What are High Blood Sugar Numbers?

The question of “what is high blood sugar numbers?” is a valid one. A person who has diabetes, heart problems, hypoglycemia or some other medical condition should carefully monitor his or her blood sugar level. If a person’s blood sugar level is more or less than what it should be, this could cause serious heart problems.

What is an Average Blood Sugar Range?

Medical website lifeclinic.com notes that the average person should have a blood sugar level ranging from 70 mg/dl to 120 mg/dl most of the time. Blood sugar up to 140 mg/dl is acceptable right before bedtime. However, each person is different and some people do have a different “safe range” than the one noted above. This range can vary for reasons such as age, family history, eating patterns, daily sugar intake and even ethnic background.

Consulting a medical professional is the only way for a person to establish his or her safe blood sugar average.

What are High Blood Sugar Levels for the Morning?

high blood sugar numbersThe question of what’s considered high numbers for blood sugar in the morning, is difficult to answer across the board for everyone, but generally speaking a person should never have more than 200 mg/dl at this time.

It is interesting to note that even healthy people can expect to have high morning blood sugar numbers.

The reason for this is that your body produces extra blood sugar between three and eight in the morning. At the same time, hormones are released that lower your sensitivity to the high blood sugar level.

The fact that the body makes extra blood sugar for the morning is not bad; in fact, it helps to prepare the body for the day. However, if your blood sugar number is too high, it could indicate that he or she has out of control diabetes and/or needs to make some dietary changes.

High Blood Sugar Level Effects on the Heart and Lungs

high blood sugar levelAlong with the question of “What is high blood sugar numbers” you should also ask the question, “How does high blood sugar affect my heart?” Too much sugar in the blood will cause a person’s blood pressure to rise.

This can rehigh blood sugar levelsult in heart palpitations, an inflammation of the membranes around the heart or even cardiac arrest. Research has determined that having overly high blood sugar for an extended period of time can and does impair lung function. It can make it more difficult for a person to breathe and can exacerbate a lung condition known as Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

What Happens if you Ignore High Blood Sugar Numbers?

If you leave high blood sugar untreated, it can cause the body to start shutting down, organs to start being overworked and a person’s body to go into shock. If a person starts having high blood sugar numbers and leave them untreated or does not administer the proper amounts of insulin when needed the person can start showing symptoms such as :

  • rapid heartbeat,
  • stroke,
  • dizziness
  • and even can go into a diabetic coma.

Generally a high blood sugar number is considered high if the number falls over 150-177 range, but due to body mass, age and heredity the numbers can vary from person to person.

How Often Should I Monitor Blood Sugar Readings?

When a person is first diagnosed as being a diabetic they are asked to monitor their blood glucose readings very closely normally 2-3 times a day because this will allow the doctor and patient to determine what a high blood sugar number as well as a low number for that specific patient.

If the patient’s blood glucose numbers fall within those categories then they need to contact their doctor or seek treatment immediately, don’t let the symptoms go untreated for long periods of time because if so you could be doing more damage to your body than you realize.

Read about normal sugar levels for diabetics and non-diabetics HERE!

Final Thoughts on Blood Sugar Numbers

So the answer to the question “what is high blood sugar numbers?”  is that any number over 120 mg/dl – 140 mg/dl is too high. However, a person who has just woken up should not be alarmed to find that he or she has very high blood sugar.

As with any medical diagnosis always listen to your doctor and follow his or her instructions, although it may be difficult, their advice can help save your life.

More on what is considered high blood sugar HERE

High blood sugar levels

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What is a Normal Blood Sugar Level?

What is a Normal Blood Sugar Level
What is a Normal Blood Sugar Level

Though in many cases the so called normal range for blood glucose is between 60 and 120 this can vary for any number of reasons and it can be a challenge to ascertain what is a normal blood sugar level is for each individual. Glucose, which is the primary source of energy for the body’s cells, is also quite toxic at high levels and when levels are too low the body shuts down due to lack of energy.

What is a normal blood sugar level can be an extremely tricky animal to track down due to the fact that many different factors, like age, weight, underlying health conditions and even types of food eaten can cause what would be a normal blood glucose level to be wildly incorrect for the next person.

