Why Is My Blood Sugar High

How Often Should I Check My Blood Sugar

Why Blood Sugar is High In The Morning: The Real Reason!

The number of times that you check your blood sugar will depend on the type of diabetes that you have and the type of medicine you take to treat your diabetes. For example, people who take insulin may need to check more often than people who do not take insulin. Talk with your health care team about how often to check your blood sugar.

The common times for checking your blood sugar are when you first wake up , before a meal, 2 hours after a meal, and at bedtime. Talk with your health care team about what times are best for you to check your blood sugar.

Is Sugar Bad For You

If you love sweets, don’t despair. You don’t have to give them up forever. Sugar will raise your blood sugar levels more quickly than other carbs, but diabetes experts now say the total amount of carbs is most important. So keep your serving sizes small and take into account the total carbs and calories.

Long Acting Insulin Not Working For The Entire 24 Hours

THIS WAS THE CULPRIT FOR ME! I would normally go to sleep with a blood sugar of between 6.5 mmol/L and 7.5 mmol/L. Between 3:00 a.m and 4:00 a.m I would have a reading of between 12 mmol/L and 16 mmol/L. I normally took my basal insulin in the morning around 7:00 a.m. Lantus is supposed to be active for 24 hours controlling your blood sugar levels when you are not eating. However, in some individuals like myself, it only lasts about 18 to 20 hours. During long periods of time when we are not eating , the liver releases glucose to fuel the body. In my case, there was no long acting insulin in my body to handle this glucose, resulting in my high fasting blood sugars.

Also note that not eating will not help the issue. One may tend to not want to eat if they have a high fasting blood sugar. Eating and taking insulin will signal to the body that the fasting period is over and there is no need for the liver to release glucose into the bloodstream.

Why Might Your Blood Sugar Increase In The Morning

âYour body relies more on fat burning overnight but in the morning you have a preemptive shift back towards glucose, which can cause variations in blood sugar,â explains Paul.

As your body prepares for the day, it increases the amount of glucose it makes, triggering an increase in insulin levels in order to keep your blood sugar levels stable as your metabolism powers up.

However, if you are insulin resistant or have diabetes, your body may not respond adequately to this insulin in your blood, resulting in increased blood sugar levels before you wake. This is known as the âdawn effectâ and tends to only be seen in people with diabetes.

In people with diabetes who rely on insulin, morning blood sugar spikes can also be caused by taking too much or too little insulin before bed, resulting in a rebound effect in the morning. This is called the Somogyi phenomenon.

Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic Nonketotic Syndrome : When Hyperglycemia Becomes Severe For People With Type 2 Diabetes

Why is My Blood Sugar So High In The Morning

Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome is very rare, but you should be aware of it and know how to handle it if it occurs. HHNS is when your blood glucose level goes way too highyou become extremely hyperglycemic. HHNS affects people with type 2 diabetes.

HHNS is most likely to occur when you’re sick, and elderly people are most likely to develop it. It starts when your blood glucose level starts to climb: when that happens, your body will try to get rid of all the excess glucose through frequent urination. That dehydrates your body, and you’ll become very thirsty.

Unfortunately, when you’re sick, it’s sometimes more difficult to rehydrate your body, as you know you should. For example, it might be difficult to keep fluids down. When you don’t rehydrate your body, the blood glucose level continues to climb, and it can eventually go so high that it could send you into a coma.

To avoid hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome, you should keep close watch on your blood glucose level when you’re sick .

Talk to your healthcare professional about having a sick-day plan to follow that will help you avoid HHNS.

You should also be able to quickly recognize the signs and symptoms of HHNS, which include:

Extremely high blood glucose level
Dry mouth

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Does Sugar Increase Blood Pressure

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Consuming sugar increases insulin levels, study author James DiNicolantonio tells me, which activates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increases in heart rate and blood pressure. It also apparently reduces the sensitivity of the receptors that regulate our blood pressure.Read more

Does Sugar Affect Blood Pressure?

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Causes Related To Diet

Processed foods and sugar

Diet and how it relates to blood glucose values can vary immensely from person to person. But, research suggests that eating processed foods can increase blood glucose.

Overeating or grazing

Itâs a common belief that snacking throughout the day will keep blood glucose levels steady. But, a 2013 study found that eating two large meals per day helped reduce blood glucose more effectively than six small meals per day. Itâs also important to keep our meals to the right proportions, as overeating can raise blood glucose levels as well.

