Which Is More Dangerous; High Or Low Blood Sugar Levels? Tips To Manage Both

Dangerous Blood Sugar Levels: Regularly monitoring your blood sugar levels is extremely necessary to maintain good health and wellness, particularly for individuals with diabetes or other metabolic disorders. It is necessary to understand the dangers associated with hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia for effective management and treatment of diabetes and prevention of other diseases as well. But which is more dangerous; hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), let’s understand.

What Is High Blood Sugar Level?

Also known as Hyperglycemia, for people undiagnosed with diabetes, high blood sugar is blood glucose greater than 125 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter) while fasting (not eating for at least eight hours), states Cleveland Clinic. For a person with diabetes, hyperglycemia is usually considered to be a blood glucose level greater than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after eating. But this can vary depending on what your target blood sugar goals are.

ALSO READ: Dangers Of Uncontrolled Blood Sugar For Type 2 Diabetes; Tips To Reduce Naturally

What Is Low Blood Sugar Level?

The Mayo Clinic states that hypoglycemia is a condition in which your blood sugar (glucose) level is lower than the standard range. For many people, a fasting blood sugar of 70 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or 3.9 millimoles per litre (mmol/L) or below should serve as an alert for hypoglycemia. But your numbers might be different. 

Dangers Of Low Blood Sugar

The impact of low blood sugar can be dangerous for the body. It may cause symptoms like dizziness, confusion, sweating, pallor, difficulty concentrating, feeling weak, fast heartbeat, hunger and nausea among others. 

Dangers Of High Blood Sugar

Urinating large amounts, excessive thirst, feeling tired, frequent hunger, dry mouth, weight loss, blurred vision and recurrent infections (e.g., urinary infections, skin infections) are some common signs of high blood sugar. 

Tips To Manage Blood Sugar Levels

Shivani Bajwa, Functional Medicine Coach, Fortis Hospital listed some effective tips that you can practise to regulate your blood sugar levels. 

1. Focus on consuming a variety of healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Incorporate more fibre-rich foods such as beans, lentils, and leafy greens, as fibre helps slow the absorption of sugar and promotes stable blood sugar levels.

2. It is important to monitor your blood sugar regularly for effective management. You can use a blood glucose metre or continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to monitor your glucose levels. 

3. Regular physical activity plays a crucial role in blood sugar management. Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercises every week such as cycling, walking or swimming. 

4. Managing regular stress is also essential in regulating healthy blood sugar levels. 

ALSO READ: 5 Smart Food Choices To Make For Controlling High Blood Sugar

(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis or treatment.)