What to do if you find your blood sugar is high? I believe many people would say, why hesitate, of course, take medication. But here comes the question, is it necessary to take medication for all elevated blood sugar?
Definitely not.
First of all, everyone should know, under what circumstances can diabetes be diagnosed?
Firstly, it depends on whether the patient has symptoms of diabetes, these symptoms include polydipsia, polyuria, weight loss, itchy skin, blurred vision, and other acute metabolic disorders caused by high blood sugar. Of course, symptoms caused by chronic complications of diabetes also count, including limb numbness, gastroparesis, oliguria, positive urine protein, generalized edema, non-healing wounds, and even diabetic foot.
Then, it’s about checking blood sugar levels. If fasting blood sugar is ≥7.0 mmol/L, or random blood sugar is ≥11.1 mmol/L, or 2-hour postprandial blood sugar in glucose tolerance test is ≥11.1 mmol/L, it can be diagnosed as diabetes.
Let’s talk about what normal blood sugar levels should be. Generally, normal fasting blood sugar for a healthy individual is 3.9-6.1 mmol/L, and 2-hour postprandial blood sugar in a glucose tolerance test should be less than 7.8 mmol/L.
You might notice that between normal blood sugar levels and diabetes, there is actually an intermediate stage. For example, taking fasting blood sugar as a criterion, normal fasting blood sugar should be 3.9-6.1 mmol/L, if fasting blood sugar is ≥7.0 mmol/L, it can be diagnosed as diabetes. So, what does it mean when fasting blood sugar is between 6.2-6.9 mmol/L?
As a physician, I must remind everyone that generally, this state does not represent diabetes; it signifies impaired fasting blood sugar, which you can interpret as an early stage of diabetes.
The same goes for the 2-hour postprandial blood sugar in a glucose tolerance test. When the 2-hour postprandial blood sugar falls in the range of 7.9-11.0 mmol/L, it’s termed as impaired glucose tolerance, also indicating an early stage of diabetes.
The early stage of diabetes is not diabetes itself but rather a state between normal blood sugar and diabetes, which does not require medication. The most crucial aspect is to change unhealthy lifestyle habits.
Many individuals, without distinguishing right and wrong, notice an increase in blood sugar, regardless of whether they have diabetes, start using hypoglycemic drugs indiscriminately, leading to the terrible consequence of hypoglycemia.
Compared to high blood sugar, hypoglycemia is more dangerous. When hypoglycemia occurs, individuals may experience cold sweats, tremors, dizziness, fatigue, and in severe cases, consciousness disorders or even life-threatening situations.
Therefore, if you find your blood sugar is high, do not excessively worry, nor scare yourself. One should promptly seek medical attention. If the doctor informs you that you have impaired fasting blood sugar or impaired glucose tolerance, consider yourself fortunate, as your body has given you another chance for self-repair.
Firstly, control what you eat, is the most important thing in managing the early stages of diabetes.
In the early stages of diabetes, you must control your dietary habits. Remember what you can and cannot eat. Avoid high-sugar and high-fat foods as much as possible. It’s not about completely turning vegetarian; for diabetic patients, one must stay away from junk food while ensuring a balanced nutritional intake.
Secondly, start moving, it’s crucial.
When you notice an increase in blood sugar, you must start moving. This is extremely helpful for controlling postprandial blood sugar. Many people who exercise regularly find not only a decrease in blood sugar levels but also stabilization.
During this period, the most important thing to do is to continue maintaining good habits; do not neglect them. If you stop exercising and gain weight, your blood sugar levels might rise again.
Thirdly, maintain a positive mindset, relax, and do not burden yourself too much.
For the early stages of diabetes, do not worry about how long it might take to develop into full diabetes. Instead, think positively that you discovered your high blood sugar early, which is a good thing. By changing bad habits, your body will surely recover to a better state.
