Posts Tagged ‘blood sugar’
Blood Sugar Fasting
A blood sugar fasting test measures your blood sugar (glucose levels) when you haven’t eaten for at least 8 hours.
The glucose level in your body is always expressed in mg/dL. The present glucose amount in your blood does fluctuate day and night.
Generally, metabolism is essential in our day-to-day activities, and the level of blood glucose is maintained by our body for this activity. When you have a healthy body, your fasting blood sugar readings should be between 90 to 100 mg/dL.
However, your fasting blood sugar levels may fluctuate; at times, the readings may go high and low. The fluctuating fasting blood sugar readings in your body, even if you are healthy, may be caused by various factors.
Fluctuating blood glucose levels that you may experience are healthy condition signs that require or need attention.
Additionally, there are multiple Diabetes Reversal Methods and medical attention that you can use to keep your fasting blood sugar at healthy levels.
Why does Blood Glucose Level Rise in Diabetes?
After eating, your blood sugar levels are always high. This is due to the fact that the food you have eaten is being released into your bloodstream, and for this to happen, it must be converted to glucose.
As the food is converted to glucose, the glucose level signals your pancreas, which then releases insulin.
Your body needs insulin to help in the absorption of glucose. This will reduce your blood glucose levels and return to normal. The cell absorption process is essential in regulating or maintaining normal glucose levels.
However, if you have diabetes, your body becomes resistant to insulin, leading to insulin deficiency.
With you having insulin deficiency, your body loses the capability to absorb blood glucose. This will lead to you having diabetes due to high blood glucose levels.
There are various health condition issues that are associated with diabetes that you may have. Some of the problems you may have by being diabetic include thyroid, stress, muscle weight loss, acidity, low energy levels, insomnia, and many more.
Further, if your high blood glucose levels persist for long, it may cause damage to your nerves, kidneys, eyes, and even heart. Luckily, diabetes is reversible.
You will need to observe and maintain correct changes in your exercising, eating habits, sleeping patterns, and stress management.
It has been proven that over 10,000 diabetic patients have reversed their diabetes by following the right changes.
You must maintain good fasting blood sugar readings at some acceptable values if you have diabetes.
You can attain some of these typical accepted values by having and maintaining a healthy lifestyle which will help in reversing your diabetes.
Moreover, it is also important that you follow a sustainable diet plan which includes having staple food readily available in your kitchen. Supplements should be included in your diet.
Healthy Individual Normal Sugar Level (Fasting & After Food)
Blood sugar levels are also referred to as blood glucose levels. Your blood glucose levels may be normal, high, or low. Generally, the best time to measure your fasting blood sugar levels should be around 8 hours after eating.
When you are healthy and not diabetic, your normal fasting blood sugar range should be > 70 mg/dL. And your blood sugar readings should range between 90 to 100 mg/dL. two hours after eating if you do not have diabetes.
Factors that may cause your blood glucose levels to change during the day
Throughout the day, your blood glucose levels change.
There are multiple factors that may cause your blood glucose levels to change during the day, and they include:
- The variety of food we eat during the day. For example, your blood sugar levels might increase during the day if you eat rich-carb food and high-calorie food.
- The quantity of food. Your normal blood sugar readings may increase if you eat too much during the day.
- Physical activities. Your blood glucose levels are likely to increase if you do less physical activity during the day, while heavy and rigorous work and physical activity during the day reduce your blood sugar levels.
- There are certain medicines that may have an impact on your blood glucose level during the day.
- Your normal blood sugar levels are likely to change if you have medical conditions such as hypoglycemia, diabetes, and liver disease.
- Your good fasting blood sugar level is likely to drop due to alcohol consumption.
- You are likely to suffer from Type 2 Diabetes if you are smoking.
- Age Matters! There are increased chances of you having diabetes as you age. This is because insulin tolerance in your body reduces as you grow old.
- Your normal blood sugar levels can increase due to mental and physical stress.
- You are likely to have low blood glucose levels during the day due to dehydration.
The good thing is that most of these listed factors that may cause your blood sugar levels to change during the day can be solved.
All you have to do is ensure you are in the correct surroundings with the right guidance. Additionally, suppose you want to reverse your diabetes.
In that case, you also need to be doing what other diabetic patients who are on a similar journey as you are doing in the right environment and guidance.
Children and Teens with Diabetes – Normal Blood Sugar Levels According to Age
There is variation in fasting blood sugar levels in children from the time they wake up to the time they have taken their meals. Therefore, it is essential that you monitor your children’s normal blood sugar levels regularly.
The normal blood glucose levels for children at the age of six should range from 80 to 200 mg/dL. A blood sugar test is a must if your child has complaints of hypoglycemia, especially in the middle of the night.
The blood glucose level reading of between 80 to 180 mg/dL. is considered healthy if your kids are aged between 6 to 12.
However, it has been found that normal blood sugar level reading increases after meals for kids around this age. Therefore, to ensure they have a healthy glucose level at bedtime, limiting their snack intake before sleep is essential.
Blood glucose level reading of between 70 mg/dL. to 150 mg/dL. is considered healthy for teenagers. One of the reasons for irregular blood glucose levels in teenagers could be heredity.
Mood swings, stress, and lifestyle issues are common among kids around this age. These are the critical challenges in managing healthy blood glucose levels in teenagers.
Despite managing blood sugar levels in teens being critical, it is possible. You can regulate blood sugar levels in teens by implanting good eating, sleeping habits, and other lifestyle modifications at the right age.
