The human condition with high blood sugar. High blood sugar in adults: characteristic symptoms and ways to reduce levels

The materials are published for informational purposes only and are not a prescription for treatment! We recommend that you consult a hematologist at your medical institution!

An increase in blood sugar is medically called hyperglycemia. This problem is quite serious and can affect anyone. Its symptoms and causes of development should be known in order to recognize the development of pathology in time.

The composition of the blood reflects the state of human health. One of the indicators is glucose level. The situation is quite serious if it is detected. We will consider the reasons, how to treat this problem, and methods of prevention in more detail.

General characteristics

Blood glucose levels are not the same throughout the day. Highest sugar — in the afternoon, 1-2 hours after eating. If its level exceeds 3.5-5.5 mmol/l on an empty stomach or 7.5 mmol/l after eating, a person has high blood sugar. What this means and how serious the situation is can only be found out from a doctor.

Reasons for the increase

A pathological increase in glucose is often associated with impaired insulin production. It is responsible for processing sugars and transporting them into cells to be converted into energy.

The main cause of hyperglycemia is lack of insulin

Predisposing factors can be identified that explain why a person’s sugar levels have increased:

• pancreatic diseases (pancreatitis, oncology);
• pituitary tumor;
• hyperthyroidism;
• frequent stress;
• taking medications;
• frequent consumption of alcohol and sugary drinks;
• overeating, especially sweets and baked goods, fast food;
• smoking;
• suffering serious injuries;
• gastrointestinal pathologies;
• frequent severe infectious diseases;
• hereditary factor.

Important: the causes of increased blood sugar in women may be associated with taking hormonal medications, including birth control pills. The menstrual cycle and pregnancy also have an impact.

Some people are interested in why glucose levels rise at night and in the morning. This is due to the production of hormones that make it difficult to produce insulin. For diabetics, this phenomenon is quite dangerous.

Symptoms of manifestation

It’s easy enough to recognize the problem if you know what signs indicate high blood sugar. Symptoms in men and women are almost the same:

• dry mouth and constant thirst;
• headache;
• prostration;
• polyuria;
• cardiac arrhythmia;
• skin itching and peeling;
• unstable respiratory rhythm;
• nausea;
• pungent acetone odor from the mouth;
• blurred vision;
• numbness of the limbs;
• deterioration of the body's reparative ability.

Symptoms of hyperglycemia - check yourself

If you notice at least 3-4 symptoms, you should definitely go to the hospital to check your glucose levels in your body.

Changes in body functions

Since certain disorders cause high blood sugar, symptoms in an adult have an explanation. Glucose attracts water, and therefore, when it is in excess, the body experiences dehydration, which is expressed in itching, dry mucous membranes and constant thirst. A large amount of water does not compensate for it, but only leads to polyuria.

Since the available insulin does not have time to process glucose, symptoms of high blood sugar such as fatigue and headaches occur. To compensate for the lack of energy, fats and muscle fibers are processed, so the patient may begin to lose weight, and ketone metabolic products cause the smell of acetone.

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Due to energy starvation, cells become unable to quickly repair damaged tissue, which is where non-healing ulcers appear on the skin. Also, high blood sugar can distort a person’s hormonal levels, causing menstrual irregularities in women and problems with potency in men.

Further consequences of hyperglycemia are expressed in the development of type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. If the glucose level exceeds 11.5 mmol/l, hyperglycemic coma develops, which can become irreversible and lead to the death of the patient.

Treatment and prevention

If you are prone to fluctuations in glucose levels, it makes sense to purchase a home glucometer. For diabetics, this device is a must.

You should immediately consult a doctor as soon as you notice an increase in blood sugar. Symptoms and treatment are clarified by a specialist. Additionally, the following analyzes are performed:

• standard blood or plasma test for sugar;
• glucose tolerance test;
• blood test for glycated hemoglobin.

Further methods of reducing indicators are selected on an individual basis.

First aid and therapy

People suffering from diabetes find it very difficult in everyday life. At any moment, the glucose level can become critical. In this case, first aid should be to lower its level below 11.5 mmol/l.

A special insulin injection will quickly help lower blood sugar. Additionally, the patient must be provided with plenty of fluids. It is best to use still mineral water with the addition of soda. This will help normalize water balance and remove toxins from the body.

People with hyperglycemia are prescribed medications to lower blood sugar. In case of diabetes, insulin injection is mandatory. Without a dose of insulin, the body is not able to process sugar normally, and a person may fall into a coma. Vitamins are also prescribed to support a weakened body.

Diet

A prerequisite is compliance with the diet. The menu should consist of foods with a low glycemic index.

Important: it is worth considering that the method of preparation and the combination of different products can also change the glycemic index.

You need to exclude foods that significantly increase blood sugar from your diet. What causes glucose to rise:

• sugar and sweeteners;
• sweets;
• flour products, especially baked goods;
• cheeses;
• pickles and marinades;
• lard and fatty meat;
• smoked meats and sausages;
• potato;
• rich soups;
• semi-finished products;
• fast food;
• sweet sodas and packaged juices.

Create a daily menu from the following products:

• green tea;
• low-fat milk;
• eggs in moderation;
• chicken;
• liver;
• Fish and seafood;
• beans;
• lentils;
• buckwheat;
• salads and spinach;
• mushrooms;
• vegetables;
• citrus;
• fruits in moderation, except bananas and grapes.

