10 Ways To Balance Blood Sugar Naturally
Blood Sugar Balance in Plain English Before we get started with tips to balance your blood sugar, I want to cover some basic blood sugar terms that I will be using in this discussion. Blood sugar/blood glucose – Glucose is the form of sugar that is in our bloodstream. Glucose is the body’s preferred source of fuel. Insulin – the pancreas secretes insulin, a hormone that shuttles glucose from the blood into body cells. It knocks on the cell and says, “Open up, I’ve got some glucose that I need to get out of the bloodstream so take it and use it for energy.” Insulin resistance – When we consume a large amount of refined carbs with very little fat and protein, our blood sugar spikes very high and the pancreas frantically overcompensates with insulin release. This overcompensation of insulin eventually causes insulin resistance, which leads to Type 2 Diabetes if poor dietary practices are continued. The good news, however, is that it can an be reversed through a healthy diet that balances your blood sugar. Glycogen – Glucose that doesn’t enter body cells is taken to the liver where it is converted to glycogen. This is a form of stored sugar that is broken down to stabilize low blood sugar levels between meals and during the night. It is healthful for the body store of glycogen, but stress and hormone dysfunction deplete our ability to store glycogen and this can contribute to blood sugar imbalance. Hyperglycemia – Hyperglycemia is another term for high blood sugar. It is normal to have a spike in blood sugar after a meal, but chronically high blood sugar causes severe health issues. Hypoglycemia – Hypoglycemia is low blood sugar. Glycogen, the sugar stored in the liver, is responsible for raising blood sugar in-between meals and should prevent hypoglyc Continue reading >>
Fasting Blood Sugar: Normal Levels And Testing
Fasting blood sugar provides vital clues about how the body is managing blood sugar levels. Blood sugar tends to peak about an hour after eating, and declines after that. High fasting blood sugar levels point to insulin resistance or diabetes. Abnormally low fasting blood sugar could be due to diabetes medications. Knowing when to test and what to look for can help keep people with, or at risk of, diabetes healthy. What are fasting blood sugar levels? Following a meal, blood sugar levels rise, usually peaking about an hour after eating. How much blood sugar rises by and the precise timing of the peak depends on diet. Large meals tend to trigger larger blood sugar rises. High-sugar carbohydrates, such as bread and sweetened snacks, also cause more significant blood sugar swings. Normally, as blood sugar rises, the pancreas releases insulin. Insulin lowers blood sugar, breaking it down so that the body can use it for energy or store it for later. However, people who have diabetes have difficulties with insulin in the following ways: People with type 1 diabetes do not produce enough insulin because the body attacks insulin-producing cells. People with type 2 diabetes do not respond well to insulin and, later, may not make enough insulin. In both cases, the result is the same: elevated blood sugar levels and difficulties using sugar. This means that fasting blood sugar depends on three factors: the contents of the last meal the size of the last meal the body's ability to produce and respond to insulin Blood sugar levels in between meals offer a window into how the body manages sugar. High levels of fasting blood sugar suggest that the body has been unable to lower the levels of sugar in the blood. This points to either insulin resistance or inadequate insulin production, an Continue reading >>
A Blood Sugar Of 48 – Now And Then
By Kirstie Bradway So if you’re either a diabetic yourself or have a loved one with Type 1 Diabetes, you know that all lows are completely different. You could have a low of 50 and feel completely ‘normal’ as if you were 100, or you could have a low of 70 and feel as if you were 40 or 50. Tonight was one of the bad lows. The really bad ones. I never got an alarm telling me his sugar was dropping. He went to bed 45 mins ago at around 100 with a straight line. I didn’t think we had anything to worry about, but I was wrong. Way wrong. I normally check my phone every 15 mins or so to see where he is because I’m over obsessed with checking his numbers on his CGM; as I’m sure any of you parents of T1’s are also! But tonight I was working (I’m a photographer) so I was editing away and the time just happened to get away from me until around 8ish. I realized it had been awhile so I checked and he was 48! FORTY EIGHT!!! I freaked out and ran up the stairs hoping that his CGM was just off and he wasn’t actually that low. I wish I was wrong, but I wasn’t. He tested at 52. He wouldn’t open his mouth. He wouldn’t even move. I shook him and he finally moved a tiny bit. I put the straw in his mouth and his instincts finally kicked in and his started drinking. Once he started stirring a little bit, he also started shaking. A lot. Probably the most I’ve ever seen him shake during a low. I scooped him up and held him while he slept for the next 10 minutes kissing him with tears rolling down my face. This was a scary one. One of the scariest yet I think. Not just because of the number, but how he was reacting to this number. He’s been at 48 before and you would have never even known by looking at him. He felt like a million bucks. But this low was one of his wor Continue reading >>
