Welcome to Patient Empowerment Pulse: Real-Life Wisdom from a Professional Patient Who I Am Welcome to Patient Empowerment Pulse, a blog built on the hard-won wisdom of someone who’s lived both sides of the healthcare divide. I’m Joanna, and this is more than just a health blog—it’s a survival guide for anyone trying to navigate chronic illness, complicated care teams, and a medical system that often feels like it’s working against you. I didn’t set out to become a professional patient. I trained for a career in culinary arts. But life had other plans. Over the years, I was diagnosed with lupus, Sjögren’s syndrome, spondylitic arthritis, inflammatory-onset diabetes, and a growing list of related conditions. That’s when I discovered that all my professional training didn’t fully prepare me for what it means to actually live this every day. This blog is where I share the strategies, hard-earned insights, and practical tools I’ve picked up along the way—not just from books and degre...
.png)
When you think about blood sugar spikes, your mind probably jumps straight to carbs, sweets, and sugary drinks. But if you’re living with diabetes or working to manage your blood sugar, it’s important to know that food isn’t the only culprit.
Everyday life is full of unexpected triggers that can send your glucose soaring—even when your plate is perfectly balanced. Here are five non-food triggers that can cause surprising blood sugar spikes, plus what you can do to protect your numbers.
1. Stress Stress isn’t just in your head—it’s in your bloodstream too. When you’re stressed, your body releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, both of which can raise blood sugar. This is part of the body’s natural fight-or-flight response, but for people with diabetes (or anyone watching glucose), it can make blood sugar harder to control.
What to Do: Build stress management into your daily routine. Breathing exercises, short walks, gentle movement, and mindfulness practices can all help lower cortisol and keep your numbers more stable.
2. Poor Sleep A restless night can show up in your blood sugar the next day. Research has shown that sleep deprivation reduces insulin sensitivity and increases the risk of glucose spikes. Even one night of poor sleep can impact your body’s ability to regulate blood sugar.
What to Do: Focus on sleep hygiene: keep your bedroom cool and dark, stick to a regular bedtime, and limit screens before sleep. If pain, anxiety, or other chronic issues disrupt your rest, talk to your healthcare provider about solutions.
3. Illness and Infections When you’re sick, your body fights back by releasing stress hormones to help with recovery. Unfortunately, these hormones can also increase blood sugar, even if you’re not eating much. Fever, infections, and even mild colds can all send glucose climbing.
What to Do: Monitor your blood sugar more closely when you’re sick and stay hydrated. If your numbers stay high despite medication and hydration, contact your healthcare team for advice.
4. Medications Certain medications—even ones that aren’t directly related to diabetes—can interfere with blood sugar control. Steroids (like prednisone), certain antidepressants, and even some over-the-counter decongestants can raise blood sugar.
What to Do: Always review new medications with your healthcare provider, especially if you’re managing diabetes. If you notice unexpected glucose changes after starting a new prescription, bring it up with your care team to see if alternatives are available.
5. Dehydration When you’re dehydrated, your blood becomes more concentrated, which can artificially elevate blood glucose readings. This can happen even if your actual glucose levels haven’t changed much. Dehydration is especially common during hot weather, illness, or when medications increase fluid loss.
What to Do: Stay ahead of dehydration by drinking water throughout the day. Pay extra attention when you’re exercising, sick, or spending time outdoors in the heat.
The Bottom Line Blood sugar management is about more than food—it’s about your whole lifestyle. Understanding these non-food triggers gives you a more complete picture of how to keep your glucose stable. By managing stress, prioritizing sleep, staying hydrated, and working closely with your healthcare team, you can help protect your numbers every day.
Want more real-life tips for managing blood sugar with chronic illness? Follow Patient Pulse for practical advice, personal stories, and patient-first health insights.
Comments
Post a Comment