Is Diabetes High Blood Sugar Or Low

Take Steps To Control Your Blood Sugar Level

Although high blood sugar and low blood sugar have very different symptoms and treatments, they are both caused by blood sugar and insulin imbalances. The steps you take to control your blood sugar level will help prevent both high and low blood sugar levels.

Be sure to have identification that says you have diabetes, such as a medical alert bracelet, with you at all times. This will help other people take steps to care for you if you are not able tell them about your medical condition.

You can take steps to prevent high and low blood sugar emergencies.

• Follow your treatment plan.
• Monitor your blood sugar levels regularly to detect early changes before an emergency develops. Treat your symptoms of high or low blood sugar quickly to prevent more problems.
• Control your stress to prevent your blood sugar level from increasing slowly over several days.
• Limit how much alcohol you drink. Do not drink alcohol if you have problems recognizing the early signs of low blood sugar.
• Take precautions when you are driving and do not drive if your blood sugar is low.

High Calorie Foods May Or May Not Cause The Blood Sugar Level To Rise

Many people think that all high-calorie foods raise blood sugar level, but this is not always the case.

In general, foods that cause blood sugar level to rise the most are those that are high in carbohydrates, which are quickly converted into energy, such as rice, bread, fruits and sugar. Next are foods high in protein, such as meats, fish eggs, milk and dairy products, and oily foods. However, even though carbohydrates affect blood sugar levels, if you donât eat them your diet will be unbalanced and you wonât feel satisfied after your meal, which can lead to excessive consumption of foods rich in protein and fat.

Food containing three major nutrients

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Causes Of Low Blood Glucose

Low blood glucose is common for people with type 1 diabetes and can occur in people with type 2 diabetes taking insulin or certain medications. The average person with type 1 diabetes may experience up to two episodes of mild low blood glucose each week, and thats only counting episodes with symptoms. If you add in lows without symptoms and the ones that happen overnight, the number would likely be higher.

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Reducing Risk Of Developing Diabetes

Some risk factors for diabetes cannot be controlled adopting a healthy lifestyle can significantly lower a persons chances of getting the disease. Its fairly easy to prevent this risk because all you have to do is eat healthy, keep on moving, and maintain a healthy weight. If you have these measures in place on the regular, you can ensure that diabetes remains far, far away from you.

PreventionEarly diagnosis can aid in the timely management of this condition and potentially put it in remission. Although there is no definitive treatment for diabetes, it is still feasible to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Ayurvedic remedies are also widely used in India however, there are no conclusive studies demonstrating their efficacy. Although they are not hazardous, holistic remedies should only be used with your doctors consent. Yoga has been discovered to be a helpful technique for maintaining your health.

Working with a nutritionist is helpful if you are overweight with diabetes or if you are pregnant and have gestational diabetes. They can assist you in managing concerns like your weight, controlling heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure and blood fat levels, and controlling your blood sugar levels.

Having your caregivers and family members involved in getting your health back on track will also be helpful and remove a significant amount of stress. It will also make you remember that you are not alone in this journey.

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

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. 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 health care 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

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Prognosis Of Type 2 Diabetes

Dont lose hope, though. You dont have to be a statistic. Receiving a prompt diagnosis can help you get your health on track and reduce your risk of complications.

Indeed, if you take care to manage your blood sugar by following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, taking your prescribed medication, and losing weight, you may find your quality of life to be better with diabetes than it was before your diagnosis.

Risk Factors For Prediabetes And Diabetes

You have prediabetes if your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to trigger a diagnosis of diabetes. The risk factors for prediabetes and diabetes are the same.

Risk factors include:

Lifestyle factors. Being overweight is a major risk factor for diabetes, especially if your waist size is large. If you smoke, eat an unhealthy diet, or have an inactive lifestyle, your risk goes up.

Demographic factors. If you are over 45, your diabetes risk goes up. Your risk is also greater if you have a close family member with diabetes. Although it’s unknown exactly why, certain people â including those who are Black, Hispanic, Asian-American, or American Indian â are also at a higher risk for developing diabetes.