Since it is difficult to quickly lower blood sugar without medications, such a diet should be maintained for at least a month. In the future, you need to protect yourself from harmful foods and control your glucose levels.

Folk remedies

In folk medicine, there are also many ways to lower blood sugar. Mostly the recipes are based on the use of herbal infusions. Some plants are able to stimulate the production of insulin and remove excess glucose, as well as have a symptomatic effect on the body. You can buy a similar mixture at any pharmacy or prepare it yourself.

Herbal teas - a means for the treatment and prevention of hyperglycemia

What lowers blood sugar:

• blueberry;
• dandelion root;
• oats;
• horseradish;
• Walnut;
• lemon;
• rice straw;
• wheat;
• bean pods;
• lilac.

Decoctions are drunk in courses of 2-4 weeks with breaks or used in small doses as a prophylactic against hyperglycemia. Since treating high blood sugar exclusively with home methods is ineffective, you need to combine them with therapy prescribed by your doctor.

The role of physical activity

Moderate physical activity effectively accelerates metabolic processes in the body and stimulates the processing of sugar. To eliminate excess glucose, it is recommended to do morning exercises daily. Hiking, jogging, yoga, skiing, Nordic walking, etc. will also help reduce sugar levels.

Table: Effect of physical activity on sugar levels

Sports and proper nutrition are not only methods of treating hyperglycemia, but also excellent prevention, not only of this problem, but also of many other diseases.

Symptoms of high blood sugar in women may indicate more than just the development of diabetes. Throughout life, the female body undergoes a number of dramatic changes. The perinatal period and childbirth, possible termination of pregnancy (artificial or spontaneous), premenopause, menopause, all of this, one way or another, affects the health of the hormonal system.

In addition, according to statistics, women are more prone to obesity, which is one of the causes of hyperglycemia (high sugar). An incorrect approach to the fight against extra pounds can also disrupt the stability of glucose levels in the body. Due to hormonal imbalances, the body is able to respond inadequately to the production of its own hormone insulin and glucose supplied with food. Thus, a carbohydrate metabolism disorder develops, against the background of which blood sugar levels increase.

Blood sugar levels in women

Standard indicators for women of reproductive age should fall within the range of 3.3 to 5.5 mmol/l (millimoles per liter is the value adopted in Russia for recording sugar indicators). Depending on age, sugar values ​​increase slightly. This is not a pathology, since it is caused by an age-related decrease in tissue sensitivity to insulin.

Predicted increase in glycemia in women

During the perinatal period, blood sugar in women may increase due to an increase in the level of steroid hormones, which inhibit the production of insulin at the cellular level. Also, the cause of an increase in glucose levels may be temporary insulin resistance, which occurs due to excessive load on the pancreas in the process of providing the fetus with nutrition. If sugar levels are consistently elevated, a pregnant woman is prescribed an additional examination to determine gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

An increase in indicators during menopause is also associated with changes in the synthesis and absorption of hormones. At the age of 50+, a woman’s functionality of the ovaries to produce the sex hormones progesterone and estrogen, as well as thyroid hormones, decreases. The sex hormone estradiol is replaced by estrone, synthesized by fat cells. Involuntary fat deposition occurs. Insulin synthesis, on the contrary, increases.

With such a hormonal imbalance, it becomes difficult for the body to keep metabolic processes under control. A woman is actively gaining weight, which serves as a trigger for the development of type 2 diabetes. In most cases, diabetes during menopause is caused by obesity. To detect diabetes mellitus, a comprehensive laboratory diagnosis is carried out, including several tests.

Laboratory manifestations

When conducting basic microscopy of blood for quantitative sugar content, venous or capillary blood is analyzed, which the patient donates on an empty stomach. This is the main condition for obtaining objective data, since when any food is processed, the level of glucose in the blood increases.

Important! A one-time increase in sugar levels requires repeated analysis. For stable hyperglycemia, extended diagnostics are prescribed.

Additional tests include glucose tolerance testing (GTT), blood to determine the level of HbA1C (glycated hemoglobin). The glucose tolerance test is aimed at determining the degree to which the body absorbs it. If the values ​​deviate from the norm, the woman is diagnosed with prediabetes. Testing consists of a double blood draw:

• on an empty stomach:
• two hours after exercise.

The load is an aqueous solution of glucose in the ratio of 75 g of the substance per 200 ml of water. The results obtained are compared with a table of standard indicators. Glycated (glycosylated) hemoglobin is a “sweet protein” that is formed by the interaction of hemoglobin and glucose. HbA1C analysis determines the retrospective level of sugar in the blood, assessing the time period of 120 past days.

Norm and deviations

A slight increase with age is normal. A borderline state, when sugar levels are elevated but do not reach diabetic levels, indicates the development of prediabetes. It is not classified as a separate disease, but poses a real threat of degeneration into true non-insulin-dependent type 2 diabetes. Timely detected prediabetes is reversible without drug treatment.

Changing eating behavior and lifestyle helps stop the development of endocrine pathology (diabetes mellitus) of the second type. The frequency of scheduled examinations for sugar is determined by the timing of mandatory medical examination - once every three years. During the perinatal period, the expectant mother is tested during each screening.

