Blood sugar imbalance symptoms are a common phenomenon among those living with diabetes. Factors impacting the condition can include medications, dietary and physical activity choices, and skipping glucose-lowering medication. Additionally, injury, illness, stress, surgery, menopause, menstruation and many more factors can influence blood sugar levels.
Blood sugar fluctuation can lead to potential diabetic complications such as nerve damage, kidney disease, stroke, vision problems, and heart disease. Plus, keeping your blood sugar levels in check helps you stay energized, focused, and in a good mood.
High blood sugar or hyperglycemia can cause vomiting, nausea or shortness of breath. On the other hand, low blood sugar levels or hypoglycemia can lead to confusion, blurred vision, dizziness, unconsciousness, seizures, or even death.
7 Surprising Factors Causing Blood Sugar Level Imbalance
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Dehydration
Dehydration can impact your blood sugar levels. Falling short on fluids can cause high blood sugar because the sugar in your blood gets more concentrated. Hyperglycemia can also lead you to urinate more, which results in further dehydration.
Diabetic patients need to be vigilant about drinking sufficient water or other calorie-free beverages to keep their bodies hydrated and healthy. If you find it hard to drink water regularly, you can garnish your glass with frozen berries, citrus wedges, mint leaves, cucumber slices and the like.
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Artificial Sweeteners
People with diabetes often turn to diet drinks as an alternative to juice, regular soda, or other caffeinated drinks. It is a common conception that sugar-free beverages don't increase your blood sugar levels. However, a review published in 2021 revealed that artificial sweeteners might not be entirely neutral and can lead to impaired glucose homeostasis.
However, the research isn't definitive. Health experts admit that typically artificial sweeteners don't negatively impact blood sugar.
According to the Mayo Clinic, people with diabetes may undergo a "rebound effect" when consuming artificial sugars. While considering sugar-free food healthy, they might end up consuming excessive amounts. Moreover, some non-caloric sweeteners can result in diarrhea, contributing to dehydration.
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Menstrual Cycles
Along with bloating, cramps, and mood swings, hormonal fluctuations during a person's premenstrual time can throw off their blood sugar levels. This impact can vary from person to person. However, many people who menstruate and have diabetes become relatively less sensitive to insulin during the week they are PMSing, leading to high sugar levels.
If you notice that your sugar levels regularly run high in the week leading up to your period, you can lower the amount of carbohydrates and calorie-rich food you are consuming.
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Some Prescribed Medicines
Various prescription or over-the-counter medications can fluctuate your blood sugar levels. For instance, birth control pills, antipsychotics, anti-depressants, nasal decongestants, diuretics, and steroids (used in treating asthma, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory conditions) can lead to hypoglycemia. Ensure that your prescribing doctor is aware of your diabetes condition when giving you a prescription.
Blood sugar is impacted in varying ways by new medications across the different types of diabetes. Before taking any new medication, consult with your pharmacist as well.
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Dawn Phenomenon
It is a common occurrence among people with diabetes where they wake up to a very high blood sugar reading — even if their numbers were healthy at bedtime. This is caused by the Dawn Phenomenon, which typically happens between 2 a.m. and 8 a.m. During this time, the body prepares for waking up and releases hormones like cortisol and others.
These hormones can make your body less susceptible to insulin and lead to a morning rise in blood sugar levels.
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Insufficient Sleep
Long nights without sleep can hinder insulin sensitivity and glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes. Since sleep is deemed restorative, less sleep can result in chronic stress for the body. This added stress can ultimately lead to higher blood sugar levels.
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Excessive Caffeine
While caffeine often keeps people up and running, if you have type 2 diabetes, caffeine may cause trouble. Studies reveal that caffeine can increase blood sugar and insulin levels for people with type 2 diabetes.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, many of these factors are under your control — monitoring what and how you eat can help keep your sugar levels in check. You can also turn to appetite management for better results.
