The blood glucose level is the quantity of glucose in the blood. Glucose is a sugar that comes from the foods we eat, and it’s also formed and stored inside the body. It’s the main source of energy for the cells of our body, and it’s carried to each cell through the bloodstream.
Hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, occurs either when the body has a deficient amount of insulin or when the body is not using the insulin properly.
If you have an increased blood sugar levels for a prolonged period of time, you are exposed to the risk of many severe conditions.
High Blood Sugar Symptoms
Frequent or ongoing high levels of blood sugar can permanently damage different parts of your body, including your nerves, blood vessels, kidneys, and eyes.
Occasional episodes of hyperglycaemia can also occur in children and young adults during growth spurts.
In order to prevent any grave complications, you should treat the symptoms of hyperglycemia immediately. Here are the most common symptoms of high blood sugar levels.
Signs and Symptoms of High Blood Sugar
The most common warning signs and symptoms of high blood sugar include:
- Impotence
- Fatigue or extreme tiredness
- Excess abdominal fat/weight gain
- Constant hunger
- Dry mouth
- Frequent urination and or urination during the night
- Blurred vision
- Increased thirst
- Confusion or concentration problem
- Stomach and intestinal problems
- Slow-healing of cut wounds
- Recurrent infections
- Dry and itchy skin
- Nerve damage
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Causes of High Blood Sugar
A number of factors can be responsible for increasing your blood sugar levels, such as:
- Dehydration
- Over-treating an episode of hypoglycaemia.
- Infrequent intake or incorrect dose of your diabetes medications
- Illness like common cold
- Certain medicines like steroids
- Stress
- Lack of exercise
- Overeating such as snacking between meals
Diet for High Blood Sugar
Dietary changes plays a key role in reducing your blood sugar levels. The carbohydrates are usually one of the most responsible groups of food for increasing the blood sugar.
In order to lower your blood sugar, you should substitute the high glycemic index (GI) foods with low ones.
The Glycemic Index or simple GI indicates a number of carbs in foods which increase blood sugar levels, and it can vary from 0 to 100.
High-GI ingredients are processed much faster than low-GI foods, so the consumption of the latter will reduce insulin levels. Moreover, those foods are also beneficial for losing extra weight.
The following list includes foods together with their glycemic index:
High Glycemic Index – High glycemic index foods fall between 70 and 100 on the scale. Their regular consumption can lead to various severe health complications. You should try your best to avoid these foods.
- 1 slice of regular white bread – 70
- 1 doughnut (glazed) – 76
- 2 cups of popcorn – 72
- 1 mid-sized baked potato – 85
- 1 rice cake – 78
- 50 grams of glucose – 100
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Moderate Glycemic Index– These foods have a GI between 55 and 69, and should be consumed in moderate amounts.
- 1 tablespoon of raw honey – 55
- 1 cup of brown rice – 55
- 1 cup of oatmeal – 58
- 1 serving of macaroni and cheese – 64
- 1 cup of regular white rice – 64
Low Glycemic Index – These foods have a GI of between 0 and 54, and they should be consumed every.
- 1 egg – 0
- 1 cup of hummus equals – 6
- 1 mid-sized yellow onion – 10
- 1 cup of broccoli – 10
- 1 cup of walnuts – 15
- 1 cup of cashew nuts – 22
- 1 cup of cherries – 22
- 1 cup of kidney beans – 31
- 1 Turkey sausage – 28
- 1 mid-sized apple – 38
- 1 cup of butter beans – 34
- 8 ounces of tomato juice – 38
- 8 ounces of pineapple juice – 46
- 1 cup of spaghetti – 42
- 1 cup of green grapes – 46
- 1 medium orange – 48
- 1 large carrot – 47
- 1 large banana – 52
- 1 large grapefruit – 50
- 1 cup of peas – 54
Apart from consuming low glycemic index food, you should drink more water since it will help you to remove the excess sugar from your blood and to prevent you from dehydrating.
Also, you should exercise regularly. Some exercises can raise your blood sugar levels, so you should consult your doctor about the exercises that are right for you.
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