Tips To Maintain Normal Blood Sugar Level
Glucose control is extremely important for diabetic patients. Studies show that diabetes with persistent elevation in blood sugar level has a high risk of cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, nerve damage, vision problems and more.
Gaining control over blood sugar will help to avoid these complications. Here are some lifestyle tips to follow that will aid you in controlling your blood sugar level.
- Consume whole, non/minimally processed and low-carb foods to control the blood glucose in the body.
- Include at least 150 minutes of exercise weekly if you have no medical restrictions.
- Stay hydrated always, which will help your body to eliminate excess amounts of glucose through urine.
- Take insulin and other medications per the instructions from healthcare professionals to avoid any sudden spike or drop in the blood glucose level.
Correcting High Blood Sugar Levels With Insulin
If you take insulin, one way to reduce blood sugar is to inject insulin.
However, be careful as insulin can take 4 hours or longer to be fully absorbed, so you need to make sure you take into account how much insulin you may already have in your body that is yet to be absorbed by the blood. Insulin that is yet to be absorbed by the blood is called active insulin.
If you decide to correct with insulin, watch you dont over correct as this can lead to hypoglycemia and can be dangerous, particularly so before bed.
What Are The Symptoms Of Hyperglycemia
The signs and symptoms include the following:
- High blood glucose
- High levels of glucose in the urine
- Frequent urination
- Increased thirst
Part of managing your diabetes is checking your blood glucose often. Ask your doctor how often you should check and what your glucose sugar levels should be. Checking your blood and then treating high blood glucose early will help you avoid problems associated with hyperglycemia.
Also Check: What Can You Substitute For Brown Sugar
What You Can Do Now
Your doctor will provide you with clear steps to follow aimed at lowering your blood sugar levels. Its important that you take their recommendations to heart and make any necessary lifestyle changes to improve your health. If left untreated, hyperglycemia can lead to serious, and sometimes life-threatening, complications.
Your doctor may recommend that you buy a blood glucose meter to use at home. This is a simple and effective way to monitor your blood sugar and act quickly if your levels have spiked to an unsafe level. Being aware of your levels can empower you to take charge of your condition and live a healthy lifestyle.
Prediabetes Symptoms Causes Treatment Options
Prediabetes is a condition that affects millions of people in the United States and it is defined as having a blood sugar level that is higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. When you have prediabetes, it often leads to type 2 diabetes if it is not treated. In this article, we will discuss what prediabetes is, the symptoms of prediabetes, the causes of prediabetes, and the treatment options for prediabetes among other topics.
Don’t Miss: Will High Blood Sugar Go Down On Its Own
What To Think About When Your Blood Sugar Is High
High blood sugar can harm you. If your blood sugar is high, you need to know how to bring it down. If you have diabetes, here are some questions to ask yourself when your blood sugar is high:
- Are you eating right?
- Are you eating too much?
- Have you been following your diabetes meal plan?
- Did you have a meal or a snack with a lot of carbohydrates, starches, or simple sugars?
Are you taking your diabetes medicines correctly?
- Has your doctor changed your medicines?
- If you take insulin, have you been taking the correct dose? Is the insulin expired? Or has it been stored in a hot or cold place?
- Are you afraid of having low blood sugar? Is that causing you to eat too much or take too little insulin or other diabetes medicine?
- Have you injected insulin into a scar or overused area? Have you been rotating sites? Was the injection into a lump or numb spot under the skin?
What else has changed?
To prevent high blood sugar, you will need to:
- Follow your meal plan
- Take your diabetes medicines as instructed
You and your doctor will:
- Set a target goal for your blood sugar levels for different times during the day. This helps you manage your blood sugar.
If your blood sugar is higher than your goals over 3 days and you don’t know why, check your urine for ketones. Then call your health care provider.
Ketoacidosis: When Hyperglycemia Becomes Severe For People With Type 1 Diabetes
If you have type 1 diabetes, it is important to recognize and treat hyperglycemia because if left untreated it can lead to a dangerous condition called .
This happens because without glucose, the body’s cells must use ketones as a source of energy. Ketoacidosis develops when ketones build up in the blood. It can become serious and lead to diabetic coma or even death.
According to the American Diabetes Association, ketoacidosis affects people with type 1 diabetes, but it rarely affects people with type 2 diabetes.
Many symptoms of ketoacidosis are similar to hyperglycemia. The hallmarks of ketoacidosis are:
-
High level of ketones in the urine
-
Shortness of breath
-
Fruit-smelling breath
Additionally, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and confusion may accompany ketoacidosis. Immediate medical attention is highly recommended if you have any of these symptoms.
Some people with diabetes are instructed by their doctor to regularly test ketone levels. Ketone testing is performed two ways: using urine or using blood.
For a urine test, you dip a special type of test strip into your urine. For testing blood ketones, a special meter and test strips are used. The test is performed exactly like a blood glucose test.
If ketone testing is part of your self-monitoring of diabetes, your health care professional will provide you with other information including prevention.
