Triggers of blood sugar spikes
People with diabetes have to be especially careful about keeping their blood sugar levels under control and avoiding spikes in blood sugar.
Various triggers can contribute to these spikes. For example:
Diet: Foods high in sugar or carbohydrates are more likely than other foods to raise blood sugar levels.
Lack of physical activity: A sedentary lifestyle can cause spikes in blood sugar levels. On the other hand, high intensity exercise can lead to physical stress, which is also a trigger for blood sugar spikes. People with diabetes need to get regular exercise rather than high intensity exercise. However, if a person does want to do high intensity exercise, they can try high intensity interval training (HIIT).
Smoking: Smoking cigarettes can make it difficult to keep blood sugar levels within a normal range. A person who smokes should make it a priority to quit. People who smoke may need to take larger doses of insulin to keep their blood sugar under control.
Stress: When the body is under a lot of stress, it produces hormones that increase glucose and reduce the effectiveness of insulin. As a result, more glucose stays in the bloodstream. Finding a way to keep stress levels down, such as yoga or meditation, is essential for people with diabetes.
Sleep problems: Prioritising good sleep hygiene is important for several reasons. For people with diabetes, a regular sleep schedule becomes an important factor in glycemic control. A lack of sleep can lead to an increase in blood sugar levels.
Medication side effects: Some medicines can cause blood sugar levels to rise. These include, for example, corticosteroids, diuretics, some blood pressure medications, and some antidepressants. A person with diabetes should let their healthcare team know if they are also taking one of these types of medications. In addition, taking the wrong dose of insulin or missing a dose can cause blood sugar levels to spike.
On reflection, when you first found out you had diabetes, you tested your blood sugar often. Doing so helped you understand how food, activity, stress, and illness could affect your blood sugar levels. By now, you’ve got it figured out for the most part. But then—bam! Something makes your blood sugar zoom up. You try to adjust it with food or activity or insulin, and it dips really low. You’re on a roller coaster no one with diabetes wants to ride.
Knowledge is power! Look out for these surprising triggers that can send your blood sugar soaring:
Sunburn—the pain causes stress, and stress increases blood sugar levels.
Artificial sweeteners—more research is needed, but some studies show they can raise blood sugar.
Coffee—even without sweetener. Some people’s blood sugar is extra-sensitive to caffeine.
Losing sleep—even just one night of too little sleep can make your body use insulin less well.
Skipping breakfast—going without that morning meal can increase blood sugar after both lunch and dinner.
Time of day—blood sugar can be harder to control the later it gets.
Dawn phenomenon—people have a surge in hormones early in the morning whether they have diabetes or not. For people with diabetes, blood sugar can spike.
Dehydration—less water in your body means your blood sugar is more concentrated.
Nose spray—some have chemicals that trigger your liver to make more blood sugar.
Gum disease—it’s both a complication of diabetes and a blood sugar spiker.
Watch out for other triggers that can make your blood sugar fall. For example, extreme heat can cause blood vessels to dilate (widen). That makes insulin absorb more quickly and could lead to low blood sugar. If an activity or food is new, check your blood sugar before and after to see how you respond.
Extracts taken from https://www.cdc.gov and https://www.medicalnewstoday.com