How To Test Your Blood Sugar At Home
To perform a blood sugar test, you will need to prick your finger with a lancet . Youll put a small sample of blood from this onto a strip inserted into the blood glucose meter.
Before you test your blood sugar at home, its important to find out from your doctor what a healthy blood sugar range is for you. Your doctor will determine this range based on factors such as:
- the type of diabetes you have
- how long youve had diabetes
- whether you have any other chronic health conditions
If you dont have a blood sugar testing machine on hand and are experiencing signs or symptoms of low blood sugar with diabetes, your symptoms may be enough to diagnose low blood sugar.
Hypoglycemia Blood Side Effects Of Low Blood Sugar Sugar Level
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Checking For Low Blood Sugar Levels
When blood sugar levels fall too low, the body releases the hormone adrenaline, which helps get stored glucose into the bloodstream quickly. Paleness, sweating, shakiness, and increased heart rate are early warning signs of this adrenaline release.
More severe symptoms such as confusion, drowsiness, seizures, and loss of consciousness may happen if the hypoglycemia isnt treated and the brain doesnt get enough glucose to work properly.
The only way to know for sure if your child has low blood sugar levels is to test them. Blood sugar levels can be tested with a glucose meter, a computerized device that measures and displays the amount of glucose in a blood sample. However, if the situation makes it impossible or inconvenient to quickly check the blood sugar, its important to treat your child for hypoglycemia immediately to prevent symptoms from getting worse.
Sometimes a child with diabetes may have symptoms of low blood sugar, but the levels are not actually low. This is a called a false reaction. Adrenaline also can be released when blood sugar levels fall rapidly from a high level to a normal level. Testing blood sugar levels before giving treatment for hypoglycemia can help you identify false reactions.
Also, some kids may learn to fake symptoms of low blood sugar to get a sugary treat or avoid something unpleasant. Again, checking the blood sugar level can confirm the presence of hypoglycemia.
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Nighttime Low Blood Sugars
You may experience a low blood sugar night. The low blood sugar might wake you up and your symptoms might be similar to those you have during the day. However, the symptoms may be different. You might have nightmares, sleep poorly, perspire, or feel hot and cold. In the morning you may have a headache, feel nauseated, or feel confused. Notify your doctor if this happens. Check your blood sugar at the time you have the symptoms.
Treatment for a low blood sugar that occurs at night is the same as described earlier.
Your doctor may request that you check a 3:00 a.m. blood sugar 1 to 2 times per week in order to detect any low blood sugars during the night.
Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a health care professional.
The Connection Between Diabetes And The Brain
Your brain is your bodys command center. Its made up of nerve cells that keep your body functioningeven while you sleep. It also controls how you feel, learn, and remember. And in order to do all this work, your brain uses sugar in your blood for energy. The brain is the most energy-demanding organneeding half of all the sugar energy in the body to function properly.
If your blood sugar levels fall outside of your normal range, it can throw your command center off balance. In the same way that diabetes can cause nerve damage to your eyes, feet, and hands, it can also affect your brain by damaging nerves and blood vessels. This can lead to problems with memory and learning, mood shifts, weight gain, hormonal changes, and over time, other serious problems like Alzheimers disease. Since both high and low blood sugar levels can cause these harms, its especially important for people with diabetes to keep their blood sugar at target levels.
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How Are Low Blood Sugar Levels Treated
Your diabetes health care team will give you guidelines for treating low blood sugar levels, depending on your symptoms. If you can, try to test your blood sugar levels to make sure that your symptoms are because of hypoglycemia. If you can’t test blood sugar immediately, don’t delay in treating your symptoms you can always check your blood sugar after you’ve taken steps to get your blood sugar back up into the normal range.
When blood sugar levels are low, the goal is to get them back up quickly. To do that, you should take in sugar or sugary foods, which raise the blood sugar level quickly. Your health care team might suggest that you:
- Eat, drink, or take something that contains sugar that can get into the blood quickly. Your doctor may tell you to have really sugary foods or drinks or might give you glucose tablets or gel to take all of these can help to raise your blood sugar level fast, which is what you need to do when it’s low.
- Wait about 10 minutes to let the sugar work.
- Recheck your blood sugar level with a glucose meter to see if blood sugar levels are back to normal.
- Get a glucagon shot , if your symptoms are severe or get worse after you eat, drink, or take glucose.
Sometimes, blood sugar levels can get so low that you may not be awake enough to eat or drink something to get them back up. When this happens, you may need a glucagon shot.
