If you're a diabetic, you know how important it is to manage your blood glucose levels--both high and low. Most discussions about diabetes center around what to do if your blood sugar levels get too high. However, it's also important to recognize...
Very low blood sugar, or diabetic hypoglycemia, is dangerous and may occur as a side effect of diabetes medications. Glucose levels below 60 mg/dl affect your body and brain in a variety of ways. In severe cases, diabetic hypoglycemia may cause...
Blood sugar levels that drop too low can be just as dangerous as high blood sugar levels. This is especially a concern for diabetics, but nondiabetics can develop symptoms and health problems as well. To avoid complications it is important to be...
Each diabetic will have different symptoms of low blood sugar level. The early symptoms range from anxiety, irritability and confusion. Having dizziness, shaking, disorientation and a pounding heart is common. The symptoms progress to a bad...
For the majority of diabetics, managing blood sugar means making sure that it doesn't increase beyond safe levels. High blood sugar can contribute to heart disease, nerve damage, blindness and even loss of limbs. But for some diabetics, ensuring...
Some people may experience low blood sugars, also called hypoglycemia, even though they have not been diagnosed with diabetes. Reactive hypoglycemia can occur in people without diabetes as a result of an inappropriate insulin response or a...
Low blood sugar, also called low blood glucose or hypoglycemia, happens when the amount of sugar in the blood drops below 7 2mg/dL or 4.0 mmol/L. Low blood sugar can happen suddenly and usually is not serious if treated quickly by eating or...
Diabetes is a disease that causes high blood sugar because the body either does not produce insulin, or produces some insulin but the cells do not respond to the insulin produced. Insulin is a hormone that will help to regulate or lower blood...
Individuals with diabetes should have firm knowledge of the effect of food on their blood glucose. Certain foods are more prone to spike blood glucose, resulting in hyperglycemia. A diabetic needs to control his blood glucose and keep it fairly...
Hypoglycemia, also referred to as low blood sugar or low blood glucose, occurs when your blood glucose levels drop below normal values. Blood glucose levels below 70 mg/dL are considered hypoglycemic. Hypoglycemia is usually mild and occurs...
Diabetes is a disease that interferes with the way the body handles glucose, which is the main source of energy for the body. In diabetes, there is a problem with insulin, the hormone that is responsible for getting glucose into the cells,...
Diabetes is a disease characterized simply by having too much sugar, or glucose, in the bloodstream. Diabetes is caused by a lack of insulin in the body, which is a hormone that works naturally to keep blood sugar under control. It can also...
The diet typically recommended to help diabetics improve blood sugar control consists of a low-fat diet, emphasizing carbohydrates at each meal, with a recommended intake of 45 to 60g of carbohydrates per meal, as suggested by the American...
Diabetes occurs when your body cannot properly manage blood-sugar levels. Chronically high levels or uncontrolled diabetes may lead to serious complications, such as nerve damage and vision loss. People with this condition must use medications,...
The body needs glucose for energy; it is especially critical for the brain and the rest of the central nervous system. While most cases of low blood sugar are due to the effects of medications for diabetes, some cases are unrelated. Patients...
Gestational diabetes is a condition that affects some women during their pregnancy. It occurs when a woman who has never had diabetes develops high levels of blood sugar. According to the American Diabetes Association, about four percent of all...
Hoodia gordonii, derived from an African cactus-like plant, is sold as an appetite suppressant supplement in the U.S. Hoodia may fool your brain into thinking that you're already full, decreasing interest in food and delaying hunger pangs,...
Diabetic shock, also known as insulin shock, occurs when the amount of blood sugar, or glucose, in the body drops too low for proper body and brain function. Diabetes is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce effective levels of insulin,...
Hypoglycemia, also called low blood sugar, occurs when blood sugar levels fall too low. When levels drop below 70 mg/dL of blood, it can result in harmful effects. The body's glucose, or sugar, has been used up too quickly or released into the...
People use ginger root to add flavor to their food but also as a form of herbal medicine. However, diabetics need to take care when using ginger in amounts larger than those found in food, because ginger may interact with insulin. Ginger may also...
Hypertension is also called high blood pressure and is defined as the force of blood against the arteries by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. If left untreated, hypertension can lead to several dire consequences such as a stroke,...
Stevia, 300 times sweeter than table sugar, is a calorie-free herbal sweetener. It makes up 40 percent of Japan's sweetener market and is widely used in South America. Some controlled scientific studies detect no allergic reactions and say it is...
Healthy people almost never think about exact blood-glucose levels. For most, eating a balanced diet and getting plenty of fuel before a workout is sufficient to keep blood sugar in acceptable ranges. Diabetics, on the other hand, must know...
Apple cider vinegar, a popular folk recipe embraced by many alternative medicine practitioners, contains acetic acid. Acetic acid can have harsh effects on skin and mucus membranes in the mouth and throat, and it can also affect tooth enamel....
Sudden insulin shock is another name for severe hypoglycemia, a condition in which an individual's blood sugar drops to dangerously low levels. Sudden insulin shock is a risk for people with diabetes and can be caused by a number of factors...
Hypoglycemia is caused by an over-production of insulin, which moves available glucose from your blood into your cells, resulting in low blood glucose. If you're diabetic, taking too much additional insulin can cause hypoglycemia. Most people who...
Calcium channel blockers and beta blockers are both used to help reduce blood pressure. Determining which medication is the preferred choice will depend on the individual and the underlying cause of the high blood pressure. Although both...
Exercising is an important part of a healthy regimen, however, people with diabetes may experience exercise intolerance. Because of the way their bodies produce and use insulin, exercising may be a challenge. Talking with a doctor, coming up with...
The best medications for hypertension may include not one drug, but a combination of one or more in order to keep hypertension under control. Hypertension is the term physicians use to describe abnormally high blood pressure. Detecting and...
For diabetics, it's crucial to identify low blood sugar levels. Learn the symptoms of and how to treat low blood sugar in this free video from a nutritionist specializing in diabetic diets.
Diet is a large part of diabetes type two. Some diabetics can actually reduce the need for insulin through proper diet and exercise. Learn more about what to eat as a diabetic in this video.
Sugar levels in the blood, or blood sugar, are regulated in the body by insulin. Learn about blood sugar, including treatments and safe levels, in this health video.