Also Check: Can Eating Sugar Cause Headaches
How Does High Blood Sugar Affect The Body
Monitoring your blood sugar is essential if you have diabetes. Symptoms will get worse if treatment is not provided, and serious health complications can arise as a result. The signs of high blood sugar to look for include fatigue, blurred vision, and headaches along with:
- Frequent urination and thirst: Excess sugar in the blood is passed through the kidneys and into urine. This draws more water into the urine which means more frequent urination. High glucose levels cause thirst even when you are drinking enough fluids.
- Weight loss: Elevated blood sugar levels over time can lead to unexplained weight loss as a result of cells not getting the glucose they need. As a result, they start burning fat instead.
- Numbness: High blood sugar can cause tingling and numbness in the extremities. It is important to note that this is a complication of long-term diabetes and uncontrolled blood sugar levels.
What Are The Risks Of Hyperglycemia
Hyperglycemia can be a sign that your body isnt getting enough insulin. It is normal for patients with T1D to get hyperglycemia, and most of the time this is simply treated with insulin. If the body does not have insulin for approximately 8 hours, you could develop a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA.
In DKA, your body breaks down fat for energy because it doesnt have enough insulin to use the sugar in your blood. This produces chemicals called ketones, which make your blood more acidic.
DKA is dangerous. Too much acid in your blood can make you pass out or even cause death.
You May Like: What Causes High Glucose
You May Like: Does Glipizide Lower Blood Sugar Immediately
First Heres A Little Blood Sugar :
- Blood Sugar is the amount of glucose in your blood. Everyone has glucose in their blood, because it provides fuel for all the cells in our bodies.
- Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, controls the amount of glucose in our blood.
- Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are conditions that prevent the body from properly producing or reacting to insulin which results in high blood sugar. Type 1 is an autoimmune disorder that occurs early in life, and type 2 occurs from a combination of genetics, lifestyle and diet. It can happen at any point in life.
- High blood sugar, aka Hyperglycaemia, can seriously damage almost any part of your body. It slowly erodes the ability of your pancreas to make insulin, and it leads to hardening blood vessels. If left unaddressed, the results can include kidney failure, stroke, heart attack, blindness, nerve damage and more.
- The level of blood sugar considered normal is less than 100 milligrams of glucose per decilitre of blood after not eating for at least 8 hours. A person with fasting blood glucose levels of 100 to 125 mg/dL has pre-diabetes, and 126 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes.
What Does It Mean When I Crave Sugar
Answer
When someone crave sugar, they are experiencing a temporary craving that is typically accompanied by an emotional response. When people crave sugar, they may experience cravings for whatever foods or drinks they have been eating recently.
Cravers of sugar can feel an intense need to eat and drink anything that brings them relief from their craving. However, there are a few key signs that someone may be experiencing a sugar craving. First, the person may develop a sudden urge to eat or drink something after not having had anything for weeks or months.
Second, the person may report feeling abnormally high after eating or drinking something that usually does not make them feel good. Finally, the person may experience feelings of emptiness or stress after consuming any food or drink that causes them to crave sugar.
Recommended Reading: How Much Sugar Is In V8 Energy Drink
What Vitamin Do You Need If You Crave Sugar
One of the most important nutrients you need for your body is vitamin B12. Without it, you may experience problems with energy and mood swings. Additionally, sugar cravings can be a sign that you might have a lack of this nutrient. If you are looking to add more B12 to your diet, here are four best sources to get it from: animal products such as eggs or meat, fortified foods like fortified breads and cereals, or supplements taken in the form of pills or food.
High Blood Sugar Management: Five Actions To Help Safeguard Vision During Diabetes
Understand NumbersWhen blood sugar levels rise, the delicate blood vessels that nourish the most delicate areas of the eyes are often the first to sustain damage. High blood sugar specifically harms the retina. The thin tissue that makes up around 65 per cent of the back of the eye is called the retina. Many light-sensitive cells reside there, allowing the eyes to communicate visual information to the brain via the optic nerve.The blood vessels that supply the retina are harmed when blood sugar levels rise. Vision blurring may result from this, either temporarily or permanently. Diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and cataracts are three distinct eye conditions that are quite common in people with diabetes. Timely detection and interventions can minimize such complications. By keeping track of blood sugar levels, one can reduce the risk of these sight-stealing conditions.
Live Tv
Don’t Miss: How To Sub Maple Syrup For Sugar
Reflect On The Amount Of Sugar In Your Diet
Hyperglycemia occurs when there is too much glucose in the blood.
Therefore, one way of reducing your blood glucose levels is reflecting on where sugar may be consumed in the diet. Think about any refined and processed foods that may be in your diet as these are often high in sugar. This can be achieved through a low carbohydrate diet.
When To Contact Your Doctor
Hyperglycemia can turn into a medical emergency like DKA and HHS that requires immediate intervention by your doctor or a local emergency department. If you have two blood sugar readings of 300 mg/dL or more, or have blood sugar above your target range for more than a week, seek immediate medical help.
