Diabetes and High Blood Sugar Levels: Link, Symptoms, and Remedies
Diabetes is a common health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterised by high blood sugar levels, a condition known as hyperglycemia, which can lead to various symptoms such as frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger, blurry vision, weight loss, fatigue, cuts or sores that do not heal, and high sugar levels in the urine [1].
To diagnose diabetes, doctors use the A1C test, which measures average blood sugar levels during the previous three months [2]. A score higher than 6.5 suggests a person has diabetes [3]. For most adults with diabetes who are not pregnant, the recommended blood sugar targets are before a meal: 80 to 130 mg/dL, and around two hours after the beginning of the meal: less than 180 mg/dL [4].
People with diabetes, regardless of type, should monitor their blood sugar levels. Home monitoring allows individuals to quickly notice any potentially harmful changes and immediately report problems to a healthcare professional [5]. Over-the-counter urinary ketone level test kits are available to determine the presence of ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition that can occur in people with diabetes [6].
When it comes to diet, the recommended approach focuses on controlling blood sugar levels by emphasising nutrient-rich, balanced meals that combine non-starchy vegetables, healthy proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats. Here are the key dietary recommendations:
1. Emphasise Non-starchy Vegetables and Leafy Greens: Vegetables like spinach, kale, lettuce, broccoli, and other leafy greens are low in calories and carbohydrates but high in fibre and antioxidants. They help lower blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and support insulin function [1][5].
2. Include Healthy Proteins: Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, and sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which reduce inflammation and may lower heart disease risk. Nuts (almonds, walnuts, pistachios) provide healthy fats and protein, help lower cholesterol, and support heart health. Legumes like chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, and pinto beans offer both protein and fibre, which slow digestion and help stabilise blood sugar after meals [1][2][5].
3. Choose Whole Grains Over Refined Grains: Whole grains such as brown rice, quinoa, oats (especially rolled oats), and barley have a lower glycemic index and contain fibres like beta-glucan that promote gut health and help regulate blood sugar levels. They digest more slowly, preventing blood sugar spikes [1][2][4].
4. Select Low-Sugar Fruits Like Berries: Berries such as blueberries, strawberries, and raspberries are high in fibre and antioxidants with relatively low sugar content, which helps regulate blood sugar and reduce inflammation [1].
5. Use Healthy Fats: Incorporate sources of healthy fats including avocado, nuts, and fatty fish, which support overall cardiovascular health and maintain satiety without raising blood sugar [5].
6. Follow the Diabetes Plate Method: To create balanced meals that maintain glucose levels within the target range, fill half your plate with non-starchy vegetables, a quarter with lean protein, and a quarter with complex carbohydrates like whole grains or legumes. This method helps regulate carbohydrate intake evenly across meals and supports blood sugar control [5].
People with prediabetes have blood sugar levels higher than expected but not as high as in diabetes. During a doctor's visit, a healthcare professional may draw blood to determine a person's exact blood sugar level. The A1C test measures the percentage of glucose in the bloodstream that is bound to hemoglobin [2].
Diabetes can develop due to insufficient insulin production, resistance to insulin, or both. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. In type 2 diabetes, the body's cells resist the action of insulin, and the pancreas does not respond appropriately [7].
Prolonged hyperglycemia increases the risk of diabetes-related complications such as kidney disease, eye disease, and neuropathy. Unmanaged diabetes can lead to ketoacidosis, a condition where ketones, waste products of the body's breakdown of fats, build up in the blood [8].
In conclusion, managing diabetes involves maintaining a balanced diet rich in fibre, lean protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates, while minimising refined grains, processed foods, and high-sugar items. Regular blood sugar monitoring and timely intervention can help control the condition and reduce the risk of complications.
References: [1] American Diabetes Association. (2021). Eat Smart to Control Diabetes. Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.org/healthy-living/nutrition/eat-smart-to-control-diabetes [2] Mayo Clinic. (2021). A1C test. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/a1c-test/about/pac-20394734 [3] American Diabetes Association. (2021). Understanding Blood Sugar Targets. Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.org/healthy-living/medication-treatments/targets-for-blood-sugar-control [4] American Diabetes Association. (2021). Carbohydrate Counting. Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.org/healthy-living/medication-treatments/carb-counting [5] American Diabetes Association. (2021). The Diabetes Plate Method. Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.org/healthy-living/nutrition/the-diabetes-plate-method [6] American Diabetes Association. (2021). Ketoacidosis. Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.org/library/ketoacidosis [7] American Diabetes Association. (2021). Type 1 Diabetes. Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/type-1 [8] American Diabetes Association. (2021). Hyperglycemic Crises. Retrieved from https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/hyperglycemic-crises
- Seekers of health and wellness may find it beneficial to learn about the dietary recommendations for diabetes management, which emphasizes non-starchy vegetables, healthy proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats.
- Persons with type 2 diabetes, a condition characterized by resistance to insulin and inadequate insulin production, should monitor their blood sugar levels regularly using home monitoring devices and report any potentially harmful changes to their healthcare professionals.
- In comparison to prediabetes, diabetes is characterized by higher blood sugar levels, which is determined through medical-conditions tests such as the A1C test.
- For those classified as switchers, transitioning from prediabetes to diabetes, adhering to dietary recommendations and blood sugar monitoring can help manage the condition and reduce the risk of complications like chronic diseases, such as kidney disease and eye disease.
- Individuals with diabetes, regardless of their type, should pay attention to their treatment, which may involve various chronic diseases-related medications, lifestyle modifications, such as fitness and exercise, and nutritional adjustments to aid in controlling blood sugar levels.
- Naive persons, who may be new to the topic, can leverage the wealth of scientific knowledge and resources available online for gaining a deeper understanding of diabetes and the role that nutrition plays in its management.
- Hyperglycemia, a condition that leads to the characteristic symptoms of diabetes, is a preventable and manageable condition through careful attention to nutrition, home blood sugar monitoring, timely medical intervention, and fitness and exercise.
