Blood glucose refers to glucose present in the bloodstream. It mainly comes from carbohydrates in food and serves as a key energy source for the body’s cells.

 

A normal fasting blood glucose level is 3.9–6.1 mmol/L, and a normal level 2 hours after a meal should be below 7.8 mmol/L. Blood glucose levels are affected by many factors, including diet, physical activity, and hormones such as insulin and glucagon. Consistently high or low blood glucose can lead to health problems, so it is important to manage it properly through regular monitoring, balanced eating, and regular exercise.

 

Your blood glucose meter will display the result, usually in mg/dL or mmol/L. Write down your reading, or save it to the meter’s internal memory if available.