Fasting Blood Sugar: Should I Be Worried if it's Too High?

A fasting blood sugar test is a common way to measure your blood glucose levels after not eating or drinking for at least eight hours. It’s a key tool in diagnosing and managing conditions like diabetes and pre-diabetes. While it's normal for blood sugar levels to fluctuate throughout the day, a consistently high fasting blood sugar reading can be a cause for concern. In this article, we'll explore what constitutes a high reading, what could be causing it, and when it's time to seek medical advice.

The concern with high fasting blood sugar stems from the potential long-term complications it may indicate, especially related to the development of insulin resistance and diabetes. When your body can't effectively use insulin to move glucose from the blood into cells for energy, this can lead to consistently elevated sugar levels in the bloodstream. This not only deprives cells of necessary energy but also can damage vital organs and tissues over time. Understanding what is considered a "high" reading, and then learning what factors influence this is crucial for proactive health management. Let's dive in.

What is Considered a "High" Fasting Blood Sugar Level?

The acceptable range for fasting blood sugar varies depending on the source, but generally aligns with the following guidelines from the American tiredness low blood sugar Diabetes Association (ADA):

Category	Fasting Blood Sugar Level (mg/dL)
Normal	Less than 100
Pre-diabetes	100 to 125
Diabetes	126 or higher

It’s important to understand these numbers, because they offer clear cut points where actions may be taken. For example, if you receive a reading of 110 mg/dL, it will fall into the pre-diabetes category. This should serve as a strong signal that you need to talk to your healthcare provider about potential lifestyle changes and interventions. Readings of 126 mg/dL or higher typically warrant immediate attention and possibly further testing to confirm a diabetes diagnosis.

• Key Takeaway: Knowing these thresholds is crucial for monitoring and taking action on 147 blood sugar after eating your health, and helps you understand when you should consult a medical professional.

Common Causes of High Fasting Blood Sugar

Several factors can contribute to high fasting blood sugar. Understanding these underlying causes is essential for proper management and targeted treatment.

1. Insulin Resistance: This condition, often a precursor to type 2 diabetes, occurs when the body's cells don’t respond effectively to insulin. This can lead to higher glucose levels in the blood, especially in a fasted state. This is often a result of lifestyle, and can be improved by dietary changes.

2. Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes: Diabetes mellitus, characterized by consistently high blood sugar, may be the primary reason for the high reading. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes arises from a combination of insulin resistance and insufficient insulin production. Either can result in elevated glucose even after fasting.

3. Medications: Certain medications, such as corticosteroids and some diuretics, can elevate blood sugar as a side effect. Be sure to tell your medical care provider all the drugs that you are currently taking. They can help advise you whether any may be impacting your blood glucose numbers.

4. Diet: An unhealthy diet, particularly one high in refined carbohydrates and sugary drinks, can contribute to insulin resistance and elevated blood glucose. Consider a nutritional assessment and personalized dietary advice to help with improving these results.

5. Lack of Physical Activity: A sedentary lifestyle can decrease the body's sensitivity to insulin, raising the risk of high blood sugar readings. Regular physical activity is associated with improved insulin sensitivity.

6. Stress: Both physical and emotional stress can release hormones that raise blood sugar levels. Chronic stress management should be implemented when necessary.

7. Age: Older adults are more prone to developing insulin resistance, due to physiological changes that occur with aging, and this can result in higher readings. Understanding this can allow proactive interventions as you move through different life stages.

8. Sleep Problems: Both poor sleep and insufficient sleep can impact glucose levels. Establishing healthy sleep patterns should be part of your plan to improve blood sugar readings.

When Should You Seek Medical Attention?

If you consistently experience high fasting blood sugar readings, it's imperative to consult a healthcare professional for accurate diagnosis and personalized management. Here are some key situations when medical intervention is necessary:

• Multiple High Readings: If your fasting blood sugar readings are 126 mg/dL or higher on more than one occasion, it may indicate diabetes. This is a critical level that requires medical evaluation and management.
• Pre-Diabetes Levels with Other Risk Factors: Readings between 100 and 125 mg/dL in conjunction with risk factors for type 2 diabetes such as family history, best time for blood sugar test obesity, and physical inactivity, should prompt a medical consultation. Proactive measures are often more successful for improved health and well-being.
• Symptoms of High Blood Sugar: Symptoms including frequent urination, excessive thirst, unexplained weight loss, or blurred vision along with elevated fasting blood sugar must be reported immediately.
• Family History: If you have a family history of diabetes, any elevated fasting blood sugar reading should be brought to the attention of your doctor. Genetic factors do play a significant role, and knowing this can assist with a proactive plan.
• Lifestyle Factors: If you have high blood sugar and lifestyle factors like poor diet and limited activity, consultation with a nutritionist or trainer might be helpful as well as ongoing monitoring by a physician.

