The body constantly maintains a concentration of glucose in the bloodstream in balance. In the case when this can not be done, a failure occurs in his work. When contacting the clinic, a person passes a blood test for sugar. It is the values of this indicator that serve as the main determinant of the patient’s health status. With an initial increase in blood sugar, the individual may not pay attention to them, but at the same time, changes are already beginning in the body. To maintain health, it is necessary to know the signs of the disease and the reasons that lead to it, in order to consult a doctor in time and stop the disease.
Why is high blood sugar dangerous?
Products that a person eats every day in the body are broken down into proteins, fats and carbohydrates. And the latter, in turn, for glucose and fructose. The blood sugar level is the content of glucose in it. This component is necessary for our body, as it serves as nutrition for cells. And in order for this to happen, glucose must enter the cell with insulin. In case of excess (hyperglycemia) and insulin deficiency, cells starve.
It turns out that the symptoms of excess and lack of glucose in the blood are the same. Energy reserves serve as a certain reserve and are stored in the liver, and, if necessary, are spent. This occurs when a person has increased muscle activity, agitation, fear, or severe pain. What is the danger of high blood sugar? With prolonged hyperglycemia with a fairly large amount of sugar in the blood, which the body does not have time to spend, the pancreas malfunctions, and glucose is excreted in the urine. As a result, metabolic processes are disrupted and toxic substances are released, which can lead to poisoning of the body.
Blood sugar
Regardless of gender, normal blood sugar by modern standards is in the range of 3.3–5.5 mmol / l, when the biomaterial is taken from a finger on an empty stomach. When taking blood from a vein, values of 4–6.1 mmol / L will be the norm. The result changes with stress, after a bad sleep or a quick walk. A value in excess of 5.5 mmol / L indicates the possibility of diabetes. In this case, it is necessary to pass a number of tests. Pregnant women may also have high blood sugar. This is explained by the need for a certain amount of glucose for the development of the fetus. Slightly elevated sugar rates are also observed in people whose age exceeds 60 years. Children, on the contrary, have an indicator slightly lower than the norm.
Reasons for an increase in blood sugar
Medical statistics show that the majority of adults with hyperglycemia suffer from the second type of diabetes. Additional factors of this disease are non-compliance with the daily routine (not enough time is allocated for a full sleep), constant stressful situations at work, lack of physical activity, and obesity. The main causes of high blood sugar leading to the disease are:
- Diabetes. The disease is associated with abnormalities in the endocrine system due to a lack of insulin, which the pancreas produces.
- Inflammatory processes in the pancreas.
- Chronic liver disease.
- Unbalanced diet. It occurs when the diet contains a large amount of carbohydrates, which are able to be quickly absorbed, and low consumption of plant foods.
- Constant nervous tension and stressful conditions.
- Severe infectious diseases.
- Intensive medical treatment.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
Symptoms of High Blood Sugar
High blood glucose is characterized by the following symptoms:
- constant thirst;
- dry mouth, including at night;
- sudden loss or weight gain;
- need for frequent urination;
- chronic fatigue;
- headache;
- dry dermis and mucous membranes;
- visual impairment;
- Heart arythmy;
- weakening of the immune system;
- poor wound healing;
- noisy breathing.
The acute form of hyperglycemia leads to severe fluid loss, impaired consciousness, and sometimes coma. If several symptoms are detected at the same time, you should visit the clinic and undergo an examination with tests for high blood sugar.
Why diet?
There is a diet number 9, which is designed specifically for people with high blood sugar. Its goal is to normalize glucose, obtain nutrients, vitamins and minerals. With strict adherence, immediately after the detection of the disease, there is a high chance to suspend the development of pathology. In nutrition, it is necessary to limit the intake of foods with a significant amount of carbohydrates. In this case, glucose intake will be reduced and less insulin will be needed. There will be a decrease in blood sugar, which will contribute to the normal functioning of the whole organism.
Recommended Diet for High Sugar
Proper nutrition helps to reduce the risk of exacerbation of the disease and improve well-being. To follow a diet, you must adhere to the following principles:
- It is advisable to eat foods that have a low calorie content. Digestible carbohydrates should be excluded from the diet. Include more fruits, vegetables, and coarse grains on the menu.
- Reduce the consumption of animal fats.
- Preference in food with high blood sugar is given to products containing protein.
- Limit salt intake. It is advisable to replace the table with sea salt. This is especially true for patients with hypertension.
- Monitor daily water intake. It is necessary to drink up to 2 liters.
- Eat high-grade foods containing vitamins, minerals and dietary fiber.
- Exclude all sweets from the diet.
