Effects of Blood Sugar Levels On Body Temperature

It is important to understand body temperature and the factors that increase or decrease it to know how blood sugar levels affect the body. According to a study by NCBI, the normal human temperature is 37°C (98.6°F). However, you may experience a slight fluctuation in the temperature throughout the day. 

Normal body temperature can differ by 0.5°C (0.9°F). The human body reaches its peak at around 6 p.m. The body’s temperature changes for many reasons, like the outside temperature, the type of food and drink consumed, physical movement, and bodily functions like metabolism or changing blood sugar levels.

Blood sugar, or glucose, is the primary sugar found in your blood. It comes from the food you eat and is your body’s primary energy source. Therefore, it’s essential to keep healthy levels of blood sugar. High blood sugar levels can eventually lead to various chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer. WHO shows high blood sugar is the most common factor in severe diabetes.

HealthifyPro 2.0 can help track how blood glucose levels change concerning temperature. Investing in it will help you understand the link between a person’s blood sugar levels, dietary patterns, and temperature changes. When you use Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) technology, experts can recommend the best type of meals for achieving your optimal metabolic health. By using this monitoring device, experts from HealthifyMe could help their clients better understand how a person approaches metabolic health based on CGM. 

Blood Sugar and Body Temperature: The Connection

Let’s understand the relationship between blood sugar and body temperature. As previously stated, only a few things can alter a person’s body temperature: 

• The outside temperature
• Type of food and drinks they consume
• How much they walk around, and 
• Internal processes like metabolism or fluctuating blood sugar levels. 

It is essential to know that specific shifts in body temperature can be very harmful. For example, it can cause enzymes to slow down; electrolytes may get too low and cause hormonal imbalances. 

Acute spikes in blood glucose can affect body temperature. Therefore, even in healthy people without diabetes, spikes in glucose can change the body temperature. 

Your blood vessel is vital in regulating your body temperature and glucose levels. So, high sugar levels change the consistency of blood circulation, leading to a rush within the veins to reach different body parts. That leads to an increase in body temperature, which spreads within your body. So, to regulate your body temperature, keeping your blood sugar in check is vital to prevent any damage to your blood vessels. 

Symptoms of Blood Sugar Spikes

It is crucial to understand the symptoms of blood sugar spikes. It becomes difficult to tackle the situation if you are unaware of the symptoms. If you have any health concerns, please consult with your doctor.

Common symptoms of high blood sugar include:

• Increased thirst
• Frequent urination
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Constant hunger
• Blurred vision
• Numbness or tingling in hands or feet

The additional less common symptoms are: 

• Weakness
• Shortness of breath
• Dry mouth
• Fruity-smelling breath
• Nausea and vomiting
• Confusion

If you experience any of the symptoms below, please seek immediate medical help.

The HealthifyMe Note

The chemical processes inside the body are responsible for regulating body temperature. People with diabetes may have trouble controlling their body’s temperature and producing the appropriate quantity of sweat to keep them cool. Blood sugar rises can cause various symptoms, including increased thirst, frequent urination, tiredness, blurred vision, weakness, and confusion. Make sure to drink lots of water, avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine intake, regularly monitor blood sugar levels,  and wear light clothing during hot summer days.

Causes for Blood Sugar Spikes

Let’s understand the causes of the blood sugar spikes that lead to high body temperature. 

Unhealthy diet

A dietary pattern is one of the most important reasons for blood sugar spikes. Therefore, it is crucial to eat healthy foods to achieve optimal metabolic health. Additionally, maintain a healthy weight to help lower high blood sugar levels and decrease the intake of refined and ultra-processed foods and sweets. Also, follow a healthy eating plan. Eat various foods, including leafy greens, lean protein, fresh herbs and spices, green tea, and fermented foods like yoghurt. These foods can help achieve optimal blood sugar. 

Sleep Deprivation

Busy people generally do not get enough sleep since they remain engaged with their work schedules. However, having enough sleep is crucial, and insufficient sleep causes many health issues. Chronic sleep deprivation can lead to many health issues. If you do not get enough sleep, you should increase your rest time and take better care of your health.

