How To Manage Blood Sugar

It’s crucial to preserve your blood sugar stages on your target range as a whole lot as feasible to assist prevent or put off lengthy-term, critical health troubles, consisting of heart disease, imaginative and prescient loss, and kidney disorder. Staying to your target range can also help improve your energy and temper. Find solutions under to not unusual questions on blood sugar for human beings with diabetes.

How can I check my blood sugar?

Use a blood sugar meter (also referred to as a glucometer) or a continuous glucose display (CGM) to test your blood sugar. A blood sugar metre measures the quantity of sugar in a small pattern of blood, typically from your fingertip. A CGM uses a sensor inserted beneath the skin to measure your blood sugar each short while. If you operate a CGM, you’ll nonetheless need to test every day with a blood sugar meter to make certain your CGM readings are correct.

When should I check my blood sugar?

How regularly you check your blood sugar depends on the form of diabetes you have and if you take any diabetes medicines.

Typical instances to test your blood sugar consist of:

.When you first wake up, before you eat or drink anything.

• Before a meal.

• Two hours after a meal.

• At bedtime.

If you have kind 1 diabetes, have kind 2 diabetes and take insulin, or frequently have low blood sugar, your medical doctor may want you to check your blood sugar more regularly, along with earlier than and once you’re bodily energetic.

What are blood sugar targets?

A blood sugar target is the variety you try to reach as lots as viable. These are normal targets:

• Before a meal: 80 to 130 mg/dL.

• Two hours after the start of a meal: Less than 180 mg/dL.

Your blood sugar objectives can be unique relying to your age, any additional health troubles you have got, and other factors. Be sure to talk in your fitness care team approximately which goals are first-class for you.

What causes low blood sugar?

Low blood sugar (also known as hypoglycemia) has many reasons, which includes lacking a meal, taking an excessive amount of insulin, taking different diabetes drugs, workout greater than everyday, and ingesting alcohol. Blood sugar below 70 mg/dL is taken into consideration.

Signs of low blood sugar are extraordinary for all people. Common symptoms include

• Shaking.
• Sweating.
• Nervousness or anxiety.
• Irritability or confusion.
• Dizziness.
• Hunger.

Know what your person signs are so you can trap low blood sugar early and treat it. If you think you may have low blood sugar, check it even in case you don’t have signs and symptoms. Low blood sugar may be risky and should be dealt with as quickly as possible.

How can I treat low blood sugar?

Carry components for treating low blood sugar with you. If you sense shaky, sweaty, or very hungry or have other signs, check your blood sugar. Even in case you don’t have signs and symptoms however think you can have low blood sugar, test it. If your blood sugar is decrease than 70 mg/dL, do one of the following right now:

• Take four glucose tablets.
• Drink four ounces of fruit juice.
• Drink four ounces of regular soda, not diet soda.
• Eat four pieces of hard candy.

Wait for 15 minutes and then check your blood sugar again. Do one of the above remedies again till your blood sugar is 70 mg/dL or above and consume a snack if your next meal is an hour or more away. If you have got troubles with low blood sugar, ask your health practitioner if your treatment plan desires to be modified.

What causes blood sugar to be high?

Many matters can cause high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), which include being ill, being harassed, eating more than deliberate, and now not giving yourself enough insulin. Over time, excessive blood sugar can cause lengthy-term, severe fitness troubles. Symptoms of excessive blood sugar consist of:

• Feeling very tired.
• Feeling thirsty.
• Having blurry vision.
• Needing to urinate (pee) more often.

If you get ill, your blood sugar can be hard to manipulate. You may not be able to eat or drink as a great deal as regular, which can have an effect on blood sugar degrees. If you’re unwell and your blood sugar is 240 mg/dL or above, use an over-the-counter ketone take a look at package to test your urine for ketones and phone your health practitioner in case your ketones are high. High ketones can be an early signal of diabetic ketoacidosis, that is a medical emergency and desires to be handled immediately.

What are ketones?

Ketones are a form of fuel produced whilst fats is damaged down for energy. Your liver starts breaking down fats when there’s not sufficient insulin in your bloodstream to allow blood sugar into your cells.

