Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar and Cholesterol Levels

Blood pressure levels

Two numbers are used to describe blood pressure:

• Systolic. The systolic pressure (the higher and first number) measures the force that blood exerts on the artery walls as the heart contracts to pump out the blood.
• Diastolic. The diastolic pressure (the lower and second number) is the measurement of force as the heart relaxes to allow the blood to flow into the heart.

Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). A blood pressure reading is written like this: 120/80 mm Hg, where 120 is the systolic, and 80 is the diastolic blood pressure.

Blood pressures are now categorized as normal, prehypertension, hypertension stage 1, or hypertension stage 2. The categories are defined in this table:

Blood lipids, including cholesterol

Lipoproteins are protein spheres that transport cholesterol, triglyceride, or other lipid molecules through the bloodstream. Most of the information about the effects of cholesterol and triglyceride actually concerns lipoproteins.

The cholesterol-carrying lipoproteins are commonly referred to as cholesterol. They comprise the low density lipoproteins (LDL), often called the "bad" cholesterol, and the high-density lipoproteins (HDL), referred to as the "good" cholesterol. The triglyceride-carrying lipoproteins are intermediate in density, and together with very-low density proteins, carry triglycerides.

• Desirable total cholesterol: below 200 mg/dL (5.17 mmol/L)
• Optimal LDL ('bad') cholesterol: below 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L)
• Optimal HDL ('good') cholesterol: over 60 mg/dL (1.56 mmol/L)
• Normal triglyceride: below 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L)

Dividing the total cholesterol by the HDL cholesterol levels gives a Total/HDL ratio:

• The ideal ratio is 3.5 or below.
• A ratio of 4.5 carries an average risk for cardiovascular disease.

Blood Sugar Levels

Normal blood glucose levels typically register between 70 and 150 mg. The level in someone's body will change during the day and is affected by many factors including what time of day it is as well as what your most recent meal was (or was not). There is danger associated with levels either below or above the range. If your level is below 70, you most likely have a condition called hypoglycemia or more commonly called low blood sugar. Other symptoms of hypoglycemia include lack of energy, focus and irritability. You can even lose consciousness if your glucose is too low.

If the level of sugar in your blood is over 150 mg, then you are considered to be hyperglycemic, also more commonly known as having high blood sugar. If you have persistent high sugar, then you are at risk for diabetes which can result in serious organ damage to your eyes, kidneys and other organs. If you do not have normal blood glucose levels, you should take all necessary steps to reverse the condition by calling you physician.

Glycosylated Hemoglobin: This test examines blood levels of glycosylated hemoglobin, also known as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). Measuring A1c is useful for determining the severity of diabetes. The test is not affected by food intake so it can be taken at any time. In general, measurements suggest the following:

• Normal HbA1c levels should be below 7%.
• A level of 8% indicates diabetes, in 98% of cases.
• Levels above 11% indicate poor control of carbohydrates.

Exercise & Blood Sugar

Exercise may cause low blood sugar numbers or high blood sugar numbers due to an increase in metabolic demands and due to the activity of insulin. Here are some ways to help prevent low or high blood sugars in diabetics who exercise:

• Avoid injecting insulin into parts of the body which will be exerted during exercise, as exercise may prolong or shorten the time of insulin reaction.
• Avoid exercising at the peak of insulin activity. Insulin should be administered approximately one hour before you begin exercising.
• Avoid alcohol and beta blocker drugs around the time of exercise because they may cause low blood sugar.
• Eat a snack just before and during exercise, and monitor your blood sugars before, during, and after exercise.
• Keep simple carbohydrates, such as fruit juice or hard candy, and other food available. Also keep some extra insulin with you in case of emergencies.
• If you experience pain in your chest, nausea, heart palpitations or severe shortness of breath during exercise, stop and consult your doctor.