Glycemia levels are measurements of the amount of glucose in the blood. In addition to the food that the person eats, glycemia levels can be affected by several physiological processes.

A diabetic patient can benefit from understanding glycemia levels and what affects them. Abnormally high glycemia levels can put the diabetic patient at risk for developing diabetes complications such as damage to the circulatory system or nervous system.

For a diabetic patient, the amount of food and the type of food eaten can directly affect their glycemia level. In people who do not have diabetes, their bodies release natural insulin to compensate for the raised levels of glucose into the blood after eating.

The natural insulin for a diabetic patient is ineffective or insufficient for controlling blood glucose levels. Therefore, diabetes patients must regulate their diets and take insulin injections or diabetes medication.

Though the person’s diet affects their glycemia level, diet is not the only thing that influences the glycemia levels. Exercise can be a helpful tool in the management of glycemia levels. Exercise forces glucose from the blood to be used as an energy source for muscles.

Two problematic glycemia levels for diabetic patients are hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Hypoglycemia is an abnormally low level of glucose in the blood. This can be caused by taking too much insulin or skipping meals.

Blurred vision, faintness, and mental confusion can be caused by hypoglycemia. Severe hypoglycemia can cause the person to lose consciousness and become comatose. Hypoglycemia is potentially fatal for a diabetic patient.

Hyperglycemia is excess glucose in the blood. Hyperglycemia can cause dry mouth, fatigue, blurred vision, and recurrent infections. Increased thirst and hunger are common symptoms that the person with hyperglycemia may notice.

Diabetes patients can improve their diabetes management by educating themselves about the diabetic diet, risks associated with diabetes, and diabetes complications. The effectiveness of diabetes management can be improved by understanding glycemia levels and the factors that affect them.

There are many tools that a diabetic patient can use to keep their blood glucose levels within normal range. If a diabetic patient is using diet and exercise without good results, the diabetic patient should consult their doctor and dietitian.

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