What Causes High Blood Sugar
A variety of things can trigger an increase in blood sugar level in people with diabetes, including:
- stress
- missing a dose of your diabetes medicine or taking;an incorrect dose
- overtreating an episode of;low blood sugar
- taking certain medicines, such as;steroids
Occasional episodes of hyperglycaemia can also occur in children and young adults;during growth spurts.
Does High Blood Sugar Make You Sleepy
Surprisingly, one of the symptoms of diabetes or pre-diabetes is excessive sleepiness. But the cause of it is probably different than youd guess.
Youd think that a high blood sugar would create a sugar rush, which would give you a boost of energy. Right?
That is true initially especially if youre healthy and you dont have insulin problems. But if you arent, then things are different for you.
Reduce Your Sugar Intake
The average American consumes 22 teaspoons of added sugar per day. That translates to around 350 calories .
While some of this is added as table sugar, most of it comes from processed and prepared foods, such as candy, cookies and sodas.
You have no nutritional need for added sugar like sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup. They are, in effect, just empty calories.
Your body breaks these simple sugars down very easily, causing an almost immediate spike in blood sugar.
Studies show that consuming sugars is associated with developing insulin resistance.
This is when the cells fail to respond as they should to the release of insulin, resulting in the body not being able to control blood sugar effectively .
In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration changed the way foods have to be labeled in the US. Foods now have to display the amount of added sugars they contain in grams and as a percentage of the recommended daily maximum intake.
An alternative option to giving up sugar entirely is to replace it with sugar substitutes.
Summary:
Sugar is effectively empty calories. It causes an immediate blood sugar spike and high intake is associated with insulin resistance.
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What Causes High Blood Sugar Levels
Managing diabetes is like a three-way balancing act because you have to watch:
All three need to be balanced. If any one of these is off, blood sugar levels can be too. In general, higher than normal blood glucose levels can be caused by:
- not taking your diabetes medicine when you’re supposed to or not taking the right amounts
- not following the meal plan
- not getting enough exercise
- having an illness, like the flu
- stress
- taking other kinds of medicines that affect how your diabetes medicines work
A single high blood sugar reading usually isn’t cause for alarm it happens to everyone with diabetes from time to time. But if you have high blood sugar levels a lot, let your parents and your diabetes health care team know. Insulin or meal plans may need adjusting, or you may have an equipment issue, like an insulin pump that isn’t working right. Whatever the case, make sure you get help so you can get your blood sugar levels back under control.
How To Get One And Who Should Consider It
Insulet states its products are suitable for people living with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The company suggests the small medical device can help simplify diabetes management and is a viable alternative to injected insulin therapy.
To get an Omnipod system, a person will fill out an information form and undergo an insurance benefits investigation. If the individual is happy with the options and costs, a doctor can prescribe them a system. New users can organize a training session on how to use the system virtually or in a clinic.
The Omnipod website also provides information for caregivers on accessing a system for a loved one.
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How Do I Treat Hyperglycemia
You can often lower your;blood sugar level;by exercising. However, if your blood sugar is above 240;mg/dl, check your urine for ketones.;If you have ketones, do not exercise.
Exercising when ketones are present may make your blood sugar level go even higher. You’ll need to work with your doctor to find the safest way for you to lower your blood sugar level.
Cutting down on the amount of food you eat might also help. Work with your;dietitian;to make changes in your meal plan. If exercise and changes in your diet don’t work, your doctor may change the amount of your medication or insulin or possibly the timing of when you take it.
How Do You Treat Hypoglycemia
Low blood sugar levels happen when theres too little glucose left in the bloodstream to continue supplying fuel to your organs, muscles, and tissues. It most often occurs when you dont eat enough food, especially carb-containing foods, given your blood-sugar-lowering medications and physical activity levels, ONeill says. Levels can decrease gradually or suddenly.
When the amount of glucose in the bloodstream drops to too-low levels, the body reacts by releasing epinephrine, also called adrenaline or the fight or flight hormone. Epinephrine revs your heart rate and can cause sweating, shaking, anxiety, and irritability. If not enough glucose is able to reach the brain, the result may be difficulty concentrating, confused thinking, and slurred speech. In extreme cases, a lack of glucose within the brain can lead to seizures, coma, and even death, she says.
People with low glucose levels can use the ADAs 15-15 Rule, which advises people consume 15 g of carbs, wait 15 minutes, and check their levels again. If the number is still low, repeat until reaching at least 70 mg/dL.
