Keep Your Glucose Down, You’ll Feel Better

Do you feel tired all the time? Does your mouth get dry? Do you feel like you constantly have to drink something and then go to the bathroom all the time?

 If you answered yes to all of these questions – and you are a diabetic – then it is likely your blood glucose level is too high, or you have a case of hyperglycemia.

It is important not to let the glucose get too high. According to the most recent set of studies from the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (2011), improved glycemic control benefits both people with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Just dropping your glucose levels by one percent reduces risk of eye, kidney and nerve complications by over 40 percent.

It truly is a case of where you will feel better if you exercise proper control over your glucose levels.

The American Diabetes Association statistics from 2011 indicate that close to 26 million people have either Type 1 or 2 diabetes, 18 million diagnosed and over seven million undiagnosed. In addition, over 79 million people are pre-diabetics, meaning they have the existing symptoms but may not have the actual diabetes itself.

In Type 1 diabetes the body does not produce insulin and insulin is needed to convert food into energy for your body. A type 2 diabetic means the body doesn’t produce enough insulin or glucose builds up in your body and your body ignores the insulin.

If you are a diabetic, managing your glucose levels can be a nightmare. If you have too little it can lead to hypoglycemia, which produces symptoms like shakiness, dizziness, a hungry feeling and headaches. Too much glucose and you can get tired or feel thirsty. If it’s not one thing, it’s another.

This is why it is very important to keep an eye on your glucose, so you can make sure the blood levels are within acceptable boundaries. You don’t want too much glucose, nor do you want too little.

Use of a glucose monitor can help a great deal toward maintaining normal levels. You need to do this in conjunction with your doctor. Once you use the monitor, then you will keep a running total of what your glucose levels are like every day.

Your doctor can see if your glucose levels go down or rise at certain times of the day. This will help you avoid getting too high or too low. Yes, it can be a pain to monitor this at all times, but the alternative can be something you don’t want to have happen.

Sometimes if you have low glucose levels and don’t have symptoms like shakiness or dizziness, you may not know right away that something is up. If you are also pregnant, you may want to use a glucose monitor. Women expecting a child may also want to use these glucose testers; a lot of times pregnancy can bring on diabetes that goes away when the baby is born.

Keeping an eye on your blood glucose is an important part of managing diabetes and staying healthy. It is important to follow instructions from your physician and keep an eye on any symptoms that may develop.

Your doctor will thank you, and you will thank yourself later when good health prevails in the end.

 Article by Jennifer Smith