Post Time: 2025-09-01
Understanding High Blood Sugar Levels: Causes, Risks, and Solutions
Maintaining a healthy blood sugar range is crucial for optimal health. However, high blood sugar levels can lead to serious complications if left unmanaged.
What Happens When Your Blood Sugar Level Is Too High? High blood sugar occurs when the body has more glucose in the bloodstream than it needs or can utilize efficiently. This excess glucose puts additional strain on various organs and systems, leading to a range of potential health problems. Factors contributing to high blood sugar include diet, lack of physical activity, certain medical conditions (e.g., diabetes), medications, stress, sleep disorders, and genetics.
Common Causes of High Blood Sugar Certain lifestyle choices can significantly impact your blood sugar levels. For instance:
- Diet: Consuming high amounts of sugary foods and drinks or refined carbohydrates.
- Lack of Physical Activity: Sedentary lifestyles contribute to insulin resistance.
- Medications and Health Conditions: Certain medications, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), Cushing's syndrome, thyroid disorders can increase blood sugar levels.
Why High Blood Sugar Levels Are a Concern High blood sugar is associated with several health risks:
- Increased risk of cardiovascular disease due to high triglyceride levels and insulin resistance.
- Kidney damage: Prolonged exposure to elevated glucose can impair kidney function over time.
- Blindness and Nerve Damage (Diabetic Neuropathy): High blood sugar damages the nerves in your body.
Managing Blood Sugar Levels for Better Health Fortunately, there are several ways to manage high blood sugar levels:
- Monitoring Techniques: Using a glucometer or continuous glucose monitor can help you track your progress.
- Exercise and Diet: Regular physical activity and balanced diets rich in fiber and healthy fats contribute significantly.
Key Dietary Changes For Low Blood Sugar Management Foods that may help stabilize blood sugar include those high in:
- Fiber: Incorporate more fruits, vegetables, whole grains into your diet to improve insulin sensitivity.
- Healthy Fats: Nuts, seeds contain essential fatty acids.
Managing High Blood Sugar with Lifestyle Adjustments Stress management and regular sleep are also crucial components of managing healthy blood sugars. Engaging in stress-reducing activities like yoga or meditation can help stabilize levels:
Seeking Medical Attention for Elevated Blood Sugar Levels In case you're experiencing high blood sugar, don't hesitate to consult a healthcare professional. Early diagnosis and intervention ensure effective management of your condition.
Remember that managing high blood sugar involves multiple lifestyle adjustments rather than focusing on quick fixes like supplements or medication alone.
Calling all those with a passion for cardiovascular prevention! In this episode of the CardioNerds Cardiovascular Prevention Series, we take a deep dive into the world of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. Along the way, you’ll hear about the biology of the GLP-1 molecule and its related peptides, learn more about how GLP-1 agonists promote glycemic control, weight loss, and cardiometabolic health, and explore the current body of literature supporting the individualized application of these medications to patients with diabetes, obesity, and/or ASCVD. Join Dr. Christian Faaborg-Andersen (CardioNerds Academy Fellow and Internal Medicine Resident at MGH), Dr. Gurleen Kaur (Director of the CardioNerds Internship, Chief of House Einthoven, and Internal Medicine resident at BWH), and Dr. Rick Ferraro (CardioNerds Academy House Faculty and Cardiology Fellow at JHH) for a wide-ranging discussion on GLP-1 and GIP agonists with Dr. Dennis Bruemmer (Cardiologist and Director of the Center for Cardiometabolic Health in the section of Preventive Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic). Show notes were drafted by Dr. Christian Faaborg-Andersen. Audio editing was performed by CardioNerds Academy Intern, student Dr. Tina Reddy. This episode was produced in collaboration with the American Society of Preventive Cardiology (ASPC) with independent medical education grant support from Novo Nordisk. See below for continuing medical education 156 mg/dl blood sugar credit. Claim CME for this episode HERE. CardioNerds Prevention PageCardioNerds Episode PageCardioNerds AcademyCardionerds Healy Honor Roll CardioNerds Journal ClubSubscribe to The Heartbeat Newsletter!Check out CardioNerds SWAG!Become a CardioNerds Patron! Pearls and Quotes - GLP-1 Agonists: Mechanisms to Applications The selection and dosing of GLP-1 and GIP agonists (GLP-1s and GIPs) depends on their intended use as an anti-glycemic or anti-obesity agent. The cardiovascular benefits of GLP-1s and GIPs may be independent of improvements in glycemic control, and in part be driven by reduction low high blood sugar symptoms in inflammation, a key driver of arterial plaque formation. In patients with comorbid coronary artery disease, obesity, and diabetes, GLP-1 agonists and SGLT-2 inhibitors should be used as first-line agents, over metformin. Tirzepatide is a dual agonist that activates GIP and GLP-1 receptors. GIP is highly expressed in the brain, which may mediate satiety, promote energy expenditure, and enhance peripheral glucose metabolism. Caution should be used with GLP-1 agonists in patients with long-standing diabetes complicated by gastroparesis, as well as incompletely treated diabetic retinopathy. GI upset is not uncommon with GLP-1/GIP agonists, and switching to a different agonist is unlikely to help. Show notes - GLP-1 Agonists: Mechanisms to Applications What are the mechanisms of action by which GLP-1 and GIP controls blood sugar and body weight? Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an endogenous hormone that is secreted in response to an oral glucose load. It promotes insulin release, inhibits glucagon secretion, and slows gastric emptying via the brain-intestine axis, leading to satiety. GLP-1 agonists are medications that mimic the effect of this hormone and, on average, lower hemoglobin A1C by 0.8% to 1.5%. These medications include semaglutide, liraglutide, and dulaglutide. Glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) is also an endogenous hormone, similarly secreted by the body in response to an oral glucose load such as a meal. GIP is highly expressed in the arcuate nucleus and hypothalamus, which may mediate what should your blood sugar be before eating satiety, promote energy expenditure, and enhance peripheral glucose metabolism. Tirzepatide is a dual GLP-1/GIP agonist. What is the role of GLP-1/GIP agonists in patients with overweight/obesity and/or type 2 diabetes? How does the dosing of GLP-1/GIP medications change with their intended disease target?