Know More About Blood Sugar Fundamentals

Do You Understand Blood Sugar Levels?

Many women do not understand hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. The prefix hyper means over or high, and the prefix hypo means under or low. Hyperglycemia is a blood sugar level that is too high, and hypoglycemia is a blood sugar level that is too low.

Blood sugar levels will fluctuate subject to our actions, environment, state of health, or even our thoughts. Healthy bodies circulate hormones to respond to changes in blood sugar level to efficiently consume the sugar while maintaining a healthy blood glucose balance.

Some womens' systems cannot either produce and release the correct hormones or respond effectively to them for various reasons. These incapacities cause both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease in which blood sugar (glucose) levels in your body are too high. Diabetes can cause serious health problems, including heart attack or stroke, blindness, problems during pregnancy, and kidney failure. About 15 million women in the United States have diabetes or about 1 in every 9 adult women.¹

The three main types of diabetes are:

• Type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease, meaning the body's immune (defense) system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. If you have type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin, so you must take insulin every day.
• Type 2 diabetes. This is the most common type of diabetes. You can get type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood. With type 2 diabetes, your body does not make enough insulin or cannot use its insulin correctly. When this happens, blood glucose levels rise.
• Gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that happens only during pregnancy. Gestational diabetes can cause health problems for the baby and the mother if not controlled. Although gestational diabetes goes away after your baby is born, having diabetes during pregnancy raises your risk for type 2 diabetes later on.² Learn more about gestational diabetes at the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse.

Hyperglycemia

High levels of blood glucose indicate that your body is not producing enough insulin or is insulin-resistant. Causes of hyperglycemia include stress and lack of exercise. Hyperglycemia also occurs when women have Type 1 diabetes and miss taking any of their diabetes medicines.

The most common cause is consuming more carbohydrate-rich nutrients than the body can manage. When this situation becomes chronic or constant, pre-diabetes or type 2 diabetes can result.

When this occurs, the body becomes progressively less capable of controlling the blood sugar level. This has massive adverse health implications for the individual.

There are also cases when a woman experiences hyperglycemia as one of the side effects of a medicine. It is vital to always consult your doctor before taking any other medications, worsening the situation.

If you notice that you are feeling abnormally tired and thirsty, sick to your stomach, urinating more often, or having blurry vision, then your blood glucose may have exceeded safe levels.

Immediately consult your health care provider and describe the symptoms. Simple tests can be done, and necessary changes to your meal plans, exercise patterns, and if necessary, diabetes medicines can be made.

Hypoglycemia

When a blood glucose level is less than 70 mg/dl, it is hypoglycemic. This level is too low. In severe cases, hypoglycemia can pose serious health concerns, both at the drop in blood glucose and long term. When your level drops quickly, urgent medical attention may be necessary as it can result in convulsions and unconsciousness.

Causes of hypoglycemia may involve postponing or skipping a meal, drinking alcohol in excess, not consuming enough carbohydrate-rich nutrients in your diet, and extended physical exertion. Medications for other health issues may also present side effects that lower your blood glucose level.

An episode of hypoglycemia is typically the consequence of a combination of factors.

Type 1 diabetes puts women at risk for hypoglycemia if their insulin dosage exceeds their immediate requirements. This can occur if unplanned fasting and physical exertion follow the medication, which results in a depletion of available blood glucose.

Symptoms of low blood glucose levels are anxiousness, feeling shaky, hunger, irritability, numbness around the mouth, slurred speech, tiredness, and weakness. You may also suffer from a headache and have profuse sweating.

When you feel any, or notably a combination of the symptoms, drink and eat to increase your blood sugar level and have someone monitor your response. Get immediate medical attention if your condition worsens. If episodes recur, it would be wise to have your health care professional do an assessment.

Keeping Balanced Blood Glucose Levels!

If you have a reason for concern, regular monitoring of your blood glucose levels can support a habit of healthy lifestyle choices. Economical testers are available at pharmacies or online. Exercising regularly helps enhance your body's ability to react to insulin.

Consuming healthy meals at suitable and regular times will greatly assist in maintaining a correct blood sugar balance. If any medications you take affect your levels, bring them to your doctor's office and make them aware of the issues.

Your body is meant to normalize your blood sugar level. Measures you take will either assist or impede your body in achieving this outcome. For women with type 1 diabetes, medication, generally insulin, is essential.

For others, although medication can help, the major modifying factor is your behavior involving proper diet and lifestyle. When you can be proactive in your pursuit of sustaining a healthy blood sugar level, you have an excellent chance of managing your hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia without the need for many medications.

Resources:

For more information about diabetes, call the OWH Helpline at 1-800-994-9662 or contact the following organizations:

• National Diabetes Education Program, CDC, HHS 
  Phone Number: 800-232-4636
• National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse, NIDDK, NIH, HHS 
  Phone Number: 800-860-8747
• American Diabetes Association  
  Phone Number: 800-342-2383

References:

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2017). National diabetes statistics report, 2017 (PDF, 1.4 MB).
2. Coustan, D. R. (Ed). (2013). Medical management of pregnancy complicated by diabetes. 5th edition. Alexandria, VA: American Diabetes Association.