Obese people, as well as women at menopausal age (50+), are recommended to monitor their sugar annually. Hyperglycemia rarely manifests itself suddenly and clearly. Women attribute their ailments to fatigue, pregnancy, menopause, etc., when in fact they develop prediabetes or true diabetes, which occurs in a latent form.

Feeling unwell is a reason to seek medical help and find out your blood sugar levels

Symptoms to watch out for

Signs that may indicate elevated blood sugar levels may appear with varying intensity. The primary symptom is most often polydipsia or a permanent feeling of thirst. Glucose molecules attract moisture, so when they are in excess, dehydration occurs. In an effort to replenish fluid deficiency, the body constantly requires its replenishment from the outside.

Important! Constant thirst, not associated with the consumption of salty foods, is an alarming sign of hyperglycemia.

An equally important symptom, which many women do not attach importance to, is rapid physical fatigue. Decreased work capacity and tone, general weakness occur due to insulin resistance. Tissues and cells lose the ability to fully perceive and use insulin, as a result of which they are left without glucose, the main source of nutrition and energy. This also includes drowsiness that occurs after eating.

The food eaten is broken down into its component nutrients, and the resulting glucose accumulates in the blood and is not consumed as an energy resource. A woman does not have enough strength for physical and mental activity. A lack of brain nutrition leads to a violation of neuropsychological stability, insomnia appears at night. Thus, dysania (sleep disorder) occurs when you want to sleep during the day, but at night you cannot sleep. This provokes a feeling of chronic fatigue.

Other symptoms of hyperglycemia include:

• Pollakiuria (frequent urge to urinate). When there is an abundance of glucose and its proper absorption is impaired, the process of reabsorption of fluid by the renal apparatus slows down, therefore the volume of urine excreted increases. Constantly quenching thirst also causes frequent emptying of the bladder.
• Frequent headaches caused by increased blood pressure (BP). Due to the interaction of large amounts of sugar and water, the composition of the blood changes and its normal circulation is disrupted. The process of destruction of the smallest capillaries occurs. Given the unstable functioning of the kidneys, the body cannot cope with the load, which leads to a hypertensive reaction.
• Polyphagia (increased appetite). The feeling of satiety, neuroendocrine brain activity and body homeostasis are regulated by a small region of the brain, the hypothalamus. Control is carried out by the quantity and quality of insulin produced by the pancreas. Due to insufficient production of the hormone or the inability of cells to fully perceive and implement it, the hypothalamus loses the ability to control appetite.
• Hyperkeratosis (decreased protective and regenerative qualities of the skin, and thickening of the stratum corneum of the skin on the feet). A high concentration of sugar and an excess of ketone bodies (poisonous products of glucose metabolism) lead to a loss of elasticity of the epidermis, the skin becomes thin and dry. Due to disruption of the outflow of tissue fluid, the skin loses its regenerative qualities. Even minor injuries (scratches, abrasions) take a long time to scar and are easily infected by pathogenic microorganisms. As a result, a process of suppuration develops that is difficult to treat.
• Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). High blood sugar levels negatively affect the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS) and autonomic system. The regulation of heat exchange and the functioning of the sweat glands are disrupted. This symptom is especially pronounced in women during menopause.
• Systematic colds and viral infections. Frequent illnesses are caused by decreased immunity. Inadequate functioning of the body's defenses is associated with a lack of vitamin C. In its chemical structure, ascorbic acid is similar to glucose, therefore, with hyperglycemia, one substance is replaced by another and the cells of the immune system mistakenly begin to use glucose instead of vitamin C.
• Vaginal infections (candidiasis, vaginal dysbiosis). Against the background of hyperglycemia and low immunity, the homeostasis of the vaginal microflora is disrupted, the pH of the mucous membrane shifts to the alkaline side.
• NOMC (ovarian-menstrual cycle disorders). Irregularity of menstruation is associated with a general imbalance in a woman’s hormonal levels.

The inability to control eating behavior leads to overeating and gaining extra pounds.

External manifestations of elevated sugar levels are changes in the structure of nails and hair, and the appearance of pigment spots on the face. Impaired metabolism prevents the normal absorption of micro- and macroelements and vitamins, which causes fragility of the nail plates and hair. If you neglect the primary signs of high sugar, symptoms of central nervous system destabilization will subsequently appear:

• psycho-emotional instability and unmotivated irritability;
• deterioration of visual perception;
• memory disorder;
• absent-mindedness;
• ataxia (impaired coordination);
• asthenia (neuropsychological weakness).

Somatic manifestations of progressive deterioration in health include:

• decreased sensory sensitivity;
• uncontrolled muscle contractions of the lower extremities (convulsions);
• paresthesia (numbness of the legs);
• increased heart rate (tachycardia);
• joint pain not associated with inflammatory diseases of the skeletal system (arthralgia);
• spider veins on the legs (telangiectasia) and itchy skin;
• decreased libido (sexual desire).

In the future, hyperglycemia becomes dangerous for the woman’s reproductive system. Hormonal imbalance interferes with the natural ability to conceive a child. As diabetes progresses, numerous complications develop, classified as acute, chronic and late-onset. Glycemia instability at the initial stage of the disease carries the risk of an acute condition called a diabetic crisis.

