What happens if diabetic eats sugar

Because elderly people are more likely to have blood sugar that swings too far downward, with fewer warning signs, managing their glucose too tightly can put them at greater risk for hypoglycemia, says Bandukwala.

As Dr. Emanuele says, glucose monitoring can be an important tool to help you get your blood sugar under control. Typically, you would do it yourself using a glucose meter or glucometer, which analyzes a drop of blood that you draw by sticking your finger with a lancet and placing the blood on a disposable test strip that you insert into the meter. Some people will check their blood sugar daily or multiple times a day, sometimes using a continuous monitor that is worn on the body — particularly those who have type 1 diabetes or who have type 2 but take insulin.

The American Academy of Family Physicians is among the organizations advising that daily glucose self-testing has no benefit in patients with type 2 diabetes who are not on insulin or medications associated with hypoglycemia. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for these nine key warning signs and symptoms that blood sugar is too high — and talk to your doctor about whether you need to adjust your management plan. This is a common but not-so-obvious sign of blood sugar that is too high: feeling really thirsty and needing to drink more than usual.

You may become dehydrated and get dizzy. Fatigue and extreme tiredness are symptoms of uncontrolled blood sugar , the ADA says. Also, frequent urination can lead to dehydration , which Bandukwala identifies as another contributing factor to fatigue. High blood sugar levels can lead to swollen lenses in your eye from fluid leaking in, according to the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. This changes the shape of the lens, which makes it unable to properly focus, causing blurred vision.

You may also find yourself struggling at work, having difficulty driving, and suffering from frequent headaches, Emanuele notes. Cuts, scrapes, bruises, and other wounds heal more slowly in the presence of uncontrolled blood sugar, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Even minor wounds are more prone to infections, which can become very serious and even result in amputations of the foot. You may notice drainage seeping onto your socks or an unpleasant smell if you develop a foot ulcer, notes the American Podiatric Medical Association. You've had a bit of a sugar binge and have dealt with the consequences. Now it's time to think about what you can do to prevent that from happening again.

It's important to reflect on the why—why did you overeat those foods? What tempted you? What can we do to prevent this from happening again? First, I encourage you to reflect on your dietary habits and eating patterns. Are you eating enough during the day? Is each meal a nourishing balance of all three macronutrients— carbs , fats and protein? Are your snacks an appropriate portion to hold you over between meals and keep your blood sugar stable? Are you getting enough fiber? Are you drinking enough water?

These questions are a starting point. The purpose is to increase your awareness of your own habits. After all, we can't truly solve a problem without getting to the root of it. I encourage you to work with a registered dietitian on creating a healthy and sustainable eating style that will not only physically nourish you and stabilize your blood sugar; that will also leave you feeling satisfied and never deprived.

This will help remove the desire to overdo it or binge on sugary foods that will wreak havoc on your blood sugar. If you have diabetes, it's important to arm yourself with tools to treat a sugar overdose.

First, it's important to forgive yourself. We have all—I repeat, we have all—been there. It's not the end of the world, and it is very treatable. It can pose some pretty serious consequences, so we must be prepared. That is what this protocol is for, so that you can have some action steps in your arsenal, and you can overcome these things.

While these are great tools to have, I encourage you to talk with your doctor or endocrinologist about a specific and individualized course of action for you to take in the event of a sugar overdose. That way, you'll be ready to face these things head-on and overcome them with ease. Vanessa Rissetto M. The debate about sugar and health is mainly around free sugars. We know that sugar does not cause type 1 diabetes, nor is it caused by anything else in your lifestyle.

In type 1 diabetes, the insulin producing cells in your pancreas are destroyed by your immune system. With type 2 diabetes, the answer is a little more complex. You gain weight when you take in more calories than your body needs, and sugary foods and drinks contain a lot of calories.

So you can see if too much sugar is making you put on weight, then you are increasing your risk of getting type 2 diabetes. But type 2 diabetes is complex, and sugar is unlikely to be the only reason the condition develops. We also know that sugar sweetened drinks, like canned soft drinks, are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, and this is not necessarily linked to their effect on body weight.

And, for some people with diabetes, sugary drinks or glucose tablets are essential to treat a hypo , when your blood glucose levels get too low. However, we are eating too much free sugar and harming our health as a result.

Being overweight can make it difficult to manage your diabetes and increase your risk of getting serious health problems such as heart disease and stroke in the future. Too much sugar is bad for your teeth too. The maximum recommended daily amount of sugar is 30g for adults — which works out at just seven teaspoons a day.

Given that a tablespoon of ketchup contains around one teaspoon of sugar, a chocolate biscuit has up to two, and a small serving of baked beans almost three, you can see how quickly the teaspoons tot up.

If you do have juice, keep to just one small glass — ml — a day. Some drinks are packed with sugar, too. Simple changes can dramatically reduce the amount of free sugar in your diet.