What Are the Causes of Diabetic Blood Sugar Spikes?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects approximately 8 percent of the United States population, according to the American Diabetes Association. People suffering from diabetes have difficulty regulating the level of blood sugar in their bloodstream. Frequent or severe blood sugar spikes can cause both short- and long-term medical complications, including death.

Function

The body derives its energy from sugar in the bloodstream. Carbohydrates supply the body with blood sugar. The pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin which bonds with the blood sugar, allowing it to be used for energy, feed the brain and store excess blood sugar away as fat.

The pancreas in a type 1 diabetic produces insufficient insulin or no insulin at all. Without injections of insulin, a diabetic's blood sugar levels would spike, eventually causing death. The pancreas in type 2 diabetics does produce insulin, but their bodies are unable to process it efficiently.

Causes

Normal blood sugar levels range from 70 mg/dl to 120 mg/dl (milligrams of sugar to deciliters of blood). A blood sugar level higher than 120 mg/dl indicates a condition called hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar. Hyperglycemia cannot always be prevented. Some natural causes for blood sugar spikes include eating a meal, too much strenuous exercise or too little exercise. Severe illness can also cause hyperglycemia in diabetics. Emotional stress can cause both high and low blood sugar levels.

Since carbohydrates become blood sugar in the body, a meal high in carbohydrates or processed sugar will cause an unnaturally high blood sugar spike. Some carbohydrates, such as multi-grain or whole grain breads, rate low on the Glycemic Index and generally will not cause hyperglycemia, particularly if consumed with protein and in moderate amounts.

Insulin

Insulin should be stored at room temperature or kept in the refrigerator if temperature exceeds 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Once exposed to excessive heat, it will lose its potency. A diabetic who injects himself with this insulin will experience a blood sugar spike as the insulin will not function properly in the body.

Too little insulin, expired insulin or the wrong type of insulin will also cause the blood sugar levels to spike. Type 2 diabetics generally treat their diabetes with oral medications, but the same holds true for those as well.

Insulin that is not injected properly will also cause hyperglycemia. It will not work if injected into a vein. If it is injected too quickly and pools up underneath the skin, it will work but may cause a short period of hyperglycemia as it tries to properly disburse into the bloodstream.

Treatment

Treatment for diabetes includes medication, exercise and a low-carbohydrate, low-sugar diet. Once hyperglycemia has set in, there is no treatment other than insulin injections or oral medications. Type 1 diabetes has no cure. Most cases of type 2 diabetes are related to obesity and lack of exercise. Once the weight is lost and the person engages in exercise, type 2 diabetes will normally go away.

Testing

Blood sugar levels can be tested with a glucose meter that can be purchased at most pharmacies. Testing should take place in the morning and at bedtime at a minimum, and preferably before every meal.