Signs of hyperglycemia include:
- Stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
Also Check: How Long Does It Take To Lower Blood Sugar
Read Also: What Cereal Has Low Sugar
How To Prevent It
If you work to keep your blood sugar under control — follow your meal plan, exercise program, and medicine schedule — you shouldnât have to worry about hyperglycemia. You can also:
- Know your diet — count the total amounts of carbs in each meal and snack.
- Test your blood sugar regularly.
- Tell your doctor if you have repeated abnormal blood sugar readings.
- Wear medical identification to let people know you have diabetes in case of an emergency.
Show Sources
Diabetes Can Adversely Impact The Eyes Which Can Even Result In Blindness Or Visual Impairment High Blood Sugar Can Destroy The Capillaries In The Eye’s Most Delicate Tissues Which Transmit Signals To The Brain And Enable Clear Vision
- When blood sugar levels rise, the delicate blood vessels that nourish the most delicate areas of the eyes are often the first to sustain damage
- Smoking harms the veins, arteries, and capillaries in the body, aggravating diabetes-related eye damage already present
- Regular exercise can reduce your risk of developing diabetic eye disease since it lowers blood sugar levels
High blood sugar management: You probably already know how important it is to keep blood sugar levels within the recommended range if you or a loved one has diabetes. Major, long-term health issues like vision loss, heart disease, and renal disease can be avoided or delayed with proper management of blood sugar, HbA1c, cholesterol levels, and blood pressure.Diabetes can have a serious negative impact on the eyes, which can result in blindness or visual impairment. This is due to the fact that high blood sugar can destroy the capillaries in the eye’s most delicate tissues, which transmit signals to the brain and enable clear vision. A permanent loss of vision may result from this retinal damage brought on by high blood pressure. However, there is hope. One can avoid major eye damage by monitoring and regulating blood sugar levels as per their doctor’s recommendation.
Don’t Miss: Does Stress Raise Your Blood Sugar
What Are 3 Warning Signs Of Diabetes
What Should I Avoid If I Have High Blood Sugar
Avoiding certain foods will be beneficial in case you have increased the level of sugar in blood like- potato chips, soda, burger, mayonnaise, fat based food, sausages, alcohol, and smoking. A sedentary lifestyle has proved detrimental for blood sugar level. Irregular intake of diabetes medicines has always proved fatal to health. Unhealthy and erratic timings of meals are the factors responsible for a deteriorating health. Unnecessary tension and stress bring in high blood sugar.
You May Like: How Much Sugar Should Type 2 Diabetic Eat Daily
When To See A Healthcare Provider
If you have diabetes and experience a randomly high blood sugar from time to time, there is usually no need to panic. Try to understand what changes could have triggered a blood sugar spike, whether by looking at your diet or activity levels. Knowing the reason behind high blood sugar helps you figure out how to prevent it from happening again.
On the other hand, if you have been experiencing high blood sugars regularly, you may need a change in your treatment plan. This doesn’t mean you havent been managing your diabetes well. Rather, diabetes is a progressive disease that can change how it affects you over time. That means changes to things like medications, meal plans, and exercise regimens might be needed to help you achieve better control over your blood sugar levels.
If you do not have diabetes and suspect that you are experiencing high blood sugar, consider making an appointment with a healthcare provider.
Regardless of whether you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you should also seek care if you are experiencing any symptoms of DKA or HHS. For both conditions, quick treatment is crucial.
High Blood Sugar Symptoms
The typical blood sugar target for someone with diabetes who has not yet eaten is 80 to 130 milligrams per deciliter . Within two hours of starting a meal, the level should be less than 180mg/dL. Blood sugar is typically considered high when the levels are over these thresholds.
Keep in mind that your blood sugar targets may be different based on factors like age and other health conditions you may have. The targets are also different for people without diabetes.
Testing your blood sugar levels, such as with a glucometer, is the main way to tell if your blood sugar is too high. However, even before you check your levels, you may experience symptoms of high blood sugar.
Read Also: How Much Sugar Is Ok For Diabetics
Use Your Plate As A Portion Guide
If measuring or weighing food isnt appealing, try using your plate or bowl as a portion control guide.
This can help you determine the optimal macronutrient ratio for a well-balanced meal.
A rough guide for each meal is:
- Vegetables or salad: Half a plate
- High-quality protein: Quarter of a plate this includes meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy, tofu, beans and pulses
- as whole grains and starchy vegetables
- High-fat foods: Half a tablespoon including cheese, oils and butter
Remember that this is a rough guide, as people have different dietary needs. For example, those who are more physically active often require more food.
As vegetables and salad are naturally low in calories but high in fiber and other nutrients, filling up on these may help you avoid overeating calorie-dense foods.
If you want extra guidance, some manufacturers sell portion-control plates.
Summary Using a plate as a guide for portion control can help you curb total food intake. You can divide your plate into sections based on different food groups.