Nearly 35 million Americans have some form of diabetes.
This condition can lead to a number of serious complications.
There is no cure for diabetes, but careful management of the condition can help you avoid serious problems.
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Everything we eat is broken down to simple components that our cells can use.
For energy, our bodies useglucosea simple sugar.
This glucose flows through your body in your bloodstream until it reaches cells that need energy.
This is different from the sugar that you eat in foods.
Everything you eat or drink is broken down into basic pieces as you digest them.
For your body to work well, every cell needs a regular supply of glucose to function.
Without insulin, glucose will keep floating through your bloodstream, never entering the cells.
What Does It Mean to Have High Blood Sugar?
Glucose levels in your bloodstream are normally regulated by your body and the insulin it makes.
Insulin moves glucose into cells as they need it and stores the rest to use later.
This leads to a state called hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar.
When glucose is trapped in your blood and can’t key in your cells, several things can happen.
Why Is High Blood Sugar so Bad?
Think of the glucose in your body as sugar in a gas tank of a car.
One example is the kidneys.
Over time, high blood sugar can lead to kidney disease or even kidney failure.
This happens when your body isn’t making or responding to insulin.
Unable to enter the cell, this glucose builds, and your cells start to starve.
As ketones build in your body, they upset your chemical balance, resulting in the life-threatening conditionketoacidosis.
What About Low Blood Sugar?
Low blood sugar, orhypoglycemia, happens when your body doesn’t release sugars that your body stores.
For people with diabetes, finding the right balance between high and low blood sugar is crucial.
There are several types of blood glucose tests that might be used to check your blood sugar.
Home testing with the random plasma glucose test is where most people face problems.
Getting in the habit of checking your blood sugar and the process of poking your finger can be intimidating.
Your healthcare provider should offer you diabetes education if you are newly diagnosed.
Education is the first step in preparing for diabetes testing, and the next is to collect your supplies.
Always follow the specific manufacturer instructions for your equipment.
You canuse other fleshy areasbesides the fingers for testing, like the forearm or thigh if you oughta.
Examples of normal ranges can be found below.
If you are having problems increasing your blood glucose level, call a healthcare provider for help.
Summary
Diabetes is a complex chronic disease.
Work with a healthcare provider to create the best treatment plan for individual needs.
Managing diabetes is not an easy task.
If you have questions about your diabetes care, contact your healthcare provider or diabetes educator.
They can also help you find programs to help cover the costs of your diabetes supplies and medications.
A healthy diet and lifestyle can help you lower your blood sugar.
Everything you eat and drink eventually breaks down to glucose, so cutting out sugar alone isn’t enough.
Talk to your healthcare provider about a diabetic diet if you have diabetes or are prediabetic.
If you have diabetes, you canan absolutely shouldcheck your blood sugar regularly at home.
Regular monitoring can help you stay on top of these changes before they get out of hand.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.What is diabetes?
National Institutes of Health.Know your blood sugar numbers: Use them to manage your diabetes.
American Diabetes Association.The big picture: Checking your blood sugar.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Diabetes tests.