Introducing the right lifestyle modifications to teens at the right age will help them in their entire life. Besides, as teenage, motivation and a little push are essential in regulating sugar levels.
It is alarming, and your children will require medical attention if their blood sugar level readings are 180 mg/dL.
Random Blood Sugar Level Chart
There are scheduled blood sugar testing durations during the day. However, you can still do random testing at any time of the day.
Random blood sugar testing should be done outside the regular testing timetable.
When you do random blood sugar testing, it will confirm diabetes if you do the random test during and after treatment of diabetes.
When the blood sugar level reading is 200 mg/dL or more, then it is an indication of diabetes mellitus.
Checking random blood sugar levels is the main aim of an RBS test. When the range is 200 mg/dL or greater during an RBS, it clearly indicates diabetes.
Doing a random blood sugar test will help in the timely treatment of diabetes via monitoring during and after treatment. It is recommended that you do a random blood sugar test if you have the following symptoms:
- Unexpected weight loss
- Blurred vision
- Constant dehydration and dry mouth
- When your wounds take time to heal
- Urinating recurrently
Healthy Normal Sugar Levels in Diabetic Adults (Men or Women)
Your blood sugar level should range between 100 mg/dL to 180 mg/dL the entire day if you are a diabetic person above 20 years of age.
To avoid diabetic complications, your fasting blood sugar range should be between 70 mg/dL to 100 mg/dL.
Your blood sugar levels should be between 100 and 140 mg/dL at bedtime to avoid diabetic complications.
Normal blood sugar readings for women in the blood sugar levels chart should be between 100 to 140 mg/dL at bedtime. It is considered dangerous and requires medical attention if your blood sugar readings at bedtime are> 70 and 180 mg/dL.
When your body has insulin deficiency or cannot use the insulin properly, then hyperglycemia occurs.
Some of the common signs of high blood sugar levels include:
- You experience fatigue
- Abnormal thirst
- Urinating frequently
- Difficulty concentrating and headache
- Cloudy vision
- Unexpected weight loss
Hyperglycemia can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis if left untreated. Diabetic ketoacidosis is a life-threatening condition.
Besides, it can lead to you having heart-related complications, kidney issues, and liver complications.
Remedies for High Sugar Level
You should seek medical advice and take medicine if your blood sugar level is between 180 to 250 mg/dL.
You should also avoid sugary items and processed foods and cut off a fast-acting carb diet.
You should seek immediate medical attention if your blood sugar level is >250 mg/dL.
If your blood sugar level is > 250 mg/dL and you do not seek medical attention, it may lead to you having a coma and high ketones in your blood.
Therefore, you should take a ketones test and get insulin therapy once you find your blood sugar levels are >250 mg/dL.
You are advised to do the following if you experience high sugar levels on a regular basis:
- Maintain a low sugar food diet with a low glycemic index
- Avoid taking fruit juices and processed foods.
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle and do mild exercises.
- Consult medical experts for recommended insulin dosages
- Take medication in time.
- Regular monitoring of your glucose levels
Many diabetic persons cannot follow the changes they need to make in their diet or daily routine despite being aware of them for multiple reasons. The most common reason is a lack of motivation and proper knowledge.
FAQs:
1. What is a normal blood sugar level after fasting for 8 hours?
Suppose you do not have diabetes and have fasted for at least 8 hours. In that case, your fasting blood sugar level must be below 100 mg/dL to be considered normal if you are an adult.
2. Is fasting sugar of 110 mg/dL normal?
A fasting sugar level of under 100 mg/dL is considered normal. A person with prediabetes has a fasting blood sugar level between 100 and 125 mg/dL.
If your fasting sugar level is 126 mg/dL or above, you have diabetes. Prediabetes is fasting blood glucose levels between 110 mg/dL and 125 mg/dL.
Normal blood sugar levels are less than 110 mg/dL, and diabetes is defined as levels more than 126 mg/dL.
3. What is a good blood sugar level in the morning?
In the morning, before taking your breakfast, it is advisable that you keep your fasting blood sugar level readings in the range of 70 – 130 mg/dL.
Additionally, your blood glucose readings at other times must range between 70 – 180 mg/dL.
Bottom Line
Depending on your medical condition, your blood glucose levels can go high or low. Therefore, it is advisable to visit an endocrinologist and get professional advice about the fluctuations in your blood glucose levels and the reasons for them.
You should also monitor your blood glucose levels and keep them normal if you have diabetes. Doing this will help you avoid diabetic complications and lead a normal life.
The diabetes reversal method using diet, exercise, and lifestyle step by step is a great way of keeping your blood sugar levels healthy.
What Should My Blood Sugar Be When I Wake Up?
The most important thing that you should do each morning as you wake up is to check your blood sugar. Essentially, you can be able to determine how you go about the activities for the rest of your day by fasting blood sugar readings. Having a morning blood sugar level chart will help you know how high or low your fasting blood sugar is every morning. This will then enable you to set your morning target or what things you can do for you to achieve your target. Continue reading to find out more details about morning blood sugar.
What should my blood sugar be when I wake up?
Managing your overnight and morning readings is crucial if you want to control your blood sugar. Here are some of the details on what your morning blood sugar range reading should be as you wake up: –
– Fasting/ On Waking Up
- If you are not diabetic, your blood sugar reading should be around 70 – 99 mg/dl.
- If you are diabetic then your blood sugar reading should be between 80 – 130 mg/dl.
- Should your blood sugar reading be below 70 mg/dl then you have low blood sugar and it indicates a hypoglycemic reaction. Moreover, you have a high blood sugar condition should the reading indicate over 130 mg/dl.
