Too much food, such as a meal or snack with more carbohydrates than usual

dehydration

not be active

Not enough insulin or oral diabetes medications

Side effects of other medicines, such as steroids or antipsychotic medicines

Illness, stress, menstrual periods, or short- or long-term pain (all cause your body to release hormones that can raise blood sugar levels)

The good news is that there are things you can do to avoid high levels and treat them when you do.

What can cause my blood glucose (sugar) levels to drop?

Hypoglycemia is the technical term for low blood glucose (sugar) levels. This is when your blood glucose (sugar) levels have dropped enough that you need to take steps to bring them back into your target range. These are some of the causes:

Not enough food, such as a meal or snack with fewer carbohydrates than usual, or skipping a meal or snack

Alcohol, especially on an empty stomach

Too much insulin or oral diabetes medications

Side effects of other medications

More physical activity or exercise than usual

Don't worry, there are things you can do to avoid low levels. Make sure you know what the symptoms are and how to treat them when you have them.

What about A1c?

Your blood glucose (sugar) level isn't the only number that tells you how your diabetes management is going—your A1c is important too. So what is A1c?

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This relatively simple blood test can tell you a lot: it will give you an idea of your average blood glucose (sugar) level over the past two to three months. The higher the levels, the greater your risk of developing complications from diabetes Brown rice syrup solids. Your doctor will tell you how often to test your A1c, but you'll generally test at least twice a year if you meet your treatment goals.