For anyone with unstable blood glucose levels, knowing the first signs of diabetes is important. Detecting the disease early may lead to more effective treatment and prevention of further damage. Understanding the cause of these symptoms is just as important in making the appropriate lifestyle and medical changes to address the condition.

Frequent Urination and Excessive Thirst

When blood sugar levels are too high, the body makes adjustments to keep the body from shutting down. Kidneys go into overdrive in an attempt to balance blood sugar levels, and excess sugar is excreted through urination. Aside from frequent trips to the bathroom, this process saps the body of water, leading to constant thirst.

Extreme Fatigue

There are a few factors that can lead to excessive fatigue in diabetics. Dehydration certainly doesn’t help. High blood sugar slows the circulation of blood, making it more difficult to distribute oxygen and vital nutrients throughout the body. On the other hand, blood that’s too low in sugar can’t provide cells the energy they need to properly function. All of these conditions result in feeling tired and sluggish.

Blurred Vision

Many people are unaware of the drastic effects that diabetes can have on the eyes. Water is pulled into the lens of the eye, causing swelling that leads to blurred vision. Balancing blood sugar levels can alleviate these symptoms. However, the longer blood sugar levels are off, the more blood vessels in the retina can weaken, effecting blood flow and leaking fluids. Over time, this can result in permanent blindness.

Cuts and Bruises

It’s not the presence of cuts and bruises that’s significant, but their failure to heal in a normal amount of time. A correlation between slow healing wounds and high blood sugar shows that diabetes hinders the body’s ability to heal itself effectively. Damaged blood vessels aren’t able to assist as much as they need to for recovery.

Hunger and Weight Loss

If blood sugar is too high, the body excretes sugar through urination, and the body loses calories in the process. In the case of low blood glucose, or if the body loses the ability to properly absorb sugar, constant hunger and rapid weight loss can arise.

Tingling or Numb Extremities

If your arms, legs, fingers or toes tingle or feel numb, you might have nerve damage resulting from diabetes. This results from the excessive blood sugar, slow blood flow, and inflammation associated with the disease.

When dealing with diabetes, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. The disease affects people from all walks of life, and earlier this week, movie star Tom Hanks added his name to the list. In an interview on the “Late Show with David Letterman”, the famous actor revealed that he recently received a type 2 diabetes diagnosis from his doctor.

Hanks explained that he’s been struggling with high blood sugar levels for 20 years. High glucose levels are indeed recognized as a major precursor in the development of type 2 diabetes. It’s important to closely monitor diet and the affect it has on blood sugar to reduce potential risk. Engaging in physical activity can also help in maintaining healthier blood sugar levels that mitigate risk.

Hanks also highlighted the positive effects weight management can have, even after a diagnosis. He told of his doctor’s advice to return to teenage weight levels, and joked about how difficult that would be, seeing that he weighed only 96 lbs. in high school. All kidding aside, it has been shown that losing weight can alleviate the symptoms, and even reverse some effects, of type 2 diabetes. Unlike type 1 diabetes, which is much more difficult to control, diet and exercise can greatly improve the condition of type 2 sufferers.

It’s now being suggested that Hanks’ fluctuating weight throughout life could have played a part in his present condition. He’s earned a great amount of respect for his serious approach to different roles, which sometimes involves losing or gaining a large amount of weight to lend authenticity to an acting performance. Steady weight levels encourage a better bodily response to insulin and blood sugar regulation.

The good news is that Hanks now appears healthy, and has a positive attitude about his condition. Hopefully, the high publicity of his announcement will help to raise awareness about the disease, and inspire those with high blood sugar to take their health seriously.

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If your blood sugar levels are low – typically below 70 mg/dL – you have hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar. If you are suffering from diabetes, it is common to have low blood sugar levels. Failing to control your blood sugar could lead to stroke, heart attack, and even death.

Causes

There are various issues that could cause low blood sugar levels, such as food intake and the amount of exercise you receive. The food you eat is necessary for energy; therefore, lack of food could lead to low blood glucose levels. If your body is unable to produce enough energy to function, the effect could be life-threatening.

