Understanding Critical High Blood Sugar Levels: Causes, Consequences, and Remedies

The Alarming Dangers of Sky-High Blood Sugar

When it comes to managing blood sugar levels, there's a fine line between normalcy and danger. A critical high blood sugar level can have severe consequences on one's health, ranging from mild symptoms like whats a good fasting blood sugar fatigue and blurred vision to life-threatening conditions such as kidney damage and heart disease. So, what exactly is considered a critically high blood sugar level? According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), a fasting plasma glucose level of 130 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes.

The Silent Killer: How High Blood Sugar Affects Your Organs

High blood sugar levels can wreak havoc on various organs in your body. For instance, when it comes to kidneys, high blood sugar sypmtoms of low blood sugar damages the filters that clean waste from your blood. This damage causes them to malfunction and fails to remove toxins effectively, leading to severe health issues like kidney failure (1). Moreover, high blood sugar also increases inflammation in the cardiovascular system, raising the risk of heart disease by damaging artery walls and disrupting normal lipid metabolism.

The Role of Diet in Regulating Blood Sugar

Maintaining a healthy diet is crucial for regulating blood sugar levels. Foods that are blood sugar 75 after eating rich in fiber like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables help slow down carbohydrate absorption into your bloodstream (2). This reduces the amount of is 70 low for blood sugar glucose available to enter your cells and keeps it at manageable levels. On the other hand, foods high on the glycemic index – such as white bread and sugary drinks – cause a spike in blood sugar due to rapid digestion.

The Benefits of Exercise: Lowering Blood Sugar with Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is another powerful tool for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. When you engage in exercise, your body requires glucose from stored sources or dietary intake (3). As the demand increases, insulin sensitivity improves allowing more glucose into cells where it's needed most – thereby lowering fasting and postprandial blood sugars.

Sleep: A Hidden Factor Influencing Blood Sugar Levels

While we often overlook sleep as a factor affecting our overall well-being, research has shown that getting quality rest is just as important for regulating blood sugar levels. Sleep deprivation triggers cortisol release leading to increased glucose production in the liver (4). Furthermore, studies have found links between poor sleep and higher risks of developing conditions like insulin resistance and diabetes.

Why Stress Matters: Its Impact on Blood Sugar Fluctuations

Chronic stress has been shown to disrupt normal hormone regulation causing spikes or drops in blood sugar. When under continuous mental pressure, the body produces excess cortisol; as mentioned earlier this can trigger a massive release from liver glycogen stores leading directly into your bloodstream (5).

Common Lifestyle Mistakes: Correcting Habits for Better Blood Sugar Control

We all have vices that may unknowingly influence our blood sugar levels – be it consuming too much processed food, neglecting meal timing strategies or engaging in excessive intake of sugary drinks. It is essential to identify these areas where we can make changes and create lasting habits such as incorporating more physical activity into daily routines and planning nutrient-dense meals throughout the day.

Is Your Medication Affecting Blood Sugar Levels?

Certain prescription medications, especially those used for treating high blood pressure or depression, have been known to raise blood sugar levels. If you're unsure whether your medication is impacting these numbers then schedule a consultation with your healthcare provider who can help identify alternative treatments that won't increase glucose in the bloodstream.

References: (1) American Diabetes Association (2020). 8. Glycemic Targets: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2020. (2) Harvard School of Public Health, Nutrition and will sweet potatoes spike blood sugar health factsheets & articles section

• "Carbohydrates and Blood Sugar"

In this video, I will be using my Freestyle Libre 2 Continuous Glucose Monitor to test the effects of ice cream on my blood sugar. In this blood sugar experiment, I'll be testing some hacks that supposedly blunt blood sugar spikes. Does apple cider vinegar reduce blood sugar spikes? Does pairing high-carb food with nuts help reduce blood sugar spikes? The results just might surprise you! Watch to find out! A little history about my blood sugar journey... I was told I was insulin resistant in 2017 after a glucose tolerance test my reproductive endocrinologist ordered for me when I was having trouble getting pregnant. And after conceiving, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes very early on. Since then, I've been diligently learning about blood sugar dysregulation and gathering data through constant finger pricks and CGM experiments since I am now at greater risk for developing Type 2 Diabetes in the future. I've learned A LOT about what works and doesn't work for my body, and how my body responds to different foods. I hope this video helps you on your path to a healthier lifestyle! TIMESTAMP: 00:46 Ice Cream Alone 05:26 Ice Cream + Almonds 08:19 Ice Cream + Apple Cider Vinegar 13:01 Takeaways 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for more videos like this: CONNECT WITH ME! Instagram: thegoodenough_mama