Diabetics live by knowing what is a normal blood sugar level, and keep careful records, often checking blood glucose many times per day with a device called a glucometer. A glucometer is a small device which, with the help of a specially designed test strip, is given a drop of blood. The glucometer then measures the amount of glucose in the blood. The glucometer is an invaluable asset to those suffering from diabetes or any of the associated metabolic disorders as it allows them to track and trend their blood glucose level and maintain as much as possible an acceptable blood glucose level.

If you or someone you know is a diabetic, or simply feels the need to maintain a certain blood glucose level, there are no hard and fast rules as to what is a normal blood sugar level. The only way to be sure what is normal for you is to visit your doctor and get his or her advice on what should be “normal’ for you with consideration to any other conditions that you may have.

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Foods with Glucose

 

foods with glucose
foods with glucose

In our present age when it seems that every aisle is covered with brightly colored wrappers and packages that be your attention and call out to you purporting to be the perfect food is is no wonder that foods with glucose are so prevalent. Glucose is a simple sugar that is needed as fuel by every cell in the body and if all goes well with the way the body handles glucose intake and metabolisis glucose can be a good thing. However in persons with diabetes glucose intake must be severely limited in order to maintain a healthy blood sugar.

Glucose, as a simple sugar is one of the chief building blocks of carbohydrates and therefore it is easy to know that foods that are high in carbohydrates are also foods that contain glucose as the body simply breaks the carbs down into glucose once it is ingested. This means that dairy products, potatoes, breads, pastas, potatoes and rice are some of the foods that contain the most glucose and can quickly elevate glucose levels in the body. Fruits are perhaps the best source of glucose as they generally contain the simplest of sugars and are excellent sources of glucose. Meats and fish as a general rule are not foods that contain glucose, as they are primarily sources of protein, though many cured, smoked, canned, and processed meat products have some form of sugar added and this makes them…you guessed it…foods that contain glucose.

Though glucose is absolutely essential for fuel to keep the body going, it must be remembered that too much of a good thing can become a bad thing. In a normal person, excess glucose is converted into fat and stored for use later, this results in weight gain. In cases of diabetes and other metabolic problems which effect insulin production or use glucose levels can rise to the point where this simple sugar can begin to damage organs and body systems and result in coma, or even death. Foods that contain glucose are an absolute essential for life, but their intake should be done with sense and moderation.

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What is the best type 11 diabetes diet?

type 11 diabetes diet

 What is the Best type 11 diabetes diet?

The perfect type 11 diabetes diet, is really going to vary from one person to the next.

We are all going to require a slightly different structure in out diets, depending on a few factors, such as

  •    age
  •    weight and
  •    exercise and activity levels.

well these are the main ones. To find out more about your specific requirements, it it best to visit your nutritionist or dietitian and they will help you plan the best diet for your needs.

Maintaining a healthy diet is vital! Especially for diabetes sufferers. It’s important not to skip meals – have 3 ‘well spaced out’ meals a day. This is going to help greatly to control you blood glucose levels and your appetite!

Carbohydrates and Type 11 Diabetes Diet

There are two main types of carbohydrates – There’s Starchy carbohydrates and sugar carbohydrates. When planning your meals, it’s important to incorporate some starchy carbohydrates into each meal. These may include:

  • Cereals
  • Potatoes
  • Breads
  • Rice
  • Pasta

Always try and include the lower GI (glycaemic index) carbs, as they help to keep your glucose levels down.

Some examples of Lower GI foods to include in your type 11 diabetes diet would be:

  • Soy Products
  • Some Fruits
  • Milk
  • Pasta
  • Grainy Breads                                                        

All carbohydrates are a very important part of a type 11 diabetes diet.  Glucose from carbs is also essential to the body’s well being – especially the brain. Carbs high in fibre, like in fruit and wholegrains, are important for maintaining a healthy gut and digestive system.

Important’ Fat Facts’ for a type 11 diabetes diet.

It’s also important, to try and limit the amounts of fat you eat especially saturated fats. Fats contain the most calories, so if you try and eat less fat, it will allow you to lose more weight if you are overweight.

Try and cut out butter, margarine and cheese from your diet – or really try hard to limit the amount you have. (I know for some people that’s hard. Butter is one of my biggest downfalls).

Choose low fat dairy products, like yogurts and milks, reduced fat spreads and cheeses.

There’s actually great news for yogurt lovers, with results from a recent study over an 11 year period, showing those people who loved and ate low-fat fermented dairy products like low-fat yogurts and cheese, were 24% less likely to develop diabetes, compared to those people who ate none.  How good is that!

