High blood sugar levels can be dangerous if not promptly managed and lead to both short-term and long-term problems.
In this article, we look at some different ways to help people lower their blood sugar levels. These steps include lifestyle changes, diet tips, and natural remedies.
Why is managing blood sugar important?
For those with diabetes, managing blood sugar levels can help to prevent serious complications.
Keeping blood sugars at target levels helps people with diabetes avoid serious complications from the disease. High blood sugar can cause many ill effects, which can be sudden, such as acid buildup in the bloodstream, or occur gradually over time.
Over time, keeping blood sugar at unhealthful levels can damage small and large blood vessels in several organs and systems, leading to serious consequences, such as:
- vision impairment and blindness
- foot ulcers, infections, and amputations
- kidney failure and dialysis
- heart attacks and strokes
- peripheral vascular disease, a condition where blood flow to the limbs is reduced
- damage to the nervous system, leading to pain and weakness
By keeping blood sugar levels under 100 mg/dL before eating and under 180 mg/dL after eating, people with diabetes can significantly reduce their risk of adverse effects from the disease.
How to lower blood sugar levels
1. Monitor blood sugar levels closely
High blood sugar levels often do not cause symptoms until they run well over 200 mg/dL. As such, it is essential for a person with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar several times a day. Doing so will mean that blood sugar levels never get that high.
A person with diabetes can use a home glucose monitor to check blood sugar levels.
Recommendations for how frequently to check glucose levels during the day will vary from person to person. A doctor can make the best recommendations regarding blood sugar monitoring to a person with diabetes.
2. Reduce carbohydrate intake
Researchers have carried out studies showing that eating a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet reduces blood sugar levels.
The body breaks down carbohydrates into sugar that the body uses as energy. Some carbs are necessary in the diet. However, for people with diabetes, eating too many carbohydrates can cause blood sugar to spike too high.
Reducing the amounts of carbohydrates a person eats reduces the amount a person's blood sugar spikes.
3. Eat the right carbohydrates
The two main kinds of carbohydrates — simple and complex — affect blood sugar levels differently.
Simple carbohydrates are mainly made up of one kind of sugar. They are found in foods, such as white bread, pasta, and candy. The body breaks these carbohydrates down into sugar very quickly, which causes blood sugar levels to rise rapidly.
Complex carbohydrates are made up of three or more sugars that are linked together. Because the chemical makeup of these kinds of carbohydrates is complicated, it takes the body longer to break them down.
As a result, sugar is released into the body more gradually, meaning that blood sugar levels do not rapidly rise after eating them. Examples of complex carbohydrates include whole grain oats and sweet potatoes.
4. Increase dietary fiber intake
Eating plenty of soluble fiber, including whole grains such as brown rice, may help.
Fiber plays a significant role in blood sugar management by slowing down the rate that carbohydrates break down, and the rate that the body absorbs the resulting sugars.
The two types of fiber are soluble and insoluble fiber. Of the two types, soluble fiber is the most helpful in controlling blood sugar.
Soluble fiber is in the following foods:
- vegetables
- legumes
- whole grains
- fruit
5. Control portion size
At most meals, a person should follow portion guidelines provided by a doctor or nutritionist. Overeating at a sitting can cause a spike in blood sugar.
Although simple carbohydrates are typically associated with elevated blood sugar levels, all food causes blood sugar levels to rise. Careful control of portions can keep blood sugar levels more controlled.
6. Exercise regularly
Exercise has many benefits for people with diabetes, including weight loss and increased insulin sensitivity.
Insulin is a hormone that helps people break down sugar in the body. People with diabetes either do not make enough or any insulin in their body or are resistant to the insulin the body does produce.
Exercise also helps to lower blood sugar levels by encouraging the body's muscles to use sugar for energy.
7. Hydrate
Proper hydration is key to a healthful lifestyle. For people worried about lowering high blood sugar, it is crucial.
Drinking enough water prevents dehydration and also helps the kidneys remove extra sugar from the body in the urine.
Those looking to reduce blood sugar levels should reach for water and avoid all sugary drinks, such as fruit juice or soda, which may raise blood sugar levels instead.
People with diabetes should reduce alcohol intake to the equivalent of one drink per day for women and two for men unless other restrictions apply.
8. Try herbal extracts
Herbal supplements, such as green tea, may help to boost the diet with essential nutrients.
Herbal extracts may have a positive effect on treating and controlling blood sugar levels.
Most people should attempt to gain nutrients from the foods they eat. However, supplements are often helpful for people who do not get enough of the nutrients from natural sources.
Most doctors do not consider supplements as a treatment by themselves. A person should consult their doctor before taking any supplement, as they may interfere with any prescribed medications.
Some supplements a person may want to try include:
- bitter melon
- Aloe vera
- green tea
9. Get enough sleep
Sleep helps a person reduce the amount of sugar in their blood. Getting adequate sleep each night is an excellent way to help keep blood sugar levels at a normal level.
Blood sugar levels tend to surge in the early morning hours. In most people, insulin will tell the body what to do with the excess sugar, which keeps the blood sugar levels normal.
Lack of sleep can have a similar effect to insulin resistance, meaning that a person's blood sugar level could spike significantly from lack of sleep.
Summary
Managing high blood sugar is key to avoiding serious complications from diabetes.
There is a range of lifestyle interventions that can help a person struggling with high blood sugar to lower their glucose levels.
A person should always follow their doctor's advice for lowering high blood sugar.
Source: Medical News Today
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