Food intake, physical activity, medication and other parameters influence blood glucose. Self-monitoring of blood glucose helps diabetics to cope better with all situations in everyday life and also provides security. Therefore, in order to keep blood glucose levels within the normal range, all diabetics who inject insulin or take oral antidiabetics should measure their blood glucose regularly.
What raises blood glucose?
There are many factors that can cause elevated blood sugar. Here is an overview of six factors that can significantly affect blood glucose levels in certain situations.
1. diet
All foods that contain carbohydrates increase blood sugar. Depending on how quickly the carbohydrates are broken down, blood glucose will rise correspondingly quickly or slowly. Dextrose causes blood sugar to rise very quickly, but whole grain bread takes much longer. Carbohydrates that cause blood sugar to rise slowly are suitable for diabetics. However, there is one exception: in case of hypoglycemia, fast-acting carbohydrates must be given, such as glucose.
2. disease
Flu, colds or gastrointestinal infections cause blood sugar to rise, even if you are acting completely normal. Especially in febrile illnesses, blood sugar levels can rise to a not insignificant degree. In such cases, you should measure your blood sugar more frequently and possibly perform a ketone body test with urine. Ketones are formed when fatty acids are broken down in the liver. In the case of insulin deficiency, ketones are increasingly produced.
3. medicines
Certain medicines can cause high blood glucose levels. These include, for example, some diuretics, cortisone, or thyroid hormones. In addition, medications may affect each other in some circumstances. The question of which medications increase blood sugar and what interactions occur can be answered by the doctor or pharmacist.
4. stress
Hectic and stress easily cause blood glucose levels to skyrocket. In stressful situations, the body releases a lot of adrenaline and cortisol. These substances raise blood glucose levels. Therefore, diabetics should measure blood glucose more frequently during times when they are under a lot of stress.
5. menstruation
For some women, blood glucose may keep changing throughout the menstrual cycle. So, for example, if blood glucose increases midcycle, the insulin dose should be adjusted accordingly.
6. dawn phenomenon
Dawn phenomenon refers to the sudden rise in blood glucose in the early morning. The increased release of hormones such as glucagon, somatotropin, and cortisol in the morning hours releases sugar reserves from the liver. Cells respond less to insulin and blood sugar levels rise.
What lowers blood sugar?
Just as certain factors raise blood glucose levels, there are also those that can lower blood glucose. Caution is needed here, especially for diabetics, as hypoglycemia is a common complication of diabetes mellitus.
1. sports
Physical activity lowers blood glucose significantly in part because it requires less insulin to transport glucose into cells. Before exercising, diabetics should therefore consume one to two carbohydrate units or, if necessary, reduce their medication dose beforehand, as well as check their blood glucose regularly. Even hours later, blood glucose may still be low. If in doubt, the correct behavior during exercise should first be discussed with the doctor. It should also be noted that exposure to heat, for example a hot bath or massage immediately after insulin injection, accelerates the absorption of insulin.
2. alcohol
Alcohol alters metabolism in the liver. Blood sugar can drop rapidly because the body must first break down the “poison” alcohol. Therefore, do not drink more than two glasses of wine or beer. To prevent nighttime hypoglycemia, you can eat a snack shortly before bedtime.
3. Medicines
Hypoglycemia can also be caused by medicines. Therefore, diabetics should know their medicines and their effects. Which medicines can lead to an influence on blood glucose levels can be clarified by the doctor or pharmacist in a personal discussion.
4. diet
If you lose weight, your blood glucose levels will drop.That is why you should always increase the control of blood glucose during a diet.
5. insulin
Insulin transports glucose into cells and lowers blood sugar. Therefore, insulin-dependent diabetics should know about the dangers of hypoglycemia so that they can act accordingly. Reasons for hypoglycemia may include:
- Forgotten meals
- An insulin dose injected too high
- Unaccustomed exercise
- Alcohol
- Blood sugar-lowering drugs
Understanding laboratory values: A check of the most important abbreviations
