Why knowing your blood sugar level is important and how you can manage it

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Dr. Kaberi Dasgupta wants to set the record straight on blood sugar levels.

The professor of medicine at McGill University says people often think high blood sugar levels are from eating too much sugar.   

That could be to blame for high blood sugar levels, but most of the time, she says excess weight and lack of physical activity are the causes. 

"People think they're just going to get rid of or reduce sugar in their diet," said Dasgupta, who is also the director of the Centre for Outcomes Research and Evaluation at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre.

Instead of focusing on sugar alone, dietitians say people should focus on eating foods that don't cause high spikes in blood sugars, like fibre and protein. 

"If you're someone who is struggling later on in the day, you want to really look at your meals to make sure that they're giving you enough nutrients so that your blood sugar is balanced so you're able to be your best," Toronto-based registered dietitian Anar Allidina told CBC's The Dose podcast host Dr. Brian Goldman. 

Diabetes is a major health issue in Canada, with one in three Canadians living with diabetes or prediabetes, according to the charity Diabetes Canada. 

Diabetes can be caused by a range of factors depending on the type of diabetes, according to the charity's website. However, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are largely preventable. 

For those with diabetes, high blood sugar can lead to health problems like kidney disease and vision loss, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Here's what Dasgupta and dietitians recommend to those wanting to better regulate their blood sugars. 

Blood glucose, or blood sugar, is the main sugar found in your blood. High blood sugar usually happens in people who have diabetes that isn't well-controlled, and symptoms can range from mild to severe, according to MyHealthAlberta's website. 

Mild symptoms include fatigue, anxiety, thirst and increased urination. 

More severe symptoms include blurred vision, flushed skin and trouble waking up.