Whether you have Type 2 diabetes, or know someone who does, being aware of what your levels of blood sugar should be and how this can affect your body, is very important. This blog is here to help you understand everything you need to know about blood sugar levels, written by our Medical Director.
What level of blood sugar is normal range?
If you have Type 2 diabetes, a normal range for your blood glucose levels is:
- before meals: 4 to 7mmol/l
- two hours after meals: less than 8.5mmol/l
If the term mmol looks a bit strange to you, don’t worry! mmol/l stands for millimoles per litre and a mole is a scientific unit often used to measure chemicals.
What are common causes of low blood sugar levels?
Low blood sugar levels, also known as hypoglycaemia or a ‘hypo’ is when your blood sugars are below 4mmol/l. It is not always known why hypos may happen, but there are some common causes that make them more likely. These include:
- Missing or delaying a meal or snack.
- Not having enough carbohydrates at your last meal.
- Doing a lot of exercise without having extra carbohydrates or without reducing your insulin dose (if you take insulin).
- Taking more insulin (or certain diabetes medication) than you need.
- Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach.
It is important that you know how to recognise a ‘hypo’ and how to treat it swiftly, as well as knowing how to prevent them in the future. For more information, read our alternative blog post.
What are common causes of high blood sugar levels?
High blood sugar levels, also known as hyperglycaemia or a ‘hyper’ is when you have a higher-than-normal amount of glucose in your blood. This is usually above 7 mmol/L before a meal and above 8.5 mmol/L two hours after a meal. Hyperglycaemia can happen because the body either cannot produce enough insulin to process the sugar in the blood or it cannot use the insulin effectively enough. Some of the common causes for hyperglycaemia are:
- You may have missed a dose of your medication.
- Have eaten more carbohydrates than either your body or medication, or both, can cope with.
- You are stressed.
- You are unwell from an infection.
- You have over-treated a hypo.
For more information on hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia, read our blog post; Blood Glucose Levels: Hypoglycaemia vs. Hyperglycaemia.
Do I need to monitor my blood sugar if I have Type 2 diabetes?
Not necessarily – not everyone with Type 2 diabetes needs to check their sugar levels. However, if you take certain medications, such as insulin or sulphonylureas, checking your blood sugars is a vital part of living with diabetes. By doing this, it can help you work out if you need to take more medication or when you need to eat something.
If you’re unsure about any of this, please speak with your healthcare professional and they will be able to help you with any questions you may have.
Are blood sugar levels affected by stress?
When we become stressed, our body releases two stress hormones known as cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are what give you an energy boost for a ‘fight or flight’ response. However, these hormones can make it harder for insulin to work properly and when insulin resistance occurs, energy can’t get into your cells and therefore, your blood sugar levels rise.
Stress can also lead to overeating, which could also be a factor as to why your sugar levels rise – this in the long term can also lead to weight gain which is a known risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes. For 9 ways to manage stress for better blood glucose control, read our blog.
If you have any further questions about any of the topics discussed above, please contact your diabetes registered healthcare professional.
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At Spirit Pharmacy, we’re here to help people who live with diabetes get access to their medicines, helpful items, and expert advice. We offer a friendly NHS prescription free home delivery service, alongside lots of additional services and support, especially tailored for people living with diabetes.
Please note, this article is not intended to be individual healthcare advice. Always follow specific advice relating to your condition given to you by your doctor, pharmacist, diabetic nurse, or dietician.
*Information correct at time of issue – March 2022
If you’re diagnosed with diabetes (whatever type), it’s important to be aware of how this can affect your body. However, the amount of information to take in when you have diabetes can sometimes be overwhelming, which is why we’ve started a Doctor Q&A series which answers some popular questions about diabetes.
Our Medical Director, Richard, has taken some time to outline the key points of how diabetes can affect your feet. Read more below.
Does diabetes affect your feet?
Having diabetes means you’re at much greater risk of developing foot problems. This is because, when your sugar levels are too high, this can damage the feeling in your feet. High sugar levels can also affect your circulation meaning you are getting less blood supply to your feet. Without a good blood supply, you may have problems with cuts and sores healing, and you may also get cramps and pain in your legs or feet.
It’s really important to check your feet regularly and attend your annual foot check with your healthcare professional, as most foot problems can be prevented with good foot care and regular checks. However, if you don’t get these foot problems treated, they could lead to foot ulcers, infections and, at worst, amputations.
Will diabetes cause your feet to swell and why?
