What is High Blood Sugar?

What is High Blood Sugar?

Whether you are newly diagnosed with diabetes or you have been dealing with high blood sugar for years, there are several signs that you should be aware of. Knowing these signs can help you detect high blood sugar and get your blood glucose levels down to the target range before it leads to serious problems. Using a glucose monitor to track your sugar levels can also help you to make adjustments to your lifestyle.

High blood sugar levels are dangerous because they cause damage to many parts of your body. They increase your risk of heart disease, kidney problems, nerve damage, blindness, and amputations. Diabetes also increases your risk of stroke, heart attack, and death.

One of the most common symptoms of high blood sugar is thirst. Drinking water helps you keep your body hydrated. If you are urinating often, your body is trying to get rid of excess fluid. This can lead to fatigue, dehydration, and other problems or medical conditions.

Another common symptom of high blood sugar is itchy skin. This is a sign that you are retaining water, and it can be caused by dehydration or a medication you are taking. Your doctor can test your blood to determine if you are dehydrated.

You might be unable to think clearly if your blood sugar is too low. This can lead to lack of sleep and fatigue. It can also affect your decision-making skills. The brain sends a message to your tissues, which then pull fluid from the blood to dilute it.

You may also feel sick and lightheaded, or worse you are experiencing blurred vision if you have high blood sugar. This is because your blood glucose level has changed, causing your blood vessels to constrict. This can lead to a heart attack or stroke or even kidney disease. Your doctor can monitor your blood sugar, or you can check it yourself at home. Most blood sugar meters can save your results for you to review later. However you do it, it is vital that you get your blood glucose levels down to your target range.

If your blood sugar has been elevated for some time, it can cause a “dawn phenomenon” – a surge in hormones at the beginning of the day. This can happen if you are stressed or tired. Some people experience a spike in their blood sugar after they eat a large meal. This is especially true if you eat a large amount of carbohydrates. A great specific meal plan is the best option for you.

Another worrisome side effect of high blood sugar levels is that you might also experience difficulty maintaining an erection. Men over the age of 50 are more likely to suffer from this. It is important to know how to spot these symptoms, and to speak with your health care provider. You might also be at increased risk for developing diabetic retinopathy, which can cause blindness and blurred vision. Similarly, people with diabetes are at risk for developing cataract, a thickening of the lens in your eye. If left untreated, this condition can result in vision loss.

You might also experience a dry mouth, which is known as xerostomia. Your saliva is essential to preventing yeast infections and washing away acid from the mouth. Not everyone with diabetes will experience this symptom, but it can be made worse by certain medicines.

If you have diabetes, your doctor should be able to tell you how to test your blood sugar and how to take care of your condition. It is also a good idea to keep a record of your blood sugar level and your meal plan. This can help your doctor identify what’s causing your spike in blood sugar, and may even help you to avoid it.

Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar) or blood glucose, is a simple sugar that your body uses for energy. It’s made in the liver and muscles from carbohydrates you eat. Your pancreas makes insulin to help move this sugar into cells so they can use it as fuel. Insulin helps control how much sugar gets into your bloodstream. If you have diabetes, you don’t make enough of it or you can’t use it properly.

According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as The American Diabetes Association…gestational diabetes affects more than 29 million people in the United States, and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The prevalence of people with diabetes has increased dramatically over the past few decades, and it is estimated that by 2025 there will be an additional 8 to 12 million Americans with diabetes. Diabetes is characterized by chronic hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, low insulin levels or both.

What are risk factors for hyperglycemia?

* Diabetes mellitus

* Age (older than 60 years)

* Obesity

* Family history of diabetes

* Hypertension

* Hyperlipidemia

* Smoking

* Alcohol consumption

* Physical inactivity

* Impaired glucose tolerance

* Insulin resistance

* Metabolic syndrome

* Polycystic

Treatment Options

If you are suffering from with high blood sugar levels, there are some simple ways to get better and avoid long-term complications. I know you have probably heard this a million times already, but you need to have a diabetes meal plan that gets your excess sugar into a healthy range. Your doctor can give you this number… or you can contact The American Diabetes Association for their recommendations for what your specific healthy range needs to be. Increase your physical activity to at least 20 minutes a day to start…walking is a great way to start a weight loss program. Regular exercise is a must. Drink water…lots of it…every day. A healthy range to drink water is 50% of your total weight. 200 lbs = 100 oz of water. Get on a healthy diet and a balanced diet. Go and buy a blood glucose meter and create a diabetes management plan.

These are some very simple and easy techniques to combat high blood sugar levels. You would be well advised to follow this simple treatment plan. Because the alternatives are nasty. You might have severe abdominal pain or kidney failure…to name just a couple. Then your life becomes all about emergency care or extreme medical care…filled with diabetes medicines and insulin therapy. That means buying insulin pumps to get your daily insulin injections. And this isn’t really living a good life or enjoying your life.

Kristen was diagnosed with high blood sugar years ago and was close to developing diabetes. She was able to reverse this by cleaning up her diet and eating great foods. Here’s her method!

Learn How to Stop Sugar Cravings

Learn how to stop sugar cravings

Many people from countries all over the world are addicted to sugar without realizing it. Some people claim they have been genetically predisposed to crave sugar.

