May 2

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5 Factors That Cause Blood Sugar Swings

By Gabriela

May 2, 2023


Living with constant blood sugar fluctuations can be a challenge. We have to think about a lot of factors, including our physical activity, stress management, and everything we eat and drink throughout the day.

And, even if we do consider these things on a regular basis, we will still not be able to predict the outcome of each blood sugar test.

Sometimes we might be surprised to see elevated blood sugar even though we’ve taken the medication on time, or avoided sugary foods.

Another question that might bother us is why our blood glucose readings are so high after experiencing a low blood glucose episode. And, these huge blood sugar swings are bad for our health in many ways.

Why Are Blood Sugar Swings Dangerous

Constant high blood sugar swings can interfere with our everyday activities and even lead to a diabetic coma. In some cases, this condition can also lead to:

  • Adrenal gland problems;
  • Thyroid disorder;
  • Weight gain;
  • Depression.

Why is My Blood Sugar High After I Have a Low?

Joy Pape is a certified diabetes educator that explains what can cause these high readings while giving a few tips to prevent them.

1. Overeating

When we’re having low blood sugar, we experience symptoms like sweating, shaking, blurred vision, a fast heartbeat, and extreme hunger. In those moments, we’re not thinking straight so we may eat a lot more than we should.

And, overeating can elevate our blood sugar levels a lot more than we think. Therefore, we shouldn’t overeat in such situations.

2. Too Many Carbs

Many people drink big glasses of juice and put sugar in it just to bring their blood glucose levels back to normal as quickly as possible.

But, this can give them too many carbohydrates which can spike blood sugar a bit later. So, it’s best to avoid drinking huge amounts of juice, and definitely, avoid adding sugar to it.

3. Not Following the “15/15 Rule”

We may take a carb that’s not fast-active, so we keep eating as we see no change in our blood glucose readings. But, all these carbs will catch up with us later, and we end up with blood glucose that’s too high.

This usually happens if we try to raise our blood glucose by eating chocolate or other sweets that contain fats. Even though it’s not going to work right away, it’ll surely do after a while, and we won’t like the results.

Instead, we should take 15 grams of fast-acting carbs (a small box of raisins, half a cup of fruit juice, or 6 small hard candies), and check our blood glucose after 15 minutes. In case it’s still not elevated, we should consume another 15 grams of fast-acting carbs.

We may want to repeat the same process once again if our blood glucose levels are still low. If the 15/15 rule doesn’t prove to be effective, the next step would be to call 911.

4. The Body Putts Off Certain Hormones

Our body responds to hypoglycemia by putting off certain hormones that elevate blood glucose levels. This natural reaction of the body with the overtreatment can cause too high blood sugar levels. If you’re lacking these hormones, you may look into hormone replacement therapy and ask experts like Lively Wellness & Aesthetics that provide this treatment.

5. Stomach Neuropathy

Stomach neuropathy or diabetic gastropathy is characterized by gastrointestinal issues that can interfere with blood glucose control.

It leads to delayed emptying of oral drugs and food, resulting in drops in blood sugar followed by an increase. So, it’s hard to tell these people when their food is going to be digested.

They may have treated their low blood sugar, but their food has slow-digesting or emptying. So, the results may show later, but their blood glucose can rise too high because they’ve tried to bring them back to balance all this time.

By knowing these things we could help prevent or reduce the dangerous blood sugar swings.

Author

  • Gabriela

    Co-Founder & Editor-in-Chief of Diabetes Health Page, Fitness trainer and instructor has dedicated her career to educating and informing people for over 10 years. As one of the most passionate diabetes advocates, Gabi has worked tirelessly to ensure that those people receive the education and support they need to properly manage their diabetes and achieve their health, fitness and weight loss goals.

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