Food intake, time of day, and method used impact blood sugar test results
Energy powers us through our daily lives. It allows us to complete ordinary tasks and physically challenge ourselves. Every single process carried out by the body is fueled by energy, and glucose is the body’s most important source of energy (1). Each day, the body obtains glucose by breaking down the carbohydrates in meals.
Carbohydrates are one of the body’s main macronutrients and are found in many food sources (2). Simple carbohydrates are found in white bread and sweets, while complex carbohydrates are mainly found in fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain bread (2). Upon digestion of carbohydrates and the release of glucose into the bloodstream, the glucose signals the body to produce the insulin hormone (1). This hormone is essential for converting glucose into usable energy in cells by facilitating the transport of glucose into the cells (1).
Simple vs. complex carbohydrates in our diet
While glucose is a necessity for your body, a sustained surplus of it in the diet is known to have long-term impacts, such as diabetes (1). Diabetes occurs when the body cannot produce enough insulin to transport all of the glucose in the diet into the cells (1). Thus, more glucose lingers in the blood, which can lead to other health complications.
It is important for everyone, especially diabetics, to intermittently measure their general glucose levels to help make lifestyle decisions (3). During annual physical checkups, most adults undergo tests to measure the amount of glucose circulating in their blood, also called blood sugar. It is normal for blood sugar to fluctuate throughout the day, depending on the contents of a meal and when you have it (4). As soon as you finish your first meal of the day, your blood sugar increases due to the digestion and processing of carbohydrates (4). The time of day when you measure your glucose (e.g., in the afternoon after lunch or right after breakfast) impacts the results of a glucose test and can give false ideas of glucose levels (3). Because of this fluctuation, however, many people may ask: Should we take glucose measures with skepticism or a grain of salt? Well, the method used and the time of day you measure your blood sugar together dictate whether you need a grain of salt at all.
In general, it is good practice to measure blood sugar first thing in the morning before eating—either at a clinic or at home. With no new carbohydrates entering the body before the first food intake, there will be no increase in glucose that could impact the results of the test (4). Additionally, some methods of glucose monitoring work better than others for certain purposes. For example, using a glucose device shows your blood sugar level at that particular moment, like a blood sugar snapshot (5). In contrast, taking an A1c test at a clinic gives an idea of the average glucose level over the three months prior to the A1c test (6). These are both valid ways of measuring blood sugar, but they answer different questions.
Blood sugar levels for a healthy, non-diabetic person during a typical day
With the recent rise of processed foods and the increased sugar in the human diet, blood sugar monitoring has become imperative in our world. It’s crucial, however, to know how and when to measure your blood sugar and distinguish between normal post-meal fluctuations and abnormal levels in your blood. Otherwise, you may have to take your blood sugar results with a grain of salt!
References
- MedlinePlus. (2024, March 6). Blood Glucose. Medlineplus.gov. https://medlineplus.gov/bloodglucose.html
- Clinic, C. (2023, August 22). Carbohydrates: What They Are, Function & Types. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/15416-carbohydrates
- American Diabetes Association. (2018). Good to Know: Factors Affecting Blood Glucose. Clinical Diabetes, 36(2), 202–202. https://doi.org/10.2337/cd18-0012
- The relationship between blood sugar level and GI. (n.d.). Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. https://www.otsuka.co.jp/en/health-and-illness/glycemic-index/glucose-level/
- CDC. (2024, May 15). Testing for Diabetes and Prediabetes: A1C. Diabetes. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/diabetes-testing/prediabetes-a1c-test.html
- A1C. (2019). Medlineplus.gov; National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/a1c.html
Image Sources
Comments are closed.