Answers About High Blood Sugar and Type 2 Diabetes [hyperglycemia]
High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, is one of the many results of having type 2 diabetes. Once you have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, blood sugar management is essential.
If your blood sugar skyrockets over 600 milligrams per deciliter, then you could become dangerously dehydrated or go into a diabetic coma.
Either of these conditions is life-threatening. Even if your blood sugar doesn’t go that high, there are still symptoms of having an elevated blood sugar.
If you have type 2 diabetes and high blood sugar, you probably have questions about your condition. The following are the answers to four common questions people may have.
Can high blood sugar cause headaches?
Headaches effect nearly 45 million people in a given year. They range from mild to severe in intensity. Headaches fall into one of two categories:
Primary headaches: These headaches come from an issue with the actual head itself. Examples of these are migraines, cluster headaches, and tension headaches.
Secondary headaches: These headaches have nothing really to do with the head but result from some other problem. Some examples of secondary headaches include fever, stroke, anxiety, hormonal changes, eye problems, and diabetes. In other words, the headaches are secondary to the main illness or injury.
Type 2 diabetes causes secondary headaches resulting from an unexpected change in your blood sugar. If your blood sugar spikes and stays past 250 milligrams per deciliter, you probably will begin experiencing symptoms.
A headache is an indication that you need to check your levels. In addition to hyperglycemia, your blood sugar may dip too low and you’ll get a headache too. This condition is called hypoglycemia.
Does high blood sugar make you tired?
Often times people’s blood sugar becomes too high over time. If it goes over the 240 range and stays there, then it’s considered high. Blood sugar is elevated by any of the following:
- Something we ate
- Missing our medicine
- Being ill
- Lack of exercise
- Stress
As a result of our blood sugar becoming too high, we will feel fatigued and tired. The only thing you can do is work to keep your blood sugar levels normal through following something like the CSN diet, exercise, and any medication regimen prescribed by your physician.
What to do when your blood sugar is high?
If you have high blood sugar, several things will help you proactively with the disease. Monitoring your blood sugar levels is the first step.
You must understand what elevates your blood sugar or you can’t work to bring it down. Using your blood sugar testing device, keep track of your levels regularly.
When you test is just as important as the testing itself. You will want to monitor your levels before your meals and two hours after eating. This will help you determine if certain foods elevate your blood sugar.
Check for patterns in your blood sugar levels. To bring your levels down, follow the appropriate eating guidelines and eliminate any foods or drinks that you’ve noticed cause your blood sugar to go up. In addition, take time to exercise. This is known to bring down your levels.
Finally, don’t let the reading make you stressed and worried. Too much stress can actually cause your blood sugar to rise. If you can’t get it under control after a couple days, then contact your physician.
What Foods to avoid with high blood sugar!
Eating a healthy diet is important for everyone, but especially critical for those suffering from high blood sugar. Foods can trigger a spike in your blood sugar and over time this can have detrimental effects.
People with high blood sugar may be eating healthy, but still eating the wrong foods for their condition. The biggest offender in the fight against high blood sugar is carbohydrates. However, not all carbs are created equally. It’s important to know the glycemic index of a food before determining if it will raise your blood sugar or not.
The glycemic index ranks foods based on their impact on blood sugar. The index ranges from 0 to 100. The higher the rating, the more quickly the food is digested and the more it affects blood sugar. The lower the rating is the longer it takes the food to digest, therefore keeping the blood sugar level.
So, just what are some low-glycemic foods and what ratings are considered high or low. Low-glycemic foods are rated at 55 or less. Medium-glycemic foods fall between 56-69 and high-glycemic foods are 70 and above.
Here are some foods that should be avoided if you have high blood sugar:
- Breads (especially white bread)
- White rice
- Pasta noodles
- Potatoes
- Corn
- Pastries and desserts
- Sugary drinks
Having type 2 diabetes is a serious problem but with the proper diet, exercise, and medication, you can reduce your symptoms.
Footnotes:
Diseases and Conditions The basics
Hyperglycemia and headaches
6 Things to Do If Your Blood Sugar Is Too High
Carbohydrates and Blood Sugar
List of Foods to Avoid to Reduce High Blood Sugar