What does elevated glucose mean?

If you have recently taken a blood test and found that your glucose levels are higher than usual, don’t panic yet. Elevated glucose is quite common nowadays, especially with people who love sugary treats more than anything else in the world. But before we delve into what elevated glucose means for our bodies and health, let’s define what it is.

Glucose: The Sweet Nectar of Life

Glucose is typically referred to as blood sugar because it provides the body with energy. When we consume carbohydrates like fruits, vegetables, bread, pasta or sweets (yes), our body breaks them down into glucose which is then transported to cells inside our muscles and organs via insulin hormones released by the pancreas gland.

However sometimes due to several factors – unhealthy lifestyle choices like eating too much junk food (sob I know we all can relate) or lack of physical activity- this process gets disturbed leading to elevated glucose levels; i.e., blood sugar levels rise above normal range.

So enough chemistry lessons for now! Let’s get back on track.

What Do High Blood Sugar Levels Mean?

When blood sugar level remains consistently high over time due any factor mentioned above perhaps combined with genetic factors , it can lead towards diabetes Type I or Type II (when not managed properly) plus other health issues including but not limited to:

  1. Heart disease

  2. Kidney damage

  3. Vision problems/ blindness

  4. Nerve damage resulting in limb amputations (well aren’t those perks!)

Now comes the question: how do you even find out if your sugar levels are high? [^(no worries)] Here are some indicators:

  • Frequent urination
  • Blurred vision
  • Fatigue
  • Hunger
  • Dry skin
    (note : these symptoms may also be present in a variety of diseases so don’t panic right away just on the basis of these alone.)

Getting Tested

The most common test for measuring glucose levels is called fasting blood sugar test where you’ll have to stay hungry (nothing but water!) for at least 8 hours before giving your blood sample. Your doctor can confirm if your results are normal or elevated.

Normal Blood Sugar Level: Between 70 and 99 mg/dL
Elevated glucose level : Above >100mg/dL

If you end up getting higher readings, don’t stress right away!

What Can You Do If Your Glucose Levels Are Elevated?

First and foremost, consult a professional physician . There are various treatment options available some of which are mentioned below:

Changes In Lifestyle Choices

  • Quitting smoking, drinking alcohol,
  • Having a balanced diet; more fibers less processed foods (sob now there goes all the junk food!)
  • Losing extra pounds for obese patients by healthy weight loss strategies recommended by healthcare provider
  • Exercising regularly in routine life

Medication

  • Insulin injections / pills prescribed under medical supervision mainly in diabetics

It’s essential to maintain such lifestyle habits as prescribed by your medical practitioner so that progress may be charted with regular check-ups .

Apart from being conscious of healthy choices, it’s important not to burden yourself with stress due to high numbers but rather utilize them as motivation towards positive changes. Now enough lecturing onto maximum fun which comes when we know how many different ways High Glucose levels impact us :

1) THE TASTE OF SWEETS: (only catering to our sweet-tooth folks out here!)

Sugar binds the proteins present inside our taste buds making them act like sweet detectors resulting in better taste!! Unfortunately , high consumption of sugary treats messes up this euphoric experience blaming everything on diabetes .

2) BRAIN FUNCTIONING

Glucose essentially functions like fuel for our brains. When the sugar levels decrease in bloodstream it decreases cognitive function, causing a tired & crabby mood commonly referred to as ‘Hangry’. Next time you see someone acting moody and irritated just shove some delicious sugary snack at them.
(Disclaimer : I do not promote unhealthy eating habits but desperate times for hangry folks call for desperate measures)

3) YOUR EYESIGHT!!

Guess what! The lenses inside our eyes cannot metabolize glucose from blood so they depend on a backup mechanism-called sorbitol pathway which causes cataracts when under stress (yikes). But if we regulate such lifestyle choices before things go wrong ,we might be able save ourselves from wearing those glasses after all.

4) PAIN

Consuming excessive amount of sugars actually makes us feel more pain especially headache , arthritis etc . This is why having only one piece of cake doesn’t seem worth it compared to missing half a day’s work because even the slightest movement hurts everywhere !

So there may be several reasons leading towards high glucose levels yet there are countless others telling how scrumptious and essential sweets are (how can anything that tastes ultra-deliciously happy ever be bad ? )
Thus regulating everyday life in small tweaks (keeping larger goals in mind ) is probably better than shock therapy like cold turkey cuts .

As Julia Childs once said “Everything in moderation… including moderation.”

So grab that chocolate lava cake throw back your head and say: “Take me elevated blood l evels!”
(Bonus points : give yourself an extra leaflet of salad next meal 😉 )

(Word count: 1196 words excluding headings)

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