You can find 15 g of carbs in:
- 1 slice of bread
- Three to four hard candies
- Glucose tablets as indicated on the label
- Glucose gel as indicated on the label
Once your glucose levels are back to normal, the ADA suggests going ahead and eating your next scheduled meal or snack, which will help prevent levels from dropping again.
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Get Trendy With Apple Cider Vinegar
If you do a quick Google search, youll see that apple cider vinegar is good for pretty much everything. You can use it to tone your skin, clean your pipes, and possibly lower your blood sugar!
A clinical review found that taking ACV daily could reduce blood glucose levels. Unfortunately, most of the trials were very small and some had mixed results.
But since youve probably got it in your house anyway, try taking a swig or two before meals, testing yourself, and seeing if a little ACV shot works for you .
Monitor Your Blood Sugar Levels
Measuring and monitoring blood sugar levels can also help you control them. Keeping track of your blood sugar levels helps you determine if you need to make adjustments to meals or medications. It will also help you find out how your body reacts to certain foods.
Try measuring your levels every day and keep track of the numbers in a diary or mobile application.
Check your sugar levels and write down the values in a diabetes diary, this will help you adjust foods and medications to reduce your sugar levels.
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Check The Size Of Food Portions
Portion control helps regulate calorie intake which can lead to weight loss. People who control the size of their food portions promote control of your body weight, which positively affects your blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Controlling food portions will help reduce caloric intake and subsequent blood sugar spikes.
Other Steps For How To Reduce Blood Sugar Level Immediately
While insulin is what will mainly help, there are other methods that can be used in both severe and less so severe cases of hyperglycemia. Alternative methods are especially helpful for those with non-insulin-dependent diabetes.
In severe cases , its advisable for healthcare professionals to take care of you.
First, they will likely inject insulin to your veins . In addition to this, they will rehydrate you with fluids, usually directly to your veins too. They will also give you nutrients at the same time, in the same manner.
This treatment gives some clues as to how to reduce blood sugar level immediately in less severe cases:
1) Stay hydrated; drink water. Since being thirsty is a symptom of hyperglycemia/high blood glucose, youll probably want to be drinking plenty of water anyway. This helps with flushing out excess glucose.
2) Stay nourished. This is less straightforward, since eating food can often lead to even higher levels of blood glucose. But because youll be drinking a great deal of water , youll also be flushing out nutrients at the same time.
So, its worth considering eating something nourishing after youve lowered your blood sugar. Or, if you want to keep up your nutrients during hyperglycemia, consider drinking fluids without carbs and with electrolytes.
Find out more nutritional info on specific food items with our food database. Meanwhile, get advice from our Nutrition Consultant with Food and Diabetes!
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Manage Your Carb Intake
Your body breaks carbs down into sugars , and then insulin helps your body use and store sugar for energy.
When you eat too many carbs or have insulin-function problems, this process fails, and blood glucose levels can rise.
However, there are several things you can do about this.
The American Diabetes Association recommends managing carb intake by counting carbs and being aware of how many you need .
Some studies find that these methods can also help you plan your meals appropriately, further improving blood sugar management (
The recommended daily intake of fiber is about 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men. Thats about 14 grams for every 1,000 calories .
Summary
Eating plenty of fiber can help with blood sugar management. Soluble dietary fiber is the most effective.
Natural Home Remedies For Diabetes Cure
Nature has a blend of items that have been used for centuries for medical cures. Many plants are of medicinal value and have been used for various medical condition treatments.
Science has used the gifts of nature to make medicines that can be used directly for treatment. As far as natural products are concerned, there is a need to have proper knowledge before using them.
Diabetes is a condition wherein blood sugar levels are above normal sugar levels. It can thus be controlled if the food that you eat is helping in controlling blood sugar levels.
Before looking for answers to how to cure diabetes at home naturally, we should understand the food we eat. Some foods raise blood sugar levels rapidly. These are high glycaemic index foods. While some food products are known to release glucose very slowly. These are low glycaemic index foods. Thus, a proper selection of low and high glycaemic index natural foods can help in controlling low or high sugar levels.
Summary
Balance of high and low glycaemic index foods is the key to control diabetes naturally.
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How To Lower Blood Sugar Naturally
Keeping blood sugar levels in check reduces insulin resistance, weight gain, stress hormone levels, inflammation in the body, and decreases the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. Medications are often the first-line treatment for high blood sugar, but there are ways you can lower your blood sugar naturally and avoid having to manage one or more prescription medications for your condition. Blood sugar circulates in our blood stream to supply energy to cells in the body. Blood sugar levels need to be optimal and not too high. This can be also achieved naturally.
