How to tell if your blood sugar is high by looking at your palms

What is glucose used for?

Glucose takes part in metabolism. The brain needs this substance. When there is a lack of sugar in the body, a person experiences a feeling of hunger, which is the first signal.

The benefits of glucose are as follows:

• supplies energy;
• helps fight stressful situations and depression;
• takes part in metabolic processes;
• supports normal functioning of the cardiovascular system;
• has a positive effect on the general condition.

The substance is also useful in the presence of liver diseases.

What is the normal blood glucose level?

The human body processes the substance daily. This happens during meals, since at this moment the pancreas starts working. The liver and insulin monitor the amount of sugar rising in the blood.

If a person suffers from diabetes, the necessary insulin is not produced. Insulin injections help maintain blood sugar levels.

On a note! It is especially important to maintain acceptable blood sugar levels in children with diabetes.

Many patients perform glucose tests on their own at home, without the need to constantly visit the hospital.

The performance of the body is largely determined by the sugar content. Before a person eats food, the level of the substance fluctuates between 100-120 mg/dl. After a couple of hours, the glucose concentration should not exceed 10 mg/dL. Depending on age, the permissible level of a substance in the body differs - the older the person, the higher the value will be.

A blood glucose test should be performed on an empty stomach, preferably in the morning.

Diabetes mellitus: who is at risk

According to WHO, the number of people with diabetes has quadrupled over the past 40 years. What are the risk factors and the first symptoms of diabetes, how serious are the consequences and is it possible to prevent the disease? Endocrinologist Elena Anatolyevna Koroleva spoke about all this on a live broadcast on the website Apteka.ru. Here are the main points of the broadcast.

What is diabetes mellitus and how does it manifest?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot use the insulin it produces effectively (insulin resistance).

Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. A common result of uncontrolled diabetes is hyperglycemia, or elevated blood levels, which over time leads to severe damage to many body systems, especially nerves and blood vessels.

The normal blood sugar range is from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol/l. If a laboratory test shows a higher blood sugar level, it means that carbohydrate metabolism is disturbed in the body.

Classic symptoms of diabetes: increased thirst, frequent urge to urinate. However, they appear at very high sugar levels (10-15 mmol/l); with moderately high sugar levels (5.5 to 10 mmol/l), symptoms may not appear immediately.

What types of diabetes are distinguished today?

Modern medicine distinguishes three types of diabetes.

For type 1 diabetes

(previously known as insulin-dependent, juvenile or childhood) the cells that produce insulin die in the body. The cause of this type of diabetes is unknown, so it cannot currently be prevented. You can develop type 1 diabetes before the age of 30.

Symptoms: excessive urination, thirst, constant hunger, weight loss, vision changes and fatigue.

These symptoms may appear suddenly.

On the one hand, this is a very severe type of diabetes, the only way to treat it is insulin therapy. On the other hand, this is a fairly rare type of disease - only 10% of people with diabetes suffer from type 1 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes

(previously called insulin-independent or adult-onset) develops as a result of the body's ineffective use of insulin. Most patients suffer from type 2 diabetes. It is largely the result of excess weight and physical inertia. Most often, people develop type 2 diabetes after age 40. The peak of the disease is 60-70 years.

Symptoms may be similar to those of type 1 diabetes, but are often less severe. As a result, the disease can be diagnosed several years after its onset, after complications have arisen.

Until recently, this type of diabetes was observed only among adults, but in recent years it has also affected children.

is also distinguished .

Gestational diabetes is hyperglycemia that develops or is first detected during pregnancy. Women with this form of diabetes also have an increased risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and they have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Most often, gestational diabetes is diagnosed during prenatal screening rather than based on reported symptoms.

It is important to note that this type of diabetes is more dangerous for the baby than for the mother (chronically high sugar can lead to problems during pregnancy and after birth). However, having gestational diabetes during pregnancy increases a woman's chances of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.

Gestational diabetes ends with pregnancy, but it is important to identify and treat it early for the well-being of mother and child.

Prediabetes

Increased glucose tolerance (HTG) and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) are intermediate conditions between normal and diabetes.