– 2 hours after Meals
Your blood sugar should compare as following if you check it 2 hours after taking your meals:
- When you do not have diabetes then your normal blood sugar reading should be less than 140 mg/dl.
- If you have diabetes then your normal blood sugar reading should be less than 180 mg/dl.
– With HbA1c (Hemoglobin A1c)
Taking a Hemoglobin (HbA1c) test will enable you to determine your average blood sugar readings for the last 2 or three months. Additionally, you can take this test if you have not checked your blood sugar level reading for quite some time or if you have never checked it before since you think you do not have diabetes. After taking the test, your results are normal if:
- Your reading is less than 5.7% and you do not have diabetes.
- The reading is less than 7.0% and you have diabetes.
Symptoms of high blood sugar in the morning
You can determine whether or not you are experiencing the early morning hyperglycemia by having a routine check of your blood glucose each morning or by wearing a continuous glucose monitor (CGM). Further, you may be experiencing some signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia if you have the following: –
- Increased thirst
- Urination frequently and excessively.
- Eating more than you are used to.
- If you do not have a clear vision. Everything appears blurred.
How to Test Your Blood Sugar
You already have details on what your morning blood sugar range should be when you wake up. Consequently, you should also have information on the right way to test your morning blood sugar level. First, you should check your blood sugar level within the first 10 to 15 minutes after waking up in the morning for you to get an accurate reading. Second, it is recommended that you wash your hands thoroughly prior to taking or checking your blood sugar level when you wake up in the morning. Washing your hands thoroughly will help in getting rid of any contaminants that can cause inaccuracies in the results. Third, taking any caffeinated beverages before the test may lead to a spike in your blood sugar level. Therefore, you should avoid taking any caffeinated beverages at all costs if you want to get the correct blood sugar level.
What if Your Morning Blood Sugar Level is High?
You may have relatively higher blood sugar levels in the morning which is quite natural. The relatively higher blood sugar levels in the morning are because of certain hormonal changes in your body. Should this happen, your body will produce enough insulin that will aid in normalizing your morning blood sugar level. However, if you have diabetes, this may not happen.
You may also have a condition in which the fat cells and muscles in your body fail to use insulin effectively. This condition is called insulin resistance and it may lead to your blood glucose levels staying higher. Besides, if you have this condition, it will affect your liver functions and therefore lead to changes in the manner it processes and releases sugar, mostly during nighttime as you sleep.
However, when you have type-2 diabetes, the situation may be different since your liver will start releasing a large amount of glucose than is required in your blood. Therefore, it will lead to your blood sugar level elevating in your system because of your hormones and liver. When your hormones cause your blood sugar to spike and your liver also releases more glucose than is required the level of your morning blood sugar will stay higher unless you maintain a strict diet and exercise. Moreover, you may be required to take medications for better management of your blood sugar levels.
Ways to Help You Prevent High Morning Readings
As you already know, your blood sugar level when you wake is determined by whether you are diabetic or not. Luckily, there are certain things that you can do to help in preventing your blood sugar levels from rising above normal in the morning and they include: –
- Manage Your Body weight
Losing weight is essential in managing your glucose levels especially if you are overweight and have been diagnosed with type-2 diabetes recently. Losing weight will help in regulating your hormones and increasing your insulin sensitivity hence lowering the sugar levels in your blood. When you are overweight and you want to lose weight, you should start by checking your diet for example by avoiding processed foods and eating a lot of fruits and veggies. You should also reduce the intake of less healthy foods in your diet. You can also improve your physical activities.
- Check your blood glucose before bed.
The glucose levels in your blood are likely to stay constant the entire night especially if they are high as you are going to sleep. You can lower your glucose levels if they are high before going to bed by changing the content of your food and eating time. Additionally, you can do light physical exercise like walking from 10 – 15 minutes to reduce your blood glucose levels should they be high. Despite adding some light exercise before bed, and changing what time you eat and what you eat, you may also need to adjust the quantity of mealtime insulin that you take to cover it.
- Avoid certain foods
The duration at which you take certain food before bedtime should also change. You should avoid taking large, late dinner or nighttime snacks right before going to sleep. Besides, it is recommended that you eat low-carb, take early dinner, and then no snacks afterward as per One strategy from Adam Brown.
- Insulin
Taking enough insulin quantity to cover your evening meal is also great in preventing high morning blood sugar readings. For example, your glucose levels will be elevated the entire night and in the morning readings if you take a low insulin dose. Therefore, you should ensure to take the right insulin dosage.
- Have a Bedtime snack
Before going to bed, you should eat something to help in stabilizing your blood sugar. However, whatever you eat should not contain more than 20g of carbs. Taking a bedtime snack will prevent your liver from producing an unwanted amount of glucose as you sleep. Some of the low-carb bedtime snacks that you can take include low-fat yogurt, frozen grapes, soybeans, a serving of fresh salsa and tortilla chips, and a small piece of fruit.
- Evening exercise
Another way of reducing your glucose levels in the morning is by doing exercise in the evening. Despite exercising before bed helping in bringing the levels of glucose down in the morning, it may be dangerous. This is because the exercise may lead to a lowering of glucose over the hours as you sleep hence leading to dangerous hypoglycemia.
- Morning exercise
The dawn phenomenon or another reason may cause your blood glucose levels to be high. You can lower the high glucose levels in your blood by doing morning exercise.
