High Blood Sugar

What is High Blood Sugar?

When blood sugar levels are too high, the body converts excess glucose in the bloodstream to glycogen or it is stored as fat. Glycogen is a source of energy used as short term fuel for the body, whereas fat is a long term energy reserve. Maintaining proper blood sugar levels is one of the main factors in ensuring good energy levels and body weight. Blood sugar levels play a big role in a person’s appetite. When these levels become lower, a person may experience hunger.

Causes of High Blood Sugar

• Consuming carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are taken in through all food sorts containing carbohydrates. When blood sugar levels are too high, the body cannot process the carbohydrates efficiently enough so that they can be transformed into usable energy. This means that for somebody that suffers from diabetes, blood sugar levels rise within a few hours after consuming carbohydrates.

• Poor management of insulin

When people suffering from diabetes do not take an adequate amount of medication, either by injection or oral medication, in order to help the body produce a sufficient amount of insulin. They must also ensure proper care of the other factors of diabetes management such as exercise and dietary habits. When these factors are not correctly balanced, blood sugar levels rise.

• Stress

Hyperglycemia can be caused due to the emotional state of the sufferer. However, this is not a valid reason for poor control of one’s diabetes. Insufficient exercise: If exercise routines are not followed as they should, it makes it difficult to maintain stable blood sugar levels.

• Illness and related conditions

These include infections and surgery. When a person is ill, blood sugar levels can increase within a few hours.

• Other medications

Medications used for other purposes can cause blood sugar levels to rise.

Symptoms of High Blood Sugar

Some common symptoms can be answered with the following questions:

• • Do you find it difficult to be fully alert after 20 minutes of getting out of bed?
  • Do you feel as if you cannot start your day if you have not had something for example coffee, tea, a cigarette or something sweet?
  • Often feeling sleepy during the day, especially after eating something?
  • Do you feel the need to sleep early in the evening or take naps during the day?
  • Do you refrain from exercise due to a lack of energy?
  • Feeling that you have less energy than you should?
  • Do you often get headaches or suffer from night sweats?

If your answer was “yes” to most of these symptoms, then the possibility is high that your blood sugar levels are unstable. You should get your levels tested as soon as possible. Symptoms of high blood sugar are common with those diagnosed with diabetes. Having said that, in some cases, a person suffering from high blood sugar levels might not show any significant high blood sugar symptoms at all.

Some common symptoms of hyperglycemia are

• • A dry feeling in the mouth
  • Constant thirst
  • Frequent urinating, even waking up during the night due to the need for urination.
  • Blurry vision
  • Dry and irritated skin
  • Fatigue or tiredness
  • Loss of weight
  • Becoming hungry more easily

If hyperglycemia carries on over a prolonged period of time it can lead to dehydration. This can result in hyperglycemia symptoms such as:

• • Having trouble breathing properly
  • Light-headedness when standing up
  • Rapid loss of weight
  • More intense drowsiness and even confusion
  • Unconsciousness or in severe cases even a coma

If not treated, hyperglycemia can cause a condition known as ketoacidosis (also known as diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or diabetic coma). This is due to the body’s lack of insulin, which processes glucose into fuel, for the body to break down fats which are used for energy. Ketones are by-products that are found when the body breaks down fat. Some of the ketones get excreted from the body during urination. Ketones remain in the bloodstream until the body is rehydrated again. Once the body is rehydrated, it also helps restore the insulin’s working to a more effective state. Ketones in the bloodstream can lead to exhaustion, nausea as well as headaches.

Ketoacidosis is a life-threatening state and requires instant treatment.

Symptoms include:

• • Becoming short of breath
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Dryness of the mouth
  • Breath smelling “fruity”
  • Stomach aches

Ailments Caused by High Blood Sugar

Complications due to High Levels:

High sugar levels can lead to numerous long- and short-term complications. Some of the short term effects might not seem as serious since hyperglycemia symptoms do not cause any harm to the organs.

It does however cause you to:

• • • • Feel physically weak and depleted of energy.
      • Feeling thirsty the whole time.
      • Feel the constant urge to urinate.
      • Are prone to infections and other irritations.
      • Suffer from blurry vision.