Eye Problems In People With Type 2 Diabetes
- Risk factors: History of eye problems caused by high blood sugar levels | Type 2 diabetes | High risk of heart disease | Rapid improvement in blood sugar levels
Wegovy can cause eye problems, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and damage to the retina, in people with type 2 diabetes and high risk of heart disease. This risk is higher in people who already have eye problems caused by high blood sugar levels . These eye problems might worsen temporarily after rapid improvement in blood sugar levels. Let your provider know if your eye problems worsen or if you have changes in your vision while taking Wegovy .
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What Are The Complications Of Low Blood Glucose
Mild-to-moderate low blood glucose can be easily treated. But severely low blood glucose can cause serious complications, including passing out, coma, or death.
Repeated episodes of low blood glucose can lead to
- high blood glucose levels, if worry or fear of low blood glucose keeps you from taking the medicines you need to manage your diabetes8
- hypoglycemia unawareness, a condition in which you dont notice any symptoms of low blood glucose until your blood glucose level has dropped very low
What Are The Symptoms Of Hypoglycemia
Symptoms of hypoglycemia can start quickly, with people experiencing them in different ways. The signs of hypoglycemia are unpleasant. But they provide good warnings that you should take action before blood sugar drops more. The signs include:
- Shaking or trembling.
- Tingling or numbness in the face or mouth.
During a severe hypoglycemic event, a person may:
- Be unable to eat or drink.
- Have a seizure or convulsions .
- Lose consciousness.
- Slip into a coma or die .
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The Effects Of Alcohol On Diabetes
If you have diabetes, you probably think that drinking alcohol is off-limits. However, thats often not the case. If your blood sugar is controlled and you take the right precautions, you can drink alcohol in moderation. If you watch how much you drink and what types of drinks you consume, you can avoid alcohol-related risks like low blood sugar, weight gain, and high blood pressure.
Before reaching for your first drink, ask yourself these three questions suggested by the American Diabetes Association:
If you can answer yes to all three questions, then alcohol may not have extremely adverse effects on your health. Still, it is important for you to be sure that you know the possible effects of drinking and that you know your limits. Excessive alcohol use can lead to alcoholism and a lifelong battle with alcohol abuse.
What Causes Hypoglycemia In A Child
Hypoglycemia can be a condition by itself. Or it can be a complication of diabetes or other disorder. Its most often a problem in someone with diabetes. It occurs when theres too much insulin. This is also called an insulin reaction.
Causes in children with diabetes may include:
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Too much insulin or oral diabetes medicine
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The wrong kind of insulin
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Incorrect blood-glucose readings
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Tingling feelings around the mouth
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Nightmares and confusion on awakening
The symptoms of hypoglycemia can be like other health conditions. Make sure your child sees his or her healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
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Epilepsy Treatment Usually Includes Fasting
When fasting, the body creates ketones, a by-product of fat-burning metabolism. Although fasting or a fat-rich diet has been used to try to control epilepsy and seizures, it is not a common way to treat patients. The NIH is examining the safety and effectiveness of such treatments currently since seizures often lessen or disappear during periods of fasting in some individuals with epilepsy. Other more common treatments include medications and surgery. The main treatments of epilepsy are antiepileptic drugs .
Focus On Overall Diet Quality
show that improving overall diet quality can help minimize cravings for sugary foods and enhance cravings for healthier foods.
For example, eating fewer foods high in added sugar like ice cream, cake, and cookies and increasing your intake of nutrient-dense foods like beans, vegetables, fish, and whole fruits may help reduce your reliance on added sugar and help you crave healthier foods.
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Effects From Lower Carb Intake
If you reduce both your sugar and your total carb intake at the same time, you may experience a few other short-time side effects. For example, if you not only get rid of added sugar in your breakfast cereals, coffee and soft drinks, but also get rid of extra refined flours from muffins, cookies and other desserts at the same time, you may feel a bit weak and irritable or have headaches in the first few days. This is usually due to mild dehydration caused by the diuretic effect of a lower-carb diet that is both low in sugars and refined carbs from flours.
Foods To Eat And Foods To Avoid With Type 2 Diabetes
If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes your doctor most likely has recommended dietary changes to manage your blood sugar levels. Simple carbohydrates or simple “carbs” are the primary culprit in raising blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. “Glycemic index” and “glycemic load” are terms used to measure the impact some foods have on your blood sugar levels. Low glycemic foods, for example complex carbohydrates like brown rice, quinoa, steal cut oatmeal, vegetables, some fruits , beans, and lentils don’t raise blood sugar levels very much. However, high glycemic foods for example, sugar, white flour and bread, cookies, pastries, and white potatoes can raise blood sugar levels dangerously high.