A Quick Tip
You should talk to your doctor before trying to manage your blood sugar levels. Additionally, you should also keep in mind your blood sugar reading, your lifestyle, your A1C results, and any other medication that you may be taking before trying to manage your morning blood sugar levels.
Your fasting blood sugar readings are also crucial since they will let you know how your body has worked while you are sleeping at night. Therefore, with the fasting blood sugar readings, you will be able to make the necessary changes that you may need for better control of your situation.
Can Blood Sugar Affect Blood Pressure?
Yes! Most definitely.
To understand the entire process and the associated traits, we must first understand what blood sugars are in the human body and their functions.
Also referred to as blood glucose, these constitute the significant sugars found in the bloodstream. They are usually the major energy sources within the human cells, among other sugars and molecules like ketone bodies.
Blood sugar levels are usually of utmost significance to individuals, given that too low levels could prompt varied health conditions, including hypoglycemia. At the same time, too high levels could lead to hyperglycemia and associated symptoms.
The human body is thus equipped with sensory cells all over capable of detecting changes in blood glucose levels and effecting subsequent changes. For instance, if the blood glucose level goes above the optimal levels, the condition will be detected in the pancreas prompting the release of insulin hormone, which, in conjunction with other hormones, rectifies the surge.
Similarly, pancreatic cells will also detect low blood glucose levels, prompting the release of glucagon and even catecholamine hormones that collectively work to fix the condition by increasing blood glucose levels. The healthy average blood glucose level thus typically ranges between 70 and 120 mg/dL.
Extreme blood glucose levels are usually associated with the different types of diabetes. However, to advance to the diabetes stage must imply that the blood glucose level detection system, the alpha and beta cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans, and the associated hormones are functionally impaired.
Hence, individuals with diabetes don’t often lose the ability to regulate blood sugar levels but rather the cells and systems involved.
How Your Body Regulates Blood Pressure
Despite near similar processes exploited in maintaining blood glucose and blood pressure levels, regulating blood pressure is often more complicated and critical. For instance, the body usually regulates blood glucose levels by making more blood sugars or exploiting alternative energy sources.
However, there is no way of making more or breaking down blood instantly within the body to regulate blood pressure. In fact, the body cannot make more or less ‘blood pressure’ like it does blood glucose. As such, blood glucose regulation is often much simple and achievable, unlike blood pressure regulation for the human body.
Take, for example, an individual with low blood pressure from low blood volume cannot instantly rectify their condition as more blood would be needed, something the body can’t manage to manufacture fast enough as it is with blood glucose. These individuals can suffer massive health implications like incapacitation and long-term brain and body harm. This hints at the severity and dangers associated with blood pressure imbalances.
Therefore, due to the limited blood pressure regulation options, the body often utilizes the hormones used in blood sugar regulation, catecholamine/adrenalin, and other hormones to facilitate the process. As such, if you have low blood pressure, the body detects this and releases catecholamines. These subsequently tighten up the blood vessels through vasoconstriction, making them narrower and thus more challenging for the heart to pump blood through the arteries, ultimately raising the blood pressure levels.
On the other hand, high blood pressure usually warrants reducing the arterial pressure build-up by lowering the overall blood volume in the vessels. This is often achieved through several avenues.
First, some of the blood glucose regulating hormones like insulin stimulate nitric oxide production by the endothelial cells, which initiates the vasodilation/expansion of the blood vessels. This subsequently reduces the arterial pressure and the pressure against the heart.
Expanded vessels also release water through diuresis in the kidneys, further lowering blood volume and thus blood pressure. These are just some of the few standard blood pressure regulation processes.
Similar to diabetics, imbalance in blood pressure prompts conditions like hypertension and hypotension. These individuals often can regulate their blood pressure but have impaired sensors and body systems responsible for controlling blood pressure levels.
How Blood Sugar Affects Blood Pressure
The blood sugar and blood pressure regulation systems are all interconnected, given that they depend on similar body hormones to affect changes in the body. For instance, as indicated above, insulin, a hormone responsible for regulating blood glucose, is also associated with stimulating nitric oxide production in blood vessels.
It usually blocks the body’s ability to make nitric oxide which is significant for vasodilation of blood vessels and decrease in blood pressure. As such, if an individual with diabetes is utilizing insulin doses to facilitate blood glucose regulation, they should be aware of the underlying risks of high blood pressure, given that the body’s ability to lower blood pressure via nitric oxide production would be severely impaired.
Catecholamine hormones that regulate low blood pressure would also impact blood sugars by immensely raising the levels given the interconnected responses.
The same goes for low blood sugar individuals whose body systems utilize catecholamines to regulate the levels, subsequently prompting high blood pressure levels. This is a clear indication of how low blood sugar or low blood pressure could influence the rise/decline of the other.
It is also important to note that some blood pressure and blood glucose regulation medications may override the body’s natural protection systems and trigger these processes.
Can Diabetes Cause High Blood Pressure?
Diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension) often go hand in hand as individuals suffering from one are often likely to suffer from the other. An individual with diabetes is thus often twice as likely to have high blood pressure as opposed to healthy folks.
The high blood sugar levels among diabetes patients can also often damage blood vessels and nerves of the heart, and these, when coupled with high blood pressure and associated symptoms, often result in increased strain on the heart muscles and blood vessels. This further increases the risk of heart/cardiovascular disease and even stroke.
As such, diabetes and hypertension often occur comorbidly, either at the same time or simultaneously. This is usually evident among populations as nearly one in every three American adults have hypertension.
