In the case of living with diabetes, these fluctuations can be tricky for a few. By better understanding the factors that propagate these occasions, you can maintain a strategic distance from a significant number of evil impacts with your condition over the long term.
Whether you were recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or have been living with the condition for several years, you know how fickle blood sugar levels can be, and how important it is that they stay controlled.
Proper blood sugar control is key for warding off potential diabetes complications, such as kidney disease, nerve damage, vision problems, stroke, and heart disease, according to MedlinePlus. And keeping your levels in check on a daily basis can help you stay energized, focused, and in a good mood, explains Lisa McDermott, RD, CDCES, a diabetes specialist with the Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network.
According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), eating right, regular exercise, proper medication (if necessary), and regular blood sugar checks can all help you keep your levels within a healthy range. The ADA recommends blood glucose stay within 80 to 130 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) before meals and below 180 mg/dL two hours after the start of a meal. Furthermore, the organization recommends getting an A1C test, which measures your average blood glucose over the past two to three months, at least twice per year if your levels are stable and you are meeting treatment goals.
Learning how different habits can cause your blood sugar to fluctuate can help you better predict how your levels will swing. Both low and high blood sugar levels lead to serious health consequences. High blood sugar may cause nausea, vomiting, or shortness of breath, while low blood sugar may cause confusion, dizziness, blurred vision, seizures, unconsciousness, or even death, McDermott explains.
Managing the factors that can influence blood sugar can be a balancing act. Even if you keep careful tabs on what you eat and take your medication conscientiously, you will inevitably see fluctuations in your day-to-day levels. After all, some of the factors that affect your readings are out of your control.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t defend against those factors. Read on to learn some of the lesser-known factors that can cause blood sugar swings — and how to adjust accordingly.
Can dehydration cause high blood sugar? Yes, and it turns out, the two are more related than you may realize: Falling short on fluids can lead to hyperglycemia, as the sugar in your circulation becomes more concentrated, McDermott explains. To make matters worse, high blood sugar can cause you to urinate more, resulting in even more dehydration.
People with diabetes should be especially vigilant about drinking plenty of water or other calorie-free beverages throughout the day to stay hydrated and healthy. Hydration goals vary depending on factors like sex and life stage. Plus, people who are highly active or have high body mass levels have greater fluid needs. If you find plain H2O hard to swallow, try garnishing your glass with a few citrus wedges, frozen berries, cucumber slices, or fresh mint leaves. Unsweetened iced herbal teas, such as raspberry, cherry, or peach varieties, are also wonderfully refreshing — and naturally caffeine-free, she says.
Artificial Sweeteners May Alter Blood Sugar Response
Many people with diabetes reach for diet drinks as a substitute for regular soda or juice because they assume that sugar-free beverages won’t raise their blood sugar. But a review published in 2021 suggested that artificial sweeteners may not be completely neutral after all, and may contribute to impaired glucose homeostasis.
But the research isn’t definitive — most government and medical institutions maintain that most artificial sweeteners do not affect blood sugar. So what could be going on? According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the possible downsides to artificial sweeteners could be more present when consumed in large amounts. (This could be because some consider sugar-free food healthy, so they end up consuming excessive amounts or eating other carb-filled foods because they think the diet drink lets them “afford” it.) The Mayo Clinic also notes that some noncaloric sweeteners called sugar alcohols, which include mannitol, sorbitol, and xylitol, can raise blood sugar levels and cause diarrhea, which can contribute to dehydration.
“If you drink a lot of diet soda then you might want to cut back and see if it has an impact on your blood glucose,” says Patty Bonsignore, RN, CDCES, a nurse educator at the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. Keep things sugar-free by turning to water or seltzer as opposed to regular soda or juice.