'normal' Blood Sugar May Still Affect Brain Health
High blood sugar levels are known to be detrimental to the brain, but even levels that are on the upper end of the normal range may be harmful, according to a new study. In the study, people whose blood sugar levels were on the high end of the normal range —not high enough to be categorized as having diabetes or prediabetes — were more likely to have brain shrinkage in certain areas compared with people with lower blood sugar levels. "Numerous studies have shown a link between Type 2 diabetes and brain shrinkage and dementia, but we haven't known much about whether people with blood sugar on the high end of normal experience these same effects," said study researcher Nicolas Cherbuin, of Australian National University in Canberra. "These findings suggest that even for people who do not have diabetes, blood sugar levels could have an impact on brain health," Cherbuin said. "More research is needed, but these findings may lead us to re-evaluate the concept of normal blood sugar levels, and the definition of diabetes." The study involved 249 people ages 60 to 64, whose blood sugar levels were in the normal range as defined by the World Health Organization. The participants had brain scans at the start of the study, and again an average of four years later. The study was published today (Sept. 4) in the journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Pass it on: Blood sugar levels on the high end of the normal range are linked with brain shrinkage. This story was provided by MyHealthNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily on Twitter @MyHealth_MHND. We're also on Facebook & Google+. Continue reading >>
High Blood Sugar In Cats
Hyperglycemia in Cats The term hyperglycemia refers to higher than normal levels of glucose in the blood. A simple carbohydrate sugar that circulates in the blood, glucose is a major source of energy for the body, of which normal levels range between 75-120mg. Insulin, a hormone that is produced and released by the pancreas into the bloodstream when glucose levels rise, plays a pivotal role in maintaining the blood sugar levels within normal limits. If insulin concentration is too low or there is absolute deficiency of insulin, levels of glucose rise sharply leading to hyperglycemia. Some of the causes for hyperglycemia may be pancreatitis, and the resulting inability to produce insulin; normally occurring hormones, especially in female cats; diet; and infections of the body (such as teeth, or urinary tract). Middle aged and older cats are more at risk for developing hyperglycemia, but otherwise, no breed is particularly disposed to this condition. Neutered male cats are at increased risk. Cats in general are prone to high blood sugar, typically during times of stress, where glucose levels may reach 300-400mg. This is often a temporary increase in blood sugar, and while it warrants further observation, it may not be cause to diagnose chronic hyperglycemia or diabetes mellitus. Symptoms and Types Clinical symptoms may vary depending on the underlying disease/condition. Your cat may not be showing any serious symptoms, especially those if the increased sugar is thought to be temporary, hormonal, or stress induced hyperglycemia. Some of the more common symptoms include: Depression Weight loss Excessive hunger Dehydration Bloodshot eyes (due to inflamed blood vessels) Liver enlargement Nerve damage in legs Severe depression (in cases of very high blood sugar levels) Non-hea Continue reading >>
Normal Blood Sugar Levels
Normal Blood Sugar Levels are provided in the Blood Glucose Chart. A simple diabetes blood test using diabetes test strips allows for continuous blood glucose monitoring at home. How do you check your blood glucose level? Put blood from a finger prick on a diabetes test strip. Blot off excess blood with a tissue. Read the glucose test strip either by comparing the colour with the colour chart on the test strip bottle or by using an electronic blood glucose meter. It is important to follow the instructions on the bottle or meter carefully. Daily bread - Can any human body handle gluten? Dr. Rodney Ford | TEDxTauranga Gluten – friend or foe? This was the talk that got the standing ovation and changed everyone’s eating habits for the rest of evening. Over the course of 15 minutes Dr. Rodney Ford, MB. BS. MD. FRACP, and a pioneer in the field of paediatric food allergies, convinced an audience of 500 that nobody is equipped to digest gluten. How did he do it? By using lego! Dr. Ford showed us the indigestible gluten protein is chased by the antibodies that our systems create to combat the gluten. Based on decades of research, Dr. Ford believes that abundant health can be achieved by anyone who eats the appropriate foods. Dr Rodney Ford, MB. BS. MD. FRACP, is a paediatrician and former Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at Christchurch Clinical School. He is a specialist in food allergy and gastroenterology at the 'The Children's Clinic and Allergy Centre', Christchurch, New Zealand. Rodney's philosophy is “diet: not drugs” as he has seen too many people given medications for symptoms without first considering the possibility of food allergy or food intolerance. Rodney has been investigating adverse reactions to gluten for over 20 years and these il Continue reading >>