Subsequently, two out of every three patients with diabetes usually have high blood pressure or take respective blood pressure regulating prescription medications. Further reports also indicate that diabetes often doubles one’s likelihood of dying from stroke or heart disease compared to those without diabetes.
Experts in the field also believe that both the conditions, diabetes and high blood pressure, often have common potential causes and risk factors. They have thus been linked to;
- Oxidative stress
- Insulin resistance
- Inflammation
- Obesity
Essentially, diabetes is associated with elevated blood sugar levels. High glucose levels often stress the vessels causing damage, narrowing, and accumulation of plaque such as cholesterol and fats within the vessel walls. These plaques further narrow the vessels making it difficult to pass adequate blood through. As such, the heart has to pump even harder to compensate for the narrowing leading to high blood pressure throughout the body.
Subsequently, the plaque formation and build-up due to the blood sugar levels further causes atherosclerosis, a condition which, when coupled with the high blood pressure, increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease for the associated individual.
Does Sugar Raise Blood Pressure Quickly?
People commonly associate salt with high blood pressure despite sugar also often playing a crucial role in blood pressure regulation. For instance, eating too much sugar may often inhibit nitric oxide production, eliminating vasodilation. This leaves an opportunity for vasoconstriction, which can result in high blood pressure. As such, sugar, just like salt, is also among the leading causes of high blood pressure.
Take fructose, for example, a simple sugar, which, upon ingestion, raises uric acid levels in the blood. High uric acid concentrations often inhibit nitric oxide production, which further eliminates flexibility and vasodilation capabilities of the blood vessels, prompting a rise in blood pressure.
Subsequently, excessive sugar consumption often leads to weight gain, and continued weight gain results in obesity. Since obesity is a major contributing factor to high blood pressure, increased sugar consumption thus raises blood pressure above optimal levels.
Sugars, more so added sugars, like table sugar and syrup, used in food preparation and processing have also been realized to contribute significantly to hypertension. This is because they are usually more harmful to human bodies, unlike the naturally occurring sugars in fruits and milk. Therefore, increased amounts above recommended range could result in high blood pressure.
Furthermore, hyperinsulinemia, a condition depicted by higher-than-normal levels of insulin in the blood, also contributes to high blood pressure if left untreated. Studies have actually shown that nearly half of high blood pressure patients often suffer from hyperinsulinemia or glucose intolerance.
The body often uses glucose for energy. However, with insulin resistance, associated individual systems often fail to respond to insulin as they should, prompting overproduction of the hormone to compensate for the high blood glucose and low energy levels. High insulin is usually associated with hypertension and together greatly increases the risk of heart disease and diabetes.
Bottom line
Diabetes and high blood pressure are among some of the diseases claiming many lives globally. As such, individuals should always endorse frequent health checkups to determine their status with regard to the conditions. Subsequently, those living with either or both conditions should also invest in a close monitoring program to prevent treatment challenges and prevent unnecessary health complications.
5 Ways to Control Your Blood Sugar Levels
Type II diabetes is the common type of diabetes that a lot of people suffer from. It’s what is otherwise known as the Adult Onset Diabetes. This happens when your body fails to efficiently utilize insulin.
Diabetes basically means that your blood glucose levels are higher than the normal level. Since your body fails to react to insulin properly, the glucose from the food that you ate will not be synthesized into energy which is needed by the cells in your body and instead, it stays in your bloodstream causing a high glucose levels in the blood. Overtime, when this problem is not addressed, it can lead to serious complications such as cardiovascular diseases, blindness, kidney failure, and problems with the nerves.
Ways to Avoid Blood Sugar Spikes and Dips
Although there are medicines that can help alleviate the symptoms, it’s always better to have a blood sugar support plan ready at hand. The best way to avoid the blood glucose spikes and dips is by changing your lifestyle. Here are 7 ways you can do to control your blood sugar:
1. Eat Nuts
Nuts are known to have healthy fats and have an effect on slowing down the body’s glucose absorption.
2. Exercise Regularly
Exercising has a lot of benefits – including regulation of blood sugar levels. Regular exercise helps you lose weight and is effective in increasing the body’s insulin sensitivity.
3. Include a Few Servings of Veggies on Your Diet
Vegetables such as broccoli, cucumber, and carrots contain less starch and are rich in fiber. These foods are a helpful blood sugar support while giving your body extra nutrients.
4. Manage Stress
When the body undergoes stress, the hormones that are released by the brain can cause blood sugar to rise. Research shows that a few minutes of meditation can help lower the blood’s sugar level.
5. Drink Lots of Water
Drinking lots of water can help in cleansing the body of excess sugar through urine. It’s also important to avoid drinks that are rich in sugar when you have a high blood glucose level.
Along with these tips on how to keep a normal blood sugar level, taking supplements such as Lally Naturals Blood Sugar Support can also help. Prevention is always better than cure so start taking baby steps to regulate your blood sugar level and avoid complications in the future.
Tips and Tricks to Keep Your Blood Sugar Level from Rising
Too high or too low sugar levels can lead to various complications and diseases. Usually when blood glucose is just a little bit over the border, mild symptoms could manifest. However, if it’s way above the normal level on a regular basis, you could have a chance developing a chronic disease. This is why recognizing the symptoms before it can develop into a full blown disease can be helpful in preventing the blood sugar from spiking up.
Hyperglycemia is the medical term used for when the person has a high blood sugar level. This happens when the body inefficiently uses insulin. And when insulin is not properly utilized, glucose (sugar naturally produced by the body and obtained from the food we eat) cannot be synthesized into a usable form of energy. As a result, a lot of this sugar stays within the bloodstream.
