Blood glucose can make all the difference.
Blood glucose (blood sugar) sometimes gets a bad rap, but it’s not always bad.
Blood glucose is an important number when it comes to diabetes management.
Many foods break down into blood glucose, which is used for energy to fuel our brain, heart and muscles. Blood glucose either comes from the food we eat or is made by the liver, and is found in the blood stream (as it is carried to all of our organs and cells) and inside the cells (where it is changed into energy).
If you're struggling to manage your blood glucose levels, you’re not alone.
The good news is, with the latest tools and strategies, you can take steps to manage your blood glucose, prevent serious complications and thrive.
What can make my blood glucose rise?
Hyperglycemia is the technical term for high blood glucose (highs). It happens when the body has too little insulin or when the body can't use insulin properly. Here are a few of the causes:
- Too much food, like a meal or snack with more carbohydrates than usual
- Dehydration
- Not being active
- Not enough insulin or oral diabetes medications
- Side effects from other medications, such as steroids or anti-psychotic medications
- Illness, stress, menstrual periods or short or long-term pain (these all cause your body to release hormones which can raise blood sugar levels)
The good news is, there are things you can do to avoid highs—and to treat them when you get them.
What can make my blood glucose fall?
Hypoglycemia is the technical term for low blood glucose (lows). It’s when your blood glucose levels have fallen low enough that you need to take action to bring them back to your target range. Here are a few of the causes:
- Not enough food, like a meal or snack with fewer carbohydrates than usual, or missing a meal or snack
- Alcohol, especially on an empty stomach
- Too much insulin or oral diabetes medications
- Side effects from other medications
- More physical activity or exercise than usual
Don’t worry: There are things you can do to avoid lows. Be sure to learn the symptoms, and how to treat them when you get them.
What about A1C?
Your blood glucose isn’t the only number that tells you how your diabetes management is doing—your A1C is important, too. So what is A1C?
This relatively simple blood test can tell you a lot—it will give you a picture of your average blood glucose level over the past two to three months. The higher the levels, the greater your risk of developing diabetes complications. Your doctor will tell you how often you need the A1C test, but usually you’ll have the test at least twice a year if you’re meeting your treatment goals.