Being physically inactive

Physical exercise is critical to keeping your health and body in shape. Physically inactive people can have a lot of health problems. According to the research by NCBI, being physically inactive increases the risk of type 2 diabetes. It happens due to an increase in blood sugar.

Stress

All people have stress these days, but chronic high stress can also lead to high blood sugar levels. During stress, it is an evolutionary reaction of the body to ensure you have enough sugar levels. When your body is in a state of stress, you create a hormone called adrenaline. We also call it the ‘fight or flight hormone. For people with chronic stress, repeated increases in glucose caused by adrenaline and cortisol (stress hormone) can make it harder to control their blood sugar. 

Some medications

Certain medications might also cause high blood sugar. Certain ingredients can lead to increased blood sugar. It is essential to be aware of the medications you take and understand their side effects. It’s easier to prevent many health issues by adopting healthy habits.

Smoking and drinking habits

Smoking and drinking habits can cause many health issues, including high blood sugar levels, leading to diabetes. The consequences of alcohol use can also be understood in the research by NCBI.

The HealthifyMe Note

The glucose concentration in the blood increases with dehydration, which can lead to a blood sugar surge. For chronic diseases like diabetes, staying hydrated is crucial, especially during the heat. Additionally, the high temperature may induce blood vessel dilation, which would increase insulin absorption and perhaps result in low blood sugar. The best approach if you have diabetes is to stay inside during the hotter months and continuously check for changes in your blood glucose level as the weather worsens.

Prevention

Prevention is better than cure; it is best to adopt a healthy lifestyle and stay fit rather than treat diseases one after the other. Follow a healthy lifestyle by adopting good habits. Good health habits can help you recover faster and prevent various diseases. Some of the essential preventive measures include:

Follow a healthy and balanced diet

It is vital to improve the quality of your diet. What you put into your body is reflected at the end of the day. You should follow a balanced diet. Fibre-rich food provides many health benefits such as improved digestion and can also lower cholesterol. Try to consume optimal levels of protein.

Sugar consumption should be as low as feasible. Reducing sugar intake is vital to help you prevent chronic diseases and strengthen your immune system.

Get adequate sleep

Some people take this very lightly. Chronic sleep deprivation harms the body and can lead to many health issues. It is vital to get an uninterrupted sleep of 7 to 8 hrs every night. Getting enough sleep will help your body detoxify and support healthy blood sugar and concentration.

Sleep also strengthens and gives your brain some rest, making it better for you to work efficiently. Without good sleep, you become lethargic, and your mind becomes dull. For your brain to be creative and active, it is essential to give it enough rest.

Exercise regularly 

Every day people need to exercise, to keep their bodies fit and active. However, a sedentary lifestyle can lead to health issues and abnormal weight gain. You can also learn more about the importance of physical activities in the research by WHO.

Daily exercise helps regulate blood sugar levels. The more exercise you do, the better your health will be. If you can, try exercising for at least 30-40 minutes daily. Some basic exercises you can incorporate are squats, pushups, glute bridge, and lunge. Some great exercise options are cardio exercises, running, and weight training. The variation in workouts will help you become consistent. If there are days when you are unable to take out time for exercise, make a few fundamental lifestyle changes. You can take stairs instead of an elevator, walk a few blocks instead of taking your vehicle, and sometimes cycle to work.

Completely avoid smoking or drinking alcohol 

Avoid drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Also, seek professional help to quit smoking. Alcohol and smoking can lead to various health issues. Work with your health care provider to help you implement healthy habits. The WHO report explains the adverse effects of alcohol in more detail.

Conclusion

Overall, many factors can increase body temperature. These include outside temperature, type of food and drinks consumed, physical movement and bodily functions like metabolism or changes in blood sugar levels. There is a direct connection between blood sugar level and body temperature. With the increase in blood sugar level, the body temperature also increases. 

The common symptoms of high blood sugar are increased thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, headache, constant hunger, blurry vision, and numb hands or feet. Depending on the severity, other symptoms might occur, including weakness, shortness of breath, dry mouth, fruity-smelling breath, nausea and vomiting, and confusion.

The various causes for the blood sugar spike are an unhealthy diet, lack of sleep, being physically inactive, chronic stress, certain medications, smoking and drinking too much alcohol. However, you can improve your blood sugar levels by adopting a healthy diet and lifestyle.