Can pain cause high blood sugar reading?

by Dorothy

QUESTION: I would like to know if pain causes the sugar to go up in reading.


ANSWER: Hi Dorothy,

So far, scientific evidence has not proven any "real" connection between pain and high blood sugar levels.

As pain is considered as a "stress" situation, therefore, certain substances (stress hormones such as katecholamines - adrenalines, etc) are mobilized to help our body to fight this "stress" factor (pain).

In normal people (non-diabetics), this will last only for few moments, and the blood sugar will drop down again.

However, in diabetics, as they have an impaired blood glucose (they already have high blood sugar levels), it is difficult to bring them down. Consequently, they remain high and you have a high blood glucose reading.

If you are not diabetic, then, you should go for certain tests to determine whether you are a pre-diabetic or a diabetic (which can explain your high blood sugar levels during pain).

If you are already diagnosed with diabetes, then, you should do your best to keep your "goal" blood sugar levels.

Hope it helped!

Dr.Alba




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Can pain cause high blood sugar reading?

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Jan 29, 2012
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starstarstarstarstar 		Cancer and high blood sugar
by: Anonymous

CONCERN: my husband is a type II diabetic who also has metatastic prostate cancer at stage IV.

This last week his blood sugars have been quite a bit higher, since a fall on the ice outside. My question is two-fold:

1. Could the fall affected his blood sugars?
2. Could the cancer which in lymph nodes and liver, be spreading and causing increased blood sugars?

Thank you in advance for your kind attention to my question.


SUGGESTIONS: Hi,

It is true that your husband fall could affect his blood sugar level by raising it for about 1 or 2 days. This is because the fall is considered as a stress situation to the body; while stress can lead to high blood sugar.

On the other hand, the cancerous metastasis to the liver can lead to low blood sugar levels. In general, cancer can hide a diabetes because it cause low blood glucose.

However, in either cases, although our suggestions, your doctor knows better your husband situation and can give the right instructions on how to handle his situation.

Hope you will have enough strength to face the hard situation of your husband.

Dr.Alba

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