If you have type 2 diabetes, controlling your blood sugar is essential. The American Diabetes Association explains that controlling blood sugar “impacts overall mood improvement as well as preventing nerve damage, kidney disease, skin disease, stroke, and heart disease.”
One of the main causes of high blood sugar is eating too many high-carbohydrate foods such as white bread, flour, or sugary drinks. As it is digested in our body, it turns into sugar and raises blood sugar.
“You can take medication, exercise, and manage your diet to prevent complications from type 2 diabetes, but most importantly, avoid habits that raise your blood sugar,” says Gregory Dodell, assistant professor of endocrinology at Mount Sinai Medical School in New York.
However, Everyday Health, an American health media, pointed out that there are factors that we cannot control in our daily lives or that can cause high blood sugar without our knowledge.
Long term consumption of artificial sweeteners
People who need to manage their blood sugar levels often avoid soda and consume zero-calorie beverages such as Diet Coke. However, this too can cause high blood sugar when ingested for a long time. A study published in January 2020 found that long-term consumption of “diet sodas” and zero-calorie artificial sweeteners often added to coffee and tea may increase blood sugar levels.
Studies have shown that artificial sweetener consumption worsens the body’s insulin resistance and the body’s ability to keep blood sugar levels steady. Because of this, the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association recommend avoiding both high-sugar drinks and diet drinks.
foods high in saturated fat
It is known that the priority is to limit carbohydrates when configuring a diet to lower blood sugar. This is true, but avoiding carbohydrates alone does not lower blood sugar levels. A study published in the European Journal of Nutrition in February 2017 found that a diet high in fat, particularly saturated fat, increases insulin resistance.
Foods that contain ‘healthy fats’ like nuts, avocados and salmon can not only promote heart health but also slow the release of glucose into the bloodstream. However, the American Heart Association recommends that it is important to pay attention to how much fat you are consuming, no matter how healthy it is. Current US guidelines recommend that about 20 to 35 percent of daily calories come from fat. Saturated fat from foods such as cheese, red meat, fried foods, and baked goods should account for less than 10 percent of daily calorie intake. .
skipping breakfast
Breakfast is especially important for diabetics. A study published in Diabetes Care in July 2015 followed the food intake and blood sugar levels of 22 people with type 2 diabetes over two days. The study showed that blood sugar levels were higher throughout the day when breakfast was skipped. According to the researchers, giving up breakfast can suppress the ability of the beta cells in the pancreas to produce insulin.
Hormonal changes due to menstruation
The menstrual cycle can also cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels. Blood sugar spikes during ovulation for several days and rises again a few days before menstruation begins in the last week of the cycle. This is caused by peak levels of estrogen and progesterone. The Mayo Clinic says that if your menstrual cycle seems to be affecting your blood sugar levels, looking for a monthly pattern in your blood sugar levels can help.
If you don’t exercise
Regular exercise is important for managing type 2 diabetes. Exercise not only helps you maintain a healthy weight or lose weight, it also helps lower your risk of stroke and heart disease. Exercise increases the body’s insulin sensitivity and helps cells remove glucose from the blood and use it for energy. Dr. Dodell actually mentioned that according to the Mayo Clinic in March 2020, people with type 2 diabetes could reduce their dependence on glucose-lowering drugs and insulin, even if they did regular exercise.
Increased hormones due to stress
Cortisol is a hormone that allows the body to produce maximum energy in response to stimuli such as external stress. When the cortisol hormone is increased, our body becomes less sensitive to its own insulin or insulin injection. For this reason, if you have type 2 diabetes, it is important to minimize the hormone cortisol, which is secreted due to stress.
Stress may increase due to trauma or may increase psychologically due to financial or marital problems. Sudden positive changes, such as a promotion at work or taking a vacation, can also cause blood sugar to rise.
In case of lack of sleep It is said that cortisol is secreted to a large extent and reduces the amount of insulin, which affects blood sugar.
Elevated blood sugar due to inflammatory response to infection
When you are sick or have an infection in your body, your body releases hormones to fight it. However, it has the potential to spike blood sugar levels, which could harm people with type 2 diabetes.
Because of this, experts say that if you are suffering from type 2 diabetes, you should monitor your blood sugar more closely if you are sick, even if it is not caused by diabetes.
Some medications and supplements
Medications for illness or supplements for health can also increase blood sugar levels. Recent research has shown that anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids, asthma medications, birth control pills and certain antidepressants and acne medications can raise blood sugar. The exact cause is not known, but certain medications and supplements can cause changes in blood flow, as well as direct effects on insulin secretion and receptors, he says.
Because of this, it is important for people with type 2 diabetes to talk to their doctor before starting to take any new nutritional supplement, or medication.
Poor dental health
Gum disease has long been recognized as a complication of type 2 diabetes. But recently, according to the American Dental Association, researchers discovered that unhealthy gums can actually increase blood sugar levels in the body. Dr. Dodell said gum disease can increase infections as well as inflammation throughout the body, both of which can contribute to elevated blood sugar levels.
The American Dental Association recommends that type 2 diabetic patients take special care of their gums and recommends that they notify the dentist that they have type 2 diabetes.