- Food with high blood sugar to make fractional. It is advisable to take food in small portions up to six times a day.
- Daily there are foods containing carbohydrates, but not more than 120 g.
Increase in blood sugar during pregnancy
Pregnant women after registration are under the supervision of a doctor and periodically pass a blood test for sugar. During this period, various malfunctions in the body can be observed, the pancreas is no exception. When pregnant women find that they have high blood sugar, the so-called gestational diabetes occurs. After childbirth, he can pass without a trace or remain for life. Diabetes of pregnant women affects women who:
- give birth for the first time in 35 years;
- have a hereditary predisposition;
- gave birth to children with heavy weight;
- had a miscarriage;
- passed a course of hormonal drugs;
- are overweight.
Signs of increased blood sugar in women in a delicate position are dryness and a metallic taste in the oral cavity, polyuria and fatigue. Before donating blood for sugar, a woman should remember that the test is given on an empty stomach, in a calm state, after a good night's sleep. Walking before blood donation can also affect the result. In case of malaise and feeling unwell, a doctor should be warned.
Sugar is considered within the normal range if its value is in the range of 4–5.2 mmol / L. With increased values, additional examinations are prescribed - if the diagnosis is confirmed, a course of therapy is carried out. What is the danger of high blood sugar in a pregnant woman? If the disease develops in the first months of pregnancy, the fetus often has many defects that are incompatible with life. It ends with early miscarriages. The late manifestation of diabetes in the woman in labor or the inability to stabilize it leads to damage to various organs in the fetus. A woman may have abnormalities in the work of the kidneys, increased blood pressure, complications during childbirth are possible. During pregnancy, blood sugar should be regularly monitored and monitored by a physician.
Rising sugar in the morning
There are several reasons for high blood sugar in the morning. This can be fixed, it is only necessary to determine which of them provoked the problem:
- Morning Dawn Syndrome. Every morning, from four to six hours, sugar can rise. At this time, hormones are activated that stimulate the synthesis of glucose in the liver, which enters the bloodstream and leads to an increase in sugar. Healthy people cope with this situation, since they produce enough insulin to compensate for glucose.
- Somoji syndrome. At night, a sharp drop in sugar occurs, associated with an overdose of insulin. After such stress, the body takes glucose from the reserves and morning indicators increase.
Elevated blood sugar in the morning is not necessarily associated with diabetes. It can be in completely healthy people in the following situations:
- heavy physical exertion;
- intense prolonged mental activity;
- threat to life, severe fear and fear;
- serious stress.
The concentration of sugar in the blood in all these cases is normalized after elimination of the exposure factor without medical attention. In addition, there are a number of serious diseases that increase sugar. These include burns, myocardial infarction, stroke, liver disease, brain injury. In these cases, it is necessary to consult a doctor in order to receive appropriate treatment and solve the problem with morning high blood sugar.
What foods can be consumed?
To replenish carbohydrates in the body with elevated sugar in the blood, it is advisable to use cereals. However, instant oatmeal and semolina should be excluded from the diet. The main components of the diet include buckwheat, pearl barley, wheat, whole-grain oatmeal, as well as pumpkin and rice porridge. They contain a sufficient amount of trace elements, vitamins and complex carbohydrates. What is possible with high blood sugar? It is also important not to forget about vegetables - this is one of the main elements in the diet, which has a low calorie content. For baking in the oven, boiling and stewing, zucchini, cucumbers, pumpkin, tomatoes and cabbage are perfect.
The use of salad and celery greens will improve the work of cells, avocados will contribute to the production of additional insulin. By eating raw vegetables, the body receives a lot of fiber, vegetable fats and proteins. Particular attention should be paid to Jerusalem artichoke. It is used both raw and after heat treatment. They can be replaced with potatoes and used to prepare side dishes for fish or meat. For a diet with high blood sugar, it is advisable to use meat with a minimum amount of fat: rabbit, chicken and veal. You should eat more fish, especially salmon, containing proteins and essential fatty acids. It is advisable to choose sweet and sour fruits and berries: lemons, oranges, pears, apples, grapefruits, strawberries, strawberries. Nuts are good for a snack. And decoctions of currants, aronia and rose hips can be used instead of tea. Irreplaceable and dairy products: cottage cheese, yogurt, kefir, fermented baked milk.
What products are banned?
A diet for patients suffering from high blood sugar is quite capable of bringing the body to a normal condition, provided that it is regularly observed. At the same time, sugar can rise sharply due to minor flaws in the diet. It can cause instant food, various sweets and sugar. And also products that increase blood sugar include:
- bakery products from the highest grade of flour;
- fruits with easily digestible carbohydrates - grapes, figs, watermelon, bananas, dates;
- oily broth soups;
- spicy and smoked products;
- sauces - mayonnaise, ketchup;
- caviar.