How to Lower Your Fasting Blood Sugar

Managing high fasting blood sugar often involves lifestyle modifications and medical treatments. Here are several effective strategies:

1. Dietary Adjustments: Following a balanced diet with an emphasis on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein, can help stabilize blood sugar levels. It's essential to reduce the intake of refined carbohydrates and sugary drinks. A registered dietitian can provide specific plans tailored to your needs.

   Food Type	Impact on Blood Sugar
   Refined Carbohydrates	Can cause spikes and crashes
   Whole Grains	Provide a slow, steady release of glucose
   Fruits & Vegetables	High in fiber and beneficial nutrients
   Lean Protein	Supports stable blood sugar

2. Regular Exercise: Regular physical activity increases the body's sensitivity to insulin. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. Activities like brisk walking, cycling, or swimming can be highly beneficial.

3. Weight Management: If you're overweight or obese, losing even a small amount of weight can significantly improve blood sugar levels. Weight loss can be done through diet and lifestyle changes and can have a lasting positive impact on insulin resistance.

4. Stress Management: Practicing relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises can help reduce stress-related glucose fluctuations. These practices will support both physical and mental well-being.

5. Adequate Sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night, since adequate sleep has a direct impact on insulin function. Consistent, sufficient sleep will have an positive impact on all of your body systems.

6. Medications: For some, lifestyle changes alone are not enough. Based on your individual needs and other testing, your healthcare provider may prescribe medications, such as metformin, to help manage blood sugar.

7. Regular Monitoring: For those with known issues of blood glucose, or for anyone with any of the aforementioned risk factors, regular blood sugar monitoring with a home glucose meter can provide valuable information that can help you manage glucose levels more proactively. Regular tests will ensure you can monitor your progress and get early warnings when needed.

Conclusion: Take Charge of Your Health

A high fasting blood sugar reading should not be ignored. It could be a warning sign of underlying health issues such as insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, or diabetes. Early detection and proper management through lifestyle modifications, medical guidance, or both, is crucial for preventing long-term complications. If you are concerned about your fasting blood sugar levels, it is important to consult with a healthcare provider to create a plan specific to your personal health needs. Taking action today can ensure better health and quality of life for the future.

If you’re asking, Why Won't My Fasting Blood Sugar Go Down, this video will give you insights into high blood sugar, issues where fasting glucose is high, hyperglycemia and the dawn effect, or high fasting blood sugar. Maybe you don’t even have type II diabetes. Even if you can’t lower blood sugar, and even if you have high blood sugar on keto, there are usually reasons a person has high blood glucose or they are seeing morning blood sugar high. If you continue to check your blood sugar level every morning and the blood sugar is not dropping the way you want it to, when you learn to work with your body, you can improve the high blood sugar in the morning issue as you better understand insulin resistance and how the body works. ➤Data ➤Videos Mentioned in This Video 20 signs You’re Not Digesting Your Food Correctly: Why Low Blood Pressure is Bad: Who Should Not Use Intermittent Fasting: Understanding Digestive Troubles Watch our video, 5 Ways to Improve Bile Flow: ➤ Register for our TOTALLY FREE 4-Week Online Digestion Course to better understand your unique body chemistry and which aspects of digestion may need a little boost for you. ➤ Or download my book, Kick Your Fat in the Nuts for free here: Chapters 3 & 4 of this book explain the digestive process and how to improve it when aspects aren’t working correctly. ➤ If You’re a Health Professional, download my book, Health Pro Results, for free here: ➤ Our Kick It Naturally Podcast episode with T.C. Hale Trouble Improving Bile Flow: ➤ TWEET THIS VIDEO: ​ ➤Say hi on social: Facebook: Twitter: YouTube Video URL: Disclaimer - T.C. Hale is not a doctor and does not claim to be a doctor or licensed in any type of medical field. Any information found in any of T.C. Hale's books, videos, newsletters, or websites are intended for educational purposes only and should not be used for medical advice. You should contact your doctor for any medical advice. Comments Section Disclaimer Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Nothing in the comments section of this video is intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read or seen in this video or the comments section of this video. No comments or users’ personal opinions found here have been evaluated or approved by the FDA and should not be viewed as medical advice. Allowing people’s shared comments on this site does not imply our endorsement of, nor any medical claim by us. People here are simply sharing their own experiences or opinions. If we applaud anyone’s achievements in the comments section we are not saying that we approve of how they did it or that that method is right for you. We are simply celebrating someone’s win. Any results or personal experiences shared should not be considered typical, regardless of the opinion of the one sharing the experience and should not be considered a cure for any disease or medical condition. If we share a link to other content, we are not saying that this is the answer to your health concern. We are simply sharing other content that may be helpful from an educational standpoint only. If we share steps we use with our clients or methods others have shared with us, that does not mean we are suggesting you follow those steps or methods or providing any type of medical advice in any way. We are simply sharing thoughts and opinions for educational purposes. Video hashtags: #TCHale #KickItNaturally #HighFastingBloodSugar