People with PTH and IFN are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, but this may not happen.

The task of doctors should be to identify and prevent PTG and NGN. For prevention purposes, you should not neglect a medical examination and donate blood for sugar at least once every three years.

Risk factors (type 2 diabetes): obesity, presence of diabetes in relatives, presence of diabetes in a pregnant woman, presence of concomitant hypertension, smoking.

Consequences of diabetes

Over time, diabetes can affect the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.

Adults with diabetes have a 2-3 times higher risk of heart attack and stroke.

Combined with decreased blood flow, neuropathy (nerve damage) in the legs increases the likelihood of leg ulcers, infection, and ultimately the need for limb amputation.

Diabetic retinopathy is one of the important causes of blindness. It develops as a result of long-term accumulation of damage to the small blood vessels of the retina. Diabetes may be responsible for 2.6% of global cases of blindness.

In addition, diabetes is among the leading causes of kidney failure.

Is it possible to control the consequences of diabetes if the disease can no longer be prevented?

The severity of the consequences correlates with sugar levels. The most important thing is to control your sugar level and reduce it. The easiest way to do this is at an early stage of the disease.

Prevention recommendations:

• achieve and maintain a healthy body weight

• Be physically active - at least 30 minutes of regular moderate-intensity activity on most days; Additional activity is required to control weight. The minimum prevention of the disease is to try to walk 10,000 steps a day. If your life is spent in front of a computer, you need to start small - take a break from work, walk around the room, use the stairs instead of the elevator, etc. Children and adolescents from 5-17 years old are supposed to get 60 minutes of moderate and high-intensity exercise every day.

• Eat a healthy diet and reduce your intake of sugar and saturated fat

• refrain from using tobacco – smoking increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases

Addition to the point about physical activity: women are in a more vulnerable position - due to the greater number of responsibilities (home duties are added to work), it can be very difficult to find time for yourself and for physical activity.

However, it is important to plan ahead and make time for physical activity - women are more likely to develop diabetes.

Modern methods of diagnosing diabetes

The main method remains donating blood for sugar. In addition there are:

- glucose tolerance test

— determination of glycated hemoglobin

- hormonal and genetic studies

— 24-hour glucose monitoring system

— Holter ECG monitoring

Modern methods of treating diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is treated only with insulin therapy.

Continuous infusion of insulin using insulin pumps is a new method of insulin therapy that delivers insulin continuously in very small doses.

For the treatment of type 2 diabetes:

- adherence to nutritional rules, physical activity

— modern hypoglycemic drugs (tablets/injections)

— physiotherapeutic effects (physical therapy)

- high-tech medical care (pump therapy is also high-tech; this also includes vascular operations)

Do people with diabetes receive support from the government?

Yes. Patients have the right to receive free medications. You can view the list of vital medications on the website of the Ministry of Health (list of vital and essential drugs).

One of the requirements for the patient is to carry out self-monitoring using a glucometer (hours for measuring sugar are discussed between the patient and the doctor individually - different types of diabetes require different measures).

Do you need a special diet for diabetes?

Diet is required. The most important thing is to give up sweets. It is necessary to eat in such a way as to lose weight, if you are overweight - for this you need to rebuild your diet, you should start by at least reducing the amount of food consumed.

• It is worth limiting foods containing animal fats and carbohydrates. You can eat carbohydrates in moderation: bread, porridge, pasta, fruits, but do not overdo it, otherwise the sugar will rise too much again.
• You need to increase the amount of dietary fiber in your diet - the more vegetables, the better.
• It is not recommended to eat dried fruits; you should limit nuts and seeds - all these are almost pure fatty foods.
• Be careful with meat: if you eat fatty meat every day, you can gain weight. The same thing with fish - limit fatty, high-calorie varieties.
• Sausage is a bad product for a diabetic.
• Milk contains carbohydrates, so the amount should be limited.
• Vegetable oil is better, it is saturated with beneficial acids. But it affects body weight in the same way as cream. So again you have to be careful. The best option is to use olive or flaxseed.

Questions and answers

Q: Is insulin resistance reversible?