Persistent high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) can damage the lining of smaller blood vessels. This damage can result in poor blood circulation and in turn, this can result in swollen feet and ankles. This happens when your blood doesn’t circulate properly and fluid gets trapped in certain parts of your body, such as the legs, ankles, and feet. This excess fluid that builds up in the body tissue which is known as oedema.
What can you do to prevent diabetic foot problems?
Preventing foot problems is essential if you have diabetes. Undertaking regular self-checks and attending your annual foot check are the best way to prevent common foot problems from occurring.
Here are some ways that you can protect your feet in further detail:
- Check your feet daily by doing it yourself or asking someone to help you. You/they should be looking for any changes or injuries. If you’re checking on yourself and cannot lift your legs, use a mirror to look at the soles of your feet.
- Clean your feet daily: Keep your feet clean and dry thoroughly (including between your toes).
- Wear supportive shoes and socks: Do not apply socks so snugly that they restrict blood flow and make sure your shoes are the correct size and are wide enough.
- Trim nails carefully: Trim toenails straight across, keeping them short and using a nail file for the edges.
- Protect feet from extreme temperatures: Exposure to extreme hot and cold can damage your feet. It’s also a good idea to avoid walking around bare foot.
- Attend your annual foot check: Regular examinations by a healthcare professional are key to preventing infections, amputations, and severe deformities.
- Control blood sugar: Uncontrolled blood sugars increase the risk of neuropathy and foot problems, so keeping your blood sugar levels in check is going to help.
- Avoid smoking: Smoking can affect the blood supply to the tissues, which can make foot problems worse in people with diabetes.
If you have any further questions about any of the topics discussed above, please contact your diabetes registered healthcare professional.
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At Spirit Pharmacy, we’re here to help people who live with diabetes get access to their medicines, helpful items, and expert advice. We offer a friendly NHS prescription free home delivery service, alongside lots of additional services and support, especially tailored for people living with diabetes.
Please note, this article is not intended to be individual healthcare advice. Always follow specific advice relating to your condition given to you by your doctor, pharmacist, diabetic nurse, or dietician.
*Information correct at time of issue – March 2022
If you don’t have diabetes, you might have heard the terms ‘hyperglycaemia’ and ‘hypoglycaemia’ around (sometimes abbreviated to a ‘hyper’ or a ‘hypo’) and if you do live with diabetes, you might have even experienced them.
When you have diabetes, it’s important to know about these as they’re linked to your blood glucose levels. It’s vital to know the differences and what symptoms you might experience, so that you know how to treat them and understand why it might happen to you so you can prevent them in the future – and this blog is here to help you do just that.
What is hypoglycaemia?
Hypoglycaemia (sometimes called a ‘hypo’) is when your body has a low level of blood glucose, usually below 4 mmol/L. When your blood sugar is too low, your body does not have enough energy to work as well as it should.
What are the causes of hypoglycaemia?
- You may have missed or delayed a meal or snack.
- You might not have had enough carbohydrates at your last meal.
- Doing a lot of exercise without having extra carbohydrates or without reducing your insulin dose (if you take insulin).
- Taking more insulin (or certain diabetes medication) than you need.
- Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach.
Insulin and some other diabetes medications can make you more likely to have a hypo. If you’re unsure whether the treatment you’re on is likely to cause hypos, please check with your diabetes healthcare professional.
What are the symptoms of hypoglycaemia?
If you’re having a hypo, you may have warning signs that your blood glucose levels are too low, such as:
- Feeling shaky and disorientated.
- Feeling anxious.
- Suffering from headaches.
- Feeling hungry.
- Having a lack of concentration.
- Your vision may be blurred.
- Losing consciousness.
- Feeling higher levels of aggression.
- Falling into a coma.
- Sweating more than usual.
What is the treatment for hypoglycaemia?
First of all, it’s important to not panic. However, you will need to treat a hypo straight away. Don’t worry though, you can do this by eating food or having a drink that contains sugar.
This could be:
- Four or five glucose or dextrose tablets.
- Five jelly babies.
- A small glass of a sugary (non-diet) drink.
It’s important to know why the hypo has happened so you can try to stop it happening again. Learning why they happen is the best way to stay healthy, so if you’re unsure about why it may have happened, please speak to you doctor or nurse.
What is hyperglycaemia?
Hyperglycaemia is when you have a higher-than-normal amount of glucose in your blood. This is usually above 7 mmol/L before a meal and above 8.5 mmol/L two hours after a meal.
What are the causes of hyperglycaemia?
- You may have missed a dose of your medication.
- You might have eaten more carbohydrates than either your body or medication (or both), can cope with.