Giving up Sugar May be Difficult

The result will be worth it, for your health’s sake, but it will require effort, especially in the beginning. The following advice will prove useful if you are serious about stopping your sugar addiction.

If your body is conditioned to high sugar intake you can expect to go through a period of withdrawal and the symptoms can be frustrating and painful. This period can last from a couple of days to two weeks. You may experience headaches, agitation and mood swings.

There is absolutely no doubt that giving or limiting up sugar intake will benefit your health. Sugar provides no nutrients but causes problems to your health. The only perceived gains are taste and satisfying a compulsive urge.

Look for a Substitute

Go easy on the dried fruits, however, as they can be quite high in sugar content by weight and volume compared to the naturally hydrated version. It will take some active willpower; however, soon you will be able to make better choices when the sweet cravings take over.

You may want to try some natural, herbal teas to satisfy your cravings. Some satisfying choices include green tea, blueberry tea or peppermint tea.

Make Sweets Less Accessible    

Stopping your sugar cravings will be difficult if your cupboards, fridge, and counters are laden with high sugar candies, chocolates or snacks. Keep some sugar free gum at your desk and in your car for a quick fix.

Avoid going down the junk food aisles when you go shopping. Read the labels on “health food bars”, these are often sugar bombs in disguise. Instead, keep your kitchen filled with fresh fruits and other healthy snacks which you can easily grab whenever you are craving something sweet.

Brush Your Teeth Right Away

Make a habit of brushing your teeth very soon after eating your meals. Some people often crave something sweet after they have finished their meals because they do not like the yucky aftertaste left in their mouths. If, however, you make an effort to brush your teeth right away after eating, the minty taste of toothpaste will help stomp out the urge to consume something sweet.

Wait for Ten Minutes

Nutrition experts advise that sugar cravings may only last up to ten minutes. The next time you feel the urge to look for something sweet, wait for ten minutes first and allow the craving to subside.

If you need the incentive to convince you to overcome your addiction to sugar, here are some valid reasons why you should call it quits:

Sugar is not healthy in any way
Having zero nutritional value, it is something that will only deprive you of the nutrients needed by your mind and body in order to function well. What’s more, when sugar is processed inside your body, it will strip away Calcium and other mineral resources while depleting your healthy intestinal flora.

” Sugar destroys your pancreas
Studies reveal that sugar will compromise the ability of your pancreas to function well. You can find yourself becoming susceptible to kidney problems, diabetes, and heart problems when this occurs.

Sugar provides no nutrients but causes problems to your health. Stopping your sugar cravings will be difficult if your cupboards, fridge, and counters are laden with high sugar candies, snacks or chocolates. Read the labels on “health food bars”, these are often sugar bombs in disguise. Nutrition experts advise that sugar cravings may only last up to ten minutes. If you want to live a longer and healthier life, banish sugar cravings.

Sweet foods are often used as rewards, bear in mind that this will never reward your health. Banish sugar cravings if you want to live a longer and healthier life. Suffering an amputation due to diabetic complications is not such a sweet thought, isn’t it?

” Sugar ruins your teeth
The more you eat foods that contain sugar, the more you increase bacteria build-up inside your mouth which will contribute to enamel erosion.

” Sugar makes you anxious

Eating more of foods that contain sugar can make you more vulnerable to the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Consuming these sugary foods will increase your insulin production and the sugar/slump cycle can elevate adrenalin levels.

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Stop Sugar Cravings Naturally

Sugar addiction is a real thing, and it is difficult to overcome. Many people think that their sugar cravings are just in their heads, and they feel bad about the fact that they keep succumbing to their cravings.

Overcoming and learning to stop sugar addiction can be a difficult thing to do, if you want to learn to stop sugar cravings naturally, then you must stop eating sugar every day and you must follow these steps:

1. Eat Fruit Instead of Candy
In the beginning, you will have intense cravings for the candy bars or highly sugary treats that you enjoy so much. Be sure that you have a backup plan in place when these cravings hit because you are still going to want to have a treat or a snack to eat.

Substituting the highly refined sugary foods (like doughnuts, candy, etc) with natural fruit can be a great way to ease your body into a low-sugar habit. Fruits contain naturally occurring sugars along with healthy fiber, so they are better for your health when compared with the refined, processed foods that are packed full of sugars.

2. Drink Lots of Water
When the sugar craving hits, drinking water can be a great way to get through the moment. Drink a tall glass of water instead if you find yourself getting caught up in the thought of unhealthy treats. This will keep you well hydrated and help to stave off the strong cravings.

3. Eat Plenty of Whole Foods
Fresh, whole foods contain the nutrients that your body needs to be healthy. Your body will be less likely to have cravings because it will already have everything that it needs when you are getting sufficient nutrition. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, legumes and beans, whole grains, nuts and seeds, and healthy fats.

Don’t be discouraged if you are trying to break your sugar habit because it takes a little bit of time to make the adjustment. Set some small benchmark goals for yourself and follow these steps, and you will find that you can be successful in cutting back on your sugar intake.

Sugar addiction is a real thing, and it is difficult to overcome. Many people think that their sugar cravings are just in their heads, and they feel bad about the fact that they keep succumbing to their cravings. Overcoming a sugar addiction can be a difficult thing to do, if you want to stop eating sugar every day then you must follow these steps:

Drinking water can be a great way to get through the moment when the sugar craving hits.

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