A: Insulin resistance is partly genetic. You can reverse it - you need to make efforts to reduce body weight, you need physical activity, exercise.

Q: If I smoke, my blood pressure periodically rises, and I am overweight, how often should I donate blood?

A: Once a year.

Q: What are the normal blood sugar levels?

A: Blood from a vein – up to 6 mmol/l, from a finger – up to 5.5 mmol/l.

Q: Are the drugs that are given at a discounted rate modern, or is it better to buy them yourself?

A: One of the free drugs is metformin. It is the first-line drug in the treatment of diabetes mellitus around the world. Not the most expensive product, but very effective. On the other hand, today new, innovative drugs have appeared. They do not always work when they should, sometimes they cause side effects, sometimes, on the contrary, additional positive effects. If a doctor recommends buying something extra during a consultation, and you can afford it, it’s better to listen.

Q: How expensive is it to have diabetes?

A: Diabetes is a catastrophic financial burden. Diabetes is expensive, but if treated well, it can cost up to 12,000 rubles a month for just one drug. Consumables (needles, test strips) also cost a lot. Therefore, it is worth focusing on preventing the disease.

Q: Is it possible to measure sugar once every 2-3 days? Every day is very expensive.

A: Depends on how you are being treated. Sometimes they are treated only with diet or medications that do not reduce sugar levels. Then it's better once a day. If the sugar is stable - once a week, maximum - once every two weeks, at least. But if constant self-monitoring is necessary, then it is worth measuring up to several times a day. Sometimes self-control is more important than even the therapy itself.

Recorded by Nina Timonova

Photo deposiphotos.com

The opinion of the author may not coincide with the opinion of the editors

What foods contain glucose

The substance is present in many foods. The food consumed is broken down into fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Glucose is present in sufficient quantities in the following components:

• sweet;
• honey;
• fruits;
• bread;
• cabbage;
• sugar;
• carrot.

Boiled potatoes and corn contain glucose in the form of starch.

Symptoms of glucose deficiency

If there is a lack of a substance in the body, serious problems with its functioning may begin. A lack of a substance can be determined by the following symptoms:

• dizziness;
• lethargy;
• headache;
• pallor;
• cardiopalmus.

Hypoglycemia can occur as a result of diabetes mellitus or is an independent pathology. If a person begins to feel dizzy or has confused thinking, then you need to eat, for example, white bread or a sweet roll. This leads to an increase in glucose levels and cope with the symptoms that appear.

On a note! With a constant shortage of the substance, serious harm to a person occurs. You need to see a doctor who will prescribe an appropriate examination.

Associated symptoms

A pronounced increase in blood sugar levels manifests itself with characteristic symptoms, which are especially clearly visible in patients with diabetes:

• constant thirst and dry mouth;
• increased urge to urinate;
• dizziness;
• headache;
• increased appetite, weight gain or sudden weight loss (this symptom is typical mainly for patients with type 1 diabetes);
• skin itching, furunculosis, prolonged wound healing;
• increased blood pressure due to impaired renal function;
• increased irritability;
• drowsiness;
• apathetic state;
• difficulty concentrating;
• decreased vision;
• susceptibility to infectious diseases.

Having noticed such manifestations in yourself, you may suspect hyperglycemia, but only a qualified doctor will make an accurate diagnosis. In our clinic you can undergo a full range of examinations to identify acute and chronic diseases. An experienced endocrinologist will develop effective treatment tactics to eliminate pathological symptoms and return you to good health.

What are the dangers of high blood glucose levels?

Elevated glucose levels can be caused by several reasons:

• lack of physical activity;
• somatic diseases;
• stress, depression;
• heavy food;
• non-compliance with medication regimen for diabetes mellitus.

Excess sugar can cause extra pounds, diabetes and other pathologies. In such conditions, it is necessary to adhere to a special diet that will lower blood sugar.

How to tell if your blood sugar is high by looking at your palms

Dangerous blood sugar levels can be detected by changes in the palms of your hands. They manifest themselves in the so-called stiff hand syndrome, notes endocrinologist Elena Syurashkina. She told how to recognize the symptoms of early diabetes.

