Managing diabetes means being prepared for unexpected changes in blood sugar, and certain foods and drinks are often the culprit, but not always, and seemingly simple situations in everyday life can sometimes lead to disruptions in glucose metabolism.
Stress
When under stress, certain hormones release nutrients (including sugar) into the bloodstream, which prepares the body to respond. For people with diabetes, the stress response can cause a spike in blood sugar, and stress can also trigger poor eating habits, including eating too little or too much.
Does stress really raise blood sugar? Over the next 2 weeks, record both your blood sugar and your stress score (from 1 to 10) when you check your blood sugar, and if you see a link, it’s time to start managing stress.
Linda M. Siminerio, PhD, director of the University of Pittsburgh Diabetes Institute, says, “Find some time just for yourself, take a walk, ride a bike, or take regular breaks to relax.”
Tossing and turning
Pamela Allweiss, MD, medical officer in the Division of Diabetes Translation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said, “Sleep disorders, sleep deprivation, and interrupted sleep can all raise blood sugar, compared to patients with diabetes who have trouble sleeping or wake up several times a night, who have higher fasting blood sugar than those who sleep well, so patients with insomnia need to be treated.”
Sickness
Any infection such as a cold or flu is a stressor on the body, accelerating blood sugar spikes like mental stress, and most importantly, the sugar and alcohol in some cold medicines can also raise blood sugar levels, while the illness itself can suppress appetite and lower blood sugar levels.
When you are sick, check your blood sugar every 2 to 4 hours and test your blood or urine for ketone bodies (substances produced when your body breaks down fat for energy).
Drink plenty of fluids to stay hydrated and follow your usual meal plan and medication plan, drink plenty of water if you cannot control your food intake, eat 15 grams of carbohydrates every hour, and contact your doctor.
Pamela said the first step is to take every opportunity to prevent illness and should be vaccinated to prevent diseases such as influenza, pneumonia, hepatitis B and shingles.”
Medications for other diseases
Some medications for non-diabetes can raise blood sugar; for example, some prescription diuretics for high blood pressure can cause loss of potassium during urination, which in turn can raise blood sugar.
Antidepressants and antihistamines can cause weight gain and increased blood glucose, and corticosteroids (eg, prednisone and cortisone) can treat inflammatory diseases (eg, vasculitis, dermatomyositis, and rheumatoid arthritis).
But such medications can also cause elevated blood sugar; consult your doctor about all the medications you take to make sure they don’t affect your blood sugar levels.