Ways to Keep Blood Sugar Levels Balanced
This is where blood sugar support comes in. Blood sugar support is needed to help the body regulate the glucose in the blood. Along with this, there are also other ways in which you can keep your blood sugar levels steady:
1. Spice up your meal
Cinnamon, cloves, rosemary, oregano, and other spices are good spice companions when you’re looking to decrease your blood sugar levels.
2. Add protein during meal time
The body tends to absorb proteins more slowly than any other food types. As a result, the bloodstream also absorbs glucose slowly. Proteins also help our satiety center satisfied for quite a while thereby reducing our sugar cravings.
3. Get Enough Rest and Sleep
Getting the recommended eight hours of sleep each night can help prevent blood glucose levels from rising. When you don’t get enough hours of a good night sleep, the tendency is that it makes it harder for glucose to work on cells causing them to stay in the bloodstream.
In order to notice a difference in your health, you would need to discipline yourself to do these blood sugar support tips and tricks. Start by incorporating one of these into your daily routine and your blood sugar levels will be as normal as it can be in no time.
If you’re not taking any supplements for blood sugar regulation, Lally Naturals Blood Sugar Supplements is made up of a mix of herbs such as cayenne, banaba, Gymnema sylvestre along with others that are great in helping your blood sugar level at bay.
Fasting Blood Sugar and Chart
Fasting Blood Sugar and Chart – There are different tests for testing Blood glucose – Random or Fasting Tests.
Fasting Blood Sugar Test
Fasting Blood Sugar test means that no food or drinks (except for water) be consumed eight hours before the actual test. It is better to schedule the fasting test in daytime or first thing in the morning so that fasting won’t be hard since you were already in a fasting state when you were asleep.
Random Blood Sugar Test
Unlike the fasting test, this test allows you to eat and drink even right before the glucose test.
More Common: Fasting Blood Sugar Test
The fasting test is more common since this test is said to get much more accurate results compared to the random glucose test. In addition, fasting glucose test is easier to interpret. Fasting Blood Sugar and Chart
It is important that before the test starts, inform your doctor about all the medications you have been taking, both prescription drugs, over-the-counter-drugs, and even supplements whether herbal or not. Your doctor might ask to pause from taking your medications or just to change the dose before the blood glucose test. This is important to get accurate results since there are medications that may affect the body’s blood glucose levels.
Here are certain Medications that may affect blood sugar levels:
- corticosteroids
- diuretics
- birth control pills
- hormone therapy
- aspirin (Bufferin)
- antipsychotics
- lithium
- epinephrine (Adrenalin)
- tricyclic antidepressants
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
- ·phenytoin
- sulfonylurea medications
Blood sugar levels increases when a person gets stress from certain circumstances such as:
- surgery
- trauma
- stroke
- heart attack
You should tell your doctor if you’ve recently had any of these.
What happens during a Blood Sugar Test?
Blood sample is taken by using a device that merely pricks a finger to get that small blood sample. In other tests, blood from a mere prick is not enough that is why doctors would collect blood directly from a vein.
1. Before collecting the blood sample, the nurse/healthworker in charge would first clean the area where the blood is taken from, usually by wiping the area with cotton with alcohol to kill germs.
2. Second step uses a method that makes a vein visible. Usually, this method uses an elastic band to wrap around the upper arm. Once the vein is visible enough, a sterile needle will be inserted to collect the blood. It is important to relax your arm to reduce the moderate pain from the needle.
3. After collecting the blood, the nurse/healthworker removes the needle and covers up the skin with a band-aid.
4. The blood sample is then transferred to the laboratory to be tested. Fasting Blood Sugar and Chart
5. When the results are ready, the doctor will then discuss what’s in the result.
What are the Possible risks associated with a blood sugar test?
There is very little chance that people who get their blood tested develop health problems. Although the chances are very little, it is not definitely zero percent. Fasting Blood Sugar and Chart There are possible risks such as:
- multiple puncture wounds if it’s difficult to find a vein
- excessive bleeding
- lightheadedness or fainting
- hematoma, or blood collecting under your skin
- infection
Results of Blood Glucose tests
Normal Blood Test Results
The results depend on whether the test was the Fasting Blood Sugar test or the Random Blood Glucose Test. For the fasting blood sugar test, normal levels is between 70mg per deciliter and 100 mg per deciliter (mg/dL). On the other hand, the random blood sugar test levels are usually under 125mg per deciliter. However, the exact levels will still depend on what you ate last. Fasting Blood Sugar and Chart
Abnormal Blood Test Results
Again, the results depend on whether the test was the Fasting Blood Sugar test or the Random Blood Glucose Test. For the fasting blood sugar test, the results listed below will indicate whether there are signs of prediabetes or diabetes:
- A blood glucose level of 100–125 mg/dL indicates that you have prediabetes.
- A blood glucose level of 126 mg/dL and higher indicates that you have diabetes.
On the other hand, the random blood sugar test levels the results listed below will indicate whether there are signs of prediabetes or diabetes:
- A blood glucose level of 140–199 mg/dL indicates that you may have prediabetes.
- A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL and higher indicates that you likely have diabetes.
If your random blood glucose test results are abnormal, your doctor will probably order a fasting blood glucose test to confirm the diagnosis or another test such as an Hgba1c.
High Blood Sugar Symptoms
High Blood Sugar Symptoms – Naturally, human beings have sugar (also known as glucose) in the blood. Normal levels of blood sugar gives energy for the cells and organs in the body to function. However, having too much is bad.
