Blood Sugar 200 After Eating

How To Manage Blood Sugar Spikes After Meals

If you’re trying to manage diabetes, you already know it’s important to keep track of your blood sugar levels. But how do you handle a spike that comes after you eat? It’s called “postprandial” blood glucose, and if you take some simple steps, you can get it under control and help avoid health problems.

Risks Of High Readings

If you experience spikes in blood glucose after you eat high-carbohydrate meals, your levels will be higher than normal for as much as six to nine hours out of each day. High blood glucose damages blood vessels, which leads to complications such as diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy, or nerve damage. High blood glucose levels after meals also increases your risk of developing atherosclerosis, a build-up of plaque in the arteries that can cause heart attack or stroke.

How Are High Blood Sugar Levels Treated

To treat high blood sugar, it helps to know what is causing it. You might need to take more insulin or diabetes pills because you’re growing and eating more food, or you might need to get more exercise each day.

Having high blood sugar levels every once in a while isn’t a big deal. It happens to everyone with diabetes from time to time. But if your blood sugar levels are high a lot, your diabetes health care team will have to help you figure out how to get them back to a healthy level.

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How Can I Measure My Blood Sugar Levels

You can measure your blood glucose levels with a glucometer. First, you prick your finger with a small device called a lancet to get a drop of blood. Your blood goes on a test strip which you put into the glucometer. Then, the device tells you your blood sugar levels.

You can also use a continuous glucose monitoring device, which uses a sensor that’s placed under your skin to automatically check your levels every few minutes.

The Best Treatment Strategy For High Blood Sugar Levels Of 200

Your primary therapy will be drug therapy, which may includethe use of oral antidiabetics or insulin as your doctor will advise you.If left untreated, it will predispose for the heart, brain, kidney and eye issues, among many other problems.

But,when diabetic, lifestyle changes do matter a lot. They are a very importantpart of diabetes treatment.

The lifestyle changes you need to do are as following:

1. Drink plenty of water – this will help clean your bloodstream from excessive sugar.

2. Think what have you eaten to cause high blood sugar levels? Try to eliminate as much as possible high carbohydrate foods, fat, and foods rich in calories.

3. Physicalactivity after eating – Not only it decreases your glucose levels, but it also improves bloodcirculation and decreases fat levels in your bloodstream. These changes delaythe long-term complications of diabetes.

Try mild exercise 10 or 15 minutes after eating, this will avoid spikes in blood sugar levels after eating.

When the increase in blood sugar is induced by some drugs, stop using them immediately and consult with a doctor whether you need to start the use of anti-diabetic drugs for a while, or not.

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Maintain A Healthy Weight

Losing weight helps control blood sugar levels. Being overweight is linked to increased incidents of diabetes and greater occurrences of insulin resistance.

Studies show that reducing weight by even only 7 percent can reduce the chances of developing diabetes by 58 percent.

It is important to note that a person does not need to achieve ideal body weight to benefit from losing 1020 pounds and keeping it off. Doing so will also improve cholesterol, reduce the risk of complications, and improve a persons general sense of well-being.

Eating a healthful diet full of fruits and vegetables and getting enough exercise can help a person lose weight or maintain their currently healthy weight.

Signs That Blood Sugar Levels Are High

People with high blood sugar may:

• pee a lot. When blood sugar levels get too high, the kidneys flush out the extra glucose into your urine , which is why people who have high blood sugar levels need to pee more often and in larger amounts.
• drink a lot. Because you’re losing so much fluid from peeing so much, you can get very thirsty.
• lose weight. If there isn’t enough insulin to help the body use glucose, the body starts to break down your muscle and fat for energy and you lose weight.
• feel tired. Because the body can’t use glucose for energy properly, you may feel really tired.

High blood sugar levels don’t always cause these symptoms. Sometimes you can have high blood sugar levels without even knowing it. But if left untreated, they can cause serious health problems. That’s why it’s important to work with your parents and diabetes team to keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy range. This can mean checking your blood sugar levels a few times a day, even when you feel fine.

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What Levels Of Blood Sugar Are Dangerous

If you live with diabetes, you probably know that life with the condition is similar to walking on a tightrope.

Staying in range without too many high and low blood sugars is a constant balancing act.

But what levels of blood sugar are actually considered dangerous?

This article will explore the issue and provide advice for how you can help manage both the highs and lows of diabetes, literally!

What Is A Normal Blood Sugar Level

According to the American Diabetes Association, a normal fasting blood sugar is less than 100 mg/dL.

A fasting blood sugar reading of 100-125 mg/dL indicates prediabetes, and a reading above 125 indicates diabetes.

