Managing blood sugar levels is a vital part of personal healthcare. High blood sugar can lead to various long-term complications. High or low blood glucose levels can decrease your confidence and affect your daily routine; these things can happen to anyone who is suffering from diabetes.
Diabetes is a condition when your blood sugar or glucose levels are higher compared to the normal range. It is therefore essential to measure and diagnose glucose levels to monitor diabetes. Certain situations are prone to increasing blood sugar levels, such as pregnancy, pancreatic disorders, and increasing age. Typically, one’s blood sugar will rise after consuming a meal and lower after resting at night.
Regular testing of blood sugar helps in diabetes management. A patient with a high sugar level can suffer from long-term complications like eye disease, kidney problems, high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks, and heart failure. There are various patients who have diabetes in addition to pancreatitis, hyperthyroidism, or crushing syndrome. It is essential for these patients to maintain and achieve good sugar control. A stable blood sugar level will reduce the risk of developing diabetic complications in the future.
Let’s understand the factors that contribute to blood sugar issues.
Physical activity, like exercise or increased exertion, can lead to fluctuating blood glucose levels.
- Due to physical activity, insulin sensitivity is affected for a duration of up to 48 hours. During this period, the blood sugars are low.
- Sugar levels can rise with a short burst of activity.
- If your exercise focuses more on the muscles where you were last injected, it causes insulin to be absorbed more quickly.
Food, Drink, and Illness
Certain factors like food, alcohol, stress, and tiredness can contribute to blood glucose levels. Protein can also affect the balancing of sugar levels.
- Protein affects carbohydrates and glucose in the body.
- Alcohol also is a major factor, even hours after of drinking.
- Blood sugar rises after you consume energy drinks or any other type of caffeine.
- Studies have shown even sugar-free foods contribute carbohydrates that play a role in sugar levels.
- High-fat foods can make your blood sugar go high, e.g., pizza, french fries, burgers, etc.
- Some antibiotics make you feel better but they negatively affect your blood sugar.
Being overwhelmed or unhappy at workplaces can affect your health. When you are suffering from stress, the body releases hormones that can raise one’s blood sugar. Try to learn the techniques of yoga and deep breathing.
Medication and Conditions
- Medicines like corticosteroids can boost blood sugar.
- Medicines with pseudoephedrine or phenylephrine can have sugar in them.
- The menstrual cycle and pregnancy can influence sugar levels. Birth control pills have estrogen that can affect body insulin.
- Missing medication doses or getting irregular injections can cause fluctuating sugar levels.
- High-intensity exercises like weight lifting and sprinting can sometimes promote raising blood sugar, but there are exercises that can also drop blood glucose very rapidly.
- Physical activity and house chores can help you stay active. People with diabetes should tailor their exercises as per their individual needs.
Establish a treatment plan, and consult with your doctor to help you manage your glucose levels by altering your lifestyle or through diet. Exercises, medication, and chores can help you deal with diabetes. The food you consume has a big impact on glucose levels. Consuming more healthy carbohydrates, fiber-rich products, and lean proteins will help you in maintaining blood sugar levels.