Insulin is the main form of treatment administered when blood sugar levels rise too high. This hormone helps stabilize the amount of glucose the body receives after eating. But how often is this treatment necessary? What blood sugar level requires insulin?
The normal blood sugar of a person without diabetes is 140 mg/dL. It is considered prediabetes if its level is between 140 and 199 mg/dL. However, when it reaches 200 mg/dL and above, it indicates diabetes.
On the other hand, people with diabetes should maintain less than 180 mg/dL of blood sugar range. ADA or the American Diabetes Association recommends the said blood sugar range 1 to 2 hours after starting a meal. What blood sugar level requires insulin? This level is typically the highest that people with diabetes can have. An insulin shot is a necessity in these situations.
Below is the chart containing the recommended blood sugar range for people with and without diabetes.
For people with diabetes:
| Time | Recommended blood sugar range |
| Fasting (before consuming food) | 80 to 130 mg/dL |
| 1-2 hours after eating | Lesser than 180 mg/dL |
For people who do not have diabetes:
| Time | Recommended blood sugar range |
| Fasting (before consuming food) | 99 mg/dL or below |
| 1-2 hours after eating | 140 mg/dL or below |
When the blood sugar levels of people with diabetes are too high or beyond the normal range, the condition is called hyperglycemia. Its symptoms are as follows:
- High blood sugar
- Increased thirst/hunger
- Blurry vision
- Frequent urination
- Headache
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
- Rapid heartbeat
If a person with diabetes reaches a blood sugar range of 180 mg/dL or higher, the need for insulin treatment emerges. Thankfully, when a person is diagnosed with the condition, the healthcare professional immediately prescribes the most suitable insulin treatment that patients can follow on a regular basis.
Insulin injections are usually administered minutes before eating to balance the amount of glucose that people take.
Doctor’s Recommendation
There are four general ways to diagnose diabetes mellitus.
Principles:
- Finger stick glucose tests are not sufficient; a blood draw is required.
- The patient should not be experiencing any unusual circumstances such as acute illness, pain, or lack of sleep.
- Ideally, the patient should avoid stressful situations in the hours leading up to the test.
- Fasting typically means 8 hours without food but staying hydrated.
Method 1: Two random glucose measurements with levels of 200 mg/dl or higher, along with symptoms of hyperglycemia.
Method 2: Fasting for 8 hours with adequate hydration. A glucose level of 126 mg/dl or higher on two separate occasions indicates diabetes. Levels between 100-125 mg/dl indicate prediabetes.
Method 3: Oral glucose tolerance test with 75g of sugar. Measure glucose levels 2 hours later. Levels over 200 mg/dl indicate diabetes. For children, the sugar dosage may be adjusted based on weight. Levels between 140-199 mg/dl indicate prediabetes.
Method 4: Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) level of 6.5% or higher on two separate tests indicates diabetes. Note: Special populations such as those with anemia, thalassemia, or pregnant women may require adjustments or the use of other methods. Levels between 5.7-6.4% indicate prediabetes.