Dehydration

Some research has found a connection between low water intake and a greater risk of hyperglycemia. This is most likely because less water in the body means the concentration of glucose in the blood is higher.

Vitamin and mineral deficiencies

Research into this cause is ongoing. Yet, studies suggest diets lacking micronutrients like chromium, magnesium, or vitamin D may contribute to high blood glucose.

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This Means Sugar Doesnt Get Taken Up By The Fat Cells

Now in the big picture of things, fat cells are actually not considered big sugar consumers. After alltheyre fat cells. What they do or dont do with THE FAT, is considerably more important. But, it turns out, the wee amounts of glucose being delivered to the fat cells, are important for asprosin.

Is 135 Blood Sugar High In The Morning

Why is my blood sugar and A1C high?

So its most commonly done before breakfast in the morning and the normal range there is 70 to 100 milligrams per deciliter. Now when you eat a meal, blood sugar generally rises and in a normal individual it usually does not get above a 135 to 140 milligrams per deciliter.

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Supporting Healthy Blood Sugar Levels

Maintaining healthy blood sugar levels during the day is a good way to prevent high blood sugar at night. That means exercising regularly, taking the right amount of diabetes medications if you use them, and managing stress levels.

Lack of sleep itself is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, so it is important to maintain a healthy sleep cycle as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Mild High Blood Sugar

If your blood sugar levels are consistently higher than your target range to 350 mg/dL in adults and 200 mg/dL to 240 mg/dL in children), you may have mild symptoms of high blood sugar. You may urinate more than usual if you are drinking plenty of liquids. Some people who have diabetes may not notice any symptoms when their blood sugar level is in this range. The main symptoms of high blood sugar are:

Increased thirst.
Fatigue.
Increased appetite.

Young children are unable to recognize symptoms of high blood sugar. Parents need to do a home blood sugar test on their child whenever they suspect high blood sugar.

If you don’t drink enough liquids to replace the fluids lost from high blood sugar levels, you can become dehydrated. Young children can become dehydrated very quickly. Symptoms of dehydration include:

A dry mouth and increased thirst.
Warm, dry skin.

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Test Before You Eat And Two Hours After

This will tell you how well your medication is controlling your blood sugar. It will also shed light on what food is boosting your sugar too highand thus should be avoided. “You should consult your health-care provider to develop a plan that works for you,” says Donna Rice, immediate past president of the American Association of Diabetes Educators, who notes that the frequency and time of day you test will depend on how controlled your blood glucose is.

Planning For Sick Days

Why is my blood sugar level high in the morning and up and ...

Your body releases stress hormones when you are sick, which can cause hyperglycemia. Keep taking your insulin and other diabetes medications, even if you are throwing up. If you have ketones and your blood sugar is above 240 mg/dL, call your doctor. They might also want you to call if:

You have diarrhea that lasts more than 6 hours
You are throwing up
You have a high fever or trouble breathing
You feel very sleepy or confused

Continue checking your blood sugar levels and keep track of the results.

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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 Develop Sores That Tend To Heal More Slowly Than Usual

Cuts, scrapes, bruises, and other wounds heal more slowly in the presence of uncontrolled blood sugar, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetes causes nerve damage and affects circulation, especially in the lower legs and feet, which can delay healing because there isnt enough blood flow to the area. Even minor wounds are more prone to infections, which can become very serious and even result in amputations of the foot. You may notice drainage seeping onto your socks or an unpleasant smell if you develop a foot ulcer, notes the American Podiatric Medical Association.

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What Causes Blood Sugar To Rise In Non

Dr. Danielle Weiss is the founder of the Center for Hormonal Health and Well-Being, a personalized, proactive, patient-centered medical practice with a unique focus on integrative endocrinology. She enjoys giving lectures and writing articles for both the lay public and medical audiences.

Lifestyle Risk Factors

High blood sugar or glucose, also called hyperglycemia, occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood. High blood sugar is the primary symptom that underlies diabetes, but it can also occur in people who dont have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, either because of stress or trauma, or gradually as a result of certain chronic conditions.

It is important to manage high blood sugar, even if you dont have diabetes, because elevated blood glucose can delay your ability to heal, increase your risk of infections, and cause irreversible damage to your nerves, blood vessels, and organs, such as your eyes and kidneys. Blood vessel damage from high blood sugar also increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.

Glucose Meters Can Give False Readings

Why Are My Fasting Blood Sugars So High? Diabetes Education.