- You may be feeling stressed.
- You are suffering from an infection so may be unwell.
- You have over-treated a hypo.
What are the symptoms of hyperglycaemia?
You may have warning signs that your blood glucose levels are too high and experience symptoms such as:
- You may feel thirstier than usual.
- You might pass urine more often – particularly at night.
- You may feel tired or lethargic.
- Your vision may become blurry.
- You might suffer from headaches.
- You may have thrush or other recurring bladder and skin infections.
- You might lose weight.
What is the treatment for hyperglycaemia?
To treat hyperglycaemia, your blood glucose will need to be lowered to a normal amount. If you are feeling unwell, it’s important to not ignore it, make an appointment to see a doctor or nurse and ask to be seen within 24 hours.
If you’re unsure of any of the content we’ve covered above, please speak with your diabetes healthcare professional. If you have Type 2 diabetes and feel like you could benefit from being in a Facebook support group, we run a Daily Type 2 Diabetes chat club where people with similar experiences can share advice, tips and support one another. If you’d like to, please join here.
When you register as a patient with us, you’ll receive our free Live Well With Diabetes welcome pack, printed monthly trackers for you to stay on top of your progress, foot care guides, and so on. You can easily register with us on our website.
At Spirit Pharmacy, we’re here to help people who live with diabetes get access to their medicines, helpful items, and expert advice. We offer a friendly NHS prescription free home delivery service, alongside lots of additional services and support, especially tailored for people living with diabetes.
Please note, this article is not intended to be individual healthcare advice. Always follow specific advice relating to your condition given to you by your doctor, pharmacist, diabetic nurse, or dietician.
*Information correct at time of issue – March 2022
Living with diabetes can be a stressful experience and sometimes it can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re on several medications, or you’ve been told by your diabetes nurse that you need to change several aspects of your lifestyle, it can all feel a bit much to handle.
So, why not start with an extra 1%? We’ve outlined some tips below which you can use to start taking small steps to improve the management of your diabetes.
Exercise
If you’re trying to incorporate more movement into your life, but you’re not ready to go to an exercise class or take up running, there are much smaller changes you can make which will still have a benefit! Here are some ideas:
- Park slightly further away from the shop in the car park so you walk that little bit further
- Download an app or use a watch to monitor steps – if you don’t want to go out, you could walk on the spot whilst watching TV to get a few more steps in
- Set an alarm on your phone once every hour to get up and walk around the house for a few minutes, or go and get yourself a drink
- Walk around the house, or go for a walk outside whilst you’re on the phone
- Add steps into your chores e.g., if you’re taking clean clothes upstairs, do it in two trips to get more steps in
- If you can and it’s safe to do so, take the stairs instead of the escalator or lift
Food
Eating habits are often something that needs to be altered when trying to improve management of diabetes. However, there are many small food swaps that you can make that still keep your meals delicious whilst being slightly leaner or lower in carbs or sugar.
From Smokey Chipotle Chilli Nachos to Southern Fried Chicken and Sticky Cauliflower Wings, we have a whole host of delicious recipes available in another blog. Read our ‘fake-away’ recipes here.
Diabetes UK also have useful resources and ideas for healthy snack swaps and DIY takeaways. Read more about their recipes here.
Sleep
A good night’s sleep supports your body and mind to tackle day-to-day life and stress more easily. If you are tired, this can impact your patience and you might get agitated more easily, which can then increase your stress.
If your sleep (or lack of) is impacting your stress levels, this can affect your blood sugar levels as cortisol (the stress hormone) and adrenaline are released into the bloodstream. making it harder for insulin to work properly, this is known as insulin resistance. If you’re dealing with a lot of stress in your life, read nine ways to reduce stress for better blood glucose control.
Lack of sleep can also impact things such as your ability to remember to take your medications or have the energy to eat a balanced diet. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night and through practicing certain tactics, this can help to improve your quality of sleep. Some suggested ideas include:
- Ensure your bed is comfortable for you. Whether that’s making sure you’re warm with blankets, or making sure your pillows are at the correct and comfortable height
- Practice a consistent night-time routine. Whether that’s reading before you go to sleep, avoiding screens for the last half an hour of your evening or enjoying a relaxing hot drink
- Stick to a consistent time to go to bed so your body learns the routine
- Try and incorporate exercise into your daily routine as this may make you feel more tired and find it easier to sleep
Feet
You have a higher risk of developing foot problems when you have diabetes which can increase the risk of nerve and circulation problems, potentially leading to more serious problems such as ulcers, infections and amputations.