What is diabetic ketoacidosis?

When too many ketones are produced too rapid, they can build up on your frame and cause diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA. DKA may be very critical and might motive a coma or even dying. Common symptoms of DKA include:

• Fast, deep breathing.
• Dry skin and mouth.
• Flushed face.
• Frequent urination or thirst that lasts for a day or more.
• Fruity-smelling breath.
• Headache.
• Muscle stiffness or aches.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Stomach pain.

If you believe you studied you can have DKA, test your urine for ketones. Follow the check package directions, checking the shade of the test strip against the color chart in the package to see your ketone level. If your ketones are high, name your health care issuer proper away. DKA requires remedy in a health facility.

DKA occurs maximum in human beings with kind 1 diabetes and is occasionally the first signal of type 1 in those who haven’t yet been identified. People with type 2 diabetes can also broaden DKA, however it’s much less commonplace.

How can I treat high blood sugar?

Talk to your doctor about how to keep your blood sugar levels within your target range. Your doctor may suggest the following:

• Be greater lively. Regular workout can assist preserve your blood sugar degrees on track. Important: don’t exercise if ketones are found in your urine. This can make your blood sugar pass even higher.
• Take medication as told. If your blood sugar is regularly excessive, your health practitioner can also trade how a lot remedy you take or when you are taking it.
• Follow your diabetes meal plan. Ask your medical doctor or dietitian for assist if you’re having trouble sticking to it.
• Check your blood sugar as directed by your medical doctor. Check extra often if you’re sick or if you’re concerned about excessive or low blood sugar.
• Talk in your medical doctor about adjusting how a lot insulin you take and what types of insulin (such as quick-performing) to use.

How do carbs affect blood sugar?

Carbs in food make your blood sugar degrees pass higher after you devour them than while you consume proteins or fat. You can nonetheless eat carbs when you have diabetes. The quantity you can have and live for your target blood sugar variety depends for your age, weight, hobby level, and other elements. Counting carbs in food and drink is an important tool for coping with blood sugar levels. Make sure to talk to your health care team approximately the satisfactory carb goals for you.

What is the A1C test?

The A1C check is a easy blood test that measures your common blood sugar degrees during the last 2 or 3 months. The check is performed at a lab or your doctor’s workplace similarly to—no longer instead of—ordinary blood sugar trying out you do yourself.

A1C testing is part of the ABCs of diabetes—essential steps you can take to prevent or delay fitness complications down the road:

• A: Get a regular A1C test.
• B: Try to keep your blood pressure below 140/90 mm Hg (or the target your doctor sets).
• C: Manage your cholesterol levels.
• s: Stop smoking or don’t start.

The A1C intention for most adults with diabetes is among 7% and eight%, but your goal may be one of a kind relying on your age, other health situations, medicines you’re taking, and different factors. Work with your doctor to set up a non-public A1C aim for you.

What else can I do to help manage my blood sugar levels?

Eating a healthful food plan with plenty of fruit and veggies, retaining a wholesome weight, and getting regular physical interest can all help. Other tips encompass:

Keep track of your blood sugar levels to see what makes them go up or down.

• Eat at everyday instances, and don’t pass meals.
• Choose foods decrease in calories, saturated fat, trans fats, sugar, and salt.
• Track your food, drink, and physical interest.
• Drink water rather than juice or soda.
• Limit alcoholic beverages.
• For a sweet deal with, select fruit.

• Control your meals quantities (for example, use the plate method: fill half of your plate with non-starchy veggies, a quarter with lean protein, and a quarter with a grain or starchy food).

How can I pay for tests and diabetes supplies?

Medicare, Medicaid, and maximum private coverage plans pay for the A1C test and fasting blood sugar check in addition to some diabetes components. Check your plan or ask your fitness care crew for help locating low-price or free substances, and notice How to Save Money on Diabetes Care for more assets.

Learn More

• Monitoring Your Blood Sugar
• All About Your A1C
• 10 Surprising Things That Can Spike Your Blood Sugar
• Living With Diabetes
• Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support