Dealing with Blood Sugar Swings

You might associate blood sugar swings with diabetes, but people without the disorder can have fluctuations in blood sugar, too.

According to Rachael Oxman, M.D., MPH, a Fellowship-trained, Board Certified endocrinologist at The Center for Endocrinology at Mercy, sugar goes up and down for various reasons, including diet and hormone changes in women, and there are other causes.

"So many things, like over-the-counter medications, cough medicine, maybe some prescribed medications, like steroids. If you slept well, maybe you have sleep apnea that's untreated. If you're fighting a cold, even exercise can make blood sugar go up or down," Dr. Oxman said.

High blood sugar symptoms include increased thirst, urinating more often, feeling hot or fatigued, feeling lightheaded or dizzy or confused and having more intense sugar cravings.

If you have any of these feelings, it's a good idea to have a conversation with your doctor and possibly start monitoring your blood sugar.

View Mercy endocrinologist Dr. Rachael Oxman’s interview regarding blood sugar swings.