The food you eat provides your body with glucose, a form of sugar that is carried by your bloodstream to the various cells of your body. Glucose is your main source of energy. Your body uses insulin to enable the glucose to enter your body's tissues, where your cells turn the glucose into energy. If your body is unable to produce insulin, or if the cells of your body don't respond to insulin properly, glucose starts to build up in your bloodstream and becomes a condition known as hyperglycemia.
Blood Sugar Levels
One of the tests doctors use is called the glycated hemoglobin test, also known as the A1c test, to determine what percentage of blood sugar is attached to your hemoglobin. The higher your blood sugar, the more hemoglobin you have that has glucose attached to it. If your blood sugar level is below 5.7 percent, your blood sugar is normal. If your blood sugar level is between 5.7 percent and 6.4 percent, there is a fair chance that you might have prediabetes. If you get a result of 6.5 percent or higher on two separate tests, you might be suffering from diabetes.
Ketoacidosis
If you find that you have hyperglycemia, you need to take steps to have it treated as soon as possible. Left untreated, hyperglycemia can lead to a condition called ketoacidosis, more commonly known as a diabetic coma. Your body cannot use glucose for fuel without insulin and instead resorts to breaking down fats for energy. When this happens, ketones, or waste products, are produced. Unfortunately, your body will not be able to flush out all the ketones, and they will build up, possibly leading to ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition. If you notice symptoms such as a very dry mouth, nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath or breath that smells fruity, seek medical attention immediately.
Food Choices
Making wise food choices helps reduce your blood sugar and is the foundation of hyperglycemia control. Limit sweets eat healthy food often. Be aware of how many carbohydrates you eat and how often. Choose to eat lots of whole-grain foods, fruits and vegetables. Choose to eat less fat and limit your use of alcohol.
Lifestyle Changes
Keeping your blood sugar from going up requires you to make a few changes in your lifestyle, such as remaining aware and vigilant concerning your blood sugar level and what affects it. Aside from making careful choices about what you eat, you also need to work with your health care provider to formulate a plan to control your weight, get the amount of exercise you need and improve the quality of your sleep. Aim for losing a pound a week and make sure your exercise routine includes both aerobic and strength building elements, as both help improve insulin sensitivity. Getting good quality sleep regularly is also important, as there are indications that inadequate sleep impairs insulin sensitivity and increases the risk of obesity.