Blood sugar is naturally produced from the liver and from the muscles in the body, however, most human beings get too much from food and drinks containing carbohydrates. Hyperglycemia is a condition wherein it means that there is way too much sugar in the blood. Having too much blood sugar (or having high blood glucose) means that the body lacks enough insulin to keep blood sugar levels at a normal state.
What is insulin?
Generally, insulin is a hormone that helps the body transform the foods or drinks we consume into energy. Insulin also helps directs blood sugar to be stored in the liver, muscles, and in fat.
Without enough insulin, blood sugar will not be stored or converted to energy, and instead, it will dangerously build-up which will cause serious health problems such as diabetes.
Hyperglycemia
What is hyperglycemia? What causes hyperglycemia?
Right amounts of blood sugar is fuel for the body. However, too much does not equate to more energy… in fact, too much blood sugar causes the opposite of having a boost in energy.
| High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia) What is hyperglycemia? What causes hyperglycemia? Right amounts of blood sugar is fuel for the body. However, too much does not equate to more energy… in fact, too much blood sugar causes the opposite of having a boost in energy. |
High Blood Sugar Symptoms
What does it feel like to have high blood sugar?
A number of high blood sugar symptoms can happen, such as:
– Drowsiness especially right after eating
– Have headaches or other aches in the body
– Thirsty or hungry all the time
– Difficulty in concentrating
– Blurry vision
– Feels bloated
– Urinates more often
– Wounds or skin injuries might take more time to heal
Caution: Low insulin and having high blood sugar levels can lead to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which is a serious complication that will need urgent medical attention.
Common symptoms may occur, such as:
– Shortness of breath
– Rapid beating of the heart
– Breath might smell fruity
– Disorientation
– Vomiting
– Dehydration
– Comatose
Blood sugar levels may reach over 250ml/dL. High blood sugar symptoms may be experienced at any time of the day, even in the morning for those who are suffering from diabetes.
What are the effects of high blood sugar in the body?
High blood sugar can lead to various symptoms and complications in the body. The following are examples of high blood sugar symptoms:
1. Frequent Urination – High blood sugar goes into the kidneys and urine which makes you more thirsty even when drinking lots of water.
2. Causes Unexplained Weight Loss – Even when there is high blood sugar in the body, high levels will cause the body’s cells to not get the glucose they actually need for burning fat and muscle.
3. Feeling Numb and Feels Tingling – High blood sugar can cause numbness, burning sensation, or tingling in the parts of the body such as the hands, legs, and even the feet. This complication of diabetes happens because of the diabetic neuropathy that happens after many years of having high blood sugar levels in the body.
High blood sugar symptoms cause harm to the body which will lead to long term complications:
1. May cause Heart Attack or Stroke
2. May cause damage or loss of eyesight.
3 May cause Kidney Problems
4. May cause skin problems such as slow healing of wounds or infections
Prevention of Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar)
Here are the different ways or strategies to prevent Hyperglycemia:
– Regularly check blood sugar levels, especially when it is advised by the doctor
– Take insulin, again, when advised by the doctor
– Ask for dietary help from licensed dietitians or nutritionists to ask help what your best diet would be.
– Always be mindful and take precautions to avoid any infections or certain diseases
– Get regular exercise. Home exercise or go to the gym, either way.
– Get enough sleep and avoid way too much stress as much as possible by engaging in stress-reducing activities.
Fortunately, at this day and age, testing kits for checking blood sugar levels are readily available in the market and may be purchased and used at home. For a more accurate reading, it is best to check with your doctor.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
When does low blood sugar occur? Some of the factors that increases the risk of low blood sugar includes:
a. Being diagnosed with certain medical conditions
b. Taking certain medicationsExercising too much
c. Skipping meals or eats way too little
d. Taking too much insulin can also be one that causes low blood sugar.
Low blood sugar symptoms are:
– Feels weak
– Feeling hungry
– Feeling nervous or anxious
– Feeling the chills
– Feeling irritable
– Experiencing fast heartbeat
– Palpitations
To help with hypoglycemia, fruit juice or eating something sweet will help with the symptoms. For more information about your health, it’s best to consult with your doctor.
Type 1 Diabetes
As researched by the American Diabetes Association, 5% of the population which already has diabetes suffer from the type 1 diabetes.
When the body lacks insulin, high blood sugar levels occur. Unfortunately, this happens because the immune system somehow attacks the cells in the body that produces insulin/ The cells in the pancreas produces the insulin we need in the body. If the body cannot naturally produce insulin, people, especially those with diabetes, would resort to take insulin through the methods medically available such as taking it via needle, a pen, or insulin pump. Insulin is vital in the body to keep blood sugar levels in the normal condition.
What causes Type 1 Diabetes?
In recent studies, researchers believe that people with a family history of type 1 diabetes is more likely to also be passed on to next generations. However, certain environmental factors such as viruses and infections may also cause the same.
Unfortunately, once diagnose with type 1 diabetes, there is no turning back. Dietary changes, regular exercise, or other healthy lifestyle choices will not undo it. It can happen at any time in our lives even during childhood.
Type 2 Diabetes
In this type, the body produces insulin but the problem is that the body is not able to utilize it. Yes, the pancreas makes insulin but cannot make enough to make sure the blood sugar level is at a stable or normal state. This effect is also known as “insulin resistance.” How should people take care of themselves when they have type 2 diabetes?
