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blood sugar levels

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Q: How much should your blood sugar levels fall by when doing exercise?
Hi, during sport i often faint or get very lightheaded, my doctor thinks it may be due to a sudden drop in blood sugar levels. The other day my blood sugar levels dropped from 7.3 mmol/L to 4.4 mmol/L within 20 minutes of exercise. Is this bad or normal? How much should your blood sugar levels fall by when doing exercise?
Thanks in advance.

A: It is not guaranteed that glucose levels will fall during exercise. some people’s glucose will fall and some people’s will rise.

faintness and lightheadedness can also be caused by blood pressures changing.

Q: What are some foods that lower blood sugar levels?
At my last physical, my doctor told me by blood sugar levels were just SLIGHTLY above the normal range.

Are there any foods that will actually lower blood sugar? I’m not asking for which foods to avoid, just if there are any foods that actually counteract high blood sugar.

A: ALL foods raise blood sugar, because ALL foods are burned for energy. Physical activity can help lower your blood sugar.

Q: my blood sugar levels are dropping even after I have good lunch or Dinner?
My blood sugar levels are around 60 after 2 hrs of lunch or dinner. This is happening since a couple of days.

A: lower your bolus insulin at the meals.

Q: What is going on with my blood sugar levels?
I am 30 weeks pregnant and borderline gestational diabetes. My question is, does anyone ever high a higher 2 hour reading than than 1hour reading after a meal? Today I took my blood at 1 hour and it was 167, then at the 2 hour mark it was 197! Every other time I have taken my levels with my old monitor in the past month, my sugar goes down at the 2 hr, mark. I tested the machine and it says it is OK, but I have had some crazy readings in the few days since I bought it. Could my body change this quickly? Do people with diabetes have blood sugar levels that rise after the first hour? Thanks.

A: Gestational is a little different than other types. The peak is about 90 minutes, but blood sugar is a moving target and meters can vary up to 10% even if you took another reading with the same blood prick.

BTW, your readings sound higher than borderline for gestational, and this is not something to take a wait and see attitude with. I suggest you get in with your provider and review your plan very soon.

Q: How could an individual have high blood sugar levels and also be in a state of ketosis?
How could an individual have high blood sugar levels and also be in a state of ketosis? How/why could this occur?

A: High blood sugar is a result of not getting enough insulin. The longer you go without enough insulin, the higher your blood sugar gets, until you go into ketoacidosis.

Is this what you mean or are you referring to a low carb diet ketosis?

If you are diabetic, you could end up having both ketones in your urine and high blood sugar at the same time. When you don’t have enough insulin, or your body can use it properly, you end up burning fat instead of sugar. The sugar builds up in your bloodstream, and so do the ketones, so you produce ketones in your urine sample at the same time as you have high blood sugar.

Get tested for diabetes if you haven’t already done so. Ask for an HbA1c test and an Glucose Tolerance Test.

Good luck!

Q: What does a change in blood sugar levels physically feel like?
For instance if your blood sugar levels are spiked…when does it physically feel like? Like, what are the symptoms and vise versa. I haven’t had sugar in a couple weeks, and when I had a little bit of it today, I started to get really anxious and slightly shaky…I felt like I needed more.

A: When my BG goes up I usually feel tired. When it goes down I get hyper. The transition between normal and high makes me cranky, and lows make me that way too.

I think your anxious/shaky feeling was low blood sugar. People who are predisposed to diabetes usually go through a period of time when they will go low. I went through it. And every time it happened it was triggered by my eating sweets or anything high on the glycemic index. And if I did some physical activity after eating those carbs I was more likely to go low.

What happens is when you eat something sugary your blood sugar goes up fast, and your body releases a little bit too much insulin. So you quit eating the sugar and you’re left with the extra insulin, which causes you to go low. If you’re running around doing things when this happens, you can go even lower. Makes you feel like you need more sugar too, even after your blood sugar goes back up. It’s a really miserable feeling, isn’t it?

Q: my blood sugar levels seem to go down when I ovulate and right before I start, is this normal?
When I ovulate my blood sugar levels will go down into the 50’s. Also the week before I start my period they will dip again and I feel so tired and can’t keep my eyes open. Is this normal and what should I do?

A: You should probably go see your doctor on this one. That doesn’t sound normal.

Q: Can you have low blood sugar levels without being diabetic?
Can you have low blood sugar levels without being diabetic?
Are the symptoms of low blood sugar levels the same but a little less then someone with diabetes?

A: Yes, I think it’s called Hypoglycemia, this has also recently been linked directly to smoking and is thought to be a ’see-saw’ action within a smokers blood levels causing Hypoglycemia.

Q: Is excessive urination when blood sugar levels are low an indication of diabetes?
I’m 5′0 and 94 pounds and whenever my blood sugar levels are low, I urinate excessively- about 4-5 times within an hour. Is this a sign of dietary controlled diabetes? Answers are preferred from medical professionals.
My urine is often cloudy after I eat.

A: To know blood sugar levels, blood sugar must be tested with a glucose meter. You’ll then know if you have a blood sugar problem (diabetes).