Symptoms of acute complications with unstable glycemia

A diabetic crisis is a forced change in condition in which the concentration of glucose in the blood drops sharply (hypoglycemic crisis) or increases sharply (hyperglycemic complication).

Hypoglycemic crisis

The critical sugar level is 2.8 mmol/l on an empty stomach. With these indicators, the patient experiences the following symptoms:

• tremor, otherwise trembling (involuntary rapid contraction of muscle fibers);
• inappropriate behavior (anxiety, irritability, fussiness, reverse reactions to external stimuli);
• ataxia;
• decreased visual acuity;
• dysfunction of the speech apparatus (slurred speech);
• hyperhidrosis;
• pallor and cyanosis (blueness) of the skin;
• increase in blood pressure and heart rate (heart rate);
• loss of consciousness (short-term or prolonged fainting).

Acute complications of diabetes mellitus can lead to coma

Hyperglycemic crisis

It has three main forms (hyperosmolar, lactic acidotic, ketoacidotic). Symptoms of hyperosmolar crisis: dehydration of the body against the background of polydipsia and pollakuria, skin itching, dizziness, loss of strength (physical weakness). Lactic acid crisis is characterized by the following symptoms: frequent loose stools (diarrhea), heaviness of the epigastric (epigastric) region, reflex release of stomach contents (vomiting), noisy and deep breathing (Kussmaul breathing), a sharp decrease in blood pressure, loss of consciousness.

The ketoacidotic form of the crisis is manifested by symptoms: polydipsia and pollakiuria, asthenia, decreased body tone and physical capabilities (weakness), lethargy and sleep disturbance (drowsiness), the smell of ammonia from the mouth, nausea and vomiting, Kussmaul breathing.

Important! In a state of sudden change in blood glucose concentration, the patient needs urgent medical attention. A crisis carries the risk of developing a diabetic coma and death.

Diabetes mellitus is an incurable pathology. The initial stage of the disease may be asymptomatic, so you need to be attentive to your health, listening to the slightest changes in your well-being. Regular monitoring of sugar levels is a chance to promptly detect the development of the disease.

High glucose levels are a signal of an approaching disease - diabetes. It is important for each of us to know the signs of high blood sugar in order to begin treatment on time and prevent serious complications of the disease.

Normal sugar level

The normal blood glucose level for people of any age ranges from 3.3 mmol/l to 5.5 mmol/l. If the level is from 5.5 to 6 mmol/l, then we are talking about prediabetes. If the glucose level is 6.1 mmol/l or higher, then a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus is made.

How is the examination carried out?

Diagnostics is carried out using the express method or in the laboratory using special equipment. In the first method, blood is taken on an empty stomach using a finger prick glucometer. In this case, the result is less accurate and is considered preliminary. This device is good to use at home for constant sugar control. If a deviation from the normal value is detected, the analysis is repeated in the laboratory. Blood is usually drawn from a vein. The diagnosis of “diabetes mellitus” is made if, after donating blood twice on different days, the result shows an excess of the norm. About 90% of all registered patients suffer from type 2 diabetes.

Signs of High Glucose Levels

In general, the symptoms of diabetes are similar for most patients, although they may differ depending on age and duration of the disease. As a rule, the first signs of high sugar are as follows:

1. Dry mouth is one of the classic manifestations of diabetes.
2. Polydipsia and polyuria. Extreme thirst and passing a large volume of urine are the most typical symptoms of high sugar levels. Thirst is the body's signal to replenish lost water to avoid dehydration. The kidneys, in turn, filter the excess glucose, releasing an increased amount of urine.
3. Fatigue and weakness. Sugar does not reach the cells, remaining in the blood, so muscle tissue lacks energy to be active.
4. Poor healing of scratches, wounds, abrasions, cuts. It is important to avoid breaks in the skin as they are prone to infection, which creates further problems.
5. Increase or decrease in body weight.
6. Characteristic signs of diabetes are skin diseases and genital infections that cause itching. This may be furunculosis, candidiasis, colpitis, inflammation of the urinary tract and urethra.
7. Body odor of acetone. This manifestation is typical for very high sugar levels. This is a signal of diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition.

One of the most characteristic signs of high sugar is constant extreme thirst.

Later, the patient develops the following symptoms of high sugar:

• Maculopathy and diabetic retinopathy are eye diseases characterized by blurred vision. Retinopathy, which affects the blood vessels in the eyes, is the leading cause of blindness in adults with diabetes.
• Bleeding gums, loose teeth.
• Decreased sensitivity in the extremities: tingling, numbness, goosebumps, changes in pain and temperature sensitivity on the hands and feet.
• Digestive problems: diarrhea or constipation, abdominal pain, fecal incontinence, difficulty swallowing.
• Swelling of the extremities as a result of retention and accumulation of fluid in the body. Such signs more often appear when diabetes is combined with arterial hypertension.
• Manifestations of high sugar include chronic renal failure, protein in the urine and other kidney disorders.
• Diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
• Erectile dysfunction, frequent urinary tract infections.
• Decreased intelligence and memory.

With a slight increase in sugar, signs may be mild or absent. Often, patients suffering from type 2 diabetes have no complaints and are not aware of their condition. The diagnosis may be made accidentally, during examination or treatment for another reason.

