Wednesday, March 13, 2024

What To Do When Glucose Is High

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Why Cataracts Are More Common In Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes: How can high glucose levels harm your body?

Cataract development is most commonly associated with aging. By age 80, more than 50% of adults in the United States have had a cataract or cataract surgery. During cataract surgery, the eye surgeon removes the eye’s natural lens with the cataract and replaces it with an artificial lens.

If you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes, your risk of developing cataracts is higher compared to people who do not have diabetes. This is because, over time, high blood sugar levels can cause changes to the lens that will speed up cataract development.

Factors that may affect whether or not you develop cataracts when you have diabetes include:

  • How long you have had diabetes
  • How often your blood sugar spikes above your target range
  • Whether or not you have fluid that builds up in your macula, which is located in the center of the light-sensitive tissue called the retina in the back of the eye

In addition to aging, other factors that contribute to cataract development include:

  • Excessive sun exposure

Whether or not you have diabetes, it may not be possible to prevent cataracts entirely. Still, you can try to slow cataract development.

With any surgery, people with diabetes are at a higher risk for slower healing and infection at the surgery site. However, even with these risks, cataract surgery can be done and often helps improve vision.

Maintain A Healthy Weight

It is relatively more challenging for the body to use insulin and manage blood sugar levels with overweight or obesity. The body fails to actively respond to insulin due to extra weight in the body. It results in increased high fasting blood glucose levels and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Insulin insensitivity leads to weight gain, leading to poor insulin sensitivity, creating a loop.

Although the exact mechanisms are unknown, research links fat to insulin resistance and the growth of type 2 diabetes. Therefore, maintaining a healthy weight can help reduce the risk of high fasting blood glucose levels and even reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes.

In Control Of Blood Sugar

There you have it, you cool cats and kittens, thats how to reduce blood sugar level immediately. Insulin is specifically designed to lower blood sugar that is what will do the trick.

If youre insulin-dependent, then insulin is the best medicine. Dont fret, take insulin, be prepared to check ketones and then crack on with the day.

And in other cases, the four alternative methods to lower blood sugar will also help. Otherwise, bear them in mind, because they are still good tips for avoiding high blood sugar in the first place!

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Problems Caused By High Blood Sugar

It’s not usually a serious problem if your blood sugar is sometimes slightly high for a short time.

But high blood sugar can cause serious problems if it stays high for a long time or gets to a very high level.

It can lead to:

If you have high blood sugar, your doctor or care team may ask you to test your blood or pee to check for ketones. A high level of ketones is a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis.

You Have Bad Breath And Dry Mouth

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An unusual smell when you breathe in through your mouth might indicate that something is wrong with the way glucose moves throughout your system. This can cause a buildup in ketone levels within your blood, giving off an unpleasant odor, much like nail polish remover or acetone.

Sometimes people mistake this for regular bad breath, but if it happens frequently and seems to have no other cause, it could be a sign that your insulin balance is out of whack, so make sure to see a doctor as soon as possible if you notice this happening.

Gum disease is also a frequent problem for people with diabetes, so if you notice that your gums are inflamed or swollen, it might be a sign that blood sugar is starting to rise. The dry mouth associated with this problem can lead to the development of cavities and other dental issues, so make sure youre drinking enough water throughout the day as well as brushing after meals if necessary.

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What Is Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Continuous glucose monitoring is another way to check your glucose levels. Most CGM systems use a tiny sensor that you insert under your skin. The sensor measures glucose levels in the fluids between your bodys cells every few minutes and can show changes in your glucose level throughout the day and night. If the CGM system shows that your glucose is too high or too low, you should check your glucose with a blood glucose meter before making any changes to your eating plan, physical activity, or medicines. A CGM system is especially useful for people who use insulin and have problems with low blood glucose.

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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Main Symptoms Of High Blood Glucose

While an individual can have no noticeable symptoms and still have high blood glucose, knowing what kinds of symptoms tend to accompany high blood glucose helps us take the right action before things get worse. If for no other reason, keeping these markers of high blood glucose in mind can help you identify it more quickly in yourself.

The most common symptoms to be aware of are:

  • Increased cravings for carbs and sweets
  • Poor energy levels or midday crashes
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    Treating Low Blood Sugar

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    You are at risk of having a low blood sugar reaction if you:

    • Skip or delay a meal or snack
    • Take too much insulin or eat too few carbohydrates
    • Drink alcohol, especially without eating carbohydrates

    Check your blood sugar if you have any of these symptoms:

    • Weakness and/or fatigue

    If your blood sugar is less than 70 milligrams per deciliter :

    • Eat 15 to 30 grams of carbohydrate
    • Wait 15 minutes and then recheck your blood sugar
    • If your blood sugar is still less than 100 mg/dl, take another 15 grams of carbohydrate and retest your blood sugar in another 15 minutes. Repeat if necessary.

