Fasting blood sugar level of 5.9 is considered normal? Reminder: Diabetes may be just around the corner

Blood sugar is one of the important indicators for diagnosing diabetes. It is divided into fasting blood sugar, postprandial blood sugar and random blood sugar. Fasting blood sugar is relatively easy to measure, and ordinary people are more likely to master the measurement method, so they know more about fasting blood sugar.

What is the normal value of fasting blood sugar? In the past, the common knowledge among the people was that fasting blood sugar was 3.9~6.1mmol/L, and they thought it was normal if it was within this range. Mr. Li also thought so. His fasting blood sugar had always been between 5.9~6.1 mmol/L, so he thought it was normal and never took it seriously. But some time ago, Mr. Li was told by the doctor that there was something wrong with his blood sugar.

Fasting blood sugar is 5.9, is this normal?

Fasting blood sugar is the blood sugar value measured after fasting for eight hours. If the fasting blood sugar value exceeds 7.0, diabetes can be diagnosed. If the fasting blood sugar value is between 5.9 and 6.9 mmol/L, there is actually a problem with blood sugar at this time. It is impaired fasting blood sugar and is in the range of pre-diabetes.

Diagnostic criteria for prediabetes

In the previous diagnostic indicators, the fasting blood glucose value was 6.1~7.0mmol/L, which was considered impaired fasting blood glucose regulation. The 2021 version of the ADA Diabetes Diagnosis and Treatment Standards also explained prediabetes. The diagnostic criteria for prediabetes are divided into three contents: impaired fasting blood glucose regulation or impaired glucose tolerance.

That is, fasting blood glucose 5.6-6.9 mmol/L or 75-g oral glucose tolerance test blood glucose 7.8-11.0 mmol/L. For these indicators, the risk is continuous and can extend below the lower limit of the range, and the risk becomes disproportionately increased at the upper limit of the range.

Mr. Li's fasting blood sugar level has been hovering between 5.9 and 6.1 mmol/L, so he needs to be alert. Although it is still a long way from the diagnosis range of diabetes, if Mr. Li continues to eat and drink recklessly, this distance will gradually shorten until it turns into diabetes.

Diabetes is not scary, what is scary are the complications caused by diabetes. Among these complications, some complications may cause cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. For people in the pre-diabetes stage, this is also the only chance to stay away from diabetes.

In the early stages of diabetes, you don’t need to take hypoglycemic drugs. At this time, you should pay more attention to diet therapy and exercise therapy. How should you eat? How should you exercise?

Low-fat diet

Studies have shown that the incidence of type 2 diabetes is positively correlated with the percentage of energy provided by dietary fat. Diets containing saturated fatty acids have long been proven to increase blood total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and cause insulin resistance. A high-fat diet is also one of the important reasons for the increased incidence of diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance.

A low-fat diet is not only about reducing the intake of fat, but also about reducing the intake of cooking oil. Some people even drink olive oil or camellia oil directly for health reasons. This practice is undoubtedly a form of chronic suicide. Even high-end olive oil is full of fat.

Increase your intake of soy products

Protein is an indispensable nutrient for diabetics. Protein is also an important raw material for insulin synthesis. Studies have found that during embryonic development, a low-protein diet can lead to pancreatic dysplasia and ϐ cell dysfunction, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes in adulthood. Protein deficiency is also related to type 2 diabetes.

High-quality protein is mainly found in animal foods and soy products. Animal foods often have a high cholesterol content, while the raw materials of soy products come from soybeans. The protein contained in soybeans is also high-quality protein and does not contain cholesterol. For those who want to supplement high-quality protein, soy products are also a good choice.

Supplementation of trace elements

Chromium is a component of glucose tolerance factor. Chromium deficiency can cause fasting hyperglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance, reduced insulin receptors and peripheral neurological diseases. Numerous clinical and experimental data have confirmed that chromium is a trace element that can enhance the action of insulin. When chromium in the blood decreases, glucose tolerance is impaired, tissue sensitivity to insulin decreases, and in severe cases, glycosuria occurs.

Zinc is related to the synthesis, distribution, storage, degradation, biological activity and antigenicity of insulin. Zinc deficiency can induce insulin resistance, reduce insulin synthesis and cause diabetes. As for selenium, when it is deficient, it can cause lipid peroxidation, and diabetics are more likely to develop microvascular lesions.

Exercise to lower blood sugar

For type 2 diabetes, exercise and diet are the basis and guarantee of all treatments; while for type 1 diabetes, the most fundamental principle is to maintain a balance and unity among diet, exercise and insulin action. Long-term and unremitting physical exercise can not only help obese people lose weight and enhance insulin sensitivity, but also keep blood sugar under good control.

The 2021 version of the ADA Diabetes Diagnosis and Treatment Standards recommends that people with diabetes perform at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week or at least 90 minutes of high-intensity aerobic exercise per week to improve blood sugar, help maintain weight, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. During exercise, you must pay attention to timing, quantity, and persistence, choose the appropriate exercise method and intensity according to the actual situation, and pay attention to preventing hypoglycemia during exercise.

Diabetes is not scary, what is scary is the complications caused by diabetes. If you adjust your diet and exercise during the pre-diabetes stage, you can stay away from diabetes. The opportunity is in front of you, it depends on whether you can seize it.