Other causes of hypoglycemia include:

• Alcohol use.
• Metabolic problems.
• Liver, kidney, or pancreas disease.
• Certain surgical procedures, such as stomach surgery.
• Reactions to certain medications.

Symptoms

Tests can be done to determine your blood glucose levels. Test your blood sugar levels as often as possible; doing so allows you to treat the issue before it becomes too serious.

Some of the low blood sugar symptoms include:

• Sweating – Specifically Near the Back of Your Hairline
• Restlessness
• Personality Changes
• Loss of Consciousness
• Blurred Vision
• Loss of Balance
• Slight Nausea
• Irritability
• Headaches and Dizziness

The symptoms of hypoglycemia will vary from person-to-person. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, test blood glucose levels immediately.

Foods

If you are suffering from low blood sugar, you will need to eat foods and beverages that have a great deal of complex carbohydrates, as well as fiber, vitamins, and minerals. When you eat vegetables or fruits, make sure you eat them raw. Processed food is not good for your body, especially if you have diabetes.

Some of the foods that could prevent hypoglycemia are:

• Nuts
• Wheat Germ
• Vinegar
• Lemon Juice
• Acidic Fruits
• Artichokes
• Celery

Do not skip meals; this could cause you to have low blood sugar levels. Carry snacks  with you to eat in case your blood sugar levels become too low.

How to Raise Blood Sugar Levels Quickly

There are some types of foods you can eat that have the potential to raise your blood sugar levels quickly. If you have a blood sugar level below 70 mg/dL, you should eat at least 15 grams of carbohydrates that contains sugar.

Here are some examples of what you should eat to raise your blood sugar levels quickly:

• A tablespoon of honey or jam
• One half-cup of regular fruit juice (do not drink diet or sugar free juice when you are trying to raise your blood sugar levels)
• Three glucose tablets
• 8 ounces of 1% milk or nonfat milk
• Raisins – 2 tablespoons
• Five to six pieces of hard candies, gumdrops, or jelly beans

Exercise

Exercise is a good way to lower your blood glucose levels, but you do not want those sugar levels to become too low. According to the Joslin Diabetes Center, when you exercise, you deplete your glycogen stores and sugar levels. To prevent this from happening, you will need to exercise less and at least two hours before you go to bed.

When you exercise, check your blood glucose levels before and after your workout. Intense workouts might lead to low blood sugar levels. To keep your blood sugar levels from dropping too low, you could

• Increase the number of carbohydrates you eat before you exercise
• Decrease the amount of insulin you take after exercise
• Double the size of your bedtime snack after you have exercised
• Do not drink alcohol before or after you exercise
• Refrain from using hot tubs, saunas, or steam rooms after you have exercised

To prevent low glucose levels, eat a snack immediately following your workout. Make sure the snack contains at least 15 grams of carbohydrates.

Be Prepared

Always keep food or snacks with you if you experience low blood sugar levels. Remember to check your blood sugar levels often. For more information about testing your blood sugar levels, click here.

Consult your doctor to receive more information pertaining to low blood sugar levels, and methods or medications that can help you get those levels under control.

Give yourself the best chance to live a healthy life.

 References

“Hypoglycemia (Low blood glucose).” American Diabetes Association. Retrieved from http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/blood-glucose-control/hypoglycemia-low-blood.html. Accessed on September 23, 2013.

“When Your Blood Glucose is Too High or Too Low.” National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/type1and2/lowglucose.aspx. Accessed on September 8, 2013.

“Low Blood Sugar Basics.” Blood Sugar Basics. Retrieved from http://bloodsugarbasics.com/low-blood-sugar-basics. Accessed on September 23, 2013.

“Why is my Blood Glucose Sometimes Low After Physical Activity?” Joslin Diabetes Center. Retrieved from http://www.joslin.org/info/why_is_my_blood_glucose_sometimes_low_after_physical_activity.html. Accessed on September 8, 2013.

“Maintaining Blood Sugar: Foods to Quickly Lower Levels.” Fitday. Retrieved from http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/carbs/maintaining-blood-sugar-foods-to-quickly-lower-levels.html. Accessed on September 8, 2013.