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High blood sugar: what are the symptoms and what to eat

By Cristiano Antonino On Feb 15, 2023

High blood glucose occurs when blood glucose values rise significantly above the standard values. Hyperglycaemia is the hallmark of diabetes mellitus: in this case, hyperglycaemia must be adequately treated, because if normal values are not restored, the patient may develop chronic complications of the cardiovascular system, nervous system, kidneys and eyes

Moreover, if blood glucose reaches very high levels, acute complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic syndrome may also appear, which can have serious consequences.

High blood glucose: what is it?

Blood glucose levels are measured 8 hours after the last meal and range from 70 to 100 mg/dl: if these values rise, the patient has developed hyperglycaemia.

When the glucose value is between 101 and 125 mg/dl the patient falls into the category of prediabetes (a risk condition that requires follow-up over time), while if it exceeds 126 mg/dl for two measurements then the patient has developed full-blown diabetes.

The cause of high blood glucose is in most cases due to the classic forms of diabetes mellitus: type 1 diabetes in which there is an absent production of insulin by the pancreas and type 2 diabetes, which is characterised instead by a reduced capacity of the cells to utilise insulin, as well as other multiple mechanisms that have been identified in recent years and that have enabled new and effective drugs to be developed.

Diabetic patients must therefore follow the therapies indicated by their doctor or specialist according to the characteristics of their disease in order to maintain adequate blood glucose levels, bearing in mind that they may still be subject to a rise in blood glucose in the event of severe stress, the presence of other pathologies, dehydration, lack of physical activity, or if they deviate from the diet plan agreed with their doctor or from the prescribed therapy.

People who are not diabetic but have conditions or illnesses that involve risk factors may also develop high blood sugar.

These include, for example:

infection or inflammation
hyperthyroidism or pancreatitis
physical stress following a heart attack or stroke
treatment with certain medications, including corticosteroids and tricyclic antidepressants.

High blood sugar: what are the symptoms

Symptoms of hyperglycaemia include a number of manifestations including:

general tiredness
headaches
weight loss not justified by other causes
polydipsia (continuous urge to drink)
dry mouth
polyuria (increased need to urinate especially at night)
blurred vision
continuous infections.

High blood sugar: what to eat

High blood sugar is favoured by an unbalanced diet, with excessive consumption of sugars, saturated and trans fats, and refined carbohydrates.

Patients with diabetes, therefore, in addition to following the indicated therapies, should also pay attention to their diet.

They should therefore favour the Mediterranean diet, rich in the fibre contained in vegetables, which should always be increased when possible, while among fruit it is advisable to limit those with higher sugar content, such as grapes, bananas, figs or dried fruit.

Cheeses should be eaten in moderation no more than 2-3 times a week, favouring fresh cheeses such as ricotta, fiordilatte, primosale and avoiding fatty cheeses (e.g. mascarpone, gorgonzola) and mature cheeses.

Skimmed yoghurt and skimmed milk are permitted.

Meat consumption should also be limited, especially red meat; if desired, lean cuts and white meat can be consumed moderately, but in general it is better to include other sources of protein in one’s diet, such as legumes and fish.

What about carbohydrates? As we have said, refined carbohydrates should be avoided and replaced by whole grains (to be consumed with limitation in any case).

Food should be seasoned raw with extra virgin olive oil and spices and herbs should be preferred to salt.

Portions should also be limited: regulating the amount of calories ingested is useful to avoid glycaemic peaks.

Finally, it is a good idea to stop drinking alcohol.

How to lower high blood sugar

It is important to reiterate that people with diabetes must follow the advice and therapies proposed by diabetes specialists, but there are a number of daily precautions that can help contain risk factors and lower blood sugar levels.

Among the main causes of diabetes are obesity and being overweight, often due to an incorrect lifestyle in which physical activity is not practised.

Exercising regularly, on the other hand, helps keep weight down and encourages the body to use sugar, which it converts into energy.

Those who are unable to fit adequate time for exercise into their daily schedule can divide their physical activity into several times during the day, which are shorter in duration but which, over the course of the week, enable them to achieve their goals.

One of the consequences of hyperglycaemia is dehydration: drinking plenty of water helps to stay hydrated and to eliminate excess glucose through the urine.

Stress also promotes high blood glucose, due to the increased secretion of hormones that raise blood glucose values.

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Incorporating relaxation and mindfulness exercises, yoga, and meditation into one’s daily routine, especially during strenuous periods, can benefit one’s mood and decrease stress levels.

Finally, having a regular night’s rest also helps the body stay healthy: little rest and an irregular sleep-wake rhythm promote hyperglycaemia, just like stress.

Avoiding caffeine and chocolate in the hours before sleep, not exposing oneself to screens such as those on television, computers or smartphones, and creating a routine that introduces the body to rest, can be simple tricks for better sleep.

Finally, for diabetic patients in whom it is indicated, it is important to monitor blood sugar levels using the special meters recommended by specialists.

This will enable the patient to intervene promptly as soon as there are changes in blood glucose levels.

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