If you test your blood sugar two hours after eating or drinking something containing sugar instead , the numbers to look for are:

You can learn more in the in-depth article: What Are Normal Blood Sugar Levels?

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What Is Low Blood Sugar

Hypoglycaemia is a condition wherein blood sugar levels are too low. This condition affects a number of diabetic people when their bodies do not have enough glucose to use as energy. Hypoglycaemia is commonly the result of taking too much of the medication/s prescribed to treat diabetes, eating less than expected, exercising more than normal or skipping meals.

Some of the symptoms of hypoglycaemia include:

You Develop Sores That Tend To Heal More Slowly Than Usual

Cuts, scrapes, bruises, and other wounds heal more slowly in the presence of uncontrolled blood sugar, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Diabetes causes nerve damage and affects circulation, especially in the lower legs and feet, which can delay healing because there isnt enough blood flow to the area. Even minor wounds are more prone to infections, which can become very serious and even result in amputations of the foot. You may notice drainage seeping onto your socks or an unpleasant smell if you develop a foot ulcer, notes the American Podiatric Medical Association.

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Is Fasting Blood Sugar 119 High

Diabetes patients experience hypoglycemia when their blood sugar levels fall below 70 mg/dL, while healthy persons experience levels around 55 mg/dL . When your blood glucose levels are excessively high, exceeding 126 mg/dL or 7 mmol/L, you have high blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia. In healthy persons, the usual fasting blood sugar range is 70 125 mg/dL .

How Do I Detect Spikes In My Sugar Levels

The exact timing of blood sugar spikes can vary from person to person and meal to meal. However, on average, the post-meal peaks tend to be about one hour and 15 minutes after starting a meal.

The best way to measure post-meal patterns is by using a continuous glucose monitor or Flash monitors. These devices can give you a clear view, including graphs, of what happens with the glucose levels after meals without the need for finger pricking . You can ask your diabetes health team if they are available for you as they are not available to everybody.

If you are not using a CGM, then please speak to your healthcare team about the best way to do this for you with finger prick testing.

How do I know it is a spike?

There is no universal answer or specific guidelines on when a sugar level is too high after meals. However, if post-meal readings are consistently above your target range , then you should discuss whether it would be beneficial for you to address these spikes and how to do this, with your healthcare team .

If you are reviewing your post-breakfast sugar levels, you should also be aware of changes in your hormones in the morning, which cause increases in sugar levels . This Digibete video may help.

Some ways to reduce blood sugar spikes after meals

1. Choose low glycaemic index foods

When blood sugar levels are low or hypoglycaemic we need high glycaemic index foods , such as dextrose tablets or juice, that are absorbed quickly to raise our levels and to treat the hypo.

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Time To Strike High Blood Glucose

Given the many short- and long-term benefits of post-meal blood glucose control, it is certainly worth the effort to start measuring and evaluating your after-meal control. If your blood glucose levels are higher than they should be, talk with your healthcare team about new or different medical treatments that might help. And take a look at your personal choices in terms of food and activity. Even without a perfectly functioning pancreas, there is still a multitude of options for tackling those high blood glucose spikes!

Disclaimer of Medical Advice: Statements and opinions expressed on this Web site are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the publishers or advertisers. The information, which comes from qualified medical writers, does not constitute medical advice or recommendation of any kind, and you should not rely on any information contained in such posts or comments to replace consultations with your qualified health care professionals to meet your individual needs.

Youre Developing Blisters Dryness Or Other Skin Changes

Small pieces of extra skin, called skin tags, may form in the creases of skin, especially if you have diabetes and youre trying to find ways to manage your weight, notes the ADA. Dark, thick areas of soft skin may form on the back of the neck or hands, armpits, face, or other areas. These can be a sign of insulin resistance, Zanini says. Blisters, infections, dryness, itchiness, discolorations, and abnormalities of the skin can all be warning signs of high blood sugar. Check with your doctor if these skin changes develop.

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What Are Normal Blood Sugar Levels After Eating

If you want to get an idea of what your normal blood sugar levels are, you’ll need to check them. Your provider might want you to check at different times of the day, but you can start by checking your blood glucose levels one to two hours after eating.

Seeing what your blood sugar is after a meal or snack can help you better understand how your levels are affected by the food you eat as well as when you eat.

If you have diabetes, checking your blood sugar regularly helps you figure out if you’re taking the right dose of insulin .

As a general rule, your blood sugar level should be below 180 mg/dL one to two hours after you start eating a meal or snack.

