Diabetics need to monitor their blood sugar levels to ensure they don’t go to high or low. But what about healthy people? Well, they experience varying blood sugar levels throughout the day too. The difference is that their body can manage the blood sugar levels more adequately. So, does glucose variability in healthy people matter?
This article explains what glucose variability is and how it is different in healthy people and diabetics.
What Is Glucose Variability?
Blood sugar levels fluctuate throughout the day. They peak one or two hours after starting a meal and then go on to return to pre-meal levels. Scientists have been studying the glucose variability in diabetics and are now also examining the glucose variability in healthy people.
Why Is Glucose Variability Important?
Blood sugar levels fluctuate a lot more in diabetics than in healthy people. Although healthy people also experience glucose variability, it does not pose a health risk. Frequent incidents of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia in diabetics increases the risk of complications. That’s what makes measuring them and trying to reduce the variability important.
What About Glucose Variability in Healthy People?
Blood sugar levels fluctuate all the time, even in healthy people. The glucose variability in healthy people is not as pronounced as in diabetics. Nonetheless, it’s best to try and keep them to a minimum.
As you haven’t eaten all night, blood sugar levels are lowest in the morning. Experts recommend eating small snacks throughout the day to minimize the glucose variability. Letting yourself go very hungry or overeating isn’t the way to go.
Final Thoughts
Glucose variability in healthy people may not be a major issue like it is for diabetics. However, trying to prevent sugar highs and lows is also important for healthy people. Eating small healthy snacks every few hours may help to keep blood sugar levels on an even keel in healthy people.
