The Ups and Downs of Diabetes Blood Sugar Levels

Ups and downs, peaks and dips, raises and falls—no it is not the stock market, it is the day in a life  of someone with diabetes blood glucose (also known as blood sugar) levels. Several times a day, a diabetic must check their diabetes blood sugar levels. The diabetes blood glucose level is the amount of sugar carried by the blood to the cells of the body. The blood sugar is made when carbohydrates are broken down by the digestive system; it is also created from protein or fat in the liver and kidney.

In order to prevent diabetes blood sugar levels that are too low (hypoglycemia), be aware of these tell-tale signs:

• Autonomic-heart rate, trembling, sweating

• Mental-slow thinking and lack of concentration and coordination

• Mood- irritation or aggression

• Food- skipping meals

• Insulin- taking it earlier than usual

• Exercise-working out harder or longer than normal

By keeping frequent tabs of your diabetes blood glucose levels, one can avoid sudden lows that can hinder your ability to enjoy life.

How frequently one checks their diabetes blood sugar varies by why it is being checked; however, studies show that the more often one checks their diabetes blood glucose levels, the better the control. Consequently, a minimum of 4 diabetes blood sugar level test per day is recommended.  If you are interested in keeping a record of the highs and lows of your blood sugar levels, there are basic times that you should check your diabetes blood glucose levels.

• Before breakfast, lunch, dinner or a large snack

• Before you go to bed

• 1-2 hours after breakfast, lunch, dinner or a large snack

• At 2 or 3 in the morning

While these are standard times to check your diabetes blood sugar, there are additional situations when you should plan for extra diabetes blood sugar levels checks. These instances include the following:

1. When you are sick
2. Any time you think your blood sugar level is low
3. When you are especially active
4. Before driving (for insulin or sulfonylurea)
5. If you have recurrent insulin reactions overnight or have high diabetes blood sugar levels in the morning
6. If you make any changes—insulin, diet, exercise routine, etc.
7. If you have lost or gained weight
8. When you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant
9. If you don’t recognize the signs of hypoglycemia
10. If your diabetes blood glucose levels are extremely high or low
11. When you are on insulin therapy
    

Your goals for healthy diabetes blood sugar level should be 80-120 mg/dl before meals and 100 – 140 mg/dl before bedtime. These diabetes blood glucose levels can be met by following these changes

• How much you eat
• The type of foods you eat
• How much you exercise
• How much insulin or medication you take
  

Healthy diabetes blood glucose levels are attainable. So, don’t give up. While the stock market may have drastic ups and downs, your diabetes blood sugar levels don’t have to!

Diabetic Seniors Team

Related Articles

Blood Glucose Monitoring - We have all heard the phrase, "What goes up, will come down." This is true in the daily life of diabetics as well. No matter how closely you watch what you eat, how often you exercise, or whether you use insulin, it is still vital that you perform frequent blood glucose checks. Diabetes blood glucose monitoring helps you know when your levels are above or below your ideal level so you can make an informed decision about how little or how much you need to adapt your food intake, physical activity, and , if used, your insulin medication. Blood glucose monitoring puts you in the driver's seat by allowing you to make informed decisions about your daily diabetes choices.

Hemoglobin A1C Test - Since there are a variety of health concerns associated with Diabetes, it is wise to take whatever precautions available to prevent their occurrence. Aside from the daily blood glucose testing, checking your blood pressure on a regular basis, and seeing your doctor, an additional test for maintaining good Diabetes health is the Hemoglobin A1C test (Also known as the Diabetes A1C test).

Blood Sugar Testing - When it comes to knowing how high or how low your blood sugar levels are, there is no such thing as having a "sixth sense". The only way is by frequent daily diabetes blood sugar testing. However, there are other ways you can learn more about your bodies system and the signals it gives that will alert you to blood glucose highs or lows. One such way is by taking classes on hypoglycemia recognition and prevention as well as understanding what the hyperglycemia cues are. When you are able to recognize the signs, you know you need to test your diabetic blood sugar. Once you take such a class, you will see just how important diabetes blood sugar testing is, and will be surprised at how often you thought everything was okay when it really was not.

Diabetic Blood Testing - Controlling your diabetes is all about controlling your blood sugar. And the best way to do that is with regular diabetic blood testing. Using the proper diabetes blood testing equipment and establishing a regular schedule of diabetic blood tests throughout the day, you can better control your blood glucose levels.