Post Time: 2025-07-26
Maintaining a healthy blood sugar level is crucial for overall well-being. When it comes to managing diabetes or even prediabetes, understanding what's considered high and how to achieve optimal levels can be overwhelming.
Blood glucose levels are an essential indicator of health status. They measure the amount of glucose present in the bloodstream after fasting overnight (fasting) and at specific time points throughout the day (postprandial). For adults with diabetes or those diagnosed with prediabetes, maintaining a healthy blood sugar level is vital to prevent complications.
The Impact of High Blood Sugar: Is 117 Considered Too High?
When it comes to determining what's considered high for an individual, medical professionals consider various factors. While the American Diabetes Association (ADA) provides guidelines on normal and abnormal fasting glucose levels, understanding how these numbers impact daily life is crucial.
For individuals with diabetes or prediabetes, a blood sugar reading of 117mg/dL can indicate that their current treatment plan needs adjustments to achieve optimal control. In general clinical practice, if an individual has high blood pressure or other cardiovascular risk factors and their fasting glucose levels exceed 100 mg/dl but are below the diabetic threshold (126 mg dl) for at least two different days then they could be diagnosed with prediabetes.
Factors That Influence Blood Sugar Levels
There are several key aspects to consider when managing your blood sugar range. Monitoring techniques can provide valuable insights, enabling you to make data-driven decisions about diet and exercise plans.
Some common causes of fluctuations in the normal healthy individual include:
- Stress
- Sleep deprivation
- Physical activity levels
- Medications used for other conditions that may have an impact on blood sugar regulation
By understanding these influences and how they apply specifically to your lifestyle, you can develop a personalized strategy for maintaining optimal glucose control.
Maintaining Optimal Blood Sugar Levels
Achieving and sustaining healthy blood sugar ranges is achievable. Certain dietary choices play a significant role in stabilizing levels while managing stress through exercise or relaxation techniques like meditation can also contribute positively towards achieving stable blood sugars throughout the day
Calling all those with a passion for cardiovascular prevention! In this episode of will low blood sugar make you dizzy the CardioNerds Cardiovascular Prevention Series, we take a deep dive into the world of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Along the way, you’ll hear about the biology of the GLP-1 molecule and its related peptides, learn more about how GLP-1 agonists promote glycemic control, weight loss, and cardiometabolic health, and explore the current body of literature supporting the individualized application of these medications to patients with diabetes, obesity, and/or ASCVD. Join Dr. Christian Faaborg-Andersen (CardioNerds Academy Fellow and Internal Medicine Resident at MGH), Dr. Gurleen Kaur (Director of the CardioNerds Internship, Chief of House Einthoven, and Internal Medicine resident at BWH), and Dr. Rick Ferraro (CardioNerds Academy House Faculty and Cardiology Fellow at JHH) for a wide-ranging discussion on GLP-1 blood sugar level for normal person and GIP agonists with Dr. Dennis Bruemmer (Cardiologist and Director of the Center for Cardiometabolic Health in the section of Preventive Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic). Show notes were drafted by Dr. Christian Faaborg-Andersen. Audio editing was performed by CardioNerds Academy Intern, student Dr. Tina Reddy. This episode was produced in collaboration with the American Society of Preventive Cardiology (ASPC) with independent medical education grant support from Novo Nordisk. See below for continuing medical education credit. Claim CME for this episode HERE. CardioNerds Prevention PageCardioNerds Episode PageCardioNerds AcademyCardionerds Healy Honor Roll CardioNerds Journal ClubSubscribe to The Heartbeat Newsletter!Check out CardioNerds SWAG!Become a CardioNerds Patron! Pearls and Quotes - GLP-1 Agonists: Mechanisms to Applications The selection and dosing of GLP-1 and GIP agonists (GLP-1s and GIPs) depends on their intended use as an anti-glycemic or anti-obesity agent. The cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1s and GIPs may be independent of improvements in glycemic control, and in part be driven by reduction in inflammation, a key driver of arterial plaque formation. In patients with comorbid coronary artery disease, obesity, and diabetes, GLP-1 agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors should be used as first-line agents, over metformin. Tirzepatide is a dual agonist that activates GIP and GLP-1 receptors. GIP is highly expressed in the brain, which may mediate satiety, promote energy expenditure, and enhance peripheral glucose metabolism. Caution should be used with GLP-1 agonists in patients with long-standing diabetes complicated by gastroparesis, as well as incompletely treated diabetic retinopathy. GI upset is not uncommon with GLP-1/GIP agonists, and switching to a different agonist is unlikely to help. Show notes - GLP-1 Agonists: Mechanisms to Applications What are the mechanisms of action by which GLP-1 and GIP controls blood sugar and body weight? Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an endogenous hormone that is secreted in response to an oral glucose load. It promotes insulin release, inhibits glucagon secretion, and slows gastric emptying via the brain-intestine axis, leading to satiety. GLP-1 agonists are medications that mimic the effect of this hormone and, on average, lower hemoglobin A1C by 0.8% to 1.5%. These medications include semaglutide, liraglutide, and dulaglutide. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is also an endogenous hormone, similarly secreted by the body in response to an oral glucose load such as a meal. GIP is highly expressed in the arcuate nucleus and hypothalamus, which may mediate satiety, promote energy expenditure, and enhance peripheral glucose metabolism. Tirzepatide is a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist. What is the role of GLP-1/GIP agonists in patients with overweight/obesity and/or type blood sugar levels type 2 diabetes 2 diabetes? How does the dosing of GLP-1/GIP medications change with their intended disease target?