The effects that high blood sugar levels have on elderly people are often an exaggerated form of the above mentioned such as:

• • • • Being dehydration
      • suffering from an electrolyte imbalance, which is often the cause of elderly people falling and breaking their hips.
      • The long-term complications of high blood sugar levels are those that are associated with the chronic problems of diabetes.

These include:

• • • • Retinopathy is an eye disease that can lead to blindness.
      • Diseases that affect the kidney such as nephropathy which can lead to kidney failure.
      • Neuropathy (nerve disease) can lead to the need for an amputation.

Also, when diabetes is not controlled correctly, it can result in:

• • • • Heart diseases
      • Problems with cholesterol
      • High blood pressure levels
      • How to take Care of High Blood Sugar
      • Self-care strategies to use at home:

There are simple things that you can do and easy routines you can follow to help manage and improve your high blood pressure.

Use a glucose level meter to check your blood sugar levels on a regular basis. If there are no clear signs of high blood pressure, but the glucose levels are higher than normal, just carry on with normal care routines such as:

• • Eating regularly and balanced
  • Drink beverages that are sugar-free and do not contain caffeine ( for example water or rooibos tea).
  • Measure blood sugar levels every four hours after they have been found to be high until they are back to normal.
  • If you suffer from diabetes, check urine for ketones.

You can lower your blood sugar levels by means of different strategies such as:

• Exercise

A simple but effective way to lower your blood sugar levels is to do some physical exercise. However, if your blood sugar levels are higher than 13.33 mmol/dL, check for ketones in your urine before exercising.

If ketones are found to be present, DO NOT exercise! There is a very big probability that the blood sugar levels will become even higher. Consult your doctor about a safer method of lowering your blood glucose levels in this matter.

• Diet

The base of your diet should consist of non-starchy vegetables. Dark green leafy lettuce, tomatoes, celery, cucumber, cabbage, Swiss chard, zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. are good options.

Decrease or completely stop consuming sugar and all foods that contain sugar. Some biggest sources of sugar are soft drinks, cookies, chocolates, pastries and ice cream.

Minimise the usage of sweeteners such as molasses, high fructose corn syrup, pasteurized honey, and maple syrup.

Drink less fruit juice. Due to the liquid form of the juice, the fructose are more easily absorbed into the bloodstream, causing the blood sugar levels to rise. Rather eat whole fruit as the fibres, vitamins, and minerals help slow down the absorption rate, giving the body enough time to release a sufficient amount of insulin.

Download the free Diabetic e-book. This book contains vital information regarding diabetes, recipes, menu plan, and exercise examples.

• Supplement for Blood Sugar

The Manna Blood Sugar Support supplement is one of the very few natural and organic supplements that work holistically in the body, slowing down the uptake of glucose by 43% to assist in blood sugar control.

Thus, this supplement helps the body to require less insulin by controlling blood sugar levels.

• Medication for Blood Sugar

If you find that exercising, the correct diet, and a proper blood sugar support supplement do not allow you to maintain balanced blood sugar levels, you should consult a doctor as you might be in need of prescribed diabetic medication.

Preventing High Blood Sugar levels

When trying to maintain balanced blood sugar levels, there are certain food sorts that you should stay away from.

• • Sweets and cool drinks that contain high amounts of sugar. Ghee-added sweets also fall under this category. These types of food instantly cause a rise in your blood sugar levels.
  • Synthetic oil foods are not healthy for the body. Fat omega-6 is an obstruction that makes it more difficult for glucose to reach the body’s cells.
  • Food that is high in carbohydrates such as white rice, white bread (and other white flour products), and potatoes.
  • Too much protein such as red meat and eggs can also cause blood sugar levels to rise. Honey and dairy products should be kept to a minimum.
  • Caffeine should be completely removed from your diet.
  • Food that is deep-fried, gravies and sauces, as well as unhealthy salad dressings should be avoided.
  • Cake, ice cream, cookies, and similar sweets is a definite no.
  • Sweet butter and condensed milk are to be avoided at all times as it is sugar and dairy combined.