For people with diabetes, keeping blood sugar levels under control is a must-do. But do you know what causes blood sugar spikes?
Take a look at this list of common causes below and learn ways to keep yourself healthy and feeling good.
Focus on your diet
Attending to the food you eat is one of the most important things you can do to control your blood sugar.
This is determined by the effects produced by carbohydrates (sugars and starches in food).
It’s okay to eat some carbohydrates in moderation. But foods with too many carbohydrates can cause blood sugar spikes – white rice and noodles, highly processed or fried foods are examples. Some fruits are also high in sugar, such as bananas. It’s okay to eat fruit, but don’t overdo it.
Choose good carbohydrates, such as unprocessed grains like barley or quinoa, whole grain breads,, beans, whole grain pasta, brown rice, fruits, yogurt, and vegetables.
Fiber is also beneficial to patients because it lowers blood sugar. Whole grains, fruits that are low in sugar (apples and blueberries), yogurt and beans are also good choices.
Lack of sleep
Lack of sleep not only makes you feel lethargic, it also affects your body’s ability to control and break down blood sugar.
In one study, researchers asked healthy adults to sleep only 4 hours a night for 6 consecutive days. At the end of the study, the subjects’ bodies were on average 40% less able to break down glucose. Why is this? Doctors believe that when people go into deep sleep, the nervous system slows down and the brain uses less blood sugar.
You should get enough sleep. Remember these helpful tips: stick to a regular routine, don’t use your phone or tablet at bedtime, and relax before you go to bed.
Exercise too much or too little
Even light exercise, such as walking or doing relatively easy chores, can lower blood sugar and improve your body’s response to insulin.
If you don’t exercise enough, your blood sugar levels can rise. Excessive exercise can have the same effect. High-intensity exercise, such as bench presses, or competitive exercise, such as racing, can raise blood sugar.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t keep exercising. Exercise is one of the best things that can be done for the whole body. Just ask your doctor what changes you need to make to your treatment plan to keep your blood sugar in the proper range.
Stress response
Stress is the fight or flight response in people that prompts the body to behave as it would if it were under attack.
When this reaction occurs, the body’s hormone levels rise. The body burns stored energy sources – glucose and fat – in response to the threat. In people with diabetes, blood glucose levels are elevated because insulin is unable to break down glucose.
Stress also indirectly causes blood glucose to rise. When under stress, patients are often less likely to take good care of themselves by eating right, exercising, or taking medications.
Learn to relax by trying programs such as meditation, yoga, or massage.
Some medications
Everyone knows that insulin can lower blood sugar. However, missing a dose or using the wrong dose of a medication can cause blood sugar levels to spike. Some medications, such as corticosteroids, can have the same effect. Other drugs that can cause blood glucose to rise include:
- Diuretics (water pills);
- Medications used to treat depression;
- Medications to lower blood pressure.
If you are using any of the above medications and find that your blood sugar is elevated, you should inform your doctor, who will make adjustments to your diet or medication.
Non-brushing and non-flossing of teeth
People with diabetes are more likely to have gum disease, and severe gum disease can make it more difficult to control blood sugar. Like all infections, gum disease can raise blood sugar, which in turn makes other infections more likely to occur. Patients should brush and floss daily to clean their teeth, as well as rinse daily with an antibacterial mouthwash.
Patients with gum disease (and patients with other infections anywhere in the body) should be treated as soon as possible.
Smoking
Smoking may increase your chances of developing diabetes. For people who already have diabetes, smoking can make it harder to find the right dose of insulin and to control blood sugar.
Lessons learned: Smokers should quit.
Blood sugar levels always rise from time to time, and knowing what factors can cause spikes can help patients keep them under control and avoid the health problems that come with them.