Taking insulin, proper medical pills, proper diet and exercise will definitely increase the chances to help manage blood sugar levels.
What causes Type 2 Diabetes?
Certain factors may cause to develop type 2 diabetes, such as the following:
- Certain genetics, especially when having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes
- Being overweight and being inactive most of the time
- Certain ethnicities are more prone to develop type 2 diabetes such as the African-American, Alaska Native, American Indian, Asian-American, Hispanic, or Pacific Islander ethnicity
- People who are over the age of 45 years
- People who have a blood pressure of 140/90 or higher
- Those who have low levels of good cholesterol or those who have high levels of triglycerides
Gestational Diabetes
What is gestational diabetes? This occurs when, during pregnancy, the body is experiencing insulin resistance and high blood sugar levels. It is most vital to constantly monitor pregnant women’s blood sugar levels, as it can lead to lots of health complications for both the mother and the child. After delivery, this type of diabetes usually goes away.
People who have high blood sugar or experiencing high blood sugar symptoms should visit their doctor. Each person is different and therefore have different reactions and experiences.
Blood Glucose Chart – Blood Sugar Levels for Adults
Blood Glucose Chart – Blood Sugar Levels for Adults
Blood Glucose Chart
Blood Sugar Levels for Adults With Diabetes
Be aware of changes in your body. There are common symptoms that cannot be ignored and would indicate that you have fluctuating blood sugar levels and should manage the same. Fatigue, sugar cravings, thirsty all the time, weight loss, mood swings, frequent infections, heavy breathing and trouble exercising are one of these signs that should not be taken for granted.
Manage your blood sugar with the help of natural blood sugar support supplements such as Lally Naturals Blood Sugar Support Supplements. Lally Naturals Blood Sugar Support utilizes the power of twenty (20) synergistic ingredients to provide one of the most comprehensive, potent blood sugar regulator & stabilizer products available today. It also effectively supports weight loss & cardiovascular health.
Blood Sugar Support to Balance Blood Sugar Levels
Blood sugar or glucose is the main source of energy that is obtained from the food we eat. Glucose is the main sugar in our body that 
is carried to all cell through the blood stream. Our body regulates the level of blood sugar.
High Blood Sugar is manifested when you are losing weight, have blurred vision, very thirsty and tired and have frequent urination. When you have high blood sugar level, you may feel sick to your stomach, throw up or feel faint. It also causes you to lose fluid.
Low Blood Sugar is known as hypoglycemia. It is caused by too much insulin, delayed meal, missed meal, too much exercise or too much alcohol. It may also be a side effect from medicines taken for other health problems.
Other Ways for Blood Sugar Support & Maintaining Blood Sugar
Blood sugar support is needed to help balance blood sugar levels for the body to function properly.
– Eat a low-processed and anti-inflammatory diet
Balancing carbohydrates and sugar with protein and fats in your diet and getting it from whole and real food is one way of managing and treating and preventing diabetes. Consuming carbs and sugar with protein fiber and healthy fats can slow down the absorption into the bloodstream of sugar, aid in managing your appetite and helps in your digestion and metabolism. Healthy fats include virgin coconut oi, nuts and seeds and avocado. High-fiber foods include veggies, whole pieces of fruits and beans and grains.
Other foods and drinks that also can help stabilize blood sugar are green tea, cinnamon, apple cider vinegar, herbal tea, spices and fresh herbs.
– Use alternative carbs and sweeteners
To aid in maintaining blood sugar, avoid using refined flour and added sugars like cane sugar, beet sugar or beet juice. Use natural sweeteners like raw honey, dates, pure maple syrup or molasses in small portions daily. Whole grain flours should be used or coconut flour. Drink water, seltzer, herbal tea or black tea and coffee only. And coffee should be taken only up to two cups. Stay away from sweetened alcoholic drinks.
– Regular exercise
Exercise can manage blood sugar. It helps lower blood sugar as the cells in your muscles take up more glucose for energy and tissue repair when you do short exercise while helps make cells more susceptible to insulin and helps prevent its resistance when doing long-term exercises. Exercises like cycling, running, swimming and lifting weights increases insulin sensitivity enabling your cells to better take up glucose during and after doing exercises.
– Manage stress
Stress raises release of cortisol, the stress hormone, and increases cravings for “comfort foods” and interrupts sleep. These factors cause high blood sugar level. Take time to de stress or try coping up with life struggles by doing the natural stress relievers like exercise, mediation and yoga. Spend more time outdoors, talk with friends and family or joining groups in your community are also helpful for diabetics and insulin resistant persons to manage stress and eventually lower down blood sugar.
– Get enough sleep
Lack of sleep can increase stress and appetite. These hormones like cortisol makes you hungry and crave for sugary snacks. Too little sleep, poor quality of sleep and sleeping at the wrong time impair secretion of insulin. In order to help balance blood sugar, try to get enough hours of sleep of between seven to nine hours and stick to it.
Be aware of changes in your body. There are common symptoms that cannot be ignored and would indicate that you have fluctuating blood sugar levels and should manage the same. Fatigue, sugar cravings, thirsty all the time, weight loss, mood swings, frequent infections, heavy breathing and trouble exercising are one of these signs that should not be taken for granted.
Manage your blood sugar with the help of natural blood sugar support supplements such as Lally Naturals Blood Sugar Support Supplements. Lally Naturals Blood Sugar Support utilizes the power of twenty (20) synergistic ingredients to provide one of the most comprehensive, potent blood sugar regulator & stabilizer products available today. It also effectively supports weight loss & cardiovascular health.