Related conditions. You have a greater chance of getting diabetes if you have sleep apnea, a condition in which you repeatedly stop breathing while sleeping. Women who had diabetes while pregnant are at an increased risk. So are women with a condition called polycystic ovary syndrome.

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Causes Of Low Blood Sugar

There are many reasons why you may have low blood sugar, including:

• Taking too much insulin.
• Not eating enough carbs for how much insulin you take.
• Timing of when you take your insulin.
• The amount and timing of physical activity.
• Drinking alcohol.
• How much fat, protein, and fiber are in your meal.
• Hot and humid weather.
• Unexpected changes in your schedule.
• Spending time at a high altitude.
• Going through puberty.

Why Are Allopathic Medications For Diabetes Not Ideal

Metformin is a commonly used prescription medication to treat type two diabetes. It comes under the classification of drugs called Biguanides. People who have diabetes suffer from increased blood glucose levels that go above the normal range where medications like Metformin does not cure diseases like diabetes, it helps to maintain a safe level of blood glucose. However, there are quite a few side effects of Metformin. While several go away once your body gets accustomed to the medication, some may cause long-term problems. Some of the most common side effects of Metformin are listed below: bad metallic taste in the mouth The side effects can be tackled by taking Metformin along with the meal, and taking a low dosage of Metformin can help initially to deal with some side effects like Diarrhea. However, Metformin can also lead to some severe side effects, such as Lactic Acidosis: There can be a lethal problem when there is a buildup of Metformin in the body, thus leading to a PH imbalance. Between 30-50% who suffer from lactic acidosis die. The symptoms of lactic acidosis include weakness, nausea, vomiting, excessive fatigue, trouble breathing, dizziness, feeling cold, light headedness, high or low heart rate, muscle pain, stomach pain, sudden reddening or flushing, and warmth in the skin

Anemia: Metformin can also decrease vitamin B12 levels in the body, which can cause anemia or low red blood cell count. Anemia, however, can be treated if diagnosed.

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A Few Final Notes On Keeping Blood Sugar Stable

Taking an active, intentional approach to your blood sugar levels is crucial to your quality of life and overall health, ONeill says. Avoiding too-high or too-low blood sugar levels will help you avoid adverse symptoms and health complications, and staying within your target range can enable you to feel your best and do whatever you want to do in life, she says.

Test your blood sugar regularly, listen to your body, and dont ever hesitate to reach out to your doctor.

Additional reporting by Karen Appold.

Diabetes: Research States That Cereals With A Low Glycemic Index Which Contain A High Amount Of Fiber Help In Reducing Sugar Easily Such Coarse Grains Are Ragi Barley Millet Jai And Jowar

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Diabetes is one health problem that has been increasingly affecting people. The number of patients with diabetes has increased in the past few years and it has become very important to check what you eat in order to stay protected. It is rightly said that every health problem begins with the food you eat. So, diabetes patients can easily keep this problem under control if they keep their diet balanced. In recent research done by WebMD, it has been claimed that there are some coarse grains whose consumption can reduce the sugar level in the blood. The research states that cereals with a low glycemic index , which contain a high amount of fiber, help in reducing sugar easily. Such coarse grains are ragi, barley, millet, jai and jowar.

So, let’s know about the flours made from these grains.

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Recipe Ideas To Help Reduce Your Risk Of Type 2 Diabetes

Youve read the tips, now time to start cooking. The recipes we have picked out below make the most of the healthy eating tips, to help you on the way to making healthier choices and reducing your risk of type 2 diabetes.

The Virgin Mojito is great alternative to alcohol, ideal for parties and celebrations.

If you have the urge for a takeaway, why not make this Chicken and lentil curry at home instead?

For light and protein-packed lunches or dinners, why not give some of these a try?

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Signs Of A High Blood Sugar Emergency

If high levels of blood sugar arent treated, you can develop a life-threatening complication called diabetic ketoacidosis . The conditionwhich is more common in type 1 diabetescan cause a build-up of ketone, a type of acid, in your blood.

