In this post, we are going to explain what abnormal blood sugar levels are, the symptoms, causes, treatments, and much more!
Most people go about their daily lives eating foods they enjoy while performing their normal daily functions.
However, if you start feeling sluggish, constantly thirsty, and lose an unusual amount of weight despite not being on a diet, this could be a sign of a serious problem.
In most cases, it could be a sign of diabetes and abnormal blood sugar levels. The traditional test of pricking your finger with a needle called a lancet and determining your blood sugar level reading with an electronic meter is the best way to find out if you are diabetic.
Most people’s blood glucose levels should be between 80 and 110 milligrams per deciliter.
Diabetes and abnormal blood sugar levels become an issue when the blood glucose level exceeds 200 milligrams per deciliter or higher.
A Type 1 diabetic pancreas produces little to no insulin, resulting in a lifetime of insulin dependency. When the body does not produce enough insulin to burn off the food consumed, the blood glucose level rises.
Type 2 diabetics typically have higher blood sugar levels due to weight gain later in life, a poor diet, and limited exercise.
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A blood glucose level of 126 milligrams per deciliter is the first sign of potential diabetes and abnormal blood sugar levels.
Most doctors will monitor you and work with you to reduce it in order to offset potential diabetic problems. The majority of Type 1 diabetics are diagnosed from childhood to early adulthood.
It is the most difficult to treat, but with proper healthy eating and exercise, it is manageable.
Type 2 diabetics can usually reduce their risk by completely changing their lifestyle, and they can be free of the disease by simply changing their diet, taking mild insulin pills, and becoming more active.
All of these factors can reduce the likelihood of elevated blood sugar levels and lead a productive life.
What Causes Your Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels?
The main reasons your blood sugar level may be abnormal:
- Consuming more
food than usual… in terms of quantity, food combination, and extra
carbohydrates - How much physical activity Do you do… less than usual or exercise when your blood sugar levels are higher than 270 mg/dl (15 mmol/l)
- Your medications, such as cortisone or thiazide diuretics. Many common medications
used to treat high blood pressure will also cause an increase in your blood glucose level. - The medications you didn’t take… You may have forgotten to take your anti-diabetic medications, or your insulin dose was too low.
- Illness or infection.
When your levels are above your target range, consider what foods you have eaten or have not eaten.
Have you skipped
your usual post-meal walk? Do you have stress or illness? All of these will
raise your blood sugar level.
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When your blood glucose levels are abnormal, you may:
- Feel thirsty
- Urinate more often
- Feel really tired
- Have blurred vision
- Have a dry and itchy skin
- Have more infections
Symptoms Of Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels
The symptoms of high blood sugar levels are difficult to identify. The main reason for this is that most of these symptoms are common in many people, regardless of whether they have a higher risk factor for diabetes or any other disease that results in abnormal blood sugar levels.
Whatever the case, understanding elevated blood glucose levels is critical for everyone to understand because it is the key to avoiding many complications.
Ignorance can sometimes be dangerous to one’s life. The symptoms of high blood glucose levels are classified as severe, mild, or moderate.
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Symptoms of Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels – Mild Ones
- Frequent urination
- Itchy skin and dry skin
- Frequent thirsting
Symptoms of Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels – Moderate Ones
- Vision blurriness
- Urine discoloration occurs when urine turns a dark yellow color.
- Urge to urinate frequently with a smaller amount of urine at one time
- Feelings of complete exhaustion with dizziness and weakness during all types of physical labor
Symptoms of Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels – Severe Ones
- Loss of consciousness
- Extreme weakness with an inability to perform even the most basic physical activities of life
- Difficulty in understanding even routine life conversations
- A faster heartbeat with a slower pulse rate
It is critical to diagnose the condition as soon as possible because elevated blood glucose levels for an extended period of time cause damage to the major body organs. When the conditions are mild, it is difficult to diagnose high blood glucose levels.
The mild symptom is characterized by a slight elevation.
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Major Complications Associated With Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels
The major complications that may arise as a result of a prolonged deviation from normal blood sugar levels are:
- Damage to eye nerves
- Cardiovascular issues
- Kidney failure
- Amputations
- Diabetic coma
Whatever the blood sugar levels are, it is essential that diabetics understand that diabetes does not mean the end of life.
This is a disease that can be easily managed through lifestyle changes. Diabetes is easily reversed or controlled in the early stages.
If the level of sugar in the blood has risen, the situation can be managed with the help of sugar-lowering medications.
Diabetics must consult with their endocrinologist to develop a healthy diabetic diet plan.
Testing For Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels and Type 2 Diabetes
There are two major blood tests used to diagnose Type 2 diabetes. Because blood sugar levels can be affected by a variety of factors, including stress, most doctors will repeat the tests at least twice to confirm your diagnosis.
1. Fasting Blood Glucose Test
The first is a ‘fasting blood glucose test,’ which is done early in the morning after waking up after an overnight fast (the person being tested cannot have eaten anything after midnight… including beverages with sugar or protein).
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The concentration of glucose in a small blood sample is measured in this test. Sugar levels are
normal when glucose levels range from 70 to 110mg/dL (3.89 to 6 mmol/L).
A blood sugar level of more than 126mg/dL (7mmol/L) on more than two occasions indicates high blood sugar and a high risk of Type 2 diabetes.
2. Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
The second blood test is known as the ‘oral glucose tolerance test,’ and it is usually done in the late morning after a fast of at least ten hours but no more than sixteen hours.
