Your body’s primary source of energy is glucose, or blood sugar. After you eat, your body breaks down most of the food into glucose (sugar) and releases it into your bloodstream.
“That sugar has an important job: getting into your body’s cells to be converted into energy. You can think of it as fuel for every cell in your body, especially for your brain,” explains Jessica DeGore, R.D., a registered dietitian and diabetes care and education specialist. “Glucose is either used right away or stored in your liver, muscles, and fat tissue for later.”
In people with type 2 diabetes, this naturally occurring process is impaired in some way. Instead of being converted to energy, blood sugar hangs around and builds up in the bloodstream. And that can lead to some serious, long-term complications.
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Where does this excess sugar enter the blood? After you eat, glucose enters your bloodstream from the stomach and small intestine. To avoid high blood sugar, many people with type 2 diabetes need to take medications to keep those glucose levels at a healthy level.
You might be wondering: What causes high blood sugar without diabetes? Diet, stress, and hormonal imbalances can all contribute to high blood sugar. Medications can help people without diabetes keep their blood sugar under control as well.
How diabetes affects blood sugar
To help understand what’s happening in the body, picture one of your body’s cells with a little door, says DeGore.
“The pancreas makes a hormone called insulin, which acts as a key. The key is supposed to open up the cell door and let the energy in,” she says. “With diabetes, you might not have enough keys—not enough insulin—or the key doesn’t fit. Your cells aren’t responding well to insulin, and your body can’t produce energy the way it should.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 38.4 million Americans are living with diabetes. There are different types of medications available, and the goal of each of them is the same: to help keep blood sugar levels in a safe range.
There are a number of factors that affect your blood sugar, including sleep, stress, exercise, hormones, and more. What is a normal insulin level for a woman or man? Although there’s no scientific consensus, most experts recommend fasting levels between 2.6 and 24.9 μU/mL (microunits per milliliter).
That’s a pretty wide range, for a good reason: When you eat, blood sugar levels should naturally increase, and drop when it’s been a while since you’ve chowed down.
In healthy people, these levels typically return to normal as insulin moves glucose into the cells for energy and storage. For people living with diabetes, it’s more common to experience fluctuations that lead to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), with symptoms that can range from mild to severe.
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Symptoms of high blood sugar include, according to the Cleveland Clinic:
- Extreme thirst or hunger
- Weakness
- Headache
- Frequent urination
- Blurred vision
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
Symptoms of low blood sugar include, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA):
- Hunger
- Nervousness or anxiety
- Sweating or clamminess
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Irritability
- Confusion and trouble concentrating
- Weakness or fatigue
- Racing heart
- Shakiness
- Headache
Blood sugar: Staying on the level
For those with type 2 diabetes, maintaining and monitoring healthy glucose levels is vital to managing the condition and making sure the body gets the energy it needs. According to the ADA, the target range is between 80 and 130 mg/dL before meals and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after eating.
In addition, it’s important to check blood sugar levels. How often to do that depends on each person’s specific treatment plan, although DeGore recommends testing at least once a day.
Common times to monitor levels include first thing in the morning, before and after eating and exercise, and before bedtime, according to the CDC.
People with diabetes should also get a hemoglobin A1C test—a measure of your average blood sugar over a period of time—every three to six months, says the ADA. For most adults with diabetes, the blood sugar goal is an A1C of below 7%.
Semaglutide for blood sugar control
There are several classes of type 2 diabetes medicines that work to lower blood sugar in different ways. Semaglutide belongs to a class of medications known as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, according to the National Cancer Institute. This means that it mimics the actions of your body’s naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone.
“The GLP-1 hormone has several important functions in the gut,” says DeGore. “It’s released to help your body produce more insulin, which lowers blood sugar levels. In addition, it reduces the production of glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels.”
Read More: What You Should Know About Side Effects Of Semaglutide
Beyond lowering your blood sugar, semaglutide is shown to offer added health benefits. One is slowing down your digestion to help you feel full for a longer period of time, which promotes weight loss, says Endocrine Society. Another is reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease for people with type 2 diabetes who are at high risk for it, found one study.
Semaglutide is typically administered via a weekly self-injection in the abdomen, switching sides each time. Upper arm and thigh are also good locations, as they both have a layer of fat that allows for an easy subcutaneous shot. A doctor or nurse should show you how to properly inject it before you try doing it yourself. Make sure you rotate where you’re injecting so it’s not the same spot every time.
Potential side effects of semaglutide use include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and increased risk of pancreatitis. According to Mayo Clinic, anyone who has a personal or family history of medullary thyroid cancer or multiple endocrine neoplasia should avoid taking the medication.
The last word on semaglutide for blood sugar control
DeGore emphasizes that it’s important to keep up a healthy lifestyle when taking semaglutide. This includes eating a balanced diet, taking steps to manage stress, getting regular exercise, and making it a priority to get a good night’s sleep.
Talk to your medical provider about the best treatment plan for your specific needs. And whatever treatment you decide on, the ADA recommends reassessing it every three to six months, and making changes if needed.
If you think a weight loss medication like semaglutide might be right for you, chat with a ReflexMD Wellness Advisor now or take our short quiz to see if you qualify.