High blood sugar, or high blood sugar, occurs when your body doesn't produce enough insulin or can't properly use the insulin it does produce.
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), insulin is the hormone that regulates the amount of sugar in your blood. So when your insulin isn't doing its job, sugar builds up.
Many factors can cause high blood sugar, and diet is not the only one. According to the American Diabetes Foundation, you may have a cold or stress from an illness or difficult situation has caused your blood sugar to temporarily spike. The levels also change throughout the day.
If you know you have diabetes in any of its major forms - including type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - and you test your blood regularly , you will know for sure. When You suffer from diabetes The sugar content is high.
Physical symptoms may include frequent urination or increased thirst. If you have not been diagnosed with high blood sugar but have these symptoms, talk to a doctor.
If your levels are outside the normal range, you can take action. Here is a strategy to keep your blood sugar balanced.
Consider What's Happening
When Irene Dunbar of Durham, North Carolina, awoke one morning, her blood sugar level was 119, which was elevated for her. Dunbar remarked, "I had a cold and had orange juice yesterday, and I normally do not drink orange juice," to which the other person could only reply, "I better not do that."
You could occasionally feel like a detective when you figure out what's causing an increased amount. However, it's crucial to consider other possible reasons, such as dietary and exercise routines, modifications to your treatment regimen, or changes in your personal circumstances. According to MedlinePlus, figuring out the answers to these queries might assist in identifying potential problems.
Seek Out Trends
Tracking your blood sugar levels can reveal patterns that can reveal the cause of your highs and lows. This "pattern management" means recording results at different points in time over several days and looking for trends. You can track results using a blood sugar log similar to the CDC example or any other recording method you prefer.
Based on the results, you can make changes and see their impact. You may want to talk to your doctor about limiting carbohydrates that turn into sugar during digestion, exercising more, or adjusting your insulin (a medicine that replaces naturally produced insulin).
This information can help you and your healthcare provider determine what is most effective for keeping your blood sugar in a normal, healthy range.
Test Regularly
Generally speaking, the effectiveness of your diabetes management will determine how frequently you need to monitor your blood sugar. You might need to check your levels once a day or more frequently, according to MedlinePlus. The CDC states that testing is the most efficient approach to control diabetes.
According to the CDC, there are several times and ways to test, and a healthcare professional will help you decide which time is most convenient for you. Individuals take tests in the middle of the night, before and after meals, and before, during, and after exercising. You may find out which meals might be influencing your blood sugar levels and how well your medicine is functioning by testing at different times.
You may use blood sugar monitoring as one technique to assist manage your diabetes, and the key is to focus on the trend rather than a single measurement.
Make Time To Unwind
Stress can raise blood sugar levels, so reducing it is an important goal. According to an August 2019 study by Cureus, "Stress and anxiety, like other mental health problems, can worsen high glucose levels." "When you're really stressed, your blood sugar goes crazy," says Carol Mullen, MD, Sandia Park. "I try to avoid stressful situations like committee work. "I like to volunteer, but I do my best."
Additionally, overeating, forgetting to take medication, or sleeping less can also be signs of stress. Be careful because these behaviors may indicate that you are depressed without realizing it. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and the CDC, there are many resources you can explore if you're feeling anxious or worried. You can exercise, take up a new hobby, read a book, whatever makes you feel most comfortable.
Speak With A Healthcare Professional
If, despite your best efforts, your blood sugar levels remain above, you might want to consider switching medicines, if you're already on any. Diabetes is a progressive condition that might eventually cause the pancreatic beta cells that generate insulin to completely stop producing the hormone.
In the end, a medical professional will examine the entire situation and conduct more tests to see whether a more serious issue exists.
