Most of the food we consume is broken down into glucose, the form of sugar that circulates in the blood stream. Often, these foods are carbohydrates. Here’s how this blood sugar affects diabetes:

After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by cells for growth and energy. For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. This hormone is produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach.

In people who don’t have diabetes, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move glucose from blood into our cells when we eat. In people with diabetes, however, the pancreas either produces little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced. Glucose builds up in the blood, overflows into the urine, and passes out of the body. The body then loses its main source of fuel.

A low level of glucose in the blood can lead to hypoglycemia. Symptoms may include dizziness, profuse sweating, weakness, trembling, hunger, blurred vision, slurred speech, or headache. It occurs most frequently in people with diabetes who take insulin. It can also occur in those who do not have diabetes.

How do you manage blood sugar?

An active lifestyle can improve the body’s ability to use insulin. Daily activity can also help delay or prevent complications of diabetes. So working out at the gym, walking in the neighborhood or taking up a regular sports activity are all helpful to managing blood sugar. It goes without saying that a special, nutritious diet is a necessary tool for controlling blood sugar. After all, certain foods, such as carbohydrates, increase blood sugar levels. It’s important for a diabetic person to follow a diet that keeps the glucose balanced in the body.

Use our Blood Sugar Tracker to monitor your daily blood sugar trends.

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