While physiologic reasons cause higher glucose readings, technical reasons can cause them, too. The US Federal Drug Administration allows home glucose monitors to have a variance of 15% in results. That means a reading of 100 mg/dl might actually be as low as 85 mg/dl or as high as 115, a huge variation!9

Dave Feldman, the software engineer who has cracked the Cholesterol Code, has blogged about his glucose meter variance, charting and taking pictures of his two glucose meters, measuring the same drop of blood. While he was expecting his blood glucose set point to be higher because of his long-term low-carb keto eating, he was surprised by the sometimes huge variation in results. He notes that whenever he gets an unexpected result, he takes three readings, all within a few minutes of each other, and then averages the result.

Other researchers have noted that false readings can be caused by pricking a finger for blood with hands that have minute traces of sugar or food Dehydration raises results, too. You should always wash your hands before testing, but some soaps have additives like honey or a fragrance that can linger on fingers and distort readings. As well, strips that are too hot or too cold, or other environmental conditions like high altitudes, can produce higher or lower readings. Even different lots of strips can produce different results on the same meter.

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Is Having High Blood Glucose Dangerous

In short, it can be. Zanini says that untreated high blood glucose can lead to a wide range of health issuesâsome of the most common being chronic inflammation, heart disease, vision impairment, kidney disease, nerve damage, tooth decay, damaged blood vessels, and periodontal disease.

Having high blood glucose also puts us at risk of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. The former is a condition in which mitochondria fail to produce energy for cells. The latter occurs when free radicals outnumber antioxidants in the body and increase the risk of disease and other damage.

Phipps notes to avoid these risks, catching high blood glucose early on, then taking action to treat it is extremely important.

Tingling Hands And Feet

Over the years, hyperglycemia can begin to impact nerve function and eventually cause nerve damage, called neuropathy, Dr. Hatipoglu says. The most common kind of neuropathy is peripheral, according to the NIDDK, which affects the extremities. You might start noticing feelings of tingling, numbness, or burning in your hands, feet, arms, and legs, per the Mayo Clinic.

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If You Are Having Trouble Controlling Blood Glucose Levels Please Talk To Your Doctor Or Your Diabetes Management Team

They will help you figure out why your blood sugar levels are high and develop a plan specifically tailored for you. This is important, as good control of blood glucose levels can help avoid serious health problems.

For more information and support, see your GP, your endocrinologistor your diabetes management team.

For information about how glucose and insulin are regulated, see our information about the pancreas.

The Diabetes Australia website has more information and resources.

Expert review

Dr Kimberly Cukieris an endocrinologist at Geelong Endocrinology and Diabetes Clinic and a senior clinical lecturer at Deakin University. She specialises in diabetes care and is actively involved in teaching medical students and training new physicians. Dr Cukier is a member of the Endocrine Society of Australia.

Robyn Perlsteinis a Senior Dietitian at Geelong Endocrinology and Diabetes Clinic and is a Research Fellow at Deakin University. She has specialist interests in type 1 and type 2 diabetes and is actively involved in ensuring future doctors have a better understanding during their training about nutrition.

References

Jehan S, Myers AK, Zizi F et al . Obesity, obstructive sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes mellitus: Epidemiology and pathophysiologic insights. Sleep Med Disord, 2, 52-58.

Risk Factors For High Blood Sugar

Doctors do not know exactly what causes diabetes. Some factors may increase the risk, however.

Type 1 diabetes

Researchers believe certain genetic or environmental factors may make people more likely to get type 1 diabetes.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases say certain genes play a role, and other factors such as viruses and infections may have an impact.

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation say that there is nothing a person can do to prevent type 1 diabetes. Eating, exercise, or other lifestyle choices will not change the outcome.

Type 1 diabetes usually begins during childhood or early adulthood, but it can happen at any age.

Type 2 diabetes

People who have high blood sugar should discuss their target levels with their doctor.

They may need regular testing to keep these within a healthy range. Each person is different and levels can vary between individuals.

To find out their blood sugar levels, the person may need to fast for 8 hours, 2 hours after a meal, or at both times.

Some people may also take a glucose tolerance test, in which they drink a sugary liquid and have a blood test after.

The American Diabetes Association recommend a pre-meal blood sugar level of 80130 milligrams per deciliter . Around 1 to 2 hours after the beginning of a meal, blood sugar should be less than 180 ml/dL.