Why do blood glucose levels increase?

The reasons for high sugar levels are varied. The most common of them is diabetes mellitus type 1 or 2. In addition to this, you can name a few more:

• stressful situations;
• the presence in the diet of foods with fast, that is, easily digestible carbohydrates;
• severe infectious diseases.

Eating with high sugar

If you have high blood sugar, you need to eat a balanced diet.

Diet for high blood glucose is an important component of treatment. It is necessary to follow the basic principles of nutrition:

• eat regularly, in small portions, 5-6 times a day, at the same hours;
• drink at least 1-2 liters of liquid per day;
• products must include all substances necessary for life;
• you need food rich in fiber;
• vegetables should be eaten daily;
• avoid salty foods;
• give up alcoholic drinks.

You should eat foods that do not increase blood glucose levels and are non-caloric. Among them:

• lean dietary meat;
• lean fish;
• dairy products;
• buckwheat, rice, oatmeal;
• Rye bread;
• eggs (no more than two per day);
• peas, beans;
• vegetables: eggplants, red and green peppers, radishes, cabbage, radishes, onions, herbs, garlic, celery, cucumbers, spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, green peas;
• fruits and berries: apples, pears, blueberries, cranberries, rowan berries, lingonberries, quince, lemons.

Preference should be given to fats of vegetable origin, sugar should be replaced with honey and sweeteners. Food is best steamed, baked, stewed and boiled.

Foods you shouldn't eat

If you have high blood sugar, you should avoid foods such as:

• flour, butter and confectionery products: cakes, pastries, sweets, ice cream, pies, jam, sweet carbonated drinks, pasta, sugar;
• fatty meat and fish, sausages, smoked meats, lard, canned food;
• dairy products: full-fat cheese, cream, sour cream, full-fat cottage cheese;
• mayonnaise;
• sweet fruits and dried fruits: figs, grapes, raisins.

Conclusion

Doctors do not consider diabetes mellitus a death sentence, despite the fact that it is an incurable disease. If you detect early signs of high blood sugar, you can immediately begin to correct your condition and learn to live with it. This will avoid or significantly delay the development of severe complications and consequences such as blindness, gangrene, amputation of the lower extremities, and nephropathy.

In medicine, the term hyperglycemia refers to high blood sugar. This condition develops as a result of various pathological changes in the body and is most often associated with metabolic disorders. Sugar (glucose) is the main source of energy for our body and plays an important role in the interaction of the endocrine and nervous systems. Without glucose, normal functioning of the body is impossible, because this component takes an active part in basic metabolic processes.

However, it is very important that the glucose level does not exceed the permissible limits. After all, elevated blood sugar levels indicate the development of such a serious disease as diabetes. What indicator is normal, what can affect the increase in glucose levels and what symptoms indicate pathology? You will find the answer to these questions in the materials of the article.

Photo: Permissible blood sugar levels

The normal level of glucose in the blood is considered to be from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol/l. Moreover, this standard is the same for adults and children and does not depend on gender. The indicator is not stable, it can change during the day depending on the emotional state, physical activity or after eating.

A glucose test is done on an empty stomach. You can donate blood for testing in a laboratory or use a portable home glucometer. In the event that the test result shows that the permissible glucose level is exceeded, but there are no characteristic symptoms of diabetes, you will have to do the test several more times. This will help catch the disease at an early stage of development, when all processes are still reversible, and prevent the development of serious pathology.

To confirm prediabetes or exclude this diagnosis, it is recommended to undergo a special tolerance test. This type of study is especially necessary for patients over 45 years of age. It will help identify disturbances in the absorption of glucose by the body's cells and changes such as increased fasting blood sugar levels. The test is carried out as follows:

• First, the patient must donate blood for sugar in the morning (on an empty stomach).
• Then drink 200 ml of water in which pure glucose (75 g) is dissolved.
• You should take the test again after 2 hours.

To make the study result more accurate, the patient is recommended to fulfill several important conditions:

1. The last meal should be no earlier than 10 hours before blood sampling for analysis.
2. On the eve of the study, it is necessary to exclude physical activity and sports.
3. It is necessary to avoid stress factors, not to be nervous and not to worry.
4. Before donating blood, you should not change your usual diet.
5. After taking the glucose solution, it is best to sit at home in a quiet environment for 2 hours and avoid physical activity.

If the fasting sugar level is less than 7 mmol/l, and after taking a glucose solution it rises to 7.8 - 11.1 mol/l, this will indicate impaired glucose tolerance.

In the case when the analysis on an empty stomach shows from 6.1 to 7.0 mmol/l, and after taking a sweet solution - less than 7.8 mmol/l, they speak of signs of impaired fasting sugar levels. To clarify the diagnosis, the patient will be asked to donate blood for the presence of enzymes and have an ultrasound of the pancreas.

It should be borne in mind that blood glucose levels can increase as a result of severe stress, severe infectious diseases or certain conditions (for example, pregnancy) and subsequently return quite quickly to previous, normal values. Of course, this condition cannot be called normal; rather, it is prediabetes, but the patient should not panic. If disorders are detected at an early stage, then by following all the recommendations of the attending physician and adjusting lifestyle and nutrition, blood sugar levels can be stabilized.