After drawing a blood sample to test glucose levels, the patient is given a ‘glucola’ drink, which typically contains 75 grams of glucose.
Blood is drawn and tested every 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours, and 3 hours.
In a healthy person, glucose levels will rise sharply and then level off; if levels are equal to or less than 110mg/dL (6mmol/L) after 2 hours, a normal response is diagnosed.
If the levels are between 100 and 126mg/dL (5.5 and 7mmol/L), it indicates an impaired fasting response… which is not a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, but it does indicate that the person being tested is at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
If the glucose levels in the 2-hour test range between 140 and 200mg/dL (7.8 and 11mmol/L), this indicates impaired glucose tolerance.
Currently, for Type 2 diabetes to be formally diagnosed, glucose levels must be greater than 200mg/dL (11mmol/L), and this must be confirmed by a second test performed in the doctor’s office or lab.
Some doctors are advocating for this upper limit to be reduced to 180mg/dL (10mmol/L) so that
intervention can begin sooner.
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Gestational Diabetes
During pregnancy, some women develop diabetes. The above tests can be used to diagnose gestational diabetes if two or more of the following parameters are met:
- A fasting glucose level of more than 105mg/dL (5.8mmol/L)
- Glucose level greater than 190mg/dL (10.5mmol/L) after 2 hours
- Over 145mg/dL (8mmol/L) glucose level after 3 hours
- Another factor that can put a person at high risk for Type 2 diabetes later in life is gestational diabetes.
These are the tests that your doctor will perform to rule out or confirm Type 2 diabetes.
How To Manage Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels: Diet
Abnormal blood sugar levels are a condition that can only be managed and not cured. Blood sugar control is best achieved through a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Make it a point to eat regularly as well. Skipping meals is a bad idea, especially if you are taking blood sugar-lowering medication.
When your blood sugar levels rise, you become thirstier and hungrier. So, divide your food and eat in smaller amounts more frequently. But, from a dietary standpoint, what you eat and drink is critical.
A few pointers are provided below:
Carbohydrates: Complex carbohydrates are recommended because they are broken down over a longer period of time, reducing the release of glucose into the blood. Whole-grain bread and cereals are advised.
Refined carbohydrates, such as sugar, cause a spike in blood sugar levels because the glucose in them is released into the bloodstream early.
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Fibre: Increase the fiber content of your diet. Fibre is found in foods such as green leafy vegetables and fruits.
Fat: Limit your intake of fat, particularly saturated fat. Replace high-fat foods like ghee (rarefied butter), pasteurized butter, and coconut oil with low-fat spreads and vegetable oil. Make use of more skim milk and low-fat curds.
Fried items: Deep-fried foods Samosas, papads, and chips, for example, should be reduced. Switch to healthier cooking methods that use less oil and fat, such as grilling and baking.
Fish and meat: Fish is a better choice because it contains less fat. Lean meat is recommended for sugar control. Processed and fatty meat is strictly forbidden. Sausages and hamburgers are examples of this.
Beverages: Aerated soft drinks should be avoided because they are high in sugar. Alcohol consumption should be limited.
Hot beverages such as tea, coffee, or cocoa can be consumed without the addition of
sugar. Fruit juices can be consumed without the addition of sugar.
Nuts: Nuts are the best snack option. The less salted the better. They are superior because nuts contain fiber and are high in omega-3 fatty acids.
How To Manage Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels: Home Remedies
Try a few home remedies such as:
1. Soak Fenugreek seeds in water overnight, then chew the seeds and drink the
water on an empty stomach the next morning.
2. Prepare a Neem and turmeric paste and consume 1 teaspoon twice daily.
3. In the mornings, crush and make a paste of Tulsi (Holy Basil) leaves.
4. Include legumes and sprouts in your diet because they take longer to digest.
5. Consume one cup of Bitter Gourd juice and one tablespoon of Amla (gooseberry)
juice every day. Bitter gourd can also be consumed on a daily basis.
6. Make a cup of cinnamon tea and drink it in the morning. Cinnamon can also be
added to regular tea.
How To Manage Abnormal Blood Sugar Levels: Lifestyle
Diabetes is regarded as a disease of lifestyle. Although it is largely hereditary, it is mostly acquired.
High blood sugar levels are caused by a sedentary lifestyle, obesity or overweight, and stress.
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Better stress management and increased exercise to burn off excess fat are two ways to manage this condition. There are several approaches to stress management. Here are a couple of methods for accomplishing this.
Yoga: Yoga is an ancient science that can be practiced to improve concentration and relaxation.
These breathing exercises and postures help one gain control of their mind and body, allowing them to deal with stressful situations at work and at home with ease.
Realistic goals: Most stress is caused by setting unrealistic goals and burning ourselves out to achieve them. Take some time to live and enjoy yourself.
Workouts: Burn off that extra fat or simply improve your flexibility and confidence with a better-looking body. Aerobic activity improves insulin function. Workouts also allow you to sweat out your stress.
Walk or jog: Nothing beats the early morning air. A daily 30-minute walk or jog gets you ready for the day and boosts your productivity and confidence.
Sleep: Get plenty of rest. It is critical for the machine, i.e., our body, to function properly. Sleep deprivation and excessive sleep are both harmful in multiple ways. Every adult needs at least 6-8 hours of sleep per day.
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So, adopt any of these tips and get your abnormal blood sugar levels back to a normal level. Live a complete and healthy life.