Sometimes, DKA can be the first sign of diabetes for those who have not yet been diagnosed.

DKA can develop slowly at first, with its initial symptoms including:

• Muscle aches and stiffness

Left untreated DKA, can result in coma or death.

High blood sugar levels mixed with dehydration can also lead to hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state . HHS is more common among people with type 2 diabetes who have had an infection of some kind, such as pneumonia or a urinary tract infection.

HHS can present as extremely high blood sugars with fever, confusion, or weakness or paralysis on one side of the body. Immediate treatment is necessary to prevent serious consequences.

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Learn How To Deal With High Blood Sugar Levels

Be sure to know the steps for dealing with high blood sugar and how fast your insulin medicine will work to bring your blood sugar down. Some insulins work very fast while regular insulin takes a little longer to bring the sugar level down. Knowing how fast your insulin works will keep you from using too much too quickly.

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Poor or limited sleep affects body chemistry, and getting more slumber helps with blood sugar control, Weisenberger says. Chronic lack of sleep may contribute to the risk of type 2 diabetes, according to a small study published in Diabetologia in February 2015. Healthy volunteers who slept only four hours for three nights in a row had higher levels of fatty acids in their blood, which reduced insulins ability to regulate blood sugar by about 23 percent, the researchers found. Lack of sleep is also linked with other health conditions, including obesity, heart disease, and stroke, according to the Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends aiming for seven to nine hours of uninterrupted sleep per night.

Having sleep troubles? Follow these recommendations from the National Sleep Foundation:

• Sleep in a cool, dark room.
• Avoid consuming alcohol or caffeine in the hours before bed.
• Go to bed and wake up at the same time each day, even on the weekends.
• Dont look at screens for at least a half hour before bedtime, including TV, tablets, cell phones, and computers.

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What To Do To Prevent Hyperglycemia:

• Always take your diabetes medicine unless your doctor tells you not to.
• Test your blood sugar every four to six hours.
• If you usually take insulin, test your urine for ketones. Call your doctor if moderate to large ketones are present.
• If your blood sugar is over 150, drink 8 ounces of sugar-free liquid every one to two hours.

Remember to call your doctor if your blood sugar stays above the goals youve been given for 24 hours.

Heres How Healthier Habits May Help Some People Reverse Or Better Manage The Disease

Diabetes is a very common but serious medical condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , more than 34 million Americans have it, with about 90-95% of them having type 2 diabetes. About 88 million people have prediabetes, a precursor to type 2 diabetes.

There is no cure for type 2 diabetes. But it may be possible to reverse the condition to a point where you do not need medication to manage it and your body does not suffer ill effects from having blood sugar levels that are too high.

Making positive lifestyle changes such as eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting down to a healthy weight are the key to possibly reversing or managing type 2 diabetes. Other lifestyle changes may also help, including not smoking, getting enough sleep, limiting alcohol and managing stress. However, for some people this is still not enough and medication is needed to manage the condition.

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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 canât test blood sugar immediately, donât delay in treating your symptoms you can always check your blood sugar after youâve 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 itâs 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.

Risks Of Very High Blood Sugar

Hyperglycemia can be dangerous, especially for people with type 1 diabetes. It can lead to a deadly condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis .

The risk for DKA starts at 240 mg/dL, but is more likely in much higher blood sugar levels.

Signs of DKA include nausea or vomiting, fruity-smelling breath, extreme thirst, and frequent urination. You can test for ketones at home using a urine test. If you have high ketones, call your doctor or go to the emergency room.

In people with type 2 diabetes, high blood sugar can cause hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome . HHS is potentially fatal and can occur after several days or weeks of sustained high blood sugar.

In people with diabetes, high blood sugar is caused by things like:

• Eating too many carbohydrates
• Not getting enough physical activity
• Stress from an illness or infection
• Taking a corticosteroid, like prednisone
• Skipping or not taking enough glucose-lowering medication

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