, cognition, and even physical symptoms like anxiety or depression. Studies suggest that this relationship may be bidirectional: while imbalanced blood sugars contribute to impaired brain function (e.g., decreased dopamine levels), conversely research indicates cognitive deficits in glucose regulation are independently linked to poorer outcomes.
Fortunately, there's hope for managing these challenges by addressing our overall well-being with healthier lifestyle choices – incorporating exercise routine adjustments that combine low-intensity aerobic exercises along side strength training.
Bitter gourd, also known as bitter melon, is well known for its blood sugar lowering properties and I often get asked by many people, including my patients, this question, 'Doctor, is bitter gourd / bitter melon good for diabetes' =========================== *1-1 Coaching by Dr Chan* =========================== ► Find out More 👉 Dr Chan provides 1-1 coaching via telecoaching to help people review, change and improve their lifestyle and dietary habits to better prevent, control and combat diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease and other lifestyle-related chronic diseases and other lifestyle-related chronic diseases =========================== *About Dr Chan* =========================== Dr Chan is a practising medical doctor from Singapore, he provides 1-1 coaching as well as group programmes, workshops and online courses to train and coach people to improve their lifestyle and eating habits to better control and combat diabetes, hypertension and other other lifestyle-related chronic conditions. ► *Frequently Asked Questions about Dr Chan* 👉 =========================== *Contact Dr Chan* =========================== ► Contact 👉 =========================== *Dr Chan's ONLINE Courses* =========================== ► *Food as Medicine to Beat Chronic Diseases* 👉 ► *Eat Rice Better to Beat Chronic Diseases* 👉 =========================== *SIGN UP to be Updated of Dr Chan's Programmes* =========================== ► *Diabetes Related Workshops, Courses & Programmes* 👉 =========================== *Connect with Dr Chan on Social Media:* =========================== ► *Dr Chan's Youtube Channels* The Habits Doctor 👉 The Habits Pharmacy for Diabetes 👉 The Habits Pharmacy Kitchen 👉 Dr Chan Chats 👉 I am Dr Chan the Youtuber 👉 ► *Facebook* 👉 ► *Instagram* 👉 ► *TikTok* 👉 ► *Linkedin* 👉 =========================== *The Habits Doctor BLOG* =========================== ► 👉 #DrChanTatHon #TheHabitsDoctor #TheHabitsPharmacy Dr Chan Tat Hon Singapore Lifestyle Medicine Lifestyle and Diet to combat chronic diseases What's covered in this video 0:00 Intro - 'Doctor, is Bitter Gourd good for Diabetes?' 0:33 Bitter Gourd - what it is. Also known 113 fasting blood sugar during pregnancy as Bitter Melon 1:02 Bitter Gourd - known for its blood lowering properties 1:30 'Is Bitter Gourd good for Diabetes?' even the correct question to ask? 2:10 Diabetes Management - Controlling Blood Sugar is not the only goal 2:43 Adding Bitter Gourd to diet occasionally not an adequate or effective management of diabetes 2:50 How much does Bitter Gourd lower blood sugar? Is it consistent? 3:23 Controlling post meal sugar spikes needs holistic dietary habits overhaul 3:40 Bitter Gourd is like a Fire Extinguisher, extinguishing the Fire (Blood Sugar Spike) after meals 4:08 Successful Diabetes management requires Holistic Dietary Modifications 4:23 People with Diabetes need to critically review their diets 4:54 People with Diabetes should work closely with their medical professionals for holistic management of Diabetes 5:05 See Bitter Gourd as Food, should not see Bitter high blood sugar in the morning type 2 diabetes Gourd as a medicinal food low blood sugar cause low blood pressure or supplement In this video, I shall talk about the role of bitter gourd / bitter melon in the management of diabetes and also tackle some of the common mistakes and misconceptions that people have regarding foods that have potential blood sugar lowering properties and the role of such foods in the management of diabetes. #DrChanTatHon #TheHabitsDoctor #TheDailyDosebyDrCHAN Dr Chan Tat Hon, The Daily Dose by Dr Chan, The Habits Doctor