Why
Bother to Control Your Blood Sugar Levels? When there are various factors and
factors influencing your blood sugar levels, you will experience both high and
low readings. Many of the following factors influence your blood sugar level:
- Your choice of food
- How much food do you eat
- Your menstrual cycle
- Your emotions
- Illnesses
- How much you weigh
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Your body's resistance to insulin
Unfortunately,
no two days are alike, but it is critical to keep your blood sugar levels
within the normal range. There are two tests that can tell you what your blood
sugar levels are:
- The glucometer tests you perform on your own
- The HbA1c test, which determines your true average over the previous three months
According
to the American Diabetes Association, if you keep your post-meal blood sugar
levels under 180 mg/dl and your fasting level under 130 mg/dl... your HbA1c
will be 7%.
Many
diabetic specialists will recommend an HbA1c level of 6.5%. HbA1c levels that
are truly normal are 5%... this level is well below the levels associated with
diabetic complications.
An
HbA1c of 6.5% is barely below the level that research suggests damages organs,
and an HbA1c of 7% results in neuropathy, retinopathy, and other diabetic
complications.
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Unfortunately,
complications appear in people with type 2 diabetes less than ten years after
diagnosis.
This
is because insulin resistance and rising blood sugar levels could have existed
for up to ten to twelve years prior to diagnosis.
Blood Sugar Self-Monitoring Guidelines:
Self-monitoring
with one or two tests per week may be required at diagnosis or later depending
on the effectiveness of their overall diabetes control in newly diagnosed type
2 diabetes patients.
Type
2 diabetes and oral hypoglycemic agents... self-monitoring is usually tailored
to the individual's needs and is dependent on diet control.
If
sulphonylurea medications are prescribed, self-monitoring will be required more
than twice a week.
A
type 2 diabetic who is prescribed insulin should self-monitor with daily
testing, usually twice a day when starting on insulin.
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Once
stable, the frequency is frequently reduced to one to two days per week or
daily at different times. Levels that are stable vary a little from day to day.
Your
doctor will tell you how often you should check your blood sugar levels, and he
will undoubtedly be interested in the results.
He
will also want to schedule an appointment for you to have your HbA1c level
checked every three months.
When
you're not feeling well, always check your blood sugar level to be safe.
FAQs Related To Why Bother To Control Your
Blood Sugar Levels
What happens if you don't control your blood
sugar?
Uncontrolled
diabetes puts people at risk of dangerously high blood glucose levels. This can
set off a chain reaction of symptoms ranging from mood swings to organ damage.
Diabetes complications include frequent infection, heart and kidney problems,
and diabetic ketoacidosis.
What happens to your body if your blood sugar
is too high?
When
blood sugar levels are extremely high, the excess sugar is excreted in the
urine. This starts a process that removes a large amount of fluid from the
body. If left untreated, it can result in life-threatening dehydration and a
diabetic coma.
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How do I know if my blood sugar is
uncontrolled?
When
your blood glucose (sugar) levels are 180 milliliters per deciliter (ml/dL) or
higher, you have uncontrolled diabetes. Uncontrolled diabetes can damage
nerves, blood vessels, and vital organs due to persistently high blood sugar
levels.
Does drinking water lower blood sugar?
Drinking
plenty of water can help lower blood sugar levels by reducing insulin
resistance and decreasing hunger.
What is the normal blood sugar level for my age?
Adults
should have levels ranging from 90 to 150 mg/dL (5.0 to 8.3 mmol/L). For
children aged 13 to 19, the range is 90 to 150 mg/dL (5.0 to 8.3 mmol/L). For
children aged 6 to 12, the range is 100 to 180 mg/dL (5.5 to 10.0 mmol/L). For
children under the age of six, the range is 110 to 200 mg/dL (6.1 to 11.1
mmol/L).
What causes blood sugar to rise?
Carbohydrates
cause blood sugar levels to rise. Carbohydrates are broken down into simple
sugars when consumed. These sugars are then absorbed into the bloodstream. When
your blood sugar levels rise, your pancreas secretes insulin, which causes your
cells to absorb sugar from the blood.
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How do I know if my diabetes is getting worse?
These
are some warning signs that your type 2 diabetes is progressing. Other symptoms
include tingling, numbness in your hands or feet, high blood pressure, an
increase in appetite, fatigue, blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, and
others.
What level of blood sugar is normal?
A
fasting blood sugar level of 99 mg/dL or less is considered normal, 100 to 125
mg/dL indicates prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes.
What color is urine in diabetes?
A
water deprivation test entails not drinking anything for several hours to see
how your body reacts. If you have diabetes insipidus, you will continue to pee
large amounts of watery (diluted), light-colored urine instead of a small
amount of concentrated, dark yellow urine.
Wrapping Up
By now, you should know why bother to control your blood sugar levels. For daily notifications about our latest articles, kindly click on the subscribe button below.
