Since simply taking insulin is not enough and you need to know what is fueling high blood sugar levels
For those living with diabetes, it is important to understand the importance of keeping blood sugar levels within the range. However, there are a variety of factors that lead to an increase in blood glucose levels in people with diabetes despite taking insulin.
Experts say if you have been experiencing high blood glucose levels, a few common things may be affecting them. And so, it is crucial to pay attention to the dosage of insulin you take and not just the act of injecting it. Since simply taking insulin is not enough, you need to know what is fuelling high blood sugar levels.
Diet
Your diet plays a crucial role in diabetes management. A healthy diet keeps your blood sugar within a safe range and is among the most important ways to help you shed pounds if you are overweight. And so, taking insulin injections does not mean that you should be eating foods that are not right.
Quit processed, junk, and calorie-laden foods and build a meal plan that works for your lifestyle – which includes incorporating diabetes-friendly fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, white meat, and fish.
Exercise
Whether or not you have diabetes, regular workouts are like adding another medicine to your care, as they make the insulin work better. Exercise helps remove the sugar, or glucose, from your blood.
For those living a sedentary life, lack of exercise will only add kilos to your weight, thereby spiking your blood sugar levels, making injected insulin ineffective. Doctors recommend trying to build up at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days, even if you start with just 10-15 minutes.
High levels of stress
Experts say stress blocks your body from releasing insulin, and that lets glucose pile up in your blood. And so, if you are stressed for a long time, your sugar levels will keep building – and insulin doses will not work. Therefore, regular exercise and relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, tai chi, and breathing exercises can help you in the long run.
Starting a new medication
Doctors say if you have recently started some new medications that you get with a prescription, it can cause your blood glucose levels to increase. A few of these medicines, like steroids; pills for anxiety, depression, ADHD, and other mental health conditions; birth control pills; beta-blockers; diuretics; statins; decongestant medications; and even B-vitamin pills, can raise blood glucose levels.
So, your doctor must have all the information on your medications so that they can advise you on the best way to take them and whether you need to test your blood glucose levels more frequently.
Short-term illness
When your immunity levels go down because of any illness, you would become more resistant to insulin. Doctors say it means that your blood glucose levels rise and you will have to increase your insulin dose. Hence, it is important to test your blood glucose and ketone levels frequently and to follow the sick day guidance for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
However, it is important to note that you must not stop taking your insulin when you are ill.