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Why Am I Having Lows
If you are experiencing low blood glucose and youre not sure why, bring a record of blood glucose, insulin, exercise, and food data to a health care provider. Together, you can review all your data to figure out the cause of the lows.
The more information you can give your health care provider, the better they can work with you to understand what’s causing the lows. Your provider may be able to help prevent low blood glucose by adjusting the timing of insulin dosing, exercise, and meals or snacks. Changing insulin doses or the types of food you eat may also do the trick.
Check Your Blood Sugar Often
Regularly checking your blood sugar level can help you keep it in your target range. If youve had low blood sugar episodes in the past, you may want to check your blood sugar levels before driving or operating machinery.
Talk with your doctor about when and how often you should check your blood sugar.
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Is Alcohol Affecting Your Blood Sugar Levels Or Worse
Alcohol can wreak havoc on your body. It can be even worse you are diabetic. If you or a loved one is having a problem with alcohol and blood sugar, you can get comprehensive, compassionate help at Harmony Place Rehab Center.
If you need a detox, we will help you get rid of the alcohol thats poisoning your body. From there, we have several levels of care so you can transition directly into a program designed specifically for you. Our treatment programs include individual and group therapy to help you better understand alcohol use disorder.
Because the whole family is affected by addiction, we provide family therapy to help heal and educate your loved ones. Your physical and mental health are too important to allow this to wait. Were here 24/7 to answer questions and help you on your road to recovery. Contact us today.
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Benefits Of Lemon Ginger Tea Nutrition Facts And Healthy Uses
Now that cooler weather is here, warming up with hot tea is an easy way to get warm and cozy. Lemon ginger tea is a relaxing, caffeine-free, and nutrient-rich option.
Lemons are high in vitamin C and have strong antioxidant capabilities.¹ Ginger has been used as medicine for over 2,000 years.¹ It contains polyphenol components, allowing it to act as a strong antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and basically an anti-any adverse health condition.¹
Pairing the two together produces a relaxing drink full of health benefits. The sour taste of the lemon and the sweet and spicy taste of ginger combine to make a tea that people across the world enjoy. You can purchase pre-made lemon ginger bags or make your own.
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The Effects Of Diabetes On The Brain
Managing your blood sugar can help keep your body and brain healthy.
Heres something that may blow your mind. Did you know that diabetes can affect your brain? Your brain is sensitive to the amount of glucose it receives. Both high and low blood sugar can damage blood vessels in the brain. Learn how managing your blood sugar can help keep your body and brain healthy.
You probably know that keeping your blood sugar in your target range is key for managing diabetes and preventing complications like heart disease and vision loss. But did you know that episodes of high and low blood sugar can affect brain function? This is because your brain is sensitive to the amount of sugar it receives.
You can help prevent or delay problems by keeping your blood sugar as close to your target levels as possible. Learn about the connection between diabetes and the brain and how managing your blood sugar can help keep your brain and the rest of your body healthy.
How To Treat Someone Who’s Having A Seizure Or Fit
Follow these steps if someone has a seizure or fit caused by a low blood sugar level:
Tell your diabetes care team if you ever have a severe hypo that caused you to have a seizure or fit.
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What Are The Signs & Symptoms Of Low Blood Sugar
Different people may feel low blood sugar levels differently. People with low blood sugar may:
- feel hungry or have “hunger pains” in their stomach
- feel shaky or like they’re trembling
- have a rapid heart rate
- feel sweaty or have cold, clammy skin
- have pale, gray skin color
- have a headache
- have seizures or convulsions
- lose consciousness
If you have diabetes, try to remember how your body reacts when your blood sugar levels are low. It may help you figure out when you’re having a low blood sugar level more quickly the next time.
What Is Blood Sugar
Blood sugar, also called glucose, is the main sugar found in your bloodstream. Glucose comes from the food you eat and is the main source of your bodys energy. Between meals and while you sleep, your liver makes new glucose. This sugar is then sent into your blood.
Glucose is carried by your blood to all of your bodys cells to be used for energy. There, it helps to slow down or prevent a low blood sugar reaction. Drinking alcohol interrupts this process, including the production of glucose and hormones, such as insulin, that are necessary to regulate blood sugar. Diabetes is a disease in which your blood sugar levels are too high. Even if you dont have diabetes, you may sometimes have problems with blood sugar that is too low or too high.
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