Whether a person is recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or is under the influence of a condition for quite a few years, a person might know how inconsistent blood glucose levels can be, and how significant it is that the levels remain controlled. Proper blood glucose control is important for guarding against the likely diabetes complications, including renal disorder, nerve damage, heart problems, vision issues, and stroke. In addition, keeping the glucose levels in check each day can help a person stay active, focused, and in a good mood.
What many people with diabetes may not know, is your control of your glucose levels are an important determining factor in what premiums you pay for health and life insurance. Melissa Thompson of Diabetes365.org explains “underwriters of insurance companies will always view a person with diabetes health profile as a higher risk compared to a person without diabetes. However, showing them that your glucose levels are within normal range can help prevent from having extra rates applied to your premium. Or in some situations, discounted premiums can be applied to life insurance with diabetes plans ranging from 6% to 9% annually”
As per the ADA, proper medicine, regular physical activity, successful meal planning, as well as regular blood glucose tests all assist in keeping the levels within a healthy limit. It is also recommended by ADA for keeping the blood sugar within 80 to 130 mg/dL prior to meals and under 180 mg/dL two hours after eating something. Moreover, the ADA suggests an A1C test, which assesses the average blood sugar levels over the past 2-3 months, at least 2 times each year if the sugar levels are stable and a person is meeting his or her treatment goals.
Both high and low blood glucose levels may give rise to serious health outcomes. High blood glucose can bring about nausea, vomiting, or difficult breathing, whereas low blood glucose might result in drowsiness, confusion, hazy vision, convulsions, unconsciousness, or even death.
Managing the factors that impact a person’s glucose levels might be a balancing act. Even though a person keeps careful checks on what he or she consumes and takes his or her medicines meticulously, a person would unavoidably notice fluctuations in his or her routine levels.
Read further to know about some lesser-known factors that might produce blood glucose swings and the ways to adjust accordingly.
- Dehydration boosts blood glucose
Dehydration drives up a person’s blood glucose. The two are more associated with each other than any person can realize. Falling short on fluids might bring about hyperglycemia, as the glucose in the bloodstream becomes more concentrated. To worsen out the situation, high blood glucose might result in increased urination, giving rise to even more dehydration. Thus, diabetics must be vigilant regarding drinking enough water or other calorie-free drinks all over the day in order to remain hydrated and healthy all day long.
- Artificial Sweeteners may modify the blood glucose response
Many diabetics reach for diet beverages as an option for regular soda or juice as they assume that sugarless drinks won’t elevate their blood glucose. But studies suggested that artificial sweeteners might not be neutral nevertheless, and may add to impaired glucose homeostasis. Thus, if a person takes a lot of diet soda, then he or she may wish to decrease and see if it has an impact on his or her blood glucose levels.
- Some drugs affect Diabetes Control
The prescription as well as some OTC drugs a person consumes to treat health issues besides diabetes can meddle with blood glucose levels. One instance is steroids (for treating inflammatory conditions, asthma, or autoimmune disorders), which might bring a spike in blood sugar. Birth control pills, antidepressants, as well as some antipsychotics can also cause higher-than-normal readings, while other medications might decrease blood sugar or make it more troublesome to identify the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
- Female’s menstrual cycles may influence the glucose levels
As if bloating, cramping, or mood swings weren’t bad enough, hormonal alterations during a female’s premenstrual phase may bring a rise in her blood sugars. While the effect differs from individual to individual, few females having diabetes become less sensitive to insulin during one week, which might translate into above-standard glucose levels. Readings classically recommence after menstruation starts. If a female observes that her blood glucose consistently runs high the week before her period, it might assist in trimming the number of carbs she consumes or squeezing in a few exercises as well.
- Inadequate sleep may throw blood glucose out of whack
Deficient sleep is associated with hindered glucose control and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetic patients. Sleep is healing and not getting adequate sleep is a type of chronic stress on the body, resulting in higher blood glucose levels.
- Intense weather conditions may obstruct diabetes management
Whether it’s severely hot or inordinately cold outside, intense temperatures might constrain diabetes control. That’s due to the reason that individuals having type 2 diabetes differ in the way their body reacts to heat. Also, high temperatures may have an impact on the way the body makes use of insulin and potentially giving rise to blood sugar swings.
- Excess caffeine may give blood glucose a jolt
Taking up to 400 mg of caffeine per day is recommended to be safe for many people, but in people with diabetes, caffeine can affect how insulin behaves, which might bring about low or high levels of blood sugar. Studies suggested that intake of an excess of caffeine might elevate the blood sugar levels in people who already have the problem.
- Blood sugar tests mistakes might bring about inappropriate results
If a person fails to wash his or her hands before checking the levels, a false alarm might be experienced. Testing after eating food may give a mistakenly high reading as glucose residues on the skin might infect the blood sample. If the blood glucose readings come back as higher than it is, a person would end up using an excess of insulin. The result comes out as perilously low blood glucose levels.
