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.
When used correctly, blood glucose monitors — small devices that measure and display your blood sugar level — are usually accurate. But occasionally they may be incorrect.
Can dehydration cause high blood sugar? Yes, and it turns out, the two are more related than you may realize: Falling short on fluids can lead to hyperglycemia, as the sugar in your circulation becomes more concentrated, McDermott explains.
Don't eat high-sugar foods or simple carbs (including refined grains) the morning of your glucose screening. The body breaks these foods down quickly, leading to a spike in blood sugar levels. That means avoiding breakfast favorites like: Orange juice and other fruit juices.
Since your body doesn't respond to insulin the same as most, your fasting blood sugar reading can go up, even if you follow a strict diet. The boost in sugar is your body's way of making sure you have enough energy to get up and start the day.
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia ) is common in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, but it can also occur in people without these diseases as a result of a major illness, a chronic medical condition, a hormonal disorder, or certain medications. In that case, it is often called nondiabetic hyperglycemia.
Target blood sugar levels differ for everyone, but generally speaking: if you monitor yourself at home – a normal target is 4-7mmol/l before eating and under 8.5-9mmol/l two hours after a meal.
If stress doesn't go away, it can keep your blood sugar levels high and put you at higher risk of diabetes complications. It can also affect your mood and how you look after yourself, which can start to affect your emotional health. But there are things you can do to take the pressure off.
In general: Less than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L ) is normal. 100 to 125 mg/dL (5.6 to 6.9 mmol/L ) is diagnosed as prediabetes. 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L ) or higher on two separate tests is diagnosed as diabetes.
The dawn phenomenon is an early-morning rise in blood sugar, also called blood glucose, in people with diabetes. The dawn phenomenon leads to high levels of blood sugar, a condition called hyperglycemia. It usually happens between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.
Drinking water before a fasting blood sugar test can actually decrease blood sugar levels, or at least prevent levels from getting too high. Water allows more glucose to be flushed out of the blood. When you're dehydrated, it means your overall blood volume is lower than normal, but your sugars will be the same.
Now you can add another reason to take a post-meal stroll – it may lower your blood sugar. That excursion doesn't need to take up a huge amount of your time either: Walking as little as two to five minutes after a meal can do the trick, according to a 2022 study in the journal Sports Medicine.
To increase how fast your insulin works and prevent false positive results (in other words, to maximize your chance of passing the three-hour GTT), you will need to prepare by including at least 120g of carbohydrates in your diet per day for three days prior to your test (see table of foods containing carbohydrates).
Missing Meals? Avoid Dangerous Blood Sugar if You Have Diabetes. Skipping a meal is typically no big deal. But if you're a person with diabetes, skipping meals or a lack of meal structure could result in dangerously low or high blood sugar levels.
Squeezing your finger
When you do that, you are getting some interstitial fluid rather than blood. A study shows that this “may lead to unreliable readings." Gently warming the hands ahead of time can help so you don't have squeeze so hard.
How stress affects blood glucose levels. Stress can increase your blood glucose levels. Stress can also cause you to turn to unhealthful behaviors such as overeating, eating unhealthful foods or smoking.
Recommended finger: the World Health Organisation recommends the middle or ring fingers are used for blood glucose tests (second and third fingers). You may want to avoid using your little finger due to the skin being thin.
A study published in March 2011 in the journal Diabetes Carefound that blood from unwashed hands had a greater than 10 percent difference in blood sugar levels between the first drop and the second drop, and that error was amplified if participants' hands had recently touched fruit.
Medicines That Increase Blood Sugar:
Antidepressants (Zyprexa, risperdal, Clozaril, Seroquel, Abilify, Geodon, lithium) Beta-2 stimulators (Proventil, Alupent, Serevent, Foradil, Brethine, Theo-Dur) Caffeine. Corticosteroids (Prednisone, Decadron, DepoMedrol)
Caffeine can cause a spike in blood sugar levels. This happens because caffeine triggers a hormonal response in our bodies. First, it blocks adenosine receptors. These receptors help us fall asleep by binding to our cells.
These hormonal responses to the low blood sugar may last for 6-8 hours – during that time the blood sugar may be difficult to control. The phenomena of a low blood sugar followed by a high blood sugar is called a “rebound” or “Somogyi” reaction.
Illness and infections, as well as other forms of stress, can raise your blood glucose (sugar) levels to dangerously high levels. As part of the body's defence mechanism for fighting illness and infection, more glucose is released into the blood stream.
If you notice that your blood sugar levels are often high, (above 10mmol) you should contact your diabetes healthcare team. They will review your treatment and provide you with advice on how to get your blood sugar levels back within your target range. This advice may include increasing your medication.