Potatoes are not completely excluded from the diet, but it is rarely consumed. What is not possible with high blood sugar? Do not eat oatmeal porridge, semolina and white polished rice. Porridge made from them contain a lot of carbohydrates and a small amount of nutrients. Unwanted foods with high sugar will be fatty meat, various pickles and all vegetables cooked in the marinade. These products have an additional burden on the digestive organs and heart, leading to increased pressure.
Honey with high blood sugar
Any kind of natural honey contains a large number of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, fructose and other useful substances that are needed for the life of the body. At the same time, this product is rich in glucose, which is extremely contraindicated in people with excess blood sugar. Endocrinologists disagreed on whether it is possible to use honey for diabetics. Some of them believe that it is possible, and gives the following arguments:
- The high content of vitamin C supports the body's defenses.
- With a lack of B vitamins, which are in large quantities in the product, the work of many organs is disrupted.
- The fructose contained in honey is processed by the liver into glycogen and does not require insulin.
Specialists who do not approve of the use of honey explain their position as follows. This product:
- has a high calorie content;
- increases the load on the liver;
- often composed of 80% sugar.
All doctors agree that honey is a useful product and is used to treat many diseases. But due to disagreements, it is better to consult with your doctor to resolve the problem. He will prescribe a diet, taking into account the specific needs of the patient.
How to lower blood sugar?
The treatment of hyperglycemia consists in the temporary reduction of elevated blood sugar levels simultaneously with therapy aimed at the underlying disease that caused the pathological condition. If blood sugar is elevated, what should I do? The pancreas, which produces insulin for the normal maintenance of blood sugar, may be impaired as a result of alcohol abuse or malnutrition. The doctor prescribes the appropriate diet for the patient and adjusts the diet.
Often, insulin is not produced enough due to emotional overload. In this case, the patient is advised to rest and adjust the nervous system - as a result, sugar returns to normal. When diagnosing type 2 diabetes, sugar-lowering tablets are prescribed. Type 1 diabetes is treated with insulin preparations in the form of subcutaneous injections, which are prescribed for a long period. All medicines are selected by the doctor strictly individually in composition and dosage. In addition to drug therapy, diet and feasible physical activity help with high blood sugar.
Diabetes mellitus in children
The disease in children manifests itself in a severe form - type 1 diabetes. If any signs of a disease appear, you should immediately visit a doctor and take blood sugar tests. In children, this ailment is asymptomatic for a long period, so the diagnosis is made even with a severe form of its development. By this time, there is damage to the vessels of the eyes, mucous membranes of the oral cavity, nervous system, skin, and sometimes a coma develops. Symptoms of high blood sugar in children are the same as in adults:
- constant dry mouth, severe thirst;
- fatigue
- constant feeling of hunger;
- excessive and frequent urination;
- losing weight with a good appetite.
Diabetes in children develops more rapidly than in adults. They may experience sharp changes in blood sugar, and the indicator is difficult to recover. Weakened children often suffer from infectious diseases, which further worsen the general condition. Many parents have a question: when a child has high blood sugar, what should I do? Urgently consult an endocrinologist or attending physician. He will prescribe a urine and blood test and make the correct diagnosis. With a low level of glucose, sugar-lowering drugs, a special diet and hardening are prescribed. In more severe cases, the child undergoes inpatient treatment with the appointment of insulin therapy, which will be carried out for life.
Hyperglycemia Prevention
High blood glucose is a disease that has a negative effect on the whole body. But it can be prevented if you follow the simple rules of prevention:
- Proper nutrition. You should reduce the calorie content of food and remove from the menu foods that increase blood sugar. The diet should consist of a sufficient amount of protein and complex carbohydrates. It is necessary to increase the consumption of plant foods and make food fractional.
- Daily exercise. It has a beneficial effect on metabolism, helps to reduce weight. Doctors recommend walking, dancing, swimming, cycling, and playing football more.
- Maintain peace of mind. You should avoid stressful situations whenever possible, communicate more with friends, spend time in the fresh air in your free time, and engage in your favorite hobby.
- Healthy and full sleep. Violation of night sleep leads to the fact that the production of their own insulin is reduced.
- Refusal of addictions. Smoking and alcohol abuse are not acceptable.
It is important not to forget to periodically use multivitamins and minerals, because they are important for metabolism. All people need to undergo a medical examination every year and examine the blood for sugar content. And for those who are at risk and have signs of high blood sugar - once every six months. Prevention is the best way to prevent the disease.