“Did you know your blood sugar can spike even if you haven’t had a single bite to eat?” he said
A doctor has shared five “surprising” factors that could spike your blood sugar – that don’t include food. In some cases, this might not always be a “bad thing”, he said.
Blood sugar, or glucose, is the body’s primary energy source, which comes from food and is regulated by insulin. Having too much or too little blood sugar can be dangerous for different reasons.
A common cause of blood sugar spikes is food. Eating refined carbohydrates, sugary foods, or large meals is known to make your levels go up. However, this is not the only potential cause.
In a video posted to his Instagram account, Doctor Amir Khan shared some “surprising” reasons your blood sugar may spike. Dr Amir, who is best known for his appearances on ITV, said: “Did you know your blood sugar can spike even if you haven’t had a single bite to eat?
“Let me share five surprising things that can raise your blood sugar and why it might not always be a bad thing.”
Stress
You may not realise the physical impact stress can have on your body. Dr Amir explained: “Number one, stress. When you’re stressed, your body releases cortisol, the fight or flight hormone. That tells your liver to release stored glucose to give you energy.
“Great if you’re running from a tiger, less helpful if you’re just stuck in traffic. Remember, chronic stress equals chronic glucose spikes, and that is not good for long-term health.”
Poor sleep
Struggling to sleep can also have a knock-on effect. Dr Amir said: “Number two, poor sleep. One bad night, your body becomes more insulin-resistant.
“That means glucose hangs around in the blood for longer.” Over time, poor sleep could even increase your risk of type 2 diabetes, he warned.
Exercise
This is not necessarily a bad thing, Dr Amir said. “Certain types of exercises, especially intense or resistance training, can temporarily raise your blood sugars,” he said.
“Why? Well again, it’s your body releasing glucose for fuel, but really importantly, long-term exercise improves insulin sensitivity, meaning lower blood sugars overall.
“So this is not a bad spike.”
Infections or illness
Again, this can be the body’s way of trying to stay healthy. Dr Amir said: “When you’re fighting off a bug, your immune system has to ramp up and that comes with a glucose surge.
“It’s your body’s way of fuelling the immune response. People living with diabetes often notice higher blood sugar levels when they’re unwell.
“That’s totally normal and they may have to adjust their medication accordingly.”
Hormones
His final word of advice was aimed at women. Dr Amir said: “Ladies, this one’s for you because it’s maybe around your periods or the menopause. In the second half of your menstrual cycle, that’s the luteal phase, progesterone levels rise.
“This can make your cells more insulin resistant, meaning higher blood sugars, and of course, the perimenopause and the menopause oestrogen levels decline and that comes with insulin sensitivity dropping.
“So you become more resistant to insulin, leading to more frequent spikes in blood sugar. That’s why women in their 40s and 50s may notice weight gain, fatigue or brain fog, which can be linked to blood sugar shifts.”
He added: “So remember, not all blood sugar spikes are bad, context matters. But if you’re seeing high readings and you’re not sure why it’s always worth talking to your doctor and not always about what you’re eating, knowledge is power.”
If you’re concerned about your blood sugar levels, you should speak to your GP.