High blood sugar, medically termed as hyperglycemia, is one of the common states of the human body. It is common in people who eat a lot, or in people whose hormone insulin is low. Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the increase in blood sugar is prolonged. The following are the causes, signs and symptoms, and home remedies for high blood sugar.
Causes
Blood sugar rises due to hormone imbalances. One is insulin, a hormone that reduces blood sugar levels. If insulin is low in amount or if the body does not react to it, blood sugar will be increased. Another hormone is cortisol, which is released in times of stress. It is a reason behind a number of people saying that their blood sugar goes high when they are stressed or sick.
As per Mayo Clinic, high blood sugar has many causes. These include lack of insulin or oral diabetes medication, consumption of excessive carbohydrates, less activity or exercise, illness or infection like common colds or urinary tract infection, pain, injury or surgery, positive stress like wedding or vacation and negative stress like death in the family, change in the daily routine, certain medications, poor insulin absorption, insulin device issues, and insulin that has been exposed to extreme temperatures.
Signs and Symptoms
High blood sugar presents several signs and symptoms. According to Web MD, the early signs include a blood sugar reading of more than 180 mg/dl, increased thirst, frequent eating, frequent urination, weight loss, fatigue, headache, blurred vision, and inability to focus. As per the publication, persistently high blood sugar may lead to vaginal and skin infections, slow-healing cuts or sores, worsening of vision, nerve damage leading to painful feet and loss of hair on the lower extremities, erectile dysfunction, diarrhea or constipation, and damage to the blood vessels, eyes, and kidneys.
Home Remedies
While oral antihyperglycemics and insulin can be given for high blood sugar, home remedies can also be applied as supplemental management for the condition.
Exercise
Being overweight and obese are associated factors with high blood sugar, so exercise helps manage these states. In addition, regular exercise helps increase the body’s insulin sensitivity, as per Authority Nutrition. This equates that the cells will be able to utilize the excess sugar in the blood. In addition, the muscles will be able to use the excess glucose in the blood during exercise. As per the publication, a person may do exercises, such as brisk walking, running, cycling, swimming, dancing, hiking, and weight lifting.
Flaxseeds
Another remedy for high blood sugar are flaxseeds. According to to The Health Site, flaxseeds are rich in fiber, which helps eliminated unwanted and harmful substances from the body. Also, it promotes the digestive process, which helps control a person’s weight. To add, as per the publication, the seeds help in the adequate fat and sugar absorption. It is mentioned that eating the seeds helps lower a diabetic person’s postprandial (post-meal) sugar level by about 28 percent.
As per the publication, the person eats a flaxseed powder every morning on an empty stomach along with warm water. However, anything more than two tablespoons of the seeds per day may have an adverse effect to the body.
Bitter Gourd
Also called bitter melon, bitter gourd is one of the known remedies for high blood sugar. According to Top 10 Home Remedies, it can affect the body’s glucose metabolism, boost pancreatic insulin production, and prevent insulin resistance. As per the publication, the person drinks the juice of the vegetable on an empty stomach in the morning. This can be done for at least two months.
High blood sugar or hyperglycemia may provide energy to the body, since glucose is one of the body’s main sources for fuel to carry out the activities of daily living. However, anything in excess is harmful to the body, as it may develop complications like heart diseases, kidney failure, and blindness. Thus, while home remedies can manage the condition, it is vital to seek medical consult for assessment, planning, intervention, education, and evaluation.