Causes of high blood sugar

The main reasons that provoke the development of hyperglycemia are the following:

In diabetes mellitus, there is a persistent increase in blood sugar levels, which is long-lasting and negatively affects the condition of internal organs and systems. But besides this disease, there are many pathological conditions leading to hyperglycemia. Here are the most common ones:

• long-term use of certain medications (hormones and their analogues, beta blockers, etc.);
• pancreatitis (inflammatory process in the pancreas);
• malignant process in the pancreas (cancer);
• hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid gland);
• tumor processes in the pituitary gland;
• severe physical and mental injuries.

As you know, blood sugar levels are the same for men and women. But the reasons why this condition develops may differ among representatives of different sexes.

Photo: High blood sugar in women

Women are more impressionable natures, they are more often susceptible to worries and stress. In addition, representatives of the fairer sex adore sweets and confectionery, which are a source of “light” carbohydrates. Once in the body, they immediately increase blood sugar levels, and excessive consumption of refined carbohydrates leads to metabolic disorders.

Women are much more likely than men to gain excess weight and obesity, especially during menopause. In addition, hormonal levels are of great importance, which undergo significant changes during pregnancy or due to endocrine diseases. Blood glucose levels can be affected by premenstrual syndrome (PMS), gastrointestinal pathologies, thyroid disorders, liver pathologies, inflammatory diseases of the pancreas, adrenal glands and pituitary gland. Deviations from the norm in the upward direction are more often observed in women after 40 years of age. Therefore, it is so important to regularly monitor blood glucose levels to prevent the development of severe diseases and related complications.

Photo: High blood sugar in men

High blood sugar levels in representatives of the stronger sex are associated with disruption of the pancreas and do not depend on hormonal fluctuations, as in women. Lifestyle and bad habits play an important role. Hyperglycemia often develops against the background of an unhealthy lifestyle, smoking, alcohol abuse, and a predominance of fatty and spicy foods in the diet.

Often, the provoking factors that cause an increase in blood sugar in men are chronic stress, heavy physical activity, and uncontrolled use of certain medications. Other causes of hyperglycemia include acromegaly (which is characterized by excess growth hormone), inflammatory and infectious diseases.

The development of pathology can cause Cushing's syndrome (enlargement of the adrenal glands and pituitary gland), diseases of the liver, pancreas, or serious pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. High sugar levels in men can lead to potency, since in this state the blood thickens and circulates poorly throughout the body. It is believed that male obesity is another factor that provokes hyperglycemia, since excess fat is deposited mainly in the abdominal area and puts additional pressure on the internal organs, pancreas and liver.

Symptoms

With high blood sugar levels, patients note the following changes in well-being:

The causes of a short-term increase in blood sugar can be seizures, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury, burns, severe pain, or conditions during acute and myocardial infarction.

However, the development of diabetes mellitus is not always accompanied by characteristic manifestations. In such cases, the patient may feel completely healthy for a long time, while a latent form of diabetes develops in his body.

Latent (hidden) diabetes is often detected during a preventive examination. Patients may complain of decreased vision, apathy and fatigue, inflammatory processes and slow healing of injuries, which is associated with damage to small vessels and impaired tissue nutrition. The latent form can be identified using the specific carbohydrate tolerance test described above.

If you notice several of the above signs, you need to get your blood tested as soon as possible, since such symptoms indicate an increase in blood sugar levels. After laboratory tests, the doctor will be able to make the correct diagnosis and explain to the patient what to do if high blood sugar is accompanied by a deterioration in general health.

To understand what is associated with this or that symptom, it is necessary to find out the mechanism of their development.

Thus, severe thirst and dry mouth are explained by the ability of glucose to attract water. High sugar levels cause increased urination, sweating and dehydration. To replenish fluid loss, a person is forced to drink more fluid. In addition, glucose binds water molecules, which leads to increased blood pressure. Therefore, arterial hypertension is considered a characteristic sign of hyperglycemia.

Weight loss is observed in type 1 diabetes, when the body is unable to produce insulin on its own or synthesizes it in insufficient quantities. As a result, glucose cannot enter the cells, so they suffer from energy starvation. This condition leads to lack of appetite and weight loss.

Photo: quickly gaining extra pounds

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by the opposite situation, and a rapid gain of extra pounds. In this case, the pancreas produces insulin in sufficient quantities, but the tissue receptors that are responsible for its absorption do not work properly. Glucose penetrates the cells, but in small quantities, which is not able to ensure optimal breakdown of fats. This leads to lipid metabolism disorders and obesity.

Headaches, fatigue, weakness are direct consequences of brain starvation, for which glucose is the main source of energy. The body has to adapt to a different method of obtaining energy, which is the oxidation of lipids (fats). But this leads to an increase in the level of ketone bodies in the blood and the appearance of the smell of acetone in the exhaled air.

A decrease in the ability of tissues to heal and regenerate is also associated with energy hunger and weakened immunity. And the increased level of glucose in the blood becomes a favorable breeding ground for pathogenic microorganisms and contributes to the development of infections and purulent processes.

What to do and how to deal with hyperglycemia?