Some Medications Meddle With Diabetes Control
The prescription and over-the-counter medications you take to treat health problems besides diabetes can monkey with blood sugar levels. One example is steroids (used to treat inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorders, and asthma), which can cause blood sugar to shoot up dramatically, McDermott says. Birth control pills, certain antidepressants and antipsychotics, beta-2 stimulators, and some hormone therapies may also cause higher-than-normal readings, while other drugs, such as antibiotics, may lower blood sugar, according to TriHealth. “Even cough drops can affect blood sugar levels,” she says.
Make sure your prescribing physicians are aware of your diabetes before giving you a new Rx, and consult with your pharmacist before taking any new medications, prescription or not, McDermott advises. Ask whether these products will interfere with diabetes management or interact with any other meds you’re taking.
Watch Out for the Infamous ‘Dawn Phenomenon’
It’s not uncommon to wake up to a high blood sugar reading, even if your number was in the green zone when you went to bed. You may be experiencing the “dawn phenomenon,” which occurs when the body preps for waking up by releasing cortisol and other hormones, between 2 and 8 a.m., according to the Mayo Clinic.
These hormones make the body less sensitive to insulin, and in people with diabetes, can contribute to a morning blood sugar spike. Alternatively, you may start the day with a low glucose level if, for example, you’re taking too much insulin or medication at night or not eating enough in the evening, McDermott says. She notes that eating a small, protein-rich, low-carb snack at bedtime can sometimes help by shortening the fast (without spiking nighttime blood sugar).
If you see a trend in your morning readings — or they’re highly erratic from day to day — you’ll want to work with your doctor or diabetes educator to identify the problem so you can take steps to correct it, says Bonsignore.
Women’s Menstrual Cycles Can Affect Blood Sugar
As if cramping, bloating, and mood swings weren’t bad enough, hormonal changes during a woman’s premenstrual phase can cause her blood sugars to get a little out of whack, according to the CDC.
While the effect varies from person to person, some women with diabetes become less sensitive to insulin during the week or so leading up to their period, which can translate into above-normal sugar levels, McDermott explains. Readings typically return to normal once or soon after menstruation begins. If you notice that your blood sugar consistently runs high the week before your period, it may help to trim the amount of carbohydrates you’re eating during that time or squeeze in some extra exercise, she says. (Just be sure to track your cycle and blood sugar levels closely to be certain this is the cause.)
If you’re taking insulin, speak with your doctor or diabetes educator about possibly adjusting your medication to compensate for hormonal changes.
Dehydration Drives Up Blood Sugar
Some of the main reason behind blood sugar fluctuation are :
- During food, your blood sugar will rise as the foods you consume are metabolized and enter the bloodstream.
- Physical or emotional stress triggers the release of hormones that can cause high blood sugar levels.
- if you have diabetes, but exercising too much can lower your blood sugar dramatically.
- For women, menstruation and menopause cause hormonal changes that affect blood sugar levels.
- due to stress, illness, injury can increases your blood sugar level.
- Many people with diabetes reach for diet drinks as a substitute for regular soda or juice because they assume that sugar-free beverages won’t raise their blood sugar.
- steroids (used to treat inflammatory conditions, autoimmune disorders, and asthma), which can cause blood sugar to shoot up dramatically.
- Not getting enough sleep is a form of chronic stress on the body, and anytime you have added stress, you’re going to have higher blood sugar levels.
- High temperatures cause blood vessels to dilate, which can enhance insulin absorption and potentially lead to low blood sugar.
To avoid these fluctuations you need:
- you’ll want to work with your doctor or diabetes educator to identify the problem so you can take steps to correct it.
- Getting into a consistent sleep routine will improve your overall health, and you may see a subtle improvement in blood sugar
- Eating whole-grain products are good to cure these fluctuations.
- Try to stay indoors during the hottest part of the day, and monitor your blood sugar closely for changes when the mercury starts to rise.
- If you take insulin and you’re shifting time zones, be sure to work out a medication schedule with your diabetes care team before your trip so you don’t mistime any doses.
- taking too much insulin or medication at night or not eating enough in the evening.
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