10 Factors That Indirectly Affect Blood Sugar

Even those that don't know the first thing about diabetes know that food affects blood sugar.  But anyone who lives with diabetes can tell you that food is not even half the story.  There are countless other factors that influence blood sugar in one way or another.  Here is my top 10 list:

1. Stress:  This illusive phenomenon has its hands in everything, including blood sugar.  Since stress can't be avoided, it's best to keenly observe trends and patterns in blood sugar while it's happening.  Then you will be able to develop a game plan for its return.

2. Activity Level:  Generally speaking, increased activity will decrease blood sugar, and vice versa.  See number 9 for possible exceptions.

3. Change in Routine/Schedule:  When you have a regular schedule and your medication is in rhythm with that schedule, any changes or disruptions in the routine have the potential to cause havoc on the blood sugar.

4. Hydration Level:  Medication, including insulin, is better absorbed if the body is hydrated.  This is one reason that drinking water is suggested when blood sugars are running high.

5. Medicine Mechanics:  We have to give our meds the best opportunity to do their job.  For instance, if our instructions are to take once daily, then we should be taking at the same time every day.  Additionally, pump users must be vigilant for tubing or site problems such as kinks or occlusions.  All insulin users must watch out for lack of absorption due to poor injection sites and lipohypertrophy.

6. Nerves:  I'm referring here to the sensation of nervousness.  For example, I find my blood sugar spikes just before I'm about to give a presentation.

7. Calculation Errors:  These can be carb-counting mistakes, insulin correction factor mistakes, or timing issues with medications.  Mistakes will happen, we just have to take note and adjust accordingly.

8. Illness:  Blood sugars will usually run high during sick days.  Remain hydrated and contact your healthcare provider about temporarily increasing meds.  Better yet, don't get sick ;)

9. Exercise:  Depending on the type of work-out you're doing, and the time of day you are doing it, you may have unexpected results.  For instance, I have noticed that doing high intensity interval training (HIIT) early in the morning will increase my blood sugar.  Cardio typically decreases it.  Again, you will have to learn your body and come up with a plan to prevent blood sugar swings.

10. Lack of Sleep:  This could be a sub-category of stress, change in routine/schedule, and medicine mechanics all at the same time.  When our sleep cycle is off, it's not only tougher on the body, but it throws off our circadian rhythm.  For someone whose livelihood is fostered by daily doses of medication, it's tough to know how the sudden change in schedule and added stress will affect the distribution of hormones and the uptake of meds.

What other things affect your blood sugar?  Let us know so that we can all be less than seven, greater than low!