If you or a loved one is diagnosed with diabetes, you’ll want to know as much about blood sugar as you can. After all, blood sugar levels play a defining role in how diabetes affects a person – by understanding the basics of blood sugar 101, you can manage your glucose levels better and prevent complications from diabetes.
When you eat or drink something, your body processes it for energy, It extracts nutrients that are converted into energy sources for cells, including sugars – also known as glucose.
For cells to use glucose as energy, it needs to pass through the phospholipid bilayer that surrounds them. Cells need insulin to trigger this interaction, allowing the body’s cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream and use it as energy.
A person’s blood sugar level is the amount of glucose present in their blood. If a person has too much glucose in their blood, they have hyperglycemia – a conditionally commonly associated with Type 2 Diabetes.
The role blood sugar plays in Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes is similar but the causes are very different:
In Type 1 Diabetes, the person’s body doesn’t produce insulin to process glucose as energy.
In Type 2 DIabetes, the body develops a tolerance to insulin and doesn’t react to it, limiting the cells’ ability to use glucose as energy.
When glucose collects in the blood without the cells using it for fuel, it causes a host of negative symptoms like:
Over time, hyperglycemia can damage the circulation system, the kidneys, and other organs. It’s very important for people with diabetes to treat their conditions properly to avoid sustained hyperglycemia or they may experience related issues.
WHEN DO BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS FLUCTUATE?
Depending on the time of day, your blood sugar levels will naturally vary. For example, your blood sugar in the morning is naturally lower because you haven’t had anything to eat since the day before. At night, it could be higher – especially if you have diabetes.
Blood sugar 101 will tell you glucose levels fluctuate according to your mealtimes. If you have Type 2 Diabetes, your blood sugar levels will always rise after you eat a meal with a lot of carbohydrates.
Individuals without Diabetes may experience hypoglycemia, the opposite of high blood sugar. If a person is hypoglycemic, their blood sugar levels are low and they’re lacking cellular energy.
Hypoglycemic individuals usually feel their symptoms after long periods of time without eating. If they don’t have carbohydrates at least every 2 hours, they may suffer from faintness, shortness of breath, and dizziness (among other symptoms).
People with diabetes may experience fasting hyperglycemia, a condition in which their blood sugar levels are too high after 8 hours of fasting. They may have high blood sugar after meals, too, but this condition is harder to manage because it isn’t linked to food consumption.
DO I HAVE TO CHECK MY BLOOD SUGAR?
Healthy individuals with normal blood sugar regulation don’t need to check their glucose levels. Their bodies create and respond to insulin normally and monitoring isn’t usually necessary to make sure they’re doing their job.
If you have diabetes, it’s very important to check your blood sugar often.
Blood sugar 101 strongly suggests monitoring your blood sugar when you have diabetes because it is one of the best things you can do to protect your well being. If you understand where your blood sugar levels are, you can avoid serious complications and take care of problems before they arise.
Fortunately, checking your blood sugar only takes a few minutes. You can do it at home or on the go, depending on what works for you.
A lot of people who are diagnosed with diabetes worry about the ‘pricking’ sensation of most blood sugar regulators but that shouldn’t be your main concern – many modern machines can check your blood sugar without drawing blood and those that do use a needle so small, most people don’t feel it at all.
MANAGING HIGH BLOOD SUGAR WITH DIABETES
Managing high blood sugar when you have diabetes is crucial. It can cause major problems if you leave it untreated, including damage to your organs, blood vessels, and nerves.
There are a few things you can do to prevent your blood sugar from rising in the first place, avoiding symptoms of hyperglycemia. Below, we’ll talk about a few ways you can prepare for your blood sugar levels to rise and act accordingly.
TAKE YOUR INSULIN ON TIME
If you skip an insulin dose or you don’t take it at the right time, it could impact your blood glucose levels. It’s absolutely essential you take your insulin when you’re supposed to – if you don’t, you could risk hyperglycemia.
DON’T EAT TOO MANY CARBOHYDRATES
Carbohydrates are the main perpetrators of high blood sugar. Our bodies process carbohydrates as sugars for energy and they require insulin to process – if you’re eating too many, you can make your blood sugar skyrocket.
If you’re eating a carbohydrate-rich diet and you have diabetes, consider cutting back on the number of sugars and grains in your meals. These can make your blood sugar rise dramatically, aggravating your diabetes symptoms.
Blood sugar 101 tells us that minimizing stress is one of the best things you can do for your health. It’s amazing how much your stress levels impact your well being – in fact, stress impacts most people in ways they don’t expect.
Did you know stress can make your blood sugar levels rise?
If you’re already prone to hyperglycemia, stress can make your body more resistant to insulin. By avoiding excessively stressful situations and staying as relaxed as possible, you could have a noticeably positive impact on your hyperglycemia.
Dehydration can make hyperglycemia significantly worse. In fact, dehydration is one of the worst conditions you want to couple with high blood sugar.
If you aren’t drinking enough water, your body may not have enough fluids to flush out excessive sugars from your body. When you drink enough water, it flushes sugars out of the blood as urine. If you’re dehydrated, you won’t have enough fluids to urinate.
FINAL THOUGHTS: BLOOD SUGAR 101
Living with Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes can be challenging. You may need an adjustment period as you learn to check and manage your blood sugar levels, but establishing and managing healthy habits can have a massively positive impact on your symptoms.
If you have any questions about managing your blood sugar, it’s important to talk to your doctor. A specialist can tell you which habits will help your symptoms and what’s exacerbating your hyperglycemia. They’ll help you find a regimen that manages your condition, helping you live a full life without feeling limited by diabetes.
Fortunately, checking and managing blood sugar levels is easier than ever with new monitors and other tools. By fully understanding the role blood sugar plays in having diabetes, you’re taking the first step to minimizing your symptoms.
If you have friends or family with social media, please share this article on Twitter, Facebook, or Pinterest to teach them about the ins and outs of their blood sugar levels. You could help them learn valuable tips, making it easier to manage their blood glucose!
