Final answer:
After a normal, healthy person eats a meal high in sugar, their blood glucose levels rise and then return to normal within about 2½ hours, thanks to the action of insulin. In diabetic individuals, blood glucose levels remain elevated for longer periods. Regular monitoring of blood glucose can help manage and prevent complications associated with diabetes.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a normal, healthy person consumes a meal with a high amount of sugar, their blood glucose levels increase. This elevation in blood glucose stimulates the beta cells of the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin aids in the uptake and utilization of glucose by the cells, causing a conversion of excess glucose into glycogen in the liver, and ultimately leading to a decrease in blood glucose levels back to a normal range. If blood glucose control is functioning properly, the blood glucose levels should return to within normal limits (about 70 mg/dL to 130 mg/dL) in a healthy person after eating, typically within 2½ hours as indicated in Graph-A.
However, when there is a dysfunction in this control mechanism, a condition such as diabetes mellitus may occur, characterized by prolonged elevated blood glucose levels. In contrast to healthy individuals, patients with diabetes experience a steep rise in blood glucose levels that do not return to normal even after 2½ hours following glucose consumption, as depicted in Graph-B.
To monitor and manage blood glucose, individuals can measure their levels using a meter that reads a drop of blood placed on a test strip. It's important to maintain physiological levels of glucose as chronic hyperglycemia can lead to damaging effects on organs such as the kidneys and the brain, potentially causing hypertension and other complications.