However, your target blood sugar range will depend on:

What Is Considered Low Blood Sugar

For the average person with diabetes, low blood sugar means anything under 80 mg/dL .

Very low blood sugars are any readings under 40 mg/dL. Anything under 40 mg/dL is considered extremely dangerous and potentially fatal.

A person is at a significantly higher risk of falling into a diabetic coma if they cannot get their blood sugar above 40 mg/dL for several hours.

If a person is experiencing a severe low, and they are unable to chew food or swallow liquids, they will require an emergency shot of Glucagon .

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Normal Blood Sugar Ranges In Healthy Non

For a person without any type of diabetes, blood sugar levels are generally between 70 to 130 mg/dL depending on the time of day and the last time they ate a meal. Newer theories about non-diabetic blood sugar levels have included post-meal blood sugar levels as high as 140 mg/dL.

Here are the normal blood sugar ranges for a person without diabetes according to the American Diabetes Association:

• Fasting blood sugar : under 100 mg/dL
• 1 hour after a meal: 90 to 130 mg/dL
• 2 hours after a meal: 90 to 110 mg/dL
• 5 or more hours after eating: 70 to 90 mg/dL

Why Is It Important To Reduce The Size And Duration Of These Spikes

Reducing these spikes may help you to increase the amount of time you spend in your target blood sugar range , which will have a positive impact on your future health. You should consult your healthcare team to understand the best target range for you, as this will differ from person to person. However, the International Society for Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes recommends a target of 5.0-10.0 mmol/L .

Symptoms of a high blood sugar level also vary in individuals, but they may cause you to feel thirsty, tired, stressed and need to go to the toilet a lot. In the short term, by avoiding prolonged high blood sugar readings after eating, you should also reduce the occurrence of these symptoms and improve your energy, cognitive and athletic ability and overall mood.

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Are The Test Results Ever Wrong

Initially, your test results may vary. For instance, a fasting plasma glucose test may show that you have diabetes but an A1C test may show that you dont. The reverse can also be true.

How does this happen? It could mean that youre in an early stage of diabetes, and your blood sugar levels may not be high enough to show on every test. Some blood sugar test results can also based on a variety of factors, like stress or illness.

Remember that your doctor will typically need to repeat any test to confirm your diagnosis.

You should always feel free to ask more questions or get a second opinion if you have any concerns or doubts about your results.

Once you know you have type 2 diabetes, you can work with your doctor to create a treatment plan. This can include a plan for:

• healthy weight loss
• regular blood sugar testing

Its important to follow through with your treatments and medical appointments. Talk with your doctor about your blood sugar goal, and how often you should test your blood sugar. Monitoring your blood sugar regularly and tracking your symptoms are essential steps for your long-term health.

Choose The Right Insulin

The right insulin program can make or break your ability to control after-meal spikes. In general, insulins and other medicines that work quickly and for a short time will work better than those that work slowly over a prolonged period.

For instance, rapid-acting insulin analogs , which start working 1015 minutes after injection and peak in about an hour, will cover the after-meal blood glucose rises much better than Regular insulin, which takes 30 minutes to begin working and 23 hours to peak.

Newer ultra-rapid insulins, such as Fiasp , works even faster, with an onset and peak occurring 810 minutes earlier than traditional rapid-acting insulins.

The way insulin is administered can dramatically affect its speed of action. Afrezza is an inhaled insulin formulation that can be used at mealtimes. Because the dry powder is absorbed through the lungs , its onset and peak are much earlier than injected insulin .

Research has also shown that injected insulin can work much faster when the injection site is warmed. This can be accomplished by rubbing the site, immersing in warm water or exercising the muscle near the site. Warming the site causes the blood vessels near the skin to dilate, which allows the insulin to absorb more quickly. By the way, smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict, so quitting smoking might improve your post-meal blood sugar .

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How Can High Blood Sugar Levels In The Morning Be Controlled

Once you and your doctor determine how your blood sugar levels are behaving at night, he or she can advise you about the changes you need to make to better control them. Options that your doctor may discuss depend on the cause of the morning high blood sugars.

For dawn phenomenon:

• Changing the timing or type of your diabetes medications
• Eating a lighter breakfast
• Increasing your morning dose of diabetes medication
• If you take insulin, switching to an insulin pump and programming it to release additional insulin in the morning

For Somogyi effect:

• Diabetes Forecast. Why Is My Blood Glucose So High in the Morning? Accessed 8/8/2018.
• American Diabetes Association. Somogyi effect, also called rebound hyperglycemia Accessed 8/8/2018.
• National Center for Biotechnology Information. Dawn Phenomenon. Accessed 8/8/2018.

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