Your glucose levels are usually between 70 and 99 mg/dL during a fasting state and less than 140 mg/dL after the consumption of glucose. High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, occurs when the levels of glucose in your blood rise above normal. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, occurs when blood sugar levels drop below normal. In healthy individuals, a series of reactions helps keep blood sugar levels within normal ranges. Any disruptions in these reactions can lead to abnormal blood sugar levels.
Blood Sugar Control
When you eat carbohydrates, they are broken down into the simple sugar glucose, which travels through your digestive tract until it passes through the wall of the small intestine and into your bloodstream. When glucose enters the bloodstream, your blood sugar levels rise. Normally, the presence of glucose signals the pancreas to release insulin, which attaches to glucose and carries it to your cells, returning your blood sugar back to normal. Certain conditions may affect the process that controls blood sugar and cause high or low blood sugar levels.
High Blood Sugar
The most common reason for high blood sugar is diabetes. Diabetes is a general term for a metabolic condition in which your body cannot control the level of glucose in your blood. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by an inability to produce insulin, whereas type 2 diabetes is characterized by a resistance to insulin. Other conditions, such as renal failure, Cushing syndrome, pancreatic cancer and inflammation of the pancreas may also cause elevated blood sugar levels. Acute stress from trauma or injury and the use of certain medications can also cause your blood sugar level to rise. Eating too much food at one time can also cause an increase in blood sugar, although this does not usually cause dangerous increases unless you have an underlying condition.
Low Blood Sugar
Low blood sugar is commonly associated with an insulin overdose in type 1 diabetes. If you administer too much insulin, the hormone removes too much glucose from the blood and causes low blood sugar. Other possible causes of low blood sugar include tumors on the pancreas, liver disease, excessive alcohol consumption, adrenal insufficiency, the use of certain drugs and an underactive thyroid or pituitary gland. Going a prolonged period without eating can also lead to low blood sugar levels.
Treatment
Initial treatment for high or low blood sugar focuses on correcting your blood sugar levels. If you have high blood sugar, exercise can help to burn off excess glucose and lower your blood sugar levels. If you have low blood sugar, consuming a rapid-acting carbohydrate, such as candy, soda or honey, can help to raise blood sugar levels quickly.
Once blood sugar levels are restored, it is important to correct the underlying cause of abnormal blood sugar levels to avoid any recurrences.
