healthy blood sugar level

What Is Considered High Blood Sugar?

For diabetics, knowing what is considered high blood sugar and what is not, can be a real lifesaver.

The body naturally has glucose in the blood which gives the organs and cells energy to function. Blood sugar mainly comes from carbohydrates and the body needs insulin in order to maintain blood glucose levels within the normal range. Insulin helps cells absorb glucose from the blood and use it for energy or store it.

If insulin doesn’t work properly or there’s not enough of it, blood sugar levels rise. Too much blood glucose is known as hyperglycemia, a condition that can cause various health problems.

In this article, we’ll explore what high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) feels like, why it happens and how you know if you have hyperglycemia.

So what is considered high blood sugar?

Anything over 120 mg/dl is what is considered high blood sugar and once blood sugar levels reach 140 mg/dl they begin to damage the body. There are several things you can do to help control your blood sugar. The first is to talk to your doctor. Use a blood glucose meter, these help by allowing you to check your blood sugar at any time.

What are the Symptoms of High Blood Sugar?

Headache and other pains and aches
Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Feeling tired or drowsy
Blurred vision
Dry mouth
Frequent urination
Slow healing of cuts, wounds, and bruises
Bloating

Low insulin and high blood sugar can lead to a build-up of ketones, or even lead to DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis), a complication that required immediate medical attention.

If this happens, you may experience:

A rapid heartbeat
Fruity smell or taste
Disorientation
Confusion
Shortness of breath
Dehydration
Vomiting
Coma

Moreover, your blood sugar level may be over 250 ml/dL. Most people with diabetes typically experience the symptoms of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) in the morning.

Effects of high blood sugar on the body.

High blood sugar can cause a wide range of symptoms. Here are some that you need to be aware of:

Thirst and frequent urination: Excess sugar in the blood goes into the kidneys and the system works to get rid of it through the urine, causing frequent urination and increased thirst. People with high blood sugar tend to experience increased thirst, despite drinking the recommended amount of liquids.
Tingling and numbness: High blood sugar levels can also cause tingling, burning, or numbness in the feet, legs, and hands. This can be caused by diabetic neuropathy, a condition that arises after many years of consistently high blood sugar levels.
Weight loss: Unexplained or sudden weight loss can occur in people with high blood sugar levels because cells are not getting the nourishment (glucose) they need. As a result, the body burns stored fat and muscle for energy instead.

Can High Blood Sugar be Dangerous?

When insulin levels are too low the sugar levels begin to rise and this can damage the body. The damage often associated with high blood sugar is heart damage, nerve damage, eye damage, and kidney damage. This kind of damage will impair diabetes later on in life so it is best to control your blood sugar.

Causes of High Blood Sugar

High blood sugar can be caused by various conditions, including:

Gestational diabetes occurs when high blood sugar levels and insulin resistance appear during pregnancy. If this happens, the mother should be closely monitored as high blood sugar levels during pregnancy can lead to various complications for the baby and the mother as well.
Type 1 diabetes is where the immune system launches an attack on insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. As a result, insulin production is reduced or stopped and blood glucose levels rise. People diagnosed with type 1 diabetes regulate their blood sugar level by taking insulin through a pen, insulin pump, or needle. According to the American Diabetes Association, only 5% of people with diabetes have type 1 Diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is where the pancreas produces insulin but the body does not use it properly. In this case, the body is unable to use insulin to keep blood glucose levels steady (insulin resistance). If you have type 2 diabetes, you may need to make exercise or diet changes or take pills or insulin to help manage your blood sugar levels.
Cystic fibrosis: Studies suggest there may be a link between cystic fibrosis and diabetes
Medications: Certain steroids and beta-blockers can raise blood sugar levels.

Long-term complications of high blood sugar.

Consistently high blood sugar levels can damage the body’s systems and organs. This can lead to serious complications such as:

Kidney disease
Stroke
Heart attack
Damage to the eyes and loss of vision
Nerve damage leads to infections, sores, and wound healing problems

Risk factors

Type 1 Diabetes

Although researchers have not yet established exactly what causes high blood sugar levels and diabetes, there are certain factors that increase the risk.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, certain genes have been shown to have an impact. Moreover, infections and viruses may play a role. Studies also show that certain environmental or genetic factors may increase the risk of getting type 1 diabetes.

