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More … than 34 million people in the United States have Diabetes– a condition that requires constant blood monitoring, careful consideration of each meal, and preparation for unexpected drops or spikes in blood sugar. “I try to make my patients understand all the time that there is a curse and a benefit for diabetes and both are that you have so much control,” says Beatrice Hong, MD, endocrinologist and assistant professor of medicine at duke university. She says if you have a good understanding of the condition and put effort into managing it, you may be okay with it, but a lot of the blame is in your hands.
No matter what type of diabetes you have, in order for your body to function at its best, your blood sugar levels need to be controlled. If they are too low (a condition known as hypoglycemia) or too high (hyperglycemia) and you do not resolve them immediately, the effects may be harmful. “In the short term, if you let your blood sugar stay too high, you run the risk of it getting worse and something serious like diabetic ketoacidosis Where hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome– both could get you to the hospital, ”says Dr Hong. “In the long term, the longer your sugars stay high, the more likely you are to have long term complications. Diabetes is such a systemic disease that high blood sugar can build up over time, putting you at risk for eye, kidney, nerve, foot, or heart problems.
What causes hyperglycemia?
To better manage high blood sugar, it helps to know the potential triggers. “The first thing most people think of is probably food– in particular, carbohydrates – and I would say even more specifically, simple carbohydrates would be the most likely culprit, ”says Dr. Hong. Foods that have a high glycemic index (which means the body breaks them down into sugar very quickly, resulting in a spike in blood sugar) include things like white bread, potatoes, or rice.
Beyond that, a common cause of blood sugar spikes is a missed insulin dose, but it’s not always about forgetting an injection. “For example, in patients who use an insulin pump, if the pump is malfunctioning or if there is a kink in the tubing or if the infusion site is stuck and they don’t know the insulin is do not infuse, it can happen. said Lorena Wright, MD, an endocrinologist and the director of LatinX Diabetes Clinic To YOUR medicine. Insulin that is exposed to heat (like in a hot car) will also not work as well. “It’s not toxic, but it’s just not as effective,” says Dr. Wright. This means that your typical dose may not be as strong as you are used to, making insulin less effective.
“The other situation is illness,” says Dr. Wright. “If patients catch a cold, the flu, or have a stomach problem and they throw up, don’t eat, and don’t feel well, it can precipitate an episode of diabetic ketoacidosis. Or, sometimes a patient may have a heart attack or stroke and in patients with type 1 diabetes it can also trigger diabetic ketoacidosis. You will also want to consider any non-diabetes medications you are taking as Studies show some (including specific beta blockers, antibiotics, and antipsychotics) can raise blood sugar. “Steroids are very well known to cause this,” says Dr. Hong.
What about stress or hormonal fluctuations? “Yes, absolutely, stress can definitely cause blood sugar levels to rise,” says Dr. Hong. “When it comes to hormonal fluctuations, some patients with type 1 diabetes will experience differences in their blood sugar depending on where they are in their menstrual cycle, but this effect is not often seen in female patients. with type 2 diabetes. “
How do you know if your blood sugar is high?
If you don’t have a glucometer (a compact meter that tests the glucose in a drop of blood), there are physical symptoms that indicate high blood sugar. “Usually, if the blood sugar is really high, the kidney is trying to get rid of all that sugar and to get all that sugar out, we need water to get rid of things,” says Dr. Wright. “It causes increased urination.” You might also get thirsty when your body becomes more dehydrated from the loss of fluid. “Other patients describe that they can feel dizzy or sometimes feel like their hands are tingling and that’s when they know their blood sugar is high,” adds Dr. Wright. Unfortunately, diabetes affects almost all parts of the body, so symptoms can vary widely. “Other signs could be fatigue, not really having the energy you expect at this time,” says Dr. Hong. “And then more seriously, things like nausea and vomiting or even abdominal pain can be signs of high blood sugar.”
These are all acute problems, but if blood sugar stays high for a while, especially in patients who have newly diagnosed diabetes or those who don’t even know they still have it, there could be vision. fuzzy or unexplained weight loss, according to Dr. Wright. “It is very important to regularly check blood sugar because by the time patients have symptoms like this the blood sugar is already really very high,” she says. “Ideally, we don’t really want to come to this. Often, glucose remains high and damages the tissues inside without causing obvious external symptoms.
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4 ways to lower blood sugar quickly and safely
Administer insulin
First, if you’ve missed a dose of insulin or your pump isn’t working, the first thing to do is correct the underlying problem, according to Dr. Wright. “Insulin is a normal hormone in our body that is normally produced by the pancreas and what insulin does is it acts like a shuttle and carries glucose from the blood to the cells so that it is ‘it can be used as a fuel,’ says Dr Hong. . “So for a person with diabetes, if they have high blood sugar, by giving themselves more insulin, it basically helps to facilitate the movement of glucose into the cells so that the blood sugar drops and the cells get more fuel or fat. glucose. “
Take forgotten diabetes medications
“I generally don’t recommend that you take it as needed,” says Dr. Hong. “Typically, diabetes medications are meant to be taken on a daily or scheduled basis. “(Insulin is different in that you can schedule doses and use it in response to high blood sugar as well.) The sugars will definitely come back down,” says Dr. Hong. Just keep in mind that medications (like metformin) will not work as quickly as insulin, especially if it has been a while since you last took your last dose or if you haven’t taken it too. often than you should.
Drink water
While you are getting your insulin and / or medication back on track, you should also focus on hydration. “Don’t drink juice,” says Dr. Wright. “Drink water and hydrate aggressively. This is because dehydration is a key part of diabetic ketoacidosis. “When your blood sugar is high, your body is desperately trying to get rid of [the excess sugar] and so what it does is it throws it in your urine and with it a lot of water because it is trying to flush it out of your system, ”says Dr. Hong. “So people who have high blood sugar are usually always dehydrated and drinking lots of water actually helps flush the system and also helps dilute the amount of glucose in the blood. “
Go for a walk
If you have insulin in your body and you don’t feel nauseous, try taking a walk around the neighborhood. “Any type of aerobic exercise can absolutely help you with your blood sugar,” says Dr. Hong. Indeed, she specifies, “there are several studies there that show that doing a moderate strenuous walk for about 20 minutes after a meal can easily lower your blood sugar by 20 to 30%. The way it works is that your muscles use more fuel and their fuel is glucose. ” The result? Less glucose floats in your bloodstream. However, it’s important to note that exercise is only helpful if you have insulin in your system. “It would be a really bad idea for someone who has almost diabetic ketoacidosis to walk around and not use insulin,” says Dr. Wright. But if it’s on insulin and you’re not feeling sick, a walk should help lower your blood sugar.
When to seek medical attention
“I would say that anyone with type 1 diabetes, first of all, should always wear ketone sticks to them, ”says Dr. Hong. “So if the blood sugar was high or if they felt bad they should test their urine for ketones and if that is positive they should see a doctor or emergency room. She says that anyone (whether they have type 1 or type 2 diabetes) should seek treatment if they feel very sick, have nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, confusion or pain. difficulty in thinking clearly. “And then, if they check their blood sugar and notice that their blood sugar level is significantly higher than what they are used to and it does not respond to any of their usual care such as drinking water or take their insulin, they should absolutely seek take care of you and also talk to the doctor, ”adds Dr. Hong.
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