    Important: If you have frequent low blood sugars speak to your doctor. You may need changes in your medication and/or meal plan.

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    What Should My Blood Sugar Levels Be

    Your blood sugar level changes depending on what youve eaten, whether youve exercised and other factors but we have some general guidelines to determine what levels are healthy.

    For generally healthy individuals who havent eaten for 8 hours or more, a normal blood sugar level is between 70-99 mg/dL. When youve eaten in the past 2 hours, it should be no higher than 140 mg/dL. To refresh your chemistry knowledge, that unit is milligrams per deciliter and its measuring the amount of glucose present in your blood.

    Only a medical professional can diagnose diabetes or another issue with your blood sugar, so if youre concerned about your blood sugar levels, check with a doctor.

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    What Are Clinical Trials For Low Blood Glucose

    Clinical trialsand other types of clinical studiesare part of medical research and involve people like you. When you volunteer to take part in a clinical study, you help doctors and researchers learn more about disease and improve health care for people in the future.

    Researchers are studying many aspects of low blood glucose levels in diabetes, such as

    • how to diagnose and treat low blood glucose among people with diabetes
    • medicines that can treat symptoms of low blood glucose in people with hypoglycemia unawareness
    • educational approaches to reduce fear of low blood glucose, which can make it harder for you to control your diabetes

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    If A Person Is Unconscious

    If a person loses consciousness because of severe hypoglycaemia, they need to be put into the recovery position and given an injection of the hormone glucagon . The injection will raise their blood glucose level.

    The injection should be carried out by a friend or family member who knows what theyre doing, or by a trained healthcare professional.

    You should dial 999 to request an ambulance if:

    • a glucagon injection kit isnt available
    • theres nobody available whos trained to give the injection
    • the injection is ineffective after 10 minutes

    Never try to put food or drink into the mouth of someone whos unconscious as they could choke.

    If youre able to give a glucagon injection and the person regains consciousness, they should eat some longer-acting carbohydrate food, such as a few biscuits, a cereal bar or a sandwich.

    You should continue to monitor the person for signs of recurring symptoms in case they need to be treated again.

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    Diabetes Numbers Warnings And Precautions

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    If your blood sugar reading is over 400 mg/dL, there is a chance that you have a false reading â particularly if you arent experiencing any symptoms. For example, if there were food particles on your fingers or you used outdated or improperly stored test strips, you might have gotten an inaccurate reading.

    If you re-test your levels and your blood sugar is indeed above 400 mg/dL, follow the advice your doctor has given you â whether that includes taking extra insulin or drinking more water â and contact him or her for further treatment advice.

    Heres a chart to help you determine if your blood sugar levels are cause for concern:

    What Your Blood Sugar Levels Mean

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    First Check Your Ketones

    In people with type 1 diabetes, high blood sugars can put you at risk of developing ketones. Blood sugar levels over 250 mg/dL with too little insulin can quickly turn into diabetic ketoacidosis if it continues to rise.

    Test your urine for ketones, and contact your doctor or visit an urgent care facility if you measure with moderate to large ketones. When large ketones are present, correcting a high blood sugar with insulin via pump or injection wont be effective. Instead, youll likely need intravenous fluids for a few hours to restabilize.

    If you only have moderate ketones or less, you may be able to correct with insulin at home but youll likely need a larger dose than normal. Contact your healthcare team if you test positive for ketones and are unsure of how to safely manage the situation.

    Blood Sugar: Here’s How To Measure It And Tell If Your Level Is Healthy

    Caroline Roberts

    Digital Editorial Intern

    Caroline Roberts writes articles and notifications for CNET. She studies English at Cal Poly, and loves philosophy, Karl the Fog and a strong cup of black coffee.

    High blood sugar levels are a problem, even if you don’t have a family history of diabetes. Blood sugar that’s consistently higher than ideal can coexist with Type 2 diabetes and cause serious health conditions like kidney disease, nerve problems or stroke.

    While that’s no reason to panic, when it comes to our health, it’s important to know exactly what’s going on inside of our bodies. Let’s get into what blood sugar means, how to measure it and everything else you need to know.