You can be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at any age, but it usually starts during early adulthood or childhood.

Type 2 Diabetes

Risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes include:

Sedentary lifestyle
Being overweight
Having certain genes
Being over 45 years old
Having a sibling or parent with type 2 diabetes
Having American Indian, African-American, Pacific Islander, Alaska Native, Hispanic, or Asian-American ethnicity.
Having high blood pressure or receiving treatment for it
Having high levels of triglycerides or low levels of HDL cholesterol.

Focus on eating the correct diet for diabetics.

The correct diet for a diabetic is low sugar items and items with high dietary fiber. This should be discussed with your doctor as he can give you the best information.

Avoid foods that are high in fat and refrain from consuming alcohol, because alcohol stays in the bloodstream and its action mimics that of blood sugar. You’re going to need to cut down on the salt intake as well.

American Diabetes Association Diet Plan Food Recommendation

The following foods are considered to be most helpful for diabetics:

All kinds of beans – green and black beans, pinto beans, and navy beans. Beans are full of protein and energy. One-half cup of beans contains equal protein to that in an ounce of meat.
Berries – raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries are full of antioxidants, vitamins, and fibers.
Whole grains – avoid flours that are processed too much (pretty much all white flour falls into this overly-processed category) and instead go for the less processed forms like whole wheat and whole-grain options.

Tomatoes are good antioxidants and are very versatile since you can simply eat them as they are, peel or slice them, and even add them as toppings to your food. These are rich in iron, Vitamin C and E, and are good for your heart as well.

The bottom-line.

Monitoring your blood sugar levels alongside exercise and diet can help you maintain healthy blood sugar levels. Other strategies that can help prevent high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) include:

taking the amount of insulin prescribed by your doctor if you have type 1 diabetes,
planning your exercise routine and food intake,
taking precautions to avoid infections,
minimizing stress by getting enough sleep
including other stress-reducing activities like yoga and meditation in your daily life.

Read about more of the complications that come with diabetes here!

Just How Low Is Low Blood Sugar

How low is low blood sugar?

Generally speaking, your blood sugar should never dip to 70 mg/dL or lower. When a person’s blood sugar dips lower than it should, this is known as hypoglycemia. It is a dangerous condition that could even be life threatening if not attended to. While hypoglycemia is more of a problem for diabetics than for non-diabetics, it should be noted that 70 mg/dL is the standard limit for what constitutes low blood sugar.

Causes and Symptoms

Hypoglycemia can be caused by one or more factors. It is often brought on if either glucose or insulin is released into the bloodstream too quickly. Taking insulin or diabetes medication at the wrong time can also cause hypoglycemia. Those who have diabetes should be sure to eat enough at mealtimes and for snack, especially if insulin has just been taken.

Skipping meals, drinking alcohol and/or changes in exercise habits can also bring about hypoglycemia if a person has diabetes type 2.

Some of the many symptoms of hypoglycemia include:

double vision
headaches
nervousness
rapid heartbeat
shaking
sweating
fatigue

However, there is also the danger of a person not feeling any of the above mentioned symptoms before more serious symptoms set in. Some of the most serious symptoms of hypoglycemia include fainting and seizures.

Blood Sugar Goals

Knowing how low is low blood sugar is not enough. A person needs to take action to ensure that his or her blood sugar levels remain stable. Generally speaking, a healthy person’s blood sugar levels should remain between 80 mg/dL and 160 mg/dL. While many diabetics have a higher range that what has been mentioned here, it is not impossible for a person with diabetes type 2 to attain to this healthy blood sugar level. However, those who have diabetes will want to consult a doctor, as one’s ideal blood sugar level range does vary from person to person.

An Introduction to Hemoglobin A1C Tests

Hemoglobin A1C tests can help to determine just how low is low blood sugar. These tests can be found in many doctor offices, but there are also home kits that can be used by a diabetic without professional medical help. The hemoglobin A1C home test should be used before mealtimes, after mealtimes and before going to bed. It will help one get a good idea of what his or her average blood sugar level is at various times of the day.

