Since diabetes affects people differently, there may be times when your blood sugar levels might suddenly increase and you may not know what caused it. This diet plan is here to guide you on what to do during such moments by:
Understanding what is classified as a high blood sugar reading after eating a meal
Using a food diary to identify potential triggers for raising your blood sugar
Whether you practice daily or random blood glucose monitoring, use the table below as a guide to understanding your blood sugar readings.
Hours after a meal | Normal Blood Sugar Readings |
Fasting (before a meal and 8 hours after your last meal) | 3.5 - 5 mmol/l |
1 hour after a meal | 6 - 9 mmol/l |
2 hours after a meal | 7 - 10 mmol/l |
3 hours after a meal | 6 - 9 mmol/l |
4 hours after a meal | 4.5 - 8 mmol/l |
5 hours after a meal | 3.5 - 5 mmol/l |
If your blood sugar reading is higher than the values above after eating a meal, it is time to re-evaluate the quality and portion of food you ate and make necessary changes. Record your readings in a blood glucose monitoring & food diary, so that you can discuss this with your nutritionist. Here’s an example:
Date | Time of meal | Food/drinks | Blood Sugar Reading | Time of blood sugar reading (hours after/before meal) | Comment/Notes |
10/12/2020 | 8 am | 1 cup porridge | 5 mmol/l | Fasting/before meal | Normal |
10/12/2020 | 10.30 am | 2 bananas + 1 cup of milk | 12 mmol/l | 2 hours after meal | High; reduce the number of bananas |