Fasting blood sugar refers to the glucose level in your blood after not consuming any food or drink, except water, for at least 8 hours. This measurement provides valuable insights into your overall health and, particularly, your risk of developing or managing diabetes. This is a simple sugar that circulates in our bloodstream. It serves as the primary source of energy for our cells. Your blood glucose levels fluctuate throughout the day. There are certain factors that influence it such as food intake, physical activity, and hormonal regulation. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, plays a pivotal role in regulating blood glucose levels.

The National Library Of Medicine tells us when blood sugar rises after a meal, the pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin then binds to receptors on cells, signaling them to absorb glucose from the blood and use it for energy. Excess glucose is stored in the liver and muscles as glycogen for later use.

But is it necessary for people who do not have issue with their blood sugar to constantly monitor their blood sugar?

Why Should You Monitor Blood Sugar?

Blood glucose monitoring is essential for maintaining optimal health and preventing complications associated with diabetes and other metabolic disorders. Regular monitoring helps you as by tracking blood glucose levels over time, individuals can identify patterns and trends, such as spikes after certain meals or dips during exercise. According World Health Organization, monitoring blood glucose levels can help detect conditions like diabetes, hypoglycemia, and hyperglycemia early on, allowing for timely intervention and treatment. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, can occur when blood glucose levels drop below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L). Symptoms may include dizziness, sweating, palpitations, blurred vision, and confusion.

For people with diabetes, regular blood glucose monitoring is crucial for adjusting insulin doses or other medications to maintain optimal blood sugar control. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, can occur when blood glucose levels are elevated. Over time, chronic high blood sugar can lead to serious health complications, such as heart disease, kidney disease, and nerve damage. If your fasting blood glucose level is 126 mg/dL (7 mmol/L) or higher on two separate tests, it's a strong indicator of diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects how your body regulates blood sugar.

What Happens When Your Blood Sugar Is High?

Does your blood sugar monitor show a reading above 100 mg/dlc? Does it mean you will be on a lifetime of medication with major dietary restrictions? Well, please understand that much before your tests results will show a definite diabetes diagnosis, regular blood tests will show you in the prediabetic range, hence making regular check-ups extremely important. According to Dr Manoj Chawla, Consultant Diabetology at P.D. Hinduja Hospital & MRC, Khar, “Prediabetes which is defined as BS Fasting > 110 < 126 and/or HbA1c between 5.7 and 6.4% in the absence of diabetes is a precursor to diabetes and probably the best window of opportunity to identify the risk, make changes to one's lifestyle and modify the risk factors to prevent progression to diabetes and try and achieve remission to normoglycemic status." It basically means prediabetes is considered a critical stage in the progression to type 2 diabetes. It offers a valuable opportunity to intervene and prevent the development of full-blown diabetes. You can still make lifestyle changes and see improvement.

How Does One Avoid High Blood Sugar levels

Dr Chawla tells us that paying attention to your lifestyle habits can really help you in the long run. He says, "Regular physical activity and exercise regimen including minimum 150 minutes per week of walk/ moderate intensity and a hypocaloric diet which is devoid of high fat and high carbohydrates helps greatly. Moreover, improved protein intake including regular use of protein supplements and increased fiber intake is also devised. There is also an emerging role of sleep hygiene and gut microbial health, leading to a reduction in inflammation and insulin resistance.”

Just like every other organ in the body, the brain changes as you get older. Ocasional subtle memory problems are usually no big deal. They are considered a part of normal ageing. However, when you see yourself repeating things or facing difficulties in accessing things quickly, like names and certain words, then it is definitely time for an evaluation. Recently, Time quoted an expert on subtle signs that indicate that you may be at risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Dementia.

7 Signs It’s Time to Take Your Memory Issues Seriously

You Have Trouble With Familiar Tasks

Many people love to multitask—jumping between texting, watching videos, and cooking dinner. That’s often doable thanks to neuroplasticity, which makes younger brains more adaptable. But as you enter middle age, your attention span tends to shrink, and life usually becomes more demanding. One day, you might find yourself staring at the toaster oven, blanking on how to use it.

You Miss Your Usual Commitments

If you begin to forget regular commitments that you've reliably handled for years, it could be more than just normal ageing. However, when to worry depends on your personal baseline. If forgetting an important event is highly out of character for you, it’s worth mentioning to a doctor. However, if you’ve been overwhelmed or unusually busy, an isolated incident may not be cause for alarm—unless it becomes a pattern.

Your Personality or Mood Changes

Many associate dementia solely with memory loss, but behavioural changes are often early signs too. Symptoms like irritability, depression, anxiety, and apathy can appear well before a diagnosis. "There's a behavioural aspect to dementia that people often overlook,' say brain scientists. In fact, these personality shifts can be seen years before Alzheimer’s is formally identified.

You Misplace Important Belongings

Imagine walking in the door, talking on the phone, and heading straight to the fridge. You put your keys down—but forget where. That’s multitasking, and it's normal. What's concerning, according to Dr. Tan, is when misplacing important things becomes frequent or disruptive. Again, it depends on your baseline. If you're naturally scatterbrained, occasional forgetfulness isn’t unusual. But if you’ve always been organized and suddenly start losing things, it could be a red flag.