8 Signs You Might Have High Blood Sugar
You’ve heard people complain about having low blood sugar before and may have even experienced it yourself. But high blood sugar is also an issue that can a) make you feel like crap and b) cause serious health issues if it happens too often. First, a primer: High blood sugar occurs when the level of glucose (i.e. sugar) in your blood becomes elevated. We get our glucose from food, and most foods we eat impact our blood sugar in one way or another, certified dietitian-nutritionist Lisa Moskovitz, R.D., CEO of NY Nutrition Group, tells SELF. “However, foods that are higher in carbohydrates and sugar, yet lower in fat and fiber, such as baked goods, white-flour breads, soda, and candy usually have a bigger impact on blood sugar levels,” she says. In the short-term, they cause sudden rises in blood sugar (i.e. high blood sugar), which can immediately give you a jolt of energy but will inevitably be followed up by a crash. These foods are also usually not great for you, Moskovitz points out, and can cause excess weight gain, high cholesterol, and bodily inflammation. Having high blood sugar here and there happens, and it will basically just make you feel off. You’ll feel worn-out, headachy, all-around tired, cranky, and may have difficulty concentrating, Jessica Cording, a New York-based R.D., tells SELF. But the major problem lies in having chronically high blood sugar, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, a condition in which your body can’t properly regulate blood sugar. If you get chronic high blood sugar, you’ll also often experience the need to pee frequently, increased thirst, and even have blurred vision, Alissa Rumsey, M.S., R.D., a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, tells SELF. But if you’re not suffering from chronic high blood su Continue reading >>
Diabetes: Blood Sugar Levels
Topic Overview Keeping your blood sugar in a target range reduces your risk of problems such as diabetic eye disease (retinopathy), kidney disease (nephropathy), and nerve disease (neuropathy). Some people can work toward lower numbers, and some people may need higher goals. For example, some children and adolescents with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, people who have severe complications from diabetes, people who may not live much longer, or people who have trouble recognizing the symptoms of low blood sugar may have a higher target range. And some people, such as those who are newly diagnosed with diabetes or who don't have any complications from diabetes, may do better with a lower target range. Work with your doctor to set your own target blood sugar range. This will help you achieve the best control possible without having a high risk of hypoglycemia. Diabetes Canada (formerly the Canadian Diabetes Association) suggests the following A1c and blood glucose ranges as a general guide. Women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who become pregnant 2 A1c: 7.0% or less (or as close to 7.0% as possible) Blood glucose: Fasting and before meals: Less than 5.3 mmol/L 1 hour after meals: Less than 7.8 mmol/L 2 hours after meals: Less than 6.7 mmol/L Continue reading >>
A Guide To Blood Sugar Levels
(Q) My doctor says that my sugar level was 8.0. Can you tell me if this is very high or just above normal? (A) Usually blood sugar levels are tested in the 'fasting' state – when you have not had anything to eat or drink for eight hours. The normal range for fasting blood sugar is anything from 3.0 to 5.5 mmol/L. If you have not fasted, the normal range for random blood sugar is between 3.0 and 7.8 mmol/L. The body can usually keep the blood sugar within this range despite variations in food intake and energy expenditure, but if the blood test is done very soon after eating it is possible it may be slightly above. Other conditions which may temporarily cause increased blood sugar readings include acute infection, trauma and physical or psychological stress. In such cases the raised blood sugar may not be indicative of diabetes and the test should be repeated once the condition of circumstances have stabilised or resolved. If your blood test was done immediately after eating a large amount of carbohydrates or if you had a concurrent health condition or circumstances such as those described above, this might explain the result being mildly above the range for random glucose. But if your result of 8.0 was after fasting for eight hours this is very concerning as it could well indicate a diagnosis of diabetes. If you did not fast for your last test, your doctor may advise you to repeat the test and fast this time and hopefully it will be in range (below 5.5 mmol/L). If your level of 8.0 was already fasting your doctor may advise repeating the test (a fasting blood sugar that is repeatedly over 7.0 indicates a diagnosis of diabetes) and possibly doing a further test known as a 'glucose tolerance test' (GTT). With the GTT you have a baseline fasting blood sugar level done an Continue reading >>
What Are Healthy Glucose Levels In Children?