Photo: increasing physical activity

If after the examination it turns out that a persistent increase in blood sugar threatens the development of diabetes, the doctor will begin therapy with a set of measures aimed at reducing glucose levels and maintaining this value within normal limits. Timely treatment will help prevent the development of diabetes. The patient should strictly follow the doctor's recommendations and complete all appointments. Therapy for hyperglycemia comes down to lifestyle adjustments, which include:

• following a certain diet;
• rejection of bad habits;
• measures for weight loss in obesity;
• Regular monitoring of blood sugar levels using a home glucometer.

The basis of dietary therapy is a low-carbohydrate diet, consisting mainly of protein, grains and vegetables, and the exclusion of foods that increase blood sugar from the diet.

Diet

Photo: diet for hyperglycemia

The optimal diet for hyperglycemia will be individually developed by a specialist nutritionist, who will take into account the patient’s age and weight, the presence of concomitant diseases and the nature of professional activity that affects the body’s energy expenditure.

First of all, foods that increase blood sugar and contain easily digestible carbohydrates are excluded from the diet. These include:

“Light” carbohydrates are instantly absorbed into the body and sharply increase the glucose level in the blood. Specialists will select a diet with a reduced calorie content and help you create a menu for every day, which should become the basis of proper nutrition.

What foods can be included in the diet?

You can eat greens and vegetables (cabbage, eggplant, zucchini, fresh cucumbers, tomatoes) with almost no restrictions. They contain healthy fiber, and carbohydrates from vegetables are absorbed much more slowly and are not able to sharply increase sugar levels. The consumption of vegetables such as potatoes, beets and carrots should be discussed with your doctor. It is useful to eat salads seasoned with vegetable oil.

The diet should include fermented milk products, dietary lean meat (chicken, rabbit) and fish, butter, eggs, sour varieties of fruits and berries. You can drink freshly squeezed fruit juices sweetened with xylitol.

Among baked goods, preference should be given to whole grain or protein-bran bread. You can eat a little of both white (slightly dried) and rye bread. Cereals and porridges made from them will bring additional benefits: wheat, oatmeal, buckwheat, pearl barley. But it is not advisable to include semolina and rice porridge in the menu.

It is necessary to reduce the consumption of sweets and confectionery products to a minimum, but experts allow natural honey in small quantities (no more than 1 teaspoon twice a day). It is better not to fry food, but to steam it, boil it or bake it.

If necessary, the doctor will prescribe multivitamin complexes. In addition, herbal medicine and the use of herbal teas will help lower blood sugar levels. Tea made from the leaves of lilac, sage, blueberry, and hibiscus is especially useful.

Daily physical activity will not only keep you in good shape, but will also help fight hyperglycemia. A specially designed set of exercises is a good prevention of type 2 diabetes, as it helps improve metabolism and better absorption of glucose. Long walking, swimming, cycling, aerobics and water aerobics, tennis, golf, volleyball and other sports are perfect for regular physical exercise.

The most effective and affordable option is morning jogging at a moderate pace and walking. Avoid traveling on public transport or in a personal car, try to walk to work, and take the stairs to your floor rather than in the elevator. This will not only help you lose extra pounds, but will also serve as a good prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Every day, at least 40 - 60 minutes should be devoted to physical activity, this will bring undoubted benefits to your body and help maintain sugar levels within normal limits.

Watch the video: Exercises to lower blood sugar

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Watch the video: How to lower blood sugar with folk remedies

High blood sugar: find out its causes, symptoms, and most importantly, effective methods of treatment without fasting, taking harmful and expensive medications, or injecting large doses of insulin. This page says:

• Why is high sugar dangerous?
• how to make an accurate diagnosis - prediabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, diabetes mellitus;
• what is the relationship between blood pressure and blood sugar;
• How to take control of a disturbed metabolism.

The website teaches how to reduce sugar to normal, and then keep it at a consistently normal level of 3.9-5.5 mmol/l on an empty stomach and after meals. Elevated blood glucose levels do not always mean diabetes. But in any case, this is a serious problem that requires attention and treatment to avoid the development of acute and chronic complications on the legs, vision, kidneys and other organs.

High blood sugar: detailed article

This page lists medications that may raise your blood sugar. Particular attention is paid to statins for cholesterol. Read how blood sugar and insulin levels are related. Figure out what to do if your glucose level is high on an empty stomach, but normal the rest of the day. To bring your indicators back to normal, read the article “” and follow its recommendations.

Why is high blood sugar dangerous?

Impaired glucose metabolism is dangerous because it causes acute and chronic complications of diabetes. Acute complications are called diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperglycemic coma. They can lead to loss of consciousness and death. These troubles happen if the sugar level exceeds the norm of healthy people by 2.5-6 times. More frequent and dangerous chronic complications are loss of vision up to blindness, gangrene and amputation of the legs, as well as renal failure requiring a kidney transplant or dialysis.

Also, increased blood sugar stimulates the development of vascular atherosclerosis. The higher the glucose level, the faster a heart attack or stroke occurs. Many diabetics die from heart attacks before they develop problems with their vision, legs or kidneys.

Causes

Blood sugar may rise due to an infectious disease or acute stress. In such situations, people with type 2 diabetes need to temporarily inject insulin, even if they usually get by with taking pills. Read more. However, more important are the reasons why patients' sugar remains chronically elevated. First of all, blood glucose levels rise due to the consumption of dietary carbohydrates, especially refined ones.