You Repeat Certain Questions

Everyone has a friend who tells the same stories over and over. But if someone suddenly starts repeating questions or information they never used to, it could signal a deeper issue. If you miss something because you were distracted, like listening to music while driving, that’s understandable. But if there's no clear reason for the lapse, it might be time to pay closer attention.

You Get Lost in Familiar Places

Getting lost in places you know well is another warning sign. This often happens because of a decline in visual-spatial memory. For instance, to get to the grocery store, I know I have to turn right here, then left there, and there’s a drugstore on the corner where I make a sharp left. When that kind of route starts to confuse someone—despite paying attention—that’s a red flag, unless the place has drastically changed.

Your Parent Developed Alzheimer's At Same Age

The age at which symptoms appear often runs in families. If your mother was diagnosed with dementia at 85, forgetting where you put your keys in your early 60s may be nothing to worry about. But if she developed Alzheimer’s at 62, it’s wise to take memory lapses more seriously.

In a refreshing departure from traditional workouts, an international team of researchers has identified a joyful and highly effective way to reduce stress, build resilience, and enhance well-being—dancing. According to a recent study published in the Psychology of Sport & Exercise, dancing not only lifts your mood but also triggers a powerful biological response that supports mental health.

“By dancing, we can tap into a natural stress-relief mechanism that enhances our resilience and helps us cope with daily pressures,” said Jonathan Skinner, co-author of the study and a researcher at the University of Surrey in the UK. “It’s fascinating to see how something as enjoyable as dance can have such profound effects on our mental health.”

The study highlights how dancing encourages the release of feel-good hormones such as endorphins and oxytocin. These chemicals are known to reduce anxiety and foster social bonding. Researchers observed a decrease in levels of cortisol—the stress hormone—as well as reductions in heart rate and blood pressure among participants who danced regularly.

Beyond the biological benefits, dancing offers psychological advantages too. It allows for emotional expression, strengthens social connections, and can be a gateway to a sense of community. “Encouraging people to move together can create a sense of belonging and support while enhancing their ability to cope with stress,” Skinner added.

Mental Health Concerns Are On Rise Globally

These findings come at a time when mental health concerns are on the rise globally. Experts are now advocating for dance to be incorporated into community health programs, schools, and wellness initiatives. The accessibility of dance is a key advantage—it can be done solo or in groups, at home or in studios, and requires no special equipment, making it an inclusive form of exercise.

In fact, a 2022 review published in Frontiers in Physiology echoed similar conclusions. It noted that dancing improves both physical and emotional health in children and adolescents, and recommended that policymakers and educators seriously consider dance-based programs to promote long-term physical activity.

For adults, dance can be a fun way to meet the World Health Organisation's recommendation of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, along with muscle-strengthening exercises on two or more days.

The style of dance also plays a role in how many calories you burn. According to Healthline, a 150-pound person can burn around 118 calories in 30 minutes of ballroom dancing and up to 207 calories doing swing. Ballet improves strength and posture, Zumba boosts cardiovascular endurance, and even pole dancing is gaining popularity among older adults for its fitness benefits.

Whether it is salsa, hip-hop, or a kitchen dance party, the rhythm of movement could be just what your body and mind need. In a world that often prioritises high-intensity routines and rigid schedules, dance offers a more joyful, expressive path to health.

Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk scored a huge legal victory that restricts compounding pharmacies from marketing or selling cheaper, unapproved versions of its blockbuster weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. On Monday, US District Judge Mark Pittman denied the Outsourcing Facilities Association's bid for a preliminary injunction that would have prevented the FDA from taking action against its members for making copies of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.

What Do Compounding Pharmacies Do?

Compounding is a process where pharmacies mix ingredients of a drug to create a specialised version for specific patients. Say someone is allergic to a dye in a branded medication or needs a liquid form, and the main manufacturer only sells capsules. In that case, the patient can turn to a compounded version or the liquid form. Moreover, when drugs are in short supply, they can be compounded in larger quantities to help fill the gap.

Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to these compounding firms when they didn't have enough money to afford the costly weight loss treatments. The prices of both Wegovy and Ozempic rose exponentially, given the skyrocketing demand in the last two years. Notably, the Texas judge's verdict came in response to a February lawsuit from a compounding trade group against the FDA's determination that the active ingredient in those drugs, semaglutide, is no longer in shortage in the US. The decision also means the FDA can start targeting federally regulated 503B pharmacies, which manufacture compounded drugs in bulk with or without prescriptions, after May 22. The agency’s actions can include product seizures and warning letters to pharmacies.

How Do Semaglutides Work?

Semglutide is the synthetic version of GLP-1, a natural hormone produced in the intestines that regulates blood sugar, appetite, and digestion. Now, every time you eat, your body produces various hormones, including GLP-1. These are called post-nutrition hormones and help you absorb the energy you just consumed.

GLP-1 travels to your pancreas, prompting it to produce insulin. It also travels to the hypothalamus in your brain, which gives you the feeling of being full or satiated. Ozempic imitates this hormone, thereby silencing the food chatter in the brain. Interestingly, for some people this food chatter is really quiet ( people with low appetite), and for others, it is an outburst (people who generally binge eat.) So with Ozempic, silencing this self-talk in the brain, people tend to lose their appetite and eventually weight.

However, it is important to note that losing weight includes not just fat but muscle as well. Losing too much muscle can lead to reduced strength and a shorter life span. Notably, records show that most people who start taking them stop it at 12 weeks; therefore, it is important for some but not for others.