Children grow rapidly, and their bodies need glucose for normal development. At the same time, young children can have problems recognizing or communicating the symptoms of low blood sugar or hypoglycemia. Consequently, healthy glucose levels in children are usually higher than healthy glucose levels in adults. Different children have different needs; your child's health care provider can determine the best glucose levels for your child as he grows and develops. Elevated glucose levels could indicate a need for diabetic testing. Video of the Day For children from birth to age 5, normal blood sugar targets are 100 to 200mg/dL. Fasting blood sugars should be near the low end of the range. Blood sugars after meals and before bedtime should be near the upper end of the range. If the blood sugar before bedtime is below 150mg/dL, your child's health care provider may recommend a bedtime snack and/or testing during the night. Ages 5 to 11 For children who are between the ages of 5 and 11, normal blood sugar targets are 70 to 150mg/dL. Fasting blood sugars should be nearer to 70mg/dL. Blood sugar after meals and before bedtime should be near 150mg/dL. If the blood sugar before bedtime is below 120mg/dL, your child's doctor may recommend a bedtime snack and/or testing during the night. For a child who is 12 or older, healthy glucose levels are essentially the same as those of adults: near 70 mg/dL when fasting and 150 mg/dL after meals. If the blood sugar before bedtime is below 100 mg/dL, ask your child's doctor about a bedtime snack or testing during the night. Continue reading >>
Type 1 Diabetes In Children
Print Diagnosis There are several blood tests for type 1 diabetes in children: Random blood sugar test. This is the primary screening test for type 1 diabetes. A blood sample is taken at a random time. Regardless of when your child last ate, a random blood sugar level of 200 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL), or 11.1 millimoles per liter (mmol/L), or higher suggests diabetes. Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This test indicates your child's average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. Specifically, the test measures the percentage of blood sugar attached to the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells (hemoglobin). An A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher on two separate tests indicates diabetes. Fasting blood sugar test. A blood sample is taken after your child fasts overnight. A fasting blood sugar level of 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) or higher indicates type 1 diabetes. Additional tests Your doctor will likely recommend additional tests to confirm the type of diabetes that your child has. It's important to distinguish between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes because treatment strategies differ. These additional tests include: Blood tests to check for antibodies that are common in type 1 diabetes Urine tests to check for the presence of ketones, which also suggests type 1 diabetes rather than type 2 After the diagnosis Your child will need regular follow-up appointments to ensure good diabetes management and to check his or her A1C levels. The American Diabetes Association recommends an A1C of 7.5 or lower for all children. Your doctor also will periodically use blood and urine tests to check your child's: Cholesterol levels Thyroid function Kidney function In addition, your doctor will regularly: Assess your child's blood pressure and growth Check the sites Continue reading >>
Blood Sugar Too High? Blood Sugar Too Low?