It’s very important to include fish in your diet. At least 2 servings a week is OK, more if you’re a fish lover like me! The oily fish is best, as it is high in omega 3 (polyunsaturated fat) which is great for your ‘heart health’. Best fish to eat are sardines, mackerel, pilchards and salmon.

3 Popular meal ideas for Type 11 Diabetes Diet

 Breakfast

  1. Whisk up an egg with a little low fat milk and sprinkle with a bit of finely grated garlic and cracked black pepper. Cook in microwave for around 1 minute – until the egg is cooked through. Place on top of a slice of wholegrain toast (no butter) and top with a slice of avocado. Yum!
  2.  A small bowl of oats (porridge) cooked with water or unsweetened almond or soy milk in the microwave – toss in a generous sprinkle of cinnamon for taste or top with a small serve of berries.
  3. Try this one – Mix half a cup of low fat Greek yogurt with about the same amount of un-toasted, natural muesli. Top with some berries or a little sliced mango. My whole family love this!

Lunch

  1. Cook up some quinoa, and throw in a few veggies, like chopped capsicum, some finely chopped beans, red onion and tomato, actually whatever is in your fridge – I often use red cabbage, celery and even a few grapes or strawberries, just to add a little sweetness and interest. Mix in a good squeeze of lemon and a little olive oil. Top this with some canned salmon, or tuna and a good sprinkle of chopped parsley. Keeps me going and gives me heaps of energy!
  2. Whole wheat wraps – spread with a little hummus, top with some chopped grilled chicken breast – (no skin remember) some sundried tomatoes, feta cheese and a heap of leafy greens.
  3. For something lighter, just try some whole wheat crackers, add some hummus or a little tahini (this is a sesame seed spread – tastes like peanut butter!) add some tomato and cucumber, topped with canned tuna and some cracked black pepper.

Dinner

1.   Bake some sweet potato in the oven with just a quick spray of olive oil, once cooled,               add to some leafy greens, feta cheese, toasted pine nuts and grilled chicken. A nice                 squeeze of lemon juice over the top, will add a nice ‘tang’ to this meal.

2.   Grilled veggie stack with (capsicum, eggplant, red onion,   ) and a nice serving of                good quality steak, just seared to your liking in a little olive oil.

3.    Wholemeal pasta with basil pesto – Boil up some pasta in a saucepan with water        and a tiny splash of olive oil. (This prevents it from sticking together) Then mix up                together (in a kitchen wiz) a nice bunch of fresh basil, a quarter cup of pine nuts, 2                cloves of garlic and a good soaking of olive oil. I also add some lemon juice for that extra        tang. Combine this with a nice piece of grilled fish or chicken. This is always a quick and       easy favorite of mine, and what’s left over, you can always have for lunch the next day.       Too easy!

If you want to control your diabetes and even reverse it, fad diets are not the answer. You will have to adapt to a good healthy eating plan, for the rest of your life. Include some of these type 11 diabetes diet suggestions with plenty of exercise and you’re well on the way!

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What should sugar levels after eating be?

blood sugar levels after eating
blood sugar levels after eating

What should blood sugar levels after eating be? Is an important question for many who suffer from the disease diabetes? Diabetes, or as it is known as hyperglycemia, is where there is too much glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream. This is because of the body not producing the amounts of the chemical insulin needed.

Insulin is the main chemical and is used to convert glucose into fuel. If the body produces too little the body doesn’t get the necessary energy and the high amount of sugar in the blood can permanently damage the body. This can result in kidney damage, blindness, and heart disease later in life.

What blood sugar levels after eating depends on you individually. The amount varies due age, weight, amount of exercise and other specifications. Blood sugar levels 1 hour after eating should be under 120 mg/dl for an average person. But for a diabetic the blood sugar range after eating should be anywhere from 120 to (and no higher than) 140 mg/dl. The levels that are given after testing with a blood glucose meter should be in this range or too much or not enough insulin has been taken.

The amounts should also be put on a blood sugar levels chart were they can be compared with other days and are a record for your doctor. Hypoglycemia is also a factor and is very dangerous. If too much insulin is added and not enough glucose was taken in, the body will run out of energy and begin to show bad symptoms that should be treated with immediate sugar intake. Symptoms include dizziness, confusion, fogginess, and eventually fainting. So this should be immediately treated with.

Find out what your blood sugar levels after eating should be and talk to you doctor about improving your diet.

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