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    What Are The Recommended Targets For Blood Glucose Levels

    Many people with diabetes aim to keep their blood glucose at these normal levels:

    • Before a meal: 80 to 130 mg/dL
    • About 2 hours after a meal starts: less than 180 mg/dL

    Talk with your health care team about the best target range for you. Be sure to tell your health care professional if your glucose levels often go above or below your target range.

    Youre Noticing Skin Tags And Other Skin Issues

    7 Alarming Signs Your Blood Sugar Is Too High

    Skin tags and other skin issues can be a sign that something is wrong with your blood glucose levels. People with diabetes frequently have to deal with these types of things because high glucose levels affect the way cells produce collagen, making it difficult for the body to heal itself properly after an injury or wound occurs.

    In addition, high glucose levels can cause blood vessels to become damaged, which leads to skin issues such as spider veins and rosacea. Its important that you make sure youre getting enough Vitamin A in your meal plan, so the body has what it needs to keep itself strong and healthy.

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    Drink Drink Drink Some Water

    Dehydration can cause high blood sugars, which means getting hydrated can help prevent and reduce high blood sugars.

    Your blood consists partly of water. When you dont drink enough water throughout the day, the other things in your blood become more concentrated! And thus, higher blood sugar levels.

    You know that uncomfortable thirst you feel when your blood sugars are high? Give in to it. This is how your body helps flush excess sugar out through your urine, and how you replenish the necessary fluid balance in your bloodstream.

    How Do I Measure Blood Sugar

    If you have diabetes, you probably already keep a watchful eye on your blood sugar through the use of a continuous glucose monitor or a blood sugar meter . Blood sugar measurement is also typically included in routine lab work for people without diabetes — your physician will usually order a glycated hemoglobin test, which measures your average blood sugar over the past two to three months.

    Say your A1C test comes back with no sign of diabetes — constantly measuring your blood sugar can still be helpful. For instance, some people experiment with using a CGM to see how their body responds to different types of food. However, it’s good to note that this is a fairly cost-intensive way of figuring out your nutrition, and writing down a food diary that includes how you felt after each meal will also help you figure out what to eat.

    Check out these blood sugar monitors if you’re looking for recommendations on how to keep track of your levels at home.

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    Possible Causes For High Blood Glucose Levels

    Everyone wants to take control of their health by monitoring it in any way they can. So you might weigh yourself and check your blood pressure or resting heart rate. But how closely do you monitor your blood glucose levels? People with diabetes are too familiar with their blood sugar levels, but others may not even give it much thought. However, unregulated blood glucose levels can be harmful and long-lasting. Hence, it is essential to keep that in check.

    Blood sugar, also known as glucose, is a vital energy source for your body. Whether you recently received a type 2 diabetes diagnosis or have had the illness for a while, you know how unpredictable blood sugar levels can be. They can leave you feeling awful when they are too high or too low. For this reason, it is crucial to maintain stable blood sugar levels.

    A variety of practices can lead to blood sugar fluctuations, which can lead to further health harm. Keeping a balance between the variables affecting blood sugar can be challenging. However, the solution to the problem appears simple with HealthifyPro, which enables you to monitor your blood glucose levels in real-time and gives you access to experienced coaches who are always willing to help.

    It includes a continuous glucose monitor that syncs with your mobile and helps you understand the impact of foods, drinks and exercise on your blood glucose levels.

    Drink Water And Stay Hydrated

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    Drinking enough water could help you keep your blood sugar levels within healthy ranges.

    In addition to preventing dehydration, it helps your kidneys flush out any excess sugar through urine.

    One review of observational studies showed that those who drank more water had a lower risk of developing high blood sugar levels (

    34 ).

    You can do so at home using a portable blood glucose meter, which is known as a glucometer. You can discuss this option with your doctor.

    Keeping track allows you to determine whether you need to adjust your meals or medications. It also helps you learn how your body reacts to certain foods .

    Try measuring your levels regularly every day and keeping track of the numbers in a log. Also, it may be more helpful to track your blood sugar in pairs for example, before and after exercise or before and 2 hours after a meal.

    This can show you whether you need to make small changes to a meal if it spikes your blood sugar, rather than avoiding your favorite meals altogether. Some adjustments include swapping a starchy side for non-starchy veggies or limiting them to a handful.

    Summary

    Checking your blood glucose and maintaining a daily log enables you to adjust foods and medications when necessary to better manage your blood sugar levels.

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