Monitoring Blood Sugar

• Blood sugar can be tested with a blood sugar monitor or you can have your blood sugar tested by a doctor. Blood sugar ideally should be tested after waking up but before eating and also one or two hours after eating. According to ABC News Health, normal glucose levels are typically less than 100 mg/dL in the morning, when you wake up, or before eating. Normal glucose levels one or two hours after eating are typically less than 140.
  
  

Hypoglycemia

• Hypoglycemia means having a low blood sugar level. Having a low blood sugar level can lead to passing out or seizures. Symptoms of having hypoglycemia are feeling shaky, irritable, clumsy, confused, dizzy, weak, having a headache, blurred vision, rapid heart beat and hunger. According to the Mayo Clinic, hypoglycemia is defined as blood sugar below 70 mg/dL and occurs when there is too much insulin and not enough glucose in the blood. There is a higher risk for hypoglycemia for diabetics who take insulin, or when skipping meals, doing physical activity with no food intake and alcohol consumption.
  
  

Hyperglycemia

• Hyperglycemia means high blood sugar. According to the Mayo Clinic, blood sugar rises when individuals eat too much food or the wrong foods, don't get enough exercise, when they are under physical stress, when they are under emotional stress, when diabetic medicine isn't taken, or when insulin is taken incorrectly. Symptoms of hyperglycemia are frequent urination, thirst, blurred vision and fatigue.
  
  

Diabetes

• There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes previously was known as juvenile onset diabetes. Though type 1 diabetes can occur at any age it is more commonly found before age 20. According to ABC News Health, "individuals with type 1 diabetes are usually thin, and the cause of type 1 diabetes is that the pancreas, the organ that secretes insulin, is destroyed by autoantibodies, that's why people with type 1 diabetes always need insulin. Type 1 diabetes occurs in about 10 to 15 percent of all the diabetics in the country."
  
  Type 2 diabetes is more common. Type 2 diabetes was previously known as adult onset diabetes because it is found more often in those above the age of 35. According to ABC News Health, "type 2 diabetes is primarily a complicated medical condition called insulin resistance. In fact, in the early stages of type 2 diabetes, there's plenty of insulin around, it just doesn't work well."
  
  

Raising and Lowering Glucose Levels

• Things that raise glucose levels are eating carbohydrates, not getting exercise, having a high stress level, being sick, menstruation (this can raise or lower depending on the individual) and exercising without eating enough carbohydrates to fuel the body. According to Estrella Mountain Community College, "if you are on a low-fat diet, remember you still have to pay attention to how many carbohydrates (sugars) you are eating, or your blood glucose level may rise. Also, some low fat and no fat foods contain modified forms of carbohydrate used as emulsifiers or bulking agents that can push up your blood sugar."
  
  Things that lower glucose levels are skipping meals, exercise, alcohol consumption and, in some women, menstruation. Insulin is another factor in reducing glucose levels. Insulin is released into the blood so cells can metabolize glucose.
  
  Blood sugar can be maintained by making good lifestyle choices such as eating vegetables and fruit and a healthy level of carbohydrates, eating consistent balanced meals and not skipping meals, reducing stressful activities and getting physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day.