Don’t worry though, most foot problems are preventable and with good, regular foot care, these problems can be avoided.
To make sure you’re keeping on top of your foot health, a small step you can take is five minutes every few days to look for a change of feeling in your feet. This could include:
- Tingling or pins and needles
- Burning or hot feet
- Changes in the shape of your feet
- Build-up of hard skin or loss of feeling in your toes or feet
For extra steps that you can take in your daily routine, here are a few ideas:
- Do not walk around barefoot
- Avoid extreme temperatures of hot and cold – you might not know if you have hurt your feet if you have no feeling
- Do not use corn plasters or blades to remove hard skin – speak to your doctor or nurse if you have a problem. They may suggest you see a podiatrist
- Make sure when you buy new shoes that they are broad and supportive enough
- Check inside your shoes before you put them on. Look for sharp objects that may be inside. These could rub your feet and cause a blister
- Try to keep good diabetes control as this can help prevent foot problems
- If you smoke, the best thing you can do is stop. Smoking affects your circulation. This can increase your risk of developing serious foot problems.
For more information about foot care for those with diabetes, check out our overview of foot health for people with diabetes.
At Spirit Pharmacy we’re here to help people who live with diabetes get access to their medicines, helpful items, and expert advice. We offer a friendly free NHS home prescription delivery, alongside lots of additional services and support, plus a free Live Well With Diabetes welcome pack with your first delivery.
Please note, this article is not intended to be individual healthcare advice. Always follow specific advice relating to your condition given to you by your doctor, pharmacist, diabetic nurse, or dietician.
*Information correct at time of issue – February 2022
It can be difficult to know whether you’re entitled to free prescriptions, especially if you could potentially be exempt for a few reasons. However, did you know that if you are prescribed insulin or other medicines to manage your diabetes, you are entitled to free NHS prescriptions?
We’re here to give you a little more information about how you can claim your free prescriptions in England and, if you don’t use medication to manage your diabetes, how you might still be able to make use of prescription charge exemptions.
How do I claim my NHS medical exemption certificate?
If you take medications for your diabetes, you could get a medical exemption certificate provided by NHS England, also known as an NHS exemption card.
What do I need to know about a medical exemption certificate?
- It entitles you to free NHS prescriptions only
- It doesn’t cover dental treatment or help with other health costs
- It should be shown when you collect a prescription
- It is valid for five years (or until your 60th birthday, whichever is sooner)
- It will fall under the option of ‘has a valid medical exemption certificate’ on your prescription
If you’re entitled to a medical exemption certificate, your doctor will give you an application form. However, if this is not the case and you think you might be entitled to one, please contact your GP.
Find out more from the NHS.
Can I get free prescriptions if I don’t use medicines to manage my diabetes?
If you’re not prescribed insulin or other medicines to manage your diabetes, you will not be able to apply for a medicine exemption certificate (unless you have another medical condition which means you’re exempt). However, there are other exemptions which mean your NHS prescriptions could still be free. Some examples for NHS in England include:
- Age – If you are over 60
- Are pregnant or have had a baby in the previous 12 months and have a valid maternity exemption certificate
- Hold a valid war pension exemption certificate and the prescription is for your accepted disability
- If you receive Income Support or income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Read the full NHS prescription exemption list on the NHS website.
Please note that the age bracket of over 60 years of age may change to over 66 in the near future. So, if you’re between the age of 60 and 66 and not exempt for any other reason than your age, you may start having to pay for your prescriptions if this change is made. However, if you’re on medication for diabetes, or have any other exemptions, this age change will not affect you as you’re exempt for other reasons.
Please note that the Government consultation to increase the age bracket from 60 to 66 is still in process and for now, the age bracket remains at over 60 to be able to get a free prescription. Find out more and find updates on Gov.uk.
How can I check if I’m entitled to free NHS prescriptions?
If you would like to check whether you’re entitled to an NHS prescription exemption, you can check using NHS’ easy prescription exemption checker. However, if you’re ever in doubt, please get in touch with your GP for further questions and any advice on applying for a medical exemption certificate.
At Spirit Pharmacy we’re here to help people who live with diabetes get access to their medicines, helpful items, and expert advice. We offer a friendly free NHS home prescription delivery, alongside lots of additional services and support, plus a free Live Well With Diabetes welcome pack with your first delivery.
Please note, this article is not intended to be individual healthcare advice. Always follow specific advice relating to your condition given to you by your doctor, pharmacist, diabetic nurse, or dietician.
*Information correct at time of issue – January 2022