Diabetes is a disease with uncontrolled blood sugar levels because of reduced or absent insulin levels. As a result, the blood glucose levels can rise dangerously high, and persistently high levels can cause damage in multiple organs. Therefore, it is important to keep the glucose levels in the blood under control and to monitor them carefully.
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Causes of blood sugar spikes:
Foods with a high glycemic index or high carbs are the number one cause of blood sugar spike. Foods like pasta, bread and potatoes are rich in starch that is turned into glucose after digestion. If, however, you are seeing a spike despite controlling your diet, then other causes must be taken into consideration.
These include an insufficient dose of diabetes medication or insulin. If you are on medication, then you may need dosage adjustment to maintain the blood glucose level. Similar is the case with insulin, a dose adjustment could be merely all you need to avoid hyperglycemia spikes.
An illness or an infection tends to increase the body requirement of insulin. In such cases, blood glucose also rises and could become dangerously high. When the illness goes away, you could take your usual dose of insulin to maintain the blood sugar level. Talk to your nutritionist about adjusting the dose of your insulin in such cases.
Constant stress can increase the cortisol level in the body that increases blood sugar level. Avoid taking undue stress—both mental and physical, so that hyperglycemia could be avoided.
Certain medications like steroids also causes a spike in blood glucose, as can certain diuretics and antihypertensive medication. If you are taking these medications and undergoing hyperglycemia, then talk to your doctor about a dose adjustment.
Symptoms of high blood sugar:
One way to manage high blood sugar is to learn to recognize its symptoms. In fact, some people know immediately if they are having a spike. Typically, the symptoms begin when the level of blood sugar goes above 250 mg/dl. Some of the symptoms are frequent urination, headache, blurred vision, increased thirst, and fatigue.
What to do in case of a spike?
The first thing to do is to check the blood sugar level with the help of a finger stick. Going for a walk or a mild exercise can help deal with this spike, as can drinking a lot of water.
If the spike is very high, insulin can be used after consultation with your healthcare provider. Be sure to monitor the dose of insulin, as high levels can cause dangerously low levels of glucose known as hypoglycemia.
How to avoid hyperglycemia spikes?
The best way to manage blood glucose is to eat right, and exercise right. Apart from causing weight loss, exercise causes the glucose receptors to open up and move into the muscles, thus normalising it without the need for medication. Moreover, exercise reduces insulin resistance in type II diabetes patients.
If you need professional help to design a healthy menu for weight loss then book an appointment with top nutritionists in Multan, Karachi and Rawalpindi through oladoc.com, or call our helpline at 042-3890-0939 for assistance to find the RIGHT professional for your concerns.
