The content in this article should not be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your healthcare provider regarding your individual health needs.
If you’ve been newly diagnosed with diabetes or prediabetes (or are interested in monitoring your glucose for overall health), you’ve likely been hearing the terms “blood sugar” and “glucose” frequently. Though often used interchangeably, it’s important to understand the difference between blood sugar and glucose, and how they work in your body. We’ll break down the definitions here so you can feel empowered and informed throughout your wellness journey.
What is glucose?
Glucose is a type of sugar that serves as your body’s main source of energy needed to function. When you eat or drink carbohydrates, your body breaks them down into glucose. That glucose is then carried to the cells through the bloodstream, moving to the areas of your body that need it for energy or to be stored.
Glucose is a good and necessary thing, but at excessive levels, it can cause problems.
What is blood sugar?
Blood sugar is the amount of glucose present in your blood at any given time. Blood sugar levels fluctuate for many reasons, including what you eat, how much you exercise, stress levels, dehydration, sleep, and more.
How your body
handles glucose
Your pancreas produces two hormones called insulin and glucagon that help to keep your blood sugar levels balanced. Insulin lowers blood sugar by helping your body’s cells to absorb glucose. Glucagon raises blood sugar when it gets too low by releasing glucose stores in the liver.
If you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes, that means your body isn’t making enough insulin, it can't use it as well as it should, or both. Because of that, too much glucose stays in your blood and can’t reach your cells. Over time, this can cause serious health problems.
What is A1C?
The A1C blood test is used to diagnose type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The test is also used to monitor how well you're managing blood sugar levels if you’re living with diabetes—it
gives you an estimated average of what your glucose has been for roughly the last three months. You may also see the A1C test referred to as hemoglobin A1C or HbA1c test.
A1C test results are reported in percentages, and the higher the percentage, the higher your glucose levels have been
over the past three months. Here are the ranges used to
diagnose prediabetes and diabetes.
- Normal: below 5.7%
- Prediabetes: 5.7% to 6.4%
- Diabetes: 6.5% or above
It is important to understand what the A1C level means in relation to the numbers that you are seeing with your blood glucose values. Avoiding spikes after meals through a glucose biosensor may help lower your A1C.
Monitoring glucose
Regularly checking your glucose levels is vital for managing diabetes or prediabetes. When your glucose levels are in check, your overall health will improve and you’ll feel better, too. If you’re not sure what glucose range is ideal for you, check with your healthcare provider to determine your target range.
The easiest way to regularly monitor your glucose is with a glucose biosensor, like Stelo. Stelo is a small and discreet device worn on the back of your arm that measures the glucose in your interstitial fluid that sits just beneath your skin’s surface. It’s painless to insert and easy to use.
With Stelo, you will see in real time how your body reacts to different foods and other things like activity, stress, or sleep.
Worn over time, you’ll start to see patterns that affect your glucose, which will help you to adopt healthier habits to decrease insulin resistance and lower your A1C.
Why it matters
Keeping your glucose levels in check is a crucial step in your journey toward a healthier you. It can also help you avoid complications like nerve damage, kidney disease, and heart problems. We hope that having a better understanding of the terms “blood sugar” and “glucose” will better equip you to navigate information you
encounter on your health journey.
Curated & reviewed by: Deborah Greenwood,
PhD, RN, CNS, CDCES, BC-ADM, FADCES
PhD, RN, CNS, CDCES, BC-ADM, FADCES
Deborah Greenwood is a clinical nurse specialist, diabetes care and education specialist, board certified in advanced diabetes management.
Written by: Stelo Team
References:
What is Prediabetes
What is Prediabetes