I know it's probably a vague question since everyone is different but like recently I ate a very rich piece of pie at work and I felt ok. I figure if it shot my BS up that much I would have trouble functioning at work? but if I eat ice cream or something sweat at night while watching TV I'll usually fall asleep. Not always but most of the time if it's past 8 pm. That being said I recently cut out all sweets and have been feeling better after the initial cravings were gone. I haven't been diagnosed yet but I hope when I am I can control it with diet and exercise.
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How high does does your blood sugar have to be to cause symptoms
- Thread starter JoeyK
- Start Date
Lazybones
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 397
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
As you rightly say, it very much depends upon the individual as we aren't all the same and our bodies will respond differently even if we eat/drink the same food item.
The Gi/Gl table gives an AVERAGE response to the sugar/glucose of that food/drink item and pure glucose is used as the reference and considered as being 100%. In other words a high Gi/Gl food/drink item will produce a rapid rise in Blood/Glucose levels in a very short time, that's why a glucose drink is given to someone who's blood/glucose is too low and needs to be brought back to a satisfactory level within minutes.
We diabetics in order to minimise LONG TERM HEALTH COMPLICATIONS are advised to try our best at keeping our blood/glucose levels within a 4.0 mmol/L to 7.8 mmol/L all the time (something that's impossible to achieve).
By allowing our average blood/glucose levels (the HbA1c level that you will frequently hear mentioned) to rise above the recommended safe band we are progressively putting our internal body organs at risk, the risk being worsened the higher up the blood/glucose level is. Uncontrolled diabetes can over time cause very serious complications, amputations to limbs, blindness, kidney failure being some of the more serious health issues which are best avoided in the first instant wherever possible.
The occasional piece of pie, ice cream or sweet treat, though it will raise your blood/glucose level, shouldn't do you so much harm that you would need to worry unduly over this,. we all break the diabetic rules from time to time.
Incidentally symptoms don't always appear and aren't obvious. In my own case I went 10 years before my diabetes was finally confirmed. The HbA1c test should help in your diagnosis, but it can often appear that the individual has diabetes when the cause is in effect the result of something else i:e: Thyroid or hormonal imbalances. You will need a proper full blood test done or maybe a OGTT before being diagnosed as diabetic.
Best wishes - I hope that this reply answer's your questions.
The Gi/Gl table gives an AVERAGE response to the sugar/glucose of that food/drink item and pure glucose is used as the reference and considered as being 100%. In other words a high Gi/Gl food/drink item will produce a rapid rise in Blood/Glucose levels in a very short time, that's why a glucose drink is given to someone who's blood/glucose is too low and needs to be brought back to a satisfactory level within minutes.
We diabetics in order to minimise LONG TERM HEALTH COMPLICATIONS are advised to try our best at keeping our blood/glucose levels within a 4.0 mmol/L to 7.8 mmol/L all the time (something that's impossible to achieve).
By allowing our average blood/glucose levels (the HbA1c level that you will frequently hear mentioned) to rise above the recommended safe band we are progressively putting our internal body organs at risk, the risk being worsened the higher up the blood/glucose level is. Uncontrolled diabetes can over time cause very serious complications, amputations to limbs, blindness, kidney failure being some of the more serious health issues which are best avoided in the first instant wherever possible.
The occasional piece of pie, ice cream or sweet treat, though it will raise your blood/glucose level, shouldn't do you so much harm that you would need to worry unduly over this,. we all break the diabetic rules from time to time.
Incidentally symptoms don't always appear and aren't obvious. In my own case I went 10 years before my diabetes was finally confirmed. The HbA1c test should help in your diagnosis, but it can often appear that the individual has diabetes when the cause is in effect the result of something else i:e: Thyroid or hormonal imbalances. You will need a proper full blood test done or maybe a OGTT before being diagnosed as diabetic.
Best wishes - I hope that this reply answer's your questions.
Last edited by a moderator:
Daibell
Master
Before I went onto insulin I could be in the 20s mmol and not know. When I was into the 30s and more I went Hyper and got stressed and inconsistent so others were aware.
catapillar
Well-Known Member
In the uk we use millimoles per litre (mmol/L), I think most everywhere else uses milligrams per 100 millilitres (mg/dL).
I think the conversion is something like x 18. There is a conversion tool available: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-sugar-converter.html
So 20 mmol/L = 360 mg/dL
I will feel it if I'm over 12 (216) in that I do struggle to function at work and concentrate etc. But it really does depend on what your body is used to.
I think the conversion is something like x 18. There is a conversion tool available: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-sugar-converter.html
So 20 mmol/L = 360 mg/dL
I will feel it if I'm over 12 (216) in that I do struggle to function at work and concentrate etc. But it really does depend on what your body is used to.
I think you may find it very useful to get yourself a meter and start testing your blood glucose.
You may not be diagnosed yet, but getting a handle on the effects of carbs on your body is very important for halting/delaying the progression of the disease.
Very often we are symptom free, but blood glucose above 'normal' can still be damaging our eyes, nerves, kidneys and blood system even though we don't realise it.
Have a read of the www.bloodsugar101.com website and you will see what I mean.
You may not be diagnosed yet, but getting a handle on the effects of carbs on your body is very important for halting/delaying the progression of the disease.
Very often we are symptom free, but blood glucose above 'normal' can still be damaging our eyes, nerves, kidneys and blood system even though we don't realise it.
Have a read of the www.bloodsugar101.com website and you will see what I mean.