Ideally, a diabetic should strive for a blood sugar level of 80 mg/dL to 160 mg/dL. However, this goal may not be realistic for everyone, which is why consulting a doctor and using a Hemoglobin A1C home test kit is important. Knowing about blood sugar ranges, especially the low range will help keep you in good health.

For a diabetic, a healthy blood sugar level is very easily maintained with the right diet and exercise and without the proper diet and exercise a diabetic can send their bodies into overdrive.

For diabetics having a healthy blood sugar level is very important because without it their bodies can start having bad reactions and even start shutting down. Diabetics have to maintain a healthy blood sugar level or otherwise their organs don’t work together in sync and start working into overdrive which causes diabetics to get sick and their kidneys can start shutting down which for a diabetic can mean very bad things such as being placed on kidney dialysis 3-4 times a week so that they can function and live properly and safely.

A healthy blood sugar level is very important to a diabetic because by having a good healthy blood sugar level you can maintain your health and keep your body healthy and intact by having it all together and working together properly without any complications or problems.

For a diabetic a healthy blood sugar level is considered between the range of 74-115 and anything above that or below that is considered bad for a diabetic. In order to keep all of the organs properly working and everything running smoothly together and diabetic needs to keep a watchful eye on their diabetes and make sure that they are healthy and well maintained.

A healthy blood sugar level is a hard thing for many to do but it is very important when it comes to being a diabetic and can be a life threatening event as well because without having a safe and healthy blood sugar level you can cause your body to be in more of a harm’s way than good.

What Should Your Blood Sugar Level Be?

What should your blood sugar level be? Your blood sugar level is a need to know for those who have diabetes or have pre-diabetes. As diabetes ravages the world more and more people ask “What should your blood sugar level be?’’. Diabetes is a disease where the body does not have sufficient amounts of insulin. Insulin is a chemical that is produced by the organ called the pancreas.

The insulin is responsible for changing the sugar in the blood into fuel that the body can use. When the insulin amounts are to low the sugar levels begin to damage the body. The damage that can be done when the sugar is to high includes heart damage, nerve damage, eye damage, and kidney damage. This makes knowing how much your blood sugar should be a need.

So what should your blood sugar level be? For a normal person it should be anywhere from 64.8 mg/dl to levels of 120.4 mg/dl. These depend on when the last meal was and the size of the meal. For diabetics the amounts of sugar in the blood can skyrocket to levels of 200 mg/dl which are very dangerous. In order to keep a steady and healthy blood sugar level you should do several things.

Talk to your doctor, he can give you the best information on how to care for your blood sugar.
Diet, talk to your doctor about a special diet. For diabetics this means eating sugar free foods, and foods that are high in dietary fiber.
Exercise, talk to your doctor about exercise. This plays a major role in containing your blood sugar. Also talk to other diabetics as they may have experience in what works best.

So now that you know what your blood sugar level should be – what will you do to better contain it!

Normal Blood Sugar Count

As the number of people diagnosed with diabetes continues to rise the question of what is a normal blood sugar count has become one of the most frequently asked questions in doctor’s offices all around the world. While there are no hard and fast rules, normal blood glucose is generally thought to be between 60 and 100 milligrams per deciliter. Though this the normal rule in some cases blood sugar levels can be affected by other underlying medical conditions, including the age, weight, and overall health condition of the patient, the only one who can determine what a normal blood sugar count for the individual is the individual’s physician.

If you are a diabetic, the best way to keep your diabetes in control and in check is by regularly checking your blood sugar level and maintaining them as close to normal as possible. Only by maintaining a normal blood sugar count can the worst of the health effects of diabetes be headed off. A healthy blood sugar level is the only way to prevent diabetes related neuropathy, blindness, kidney disease and other long term effects of abnormal blood sugar levels. Whether you have type one or type two diabetes, whether you control your blood sugar by diet alone, or with a combination of diet and medication, the blood sugar is the key to the prevention of long term detrimental health effects.

A normal blood sugar count can be maintained, but it does take a great deal of discipline, especially when it comes to counting carbs and regulating sugar intake as a means of keeping the sugar in check. Let’s face it the foods that we love the most are the ones that are highest in sugars and the kind of carbs that we shouldn’t be eating if we want to keep ourselves healthy. Regardless of the difficulty the only way to stay healthy is to wake up each morning aware of a normal blood sugar count and do what it takes to maintain it.