Uncle Li is an optimistic and cheerful person, and his life after retirement should have been leisurely.
Lately, however, he has been bothered by his blood sugar problems, and after eating, he feels extremely tired and sometimes even dizzy.
In the afternoon of this day, when he was playing chess with a few old friends in the community, he suddenly felt dizzy, but fortunately he was supported by the old friends next to him in time.
"Uncle Li, what's wrong with you? Is your blood sugar high again? The old friend asked with concern.
Uncle Li nodded and sighed: "Yes, it's always been like this lately, I feel very tired after eating, I don't know if my blood sugar is going up again." ”
Speaking of this, Uncle Li's face showed a trace of helplessness and confusion, he didn't know what to do, and the blood sugar problem seemed to have become a problem in his later life, making him unable to enjoy life as carefree as before.
Blood sugar problems have become a "roadblock" on the road to health for many middle-aged and elderly people.
So, how can you tell if your blood sugar is high in your daily life? In fact, some small details after a meal can give us clues.
01
High blood sugar is a health threat that goes far beyond diabetes itself.
Long-term hyperglycemia can not only cause damage to blood vessels and nerves, increase the risk of arteriosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases, but also cause nerve dysfunction such as numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.
Notably, hyperglycemia also significantly increases the risk of cancer in diabetic patients.
Since 1957, pathologists have noted that people with diabetes, especially those with pancreatic cancer, are at higher risk.
Subsequent studies have further confirmed that patients with type 2 diabetes may face a higher risk of liver, pancreatic, gallbladder and breast cancers.
In recent years, a growing body of research has supported this view.
A 2019 study by Shanghai Ruijin Hospital found that type 2 diabetes significantly increased the risk of 11 cancers in men and 13 cancers in women.
In addition, a 30-year-long study published in the United Kingdom Journal of Cancer in 2022 and a report in The Lancet in the same year both pointed to insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia as important factors in increased cancer risk.
Today, the fact that cancer has become one of the leading causes of death in people with diabetes reminds us that the importance of blood sugar control must be increased to reduce the risk of all these serious consequences.
02
1. Get hungry quickly after eating
Diabetic patients are unable to effectively use blood sugar for energy due to insulin resistance, resulting in insufficient energy in tissues and cells, and they will soon feel hungry again despite having just eaten.
A study in the journal Nature · Metabolism revealed that people with rapid drops in blood sugar experienced a 9% increase in hunger, which led to the need for them to eat more often.
2. Tired after eating
Post-meal exhaustion is not just ordinary sleepiness, this fatigue is due to the inhibition of neuronal activity in the brain due to high blood sugar.
Especially after eating foods high in simple sugars, glucose quickly enters the bloodstream and is quickly depleted after releasing a large amount of energy in a short period of time, causing a significant feeling of fatigue.
At the same time, cells in a state of hyperglycemia are in a state of high osmotic pressure, and it becomes more difficult to absorb nutrients, resulting in a feeling of lack of energy even after meals.
3. Urinate a lot after meals
Elevated blood sugar causes the kidneys to filter out more glucose, and the renal tubules have limited absorption, resulting in excess glucose being excreted in the urine, manifesting as polyuria.
In addition, persistent high blood sugar may also impair the filtration function of the glomeruli, causing protein to be excreted in the urine, which can foam and have an unpleasant odor.
03
1. Body size standards
Studies have shown a U-shaped relationship between body mass index (BMI) and longevity.
It is ideal for diabetic patients to maintain a BMI of 20~24, and at the same time maintain a reasonable body fat percentage (no more than 25% for men and no more than 28% for women) to help blood sugar control.
2. Don't eat after dinner
People with longevity diabetes often stop eating after dinner to avoid abnormally high blood sugar levels at night, a habit that helps maintain optimal fasting blood sugar levels the next day while avoiding weight gain.
3. Good digestion
Diabetic patients often have metabolic disorders and are prone to symptoms of indigestion.
Those with well-controlled long-lived diabetes tend to have no gastrointestinal problems, indicating that their condition is relatively stable.
4. Regular work and rest time helps stabilize the endocrine system, reduce insulin resistance, and reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases.
5. Eat a balanced diet
A balanced diet is the key to blood sugar control, and long-lived diabetic patients should ensure a combination of coarse and fine grains, adequate vegetable intake, and appropriate amounts of milk, fish, and poultry at each meal to ensure comprehensive and balanced nutrition.
Blood sugar problems cannot be ignored, it is related to our health and quality of life, by paying attention to the small details of daily life, we can detect and control our blood sugar levels in time.
Let's take action now and move towards a healthy and long future together.