Introduction:
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic syndrome that affects all ages. It is a condition that happens when your blood sugar is too high. It is very important to understand blood sugar levels and what should we do if blood sugar levels are consistently high.
Understanding Blood Sugar Levels:
A blood sugar test measures the level of sugar(Glucose)in your blood. Glucose mainly comes from carbohydrates in the food and drinks we consume. It is our main source of energy. Several processes in the body keep our blood glucose level in the range. If we have high blood glucose levels, it usually indicates Diabetes.
A healthy fasting blood glucose level for someone is 70-99 mg/dL. If your fasting blood glucose level is 100 to 125 mg/dL, it usually means you have prediabetes. People with prediabetes levels have 50% chance of developing Type 2 Diabetes over the next 5 to 10 years. But we can prevent its development by taking preventive steps. If fasting Blood Glucose level is more than 126 mg/dL, it means you are have diabetes.
Postprandial blood glucose level which means blood glucose level 2 hours after consuming your meal also a marker for diabetes. A postprandial blood sugar level of less than 140mg/dL is normal. Reading that ranges between 140 to 199 mg/dL means you have prediabetes. But if it goes above 200mg/dL, it means you have Diabetes.
The HbA1C test is also another test that gives you the average blood sugar level of the past 2-3 months. An hbA1c level below 5.7% is considered normal. A value between 5.7% to 6.4% means that you have Prediabetes. A HbA1C level over 6.5% indicates that you have Diabetes.
Causes of Consistently High Blood Sugar Levels:
A variety of things can trigger an increase in blood sugar level in people with diabetes like:
- Stress
- An illness such as a cold
- Eating too much such as snacking between meals
- A lack of exercise
- Dehydration
- Missing a dose of your diabetes medication
- Taking certain medicines such as steroid medication
Importance of Managing High Blood Sugar:
It is very important to keep your blood sugar levels in your target range to prevent or delay long-term serious health problems like heart disease, Vision loss, kidney disease, and diabetic foot. Staying in the target range can also improve energy and mood.
Tips for Managing High Blood Sugar Levels:
Dietary Changes:
Eat at regular times and don’t skip meals. Choose food lower in calories, saturated fat , trans fat, sugar and salt. For a sweet treat choose fruit. Control your food portions drink water instead of juice or soda.
Regular Exercise:
Exercise plays an important role in controlling sugar levels. Never skip exercise session which can be planned any time of the day. Important: don’t exercise if ketones are present in your urine. This can make your blood sugar level go even higher.
Medication and Insulin:
Take medicines as instructed. If your blood sugar is often high, your doctor may change how much medicine you take or when you take it.
Stress Management:
Don’t take excessive stress. Do meditation and yoga for stress management.
Regular Blood Sugar Monitoring:
It is a very important aspect of diabetes management. Always check your blood levels at regular intervals to manage your blood sugar levels effectively.
Seeking Medical Advice:
If you find your blood sugar levels are not in control, immediately seek medical advice.
Potential Complications of High Blood Sugar:
As discussed earlier it may cause long-term serious diseases like heart disease, Vision loss, kidney disease, and diabetic foot.
Conclusion:
It is very important to know the serious implication of high blood sugar levels and how to prevent those implications.. Therefore always monitor you blood sugar levels on regular intervals with help of a good quality Blood Glucose Monitor or at the lab.