If you have diabetes, your blood sugar doesn't call your cell phone and say, "My readings are too high right now." Instead, blood sugar rises slowly and gradually, causing complications that may damage your organs -- heart, eyes, kidneys, nerves, feet, and even skin are at risk. Sometimes you wonder, "Is my blood sugar too high? Too low?" because "normal" levels are so important. "Diabetes is not a 'one-size-fits-all' condition, and neither are blood sugar readings. Different targets are established for different populations," says Amber Taylor, M.D., director of the Diabetes Center at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Targets may vary depending on a person's age, whether they have type 1 or type 2 diabetes and for how long, what medications they're taking, whether they have complications, and, if the patient is a female, whether she is pregnant. "Patients on insulin may need to test more frequently than someone on oral agents," says Taylor. "Those with type 1 diabetes always require insulin, but many with type 2 diabetes also need it." Target Blood Sugar Levels If you have diabetes, these are target "control" blood glucose levels, using a rating of milligrams to deciliter, or mg/dl: Blood sugar levels before meals (preprandial): 70 to 130 mg/dL Blood sugar levels one to two hours after the start of a meal (postprandial): less than 180 mg/dL Blood sugar levels indicating hypoglycemia or low blood glucose: 70 or below mg/dL Types of Blood Sugar Tests Blood glucose testing can screen, diagnose, and monitor. Glucose is measured either after fasting for eight to ten hours, at a random time, following a meal (postprandial), or as part of an oral glucose challenge or tolerance test. You can compare your levels to these results for specific tests, based on clinical Continue reading >>
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Hypoglycemia In Children
What is hypoglycemia? Hypoglycemia occurs when the blood sugar is too low to fuel the brain and the body. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body. The normal range of blood sugar, depending on the timing and nutritional content of the last meal consumed, is approximately 70 to 140 mg/dl (milligrams of glucose per deciliter of blood). If you have type 1 diabetes, your goal blood sugar range may be slightly different. Infants and small children with type 1 diabetes will have different goal ranges than adolescents or adults. However, consult your child's doctor for more specific information. Hypoglycemia may be a condition by itself, or may be a complication of diabetes or another disorder. Hypoglycemia is most often seen as a complication of overdoing insulin in a person with diabetes, which is sometimes referred to as an insulin reaction. What causes hypoglycemia? Causes of hypoglycemia in children with diabetes may include the following: Too much medication; for instance, too much insulin or oral diabetes medication Medication mistakes. All families will, at some point, give the wrong kind of insulin for a meal or at bedtime. Inaccurate blood-glucose readings A missed meal A delayed meal Too little food eaten, as compared to the amount of insulin taken More exercise than usual Diarrhea or vomiting Injury, illness, infection, or emotional stress Other medical problems sometimes seen in people with type 1 diabetes, such as celiac disease or an adrenal problem. An additional cause of hypoglycemia in neonates and toddlers includes a group of conditions called hyperinsulinism. This may occur as a result of abnormal cell development of the special "beta" cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin or from a mass in the pancreas. Hypoglycemia due to endogenous insulin i Continue reading >>
Diabetes: Blood Sugar Levels
Topic Overview Keeping your blood sugar in a target range reduces your risk of problems such as diabetic eye disease (retinopathy), kidney disease (nephropathy), and nerve disease (neuropathy). Some people can work toward lower numbers, and some people may need higher goals. For example, some children and adolescents with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, people who have severe complications from diabetes, people who may not live much longer, or people who have trouble recognizing the symptoms of low blood sugar may have a higher target range. And some people, such as those who are newly diagnosed with diabetes or who don't have any complications from diabetes, may do better with a lower target range. Work with your doctor to set your own target blood sugar range. This will help you achieve the best control possible without having a high risk of hypoglycemia. Diabetes Canada (formerly the Canadian Diabetes Association) suggests the following A1c and blood glucose ranges as a general guide. Continue reading >>
Normal Blood Sugar In A Child
My 3 yo pricked herself with a needle yesterday - drawing blood. I decided to test her bs seeing it as an opportunity. So her bs was 109. She had eaten before that. Is 109 REALLY ok for a child? I know it's not terrible (and is within the accepted test range for 'normal'), but I thought from Bernstein that truely normal people don't usually go over 100 and their bs is usually very tightly controlled. Am kind of having a minor freak that I'm going to need to be watching her closely and her diet. She has celiac and asthma, so far. I do have request for blood tests for her (for CBC, iron, b levels, etc to check if there is any ongoing obvious malabsorption) and am thinking of adding in an A1C. I do hope I am worrying for nothing. I am going to feel oh so bad if she also got this from me. :( Her father has a family history of type 2. I have no family history of anything diabetes-wise, but am probably LADA or Adult onset type 1 (my opinion from reading, not proven).... My understanding is that a normal person after a meal could go as high as the high 120's but would get back down to the low 80's fairly quickly. So a 109 could well be absolutely normal, depending on carbs in the meal and time from eating. Also, important to remember that home BG meters have an "acceptable" error margin of +/- 20%. So a 109 doesn't necessarily mean her BG is 190it could actually range anywhere from 89 to 129. I think studies have shown that "normal" people go as high as 140-160 after meals, it's just that they only stay there for, at most, 30 minutes or so before coming down, and their BG is normal again after an hour or two. One fingerstick really isnt enough data to draw any good conclusions. Its possible yu got lucky and happened to hit a moment when the bg was down. Not likely, but possib Continue reading >>