Q: How does exercise lower blood sugar levels?
Pathophysiology please. I know that during exercise glycogen is broken down for energy. THe circulating glucose in the blood then needs insulin or else hyperglycemia occurs. SO how are blood sugars lowered during exercise?
And if you have blood glucose over 250 mg/dl, why should you delay exercise? DOesn’t exercise lower blood sugar levels?

A: Blood sugars are lowered during exercise in normal people by way of glycolysis. The need for energy from the cells causes your metabolism to rise, which in turn causes sugar to be pulled from the blood and into the tissue cells.

If your blood glucose level is over 250 mg/dl, then you’re likely hyperglycemic. This is a serious problem if you’re a diabetic, although normal people can have issues with this too if they don’t have enough insulin. Too much sugar in the blood can cause a diabetic shock if you start exercising. Basically, there’s all this sugar in the blood, you start exercising and you aren’t breaking down all that sugar floating around, and your body freaks out.

Most of these are really only issues that affect diabetics. If someone has a bad diet, however, this can also apply.

Q: What are some good foods to eat if you have hypoglycemia to sustain blood sugar levels?
Just wondering if there are any foods that help sustain blood sugar levels better than others. I am hypoglycemic and I sometimes get tired of being extremely dependent on food. I would rather spend my time performing stunts like driving my car off of a cliff than snacking every hour just to keep my blood sugar up. Any recommendations would be welcome. Thanks all!

A: I also have hypoglycemia and having a healthy snack handy has become second nature to me. I really hate getting the shakes or feeling light-headed.

That said, I tend to have fewer symptoms. If I make sure in get a good portion of protein with meals. My Dad also had hypoglycemia and I learned from him the importance of a high protein breakfast. The term “stick to your ribs” was probably coined my some one with this condition.

My dad often had BEANS for breakfast when he was scheduled for a hard day’s work. He always carried a banana and couple of hard cooked EGGS in his lunch box.

I love pancakes but the syrup will make me comatose if I do not have a large glass of MILK, too.

As you have found out having a sweet drink or sugary snack will help for a the max of one hour and then you need food again.

Foods that digest slowly………stick to your ribs:
Eat whole grains instead of refined:
brown rice
whole wheat bread
corn bread
whole grain cereals

Protein rich foods that digest slowly:
nuts or peanuts
(Theses are my emergency cache of choice. It takes just a few to keep me going strong. They don’t require refrigeration. )

beans
meat/poultry/fish your favorite
eggs
cheese
yogurt
milk
cottage cheese

Keeping your blood sugar level will improve your mood. :)

Q: Can you have normal blood sugar levels but still have insulin resistance?
Hi. I had a 2 hour glucose tolerance test done where my blood was taken before I drank the liquid, and then once 2 hours after. My blood sugar levels came back normal, but they didn’t take my insulin levels. I heard that you can still have normal blood sugar levels if you’re insulin resistance (but your body just makes more insulin than normal?) I asked my doctor about this, but he says checking my insulin levels isn’t necessary at all. So, do I need to have my insulin levels checked as well to rule insulin resistance out?

A: The test for insulin production is called c-peptide. If you had insulin resistance and normal blood sugar, you still would not be a diabetic, and you would not need any treatment.

All a c-peptide test would show for a person who can pass a glucose tolerance test is a high number, which would be good.

If your blood glucose is good after a glucose tolerance test, don’t worry about it.

Q: Can I test my blood sugar levels at home?
Can I test my blood sugar levels at home? If so, where can I buy the necessary equipment? What is the normal range for blood sugar?

A: Yes. Go to ANY drug store and buy a blood sugar monitor, also called a glucometer. Most big chains like CVS sell a generic brand. Look for the kits that have some strips, some lancets and the meter all together. Should be able to find something in the $30 range for a simple all-in-one kit. They do not require a prescription. Normal range upon awakening, with nothing in your stomach, should be less than 100. During the day, anywhere from 70-140 is considered normal. On the lower end, around 70, most people would feel sapped of energy and maybe a little shakey, but it is a safe reading. Over 140, you might not have symptoms, but it is a good bet you are developing diabetes. Every member of my family except me has diabetes, so I bought a monitor and I keep myself tested about one day out of the month just to make sure I’m ok still.

Q: Can type 2 diabetes be diagnosed only by the blood sugar levels?
If there is no other sign exept high blood sugar levels, can that be type 2 diabetes? Is it necesary to have some clinical symptoms at all in such case?

A: I had no clinical symptoms. I’m not and wasn’t overweight and showed no symptoms whatsoever.

I was diagnosed only because I took a blood sugar test just to be taking one. Imagine my surprise when the numbers came out insanely high.

So yes, you may not show symptoms in the beginning and still be diabetic. Please don’t wait for symptoms to manifest themselves before you go see a doctor. The consequences are not good.

Q: What is the negative feedback cycle for insulin and normal blood sugar levels?
What is the negative feedback cycle for insulin and normal blood sugar levels?

A: Variable
B: Receptor (Sensor)
C:Control Center
D:Effector
E:Physiological Response

A: I find it funny to be diabetic and not know what exactly your talking about but call a hospital nurse and she/he can tell you what you want to know and if your talking about type 2 diabeties then that would explain why i dont know

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