Wax look

Stiff hand syndrome in medical terminology is called “diabetic chiroarthropathy” and is characterized by changes in the skin of the palms: it becomes thicker and takes on a waxy appearance. The disease also affects the mobility of the finger joints - their flexion function is impaired. This symptom can occur in 30% of people who have long-term problems with blood sugar, says a doctor.

To check if you have diabetes, you need to put your palms together and try to connect your fingers. If they do not touch each other, this may indicate that there is an increased level of sugar in the blood, which destroys nerve fibers and small vessels.

Numbness and stiffness

Another sign is the inability to fully straighten the palm so that the fingers become straight. The disease occurs from the little finger, moving to the thumb. First there is numbness or tingling, then stiffness sets in.

The disease affects both the smallest and most fragile joints and larger ones. In advanced diabetes, large joints are affected. Diabetic neuropathy often becomes a concomitant disease.

Thirst and headache

Changes in the body can also signal high blood sugar levels. They are easy to notice if you are attentive to yourself, says Elena Syurashkina. She listed symptoms that should never be ignored:

• increased thirst;
• frequent headaches;
• lethargy;
• drowsiness, lethargy;
• stomach ache;
• dry skin;
• frequent urination;
• smell of acetone from the mouth;
• irritability.

Dangerous consequences

The endocrinologist warns that if you take an irresponsible approach to health and ignore the alarm signals that the body sends, fatal consequences can occur. Among them:

• ketoacidosis - disruption of metabolic regulation;
• hypoglycemia is a drop in blood sugar levels below normal, which is no less dangerous than exceeding it and can lead to coma. Signs: increased sweating, fatigue, malaise, pale skin;
• coma _ With elevated sugar levels, it is manifested by increased urination, dehydration, muscle hypertonicity, incoherent speech, convulsions, and drowsiness. With low sugar, weakness, muscle and heart pain are observed;
• eye diseases and loss of visual acuity;
• diabetic foot . It manifests itself in damage to the skin, large and small vessels, nerves, bones and muscles of the foot. Symptoms: numbness, burning, tingling, “pins and needles” sensation, chills. If left untreated, non-healing ulcers, infectious lesions, and gangrene may occur;
• skin diseases . Poorly healing wounds, cracks, and ulcers occur.

Controlling blood sugar levels will help restore many processes in the body and alleviate emerging problems, writes Rsute.

Previously, 5-tv.ru told how to avoid the development of diabetic retinopathy or eye diabetes if you have diabetes.

How to take glucose tablets

Medicines containing glucose are prescribed for the following conditions:

• poisoning;
• lack of carbohydrates supplied with food;
• dehydration caused by vomiting and indigestion;
• lack of substance in the body.

For diabetes

Medicines are generally not prescribed for diabetes. But there are exceptions when it is urgently necessary to increase the content of an element. Hypoglycemia occurs when there is excessive inulin content.

Medicines can be taken in the form of solutions or tablets. For diabetes mellitus, tablets are the appropriate form according to doctors. The solution should be taken in critical situations.

Diagnostics in our clinic

Diagnosis of hyperglycemia includes taking a medical history, analyzing clinical symptoms and a number of laboratory tests. A blood sugar test is taken in the morning on an empty stomach. In some cases, it becomes necessary to repeat the analysis after a few days to exclude possible stress factors.

In modern medicine, several methods of testing blood for sugar are used:

• rapid test for determining the approximate glucose concentration - can be carried out at home, but does not provide one hundred percent accuracy;
• analysis for glycated hemoglobin - allows you to determine the average glucose level over a certain period of time (1-3 months);
• Glucose tolerance test is a comprehensive study that involves taking blood from a finger prick four times over two hours (on an empty stomach and after taking glucose).

In a healthy person, the glucose level is 3.5-5.5 mmol per liter of blood. An indicator of 6 mmol is considered a prediabetic state. If the glucose concentration exceeds this value, the doctor has reason to diagnose diabetes mellitus.

When performing a glucose tolerance test, a result of up to 7.9 mmol/l is considered as normal. Diabetes mellitus is indicated by a value of over 11 mmol per liter.