People who have high sugar levels eat more carbohydrates than their body can safely absorb. Watch a video about how the proteins, fats and carbohydrates you eat affect your blood sugar.

As you know, the hormone insulin lowers sugar by forcing cells to absorb glucose from the blood. In patients with prediabetes, tissues lose sensitivity to it, although there is enough insulin in the blood. Poor sensitivity to this hormone is called insulin resistance. This is a serious metabolic disorder that reduces the chances of patients living until retirement and living on it. With insulin resistance in the first years, blood sugar and insulin may be elevated at the same time. This problem is aggravated by a sedentary lifestyle and overeating. However, it is easy to get under control before it becomes severe diabetes.

In type 1 diabetes, as well as in severe advanced cases of type 2 diabetes, blood sugar is elevated due to the fact that there is really not enough insulin. The sensitivity of tissues to this hormone is usually normal if diabetes is not complicated by the patient being overweight. The reason for the lack of insulin is that the immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells of the pancreas that produce this hormone. You can't do without injections. There is no way you can get by with sugar-lowering pills.

Find out in what quantities you can eat cherries, strawberries, apricots, apples, and other fruits and berries. As for cereal products, patients are interested in semolina, pearl barley, buckwheat, barley, millet, corn porridge, as well as white and brown rice dishes.

Read more about the products:

What are the features of the diet for high sugar in pregnant women?

Pregnant women who have high blood sugar are advised to follow. Thanks to this diet, you can keep your glucose levels normal without any insulin injections or using minimal doses. Let us remind you that you cannot take any diabetes pills during pregnancy. A low-carb diet can lead to ketones (acetone) in the blood and urine. Doctors scare pregnant women that this can cause miscarriage or developmental disorders in the offspring. They are wrong. The appearance of acetone is normal and not harmful. For more details, watch the video below.

Is it worth switching to diet No. 9?

Below are answers to some more frequently asked questions from patients.

Can high blood sugar raise blood pressure?

Elevated sugar gradually destroys blood vessels. Over time, this can cause hypertension, heart attack or stroke. But usually, blood glucose levels and blood pressure are not related in any way. In a patient, both of these indicators can be simultaneously increased, decreased, or one of them is increased and the other is decreased. Impaired glucose metabolism and arterial hypertension must be controlled separately. In people who are overweight, it simultaneously brings blood sugar and blood pressure back to normal within a few days. Doses of antihypertensive drugs can and should be significantly reduced, usually to the point of complete failure. Hypertension in thin people is a more serious disease. Read about its causes and treatment options.

How can insulin and blood sugar be elevated at the same time?

In people who are overweight in the early stages of type 2 diabetes, insulin and blood sugar are often elevated at the same time. First, tissues lose sensitivity to insulin due to overeating carbohydrates and a sedentary lifestyle. The pancreas tries to produce more insulin in order to push glucose into the cells and reduce its concentration in the blood.

However, this increased load depletes beta cells over time. After a few years, they still produce insulin in excess, but not enough to keep their sugar levels normal. In the absence of treatment and changes in lifestyle, the level of insulin in the blood will begin to fall and glucose levels will begin to rise. The disease will eventually progress to severe type 1 diabetes unless the patient dies sooner from complications.

What time of day is your blood sugar highest?

For most patients, sugar levels are highest in the morning on an empty stomach. Around 4-6 am, adrenaline, cortisol and other stress hormones begin to enter the bloodstream. They force the body to wake up, and at the same time greatly increase the level of glucose in the blood. Their effect stops around 8-10 am.

This is a common problem called dawn phenomenon. Diabetics have to make a lot of efforts to fight it. Read more. After breakfast, glucose levels may paradoxically decrease, despite the fact that eating should increase them.

In some patients, sugar in the morning on an empty stomach remains normal, but regularly rises towards lunch or in the evening. It is important to establish this individual feature of the course of diabetes, and then adapt to it. Test your glucose levels frequently to find out how they typically behave at different times of the day. After this, make the necessary changes to your diet, schedule of taking pills and insulin injections.

Why do I have high blood sugar in the morning on an empty stomach, but normal the rest of the day?

Sugar in the morning on an empty stomach is higher than in the afternoon and evening - this is a problem for most diabetics. Don't consider yourself an exception in this sense. The reason is called the dawn phenomenon. In the morning, a few hours before waking up from sleep, the hormonal levels in the blood change so that the liver intensively takes and breaks down insulin. There is not enough of it to keep your sugar normal. When a diabetic measures his glucose level after waking up, it is elevated. Read the article “”. Achieving normal levels may be difficult. However, don't be lazy to do this. Otherwise, chronic complications of diabetes will gradually develop.

What is the reason for high fasting sugar in the morning when following a diet and taking diabetes pills?

Diabetes pills taken before bed wear off in the middle of the night. He's missing until the morning. Unfortunately, the same problem often occurs with an evening injection of extended-release insulin. As a result, the weakened pancreas does not have enough funds to compensate for the effect of the dawn phenomenon.

The worst thing is if a diabetic is used to having dinner late. This is absolutely impossible to do. Find out in detail on this site how to normalize your sugar in the morning on an empty stomach. Don't even dream of achieving this until you give up the bad habit of having dinner late.