Dr. Maheswari Raja, a family medicine physician with Healthcare Associates of Texas located in Coppell says, patients should see their physician at least once every three months and intermittently check their blood pressure with home monitors. If their blood pressure isnt well controlled, or treatment is not optimized, patients will need to see their physician more often.
Heres how to check your blood sugar levels, and what you can do to reduce low blood sugar naturally.
Avoid Eating Large Meals
Jess Craven/Stocksy
One way to keep carbs under control is by eating in moderation. I always tell my patients to spread their food out over the day, Weisenberger says. Dont eat small meals to save up for a big dinner. Feeding your body throughout the day helps regulate your blood sugar levels and prevents highs and lows, Crandall Snyder says.
Both Weisenberger and Crandall Snyder say to keep an eye on carbs, even while snacking. Classically, less than 15 g of carbs per snack is a good standard approach, Crandall Snyder says. Thats about whats found in 1 cup of fruit, she says.
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Things That Cause High Blood Sugar
High blood sugar can be caused by a variety of factors. The most common factors that contribute to high blood sugar include:
- Overeating/eating large portion sizes
- Using old, expired insulin
- Injecting insulin incorrectly
Most patients with high blood pressure dont have a known cause. This is called essential hypertension or primary hypertension, Dr. Raja adds.
How To Control Diabetes Through Naturopathy Treatments
Some of methods are:
- Increase Fibre Intake: It has been proven though many studies that foods which have high fibre content slow down the release of glucose from food. Whole fruit, vegetables and beans are examples of such foods.
- Correcting Mineral Deficiencies: Many people who have been diagnosed withType 2 diabetes are also deficient in minerals such as chromium and magnesium. Broccoli, Kale, chard, collard greens and chard are rich sources of these minerals, Even whole grains, peas, beans, seeds and nuts can be used to correct these mineral deficiencies.
- ;Restrict the White Stuff: Processed or white grains and sugars cause blood sugar levels and insulin levels to spike, which further leads to insulin resistance and weight gain. Eliminating or restricting these âwhiteâ products like white bread, white rice, potatoes, white sugar and white pasta, can help prevent the insulin levels and blood sugar levels from increasing.
While all these remedies are natural, it is strongly recommended that you consult your doctor before trying any remedies.
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When Should I Check My Blood Sugar
How often you check your blood sugar depends on the type of diabetes;you have and if you take any diabetes medicines.
Typical times to check your blood sugar include:
- When you first wake up, before you eat or drink anything.
- Before a meal.
- Two hours after a meal.
- At bedtime.
If you have type 1 diabetes, have type 2 diabetes;and take insulin, or often have low blood sugar, your doctor may want you to check your blood sugar more often, such as before and after youre physically active.
Treating Low Blood Sugar
You are at risk of having a low blood sugar reaction if you:
- Skip or delay a meal or snack
- Take too much insulin or eat too few carbohydrates
- Exercise
- Drink alcohol, especially without eating carbohydrates
Check your blood sugar if you have any of these symptoms:
- Weakness and/or fatigue
If your blood sugar is less than 70 milligrams per deciliter :
- Eat 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrate
- Wait 15 minutes and then recheck your blood sugar
- If your blood sugar is still less than 100 mg/dl, take another 15 grams of carbohydrate and retest your blood sugar in another 15 minutes. Repeat if necessary.
Important: If you have frequent low blood sugars speak to your doctor. You may need changes in your medication and/or meal plan.
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/11foods To Manage Diabetes
India is called the world capital of diabetes and the disease is increasing at an alarming rate. Diabetes refers to a condition in which a person develops high blood glucose levels. There are two main types of diabetes – type 1 diabetes in which body does not produce insulin and people with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance which means their body produces insulin, but its unable to use it effectively. The good news is diabetes can be controlled by making a few diet and lifestyle changes. Here are some natural home remedies to help you keep your sugar levels in control. Have a look!
Ramp Up Your Movement Each Day
Exercise helps improve blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity and the bodys ability to use glucose as energy, according to the American Diabetes Association. In type 2, exercise helps improve insulin resistance, says James G. Beckerman, MD, a cardiologist in Portland, Oregon. The end result is lower blood sugars.
Crandall Snyder tells patients that exercise is like spring cleaning for the body. It takes the stored form of glucose and uses it for energy so the next time you eat carbohydrates there’s a place to put it, she says.
Because exercise can immediately reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, work with your healthcare team to determine the right amount of activity and timing for you. A study published in September 2017 in Frontiers in Endocrinology found exercising 30 minutes after the start of a meal is usually best for maintaining blood sugar controls.
Learn more about managing your blood sugar in Diabetes Daily’s article “HbA1C: Everything You Need to Know.”
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