High blood sugar can lead to serious complications if poorly managed, yet many people are unaware of their levels.
Nutritionist Courtney Kassis informed her followers of the "five silent signs of blood sugar imbalance" in a recent TikTok.
The expert noted waking up between 2am and 4am, for example, could be a warning sign of unruly glucose levels.
This may occur is raised blood sugar triggers the need to use the bathroom frequently throughout the night.
Drinking more liquid supports healthy blood sugar levels
GETTYElevated high blood sugar levels cause the kidney to work harder to filter out excess sugar in the blood.
Afternoon sugar cravings between 2pm and 5pm may also indicate high blood sugar, as elevated glucose can trigger hunger and cravings for sweets.
Dark velvety skin patches around the neck and armpits, scientifically known as acanthosis nigricans, are also signs, Courtney cautioned.
This primarily reflects insulin resistance which may stimulate excessive skin cell growth in those areas.
Post-meal fatigue, anxiety, depression, and itchy skin are also potential signs, according to Courtney.
Fatigue after eating occurs when a spike in blood sugar leads to a subsequent drop.
This can happen even when the body has sufficient glucose, creating a vicious cycle where blood sugar continues to rise.
Because other factors, such as stress, hormonal fluctuations, and a poor diet, can also trigger sugar cravings, monitoring blood sugar levels is essential to understand the underlying cause.
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Unruly blood sugar levels cause a host of symptoms
GETTYHow to control blood sugar levels
During a recent conversation with GB News, Dr Alasdair Scott explained that a simple walk, after meals offers a simple yet effective way to manage blood sugar levels. He also recommended zone 2 training and strength training.
"Strength training is very important because muscles are the biggest sink for glucose," Dr Scott explained.
"So when you eat food, you create glucose that goes into your bloodstream.
"Probably the two most effective forms [of exercise] are going to be something called zone two training - which [...] specifically targets the mitochondria and burns fat - then high-intensity interval training."
