Chronic high blood sugar, also called hyperglycemia, can increase a diabetic's risk of serious health complications, including eye disease, kidney failure and nerve damage. Symptoms of high blood sugar include fatigue, confusion, increased thirst, frequent urination and blurred vision. Although it's normal for your blood sugar to rise after eating, prolonged elevated glucose levels m mightean that you need to change your diabetes treatment plan.
Target Blood Sugar Levels
If you have the most common type of diabetes, type 2, your body makes some insulin but you might need supplemental insulin in addition to a carefully controlled diet and exercise program to treat your disease. Before a meal, your glucose level should be between 70 and 130 mg/dL. After eating, your glucose level will rise but still should fall below 180 mg/dL within two hours after your meal. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body doesn't produce any insulin and you must inject insulin to move glucose from your bloodstream into your cells. If you have type 1 diabetes, your fasting glucose levels should not go below 90 mg/dL, but still should return to less than 180 mg/dL in under two hours after eating.
Causes of High Blood Sugar
High blood sugar can be caused by eating too much food, specifically too many carbohydrates. A lack of physical activity, taking too little insulin or missing a dose of diabetes medication, infection, illness, pregnancy and stress also can cause high blood sugar levels. You might have a high reading if your insulin has spoiled -- extreme cold or heat can make your medication ineffective. Also, test strips expire and glucose monitors malfunction, which can give a false reading, so always check the batteries in your monitor. Learn the physical symptoms of hyperglycemia and trust your body. If your readings don't match the way you feel, check your equipment.
Preprandial vs. Postprandial Blood Sugar Readings
Elevated preprandial glucose readings, taken before eating, suggest that your body isn't ready for more glucose. Chronic high blood sugars are always dangerous, regardless of whether you have hyperglycemia before or more than two hours after eating. It might be easier to explain why you have postprandial hyperglycemia -- too much food or not enough insulin -- but you're still at risk for kidney failure, blindness, neuropathy and heart disease if your blood sugar levels are too high, too often.
Lowering Your Blood Sugar Level
Rule out the most obvious causes of high blood sugar first by examining your diet and medication schedule. Eating small meals every four hours will help stabilize blood sugar; waiting too long between meals can cause dramatic fluctuations in your glucose levels. Choosing carbohydrates low on the glycemic index will stop your glucose level from rising too quickly. Don't skip your insulin injection. Try to get at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise at least five days per week. See your doctor to rule out chronic high blood sugars caused by an underlying infection or illness. If your blood sugar remains above 180 mg/dL for three days in a row, you mi nghteed to make adjustments in your treatment plan.
