How to Prevent High Blood Sugar
High blood sugar is a major concern for people with diabetes. High blood sugar, known as hyperglycemia, occurs when sugar levels exceed 180 (mg/dL).
What is Hyperglycemia?
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Hyperglycemia or high blood sugar occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood. The body needs glucose to function correctly, but too high a level leads to hyperglycemia. This happens when the body either has too little insulin (the hormone that transports glucose into the blood) or cannot use insulin properly. The condition is often associated with diabetes.
Glucose is obtained from the food you eat. Carbohydrates found in fruits, milk, potatoes, bread, and rice are the largest source of glucose in a typical diet. Your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose and then transports glucose to cells through the bloodstream.
However, the body needs insulin (a hormone supplied by the pancreas) to use glucose. It helps transport glucose into cells, especially muscle cells.
The pancreas of people with type 1 diabetes no longer creates insulin to help their bodies use glucose, so they obtain insulin in injectable form. On the other hand, the bodies of people with type 2 diabetes produce insulin naturally, but:
- they don’t use insulin effectively
- they are insulin-resistant
- they don’t produce enough insulin.
People with diabetes can experience hyperglycemia if they do not control their blood glucose levels (using insulin, medication, and proper meal planning). For example, if someone with type 1 diabetes does not use enough insulin before eating, the glucose produced by the body from the consumed food can accumulate in the blood and lead to hyperglycemia.
High blood sugar levels can be dangerous if not managed promptly, leading to both short-term and long-term problems.
What are the Symptoms of Hyperglycemia?
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It is especially important to know the early symptoms of hyperglycemia, particularly if you have type 1 diabetes. Left untreated, hyperglycemia leads to ketoacidosis, where ketones are toxic acids that build up in the blood.
It is true that symptoms can vary from person to person, but generally, they can include:
1.Early symptoms of hyperglycemia include:
- High blood sugar
- Increased thirst
- Decreased appetite
- Blurred vision
- Frequent urination
- Headache
2.Additional symptoms include:
- Fatigue or weakness
- Weight loss
- Yeast infections and skin infections
- Slow-healing cuts and sores
3.Symptoms of ketoacidosis are:
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Unusual fruity breath or acetone smell in sweat
- Deep breathing or hyperventilation
- Rapid heartbeat
- Confusion and disorientation
- Coma
What Causes Hyperglycemia?
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High blood sugar can be caused by several factors:
- The dose of insulin or oral diabetes medications you take is insufficient;
- The body does not use natural insulin effectively (type 2 diabetes).
- The amount of carbohydrates you consume is not balanced with the amount of insulin your body can produce, the injected insulin dose, or the medications taken.
- You are less active than usual.
- You are under physical stress (caused by illness, colds, flu, infection, etc.)
- You are under emotional stress (from family conflicts, emotional problems, stress at school or work, etc.)
- You are taking steroids for another condition
- You are affected by the dawn phenomenon (a surge of hormones your body produces each morning around 4:00 AM – 5:00 AM)
- You have endocrine conditions, such as Cushing’s syndrome, which causes insulin resistance;
- You suffer from pancreatic diseases such as pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and cystic fibrosis;
- You are taking certain medications (such as diuretics and steroids);
- You have gestational diabetes, which occurs in 4% of pregnancies and is due to decreased insulin sensitivity;
- You have undergone surgery or trauma.
How to Prevent High Blood Sugar?
1. Monitor Blood Sugar Levels Frequently
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Most of the time, high blood sugar does not cause symptoms until it significantly exceeds 180 mg / dL. Therefore, diabetics must monitor their blood sugar several times a day to keep track of its progression.
Monitoring is done using a glucometer. Recommendations on how often to check blood sugar levels throughout the day will vary from person to person and are suggested by a specialist doctor.
2. Reduce Carbohydrate Intake
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The body breaks down carbohydrates into sugar, which the body uses for energy. Some carbohydrates are necessary in the diet.
However, for people with diabetes, consuming too many carbohydrates can lead to high blood sugar levels. Therefore, it is important to adhere to the carbohydrate counts recommended by your specialist doctor for each meal.
3. Aronia Berries and Products
Aronia berries are packed with nutrients.
Human studies show that a daily intake of at least 200 ml of Aronia juice per day by diabetic patients leads to a reduction in high blood sugar (in both insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent patients). Aronia berry juice has the ability to remarkably reduce complications caused by high blood sugar. It can be used to combat any complications that may be associated with diabetes.
In research using Aronia forte capsules (Aronia extract) for diabetes, it not only maintained good blood sugar levels but also stopped kidney damage as a result of diabetes.
4. Regular Physical Exercise
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Exercise has many benefits for people with diabetes to lose weight. Physical activity helps lower blood sugar levels by allowing muscles to produce energy with the help of muscles.
Be careful, however, not to overexert yourself, as this can lead to hypoglycemia.
5. Stay Hydrated
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Proper hydration is key to a healthy lifestyle. For those concerned about lowering blood sugar, it is crucial.
Drinking enough water prevents dehydration and also helps the kidneys remove excess sugar from the body through urine.
Why is Managing Blood Sugar Important?
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Maintaining normal blood sugar levels helps people with diabetes avoid serious complications of the disease. Frequent high blood sugar can have negative effects that occur suddenly or gradually.
Over time, hyperglycemia can damage blood vessels in many organs and systems, leading to consequences such as:
- vision problems and blindness
- foot ulcers, infections, and amputation
- kidney failure and dialysis
- heart attacks and strokes
- peripheral vascular disease
- nervous system damage, leading to pain and weakness