High Blood Sugar Management Techniques

Tips to Lower High Blood Sugar Levels

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If you have high blood sugar, it can lead to severe discomfort and pain if not addressed efficiently. This spike in blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia, is a major concern for people with diabetes. Consistently high levels of blood sugar can damage your organs, blood vessels and nerves, as well as result in more severe health conditions.

Fortunately, there are numerous ways of naturally lowering and managing high blood sugar. The first step towards improved blood sugar management is to understand its causes and symptoms to make informed and quick decisions when needed.

Causes and Signs of High Blood Sugar

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, certain factors may increase blood sugar levels, including not consuming a sufficient amount of water, skipping breakfast, losing sleep, and even getting sunburned.

The best way to detect instability in your blood sugar levels is to identify the symptoms. While the signs may differ from person to person, the most common ones are as follows:

  • Irritation and discomfort
  • Lethargy and tiredness
  • Dry mouth
  • Frequent visits to the toilet
  • Feeling thirsty

Make sure to keep a tab on the different symptoms you experience when your blood sugar starts rising. This way, you will be able to devise a better blood sugar management plan as per your condition.

Tips to Lower High Blood Sugar

Here are some natural ways to control high blood sugar and prevent any severe health issues:

1.     Consume Low GI Scored Foods

The GI (Glycemic Index) score has been created to evaluate your body’s blood sugar reaction to foods containing high amounts of carbohydrates. Consuming foods that have a low GI score has been found to lower the blood sugar spike in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients.

Some foods that have a low GI score include non-starchy vegetables, fruits, yams, corn, sweet potatoes, legumes, lentils, beans, barley, oats, eggs, meat, and seafood. 

2.     Consume More Fiber

Fiber helps slow the absorption of sugar and digestion of carbs, which results in improved blood sugar management. However, the type of fiber consumed matters. There are two types of fiber – soluble and insoluble, you can choose from.

Both of these fibers are crucial to your health and well-being, but soluble fiber has shown to reduce high blood sugar levels. A diet high in fiber assists in the management of type 1 diabetes by enhancing blood sugar control. Some of the fiber-rich foods you can add to your diet include whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.

3.     Reduce Your Intake of Carbohydrates

Carbs are broken down by your body and converted into sugars, which are transferred to the cells by the insulin. Consuming foods high in carbohydrates affects this process, resulting in a spike in the blood sugar level. Fortunately, this can be avoided by controlling the amount of carbs you consume on a daily basis.

According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), one of the most effective waysto reduce your carbs intake is by utilizing the food exchange system or counting carbs. Studies have found these methods to be beneficial for meal planning and controllinghigh blood sugar.

Various studies have concluded that a diet with a low carb intake can assist with blood sugar management and preventit from increasing.

4.     Keep Yourself Hydrated

Staying hydrated throughout the day can help you to maintainhealthy blood sugar levels. Aside from reducing the risk of dehydration, drinking sufficient amounts of water helps the kidneys flushout the excess amount of blood sugar.

A study found that individuals who drinka highamount of water have a reduced risk of experiencing high blood sugar. When you drink the recommended amount of water, at least 8 glasses per day, it rehydrates your blood and reduces your diabetes risk and blood sugar levels.

However, keep in mind that hydrating yourself with water, instead of other beverages, is vital. Consuming sugary drinks will only increase your blood sugar, your diabetes risk and result in weight gain.

5.     Regularly Exercise

With regular exercise, not only can you maintain a healthy weight, but also improve your insulin sensitivity, which means the cells in your body will be able to efficiently utilize the sugar in your blood. Exercise also encourages the muscles to utilize blood sugar for muscle contraction and improved energy.

If you experience any issues with controlling your blood sugar, then it is recommended to check your levels routinely when exercising. It will help in identifying your response to certain physical activities and determine the right ways of blood sugar management.

Ideal exercises you can perform include swimming, hiking, dancing, biking, running, brisk walking, and weight lifting.

6.     Get Sufficient Sleep

It is a well-known fact that good quality sleep has a positive impact on our overall health and well-being. Insufficient sleep or unhealthy sleeping habits negatively affects insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels. It can result in weight gain by increasing your appetite.

Deprivation of sleep reduces the growth hormones release and enhances the levels of cortisol, both impacting the blood sugar management. Therefore the quality and quantity of sleep play a significant role in managing blood sugar levels.

When to Get Immediate Medical Attention 

The spike in blood sugar levels can be alarming since your body begins burning fat instead of blood sugar for energy. This may result in severe health issues like Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar Syndrome (HHS) and Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA); both of these may prove fatal if not treated immediately.

Therefore, it is vital that you get medical attention immediately if you experience the following symptoms:

  • Vomiting
  • Stomach ache
  • Shortness of breath
  • Nausea
  • Need to go to the bathroom frequently
  • Excessive thirst
  • Confusion
  • Urine dipstick test showing moderate to heavy ketones
  • The blood sugar level is 250 mg/dL or higher

High levels of blood sugar cause fluid imbalances in your body, meaning your blood will become more acidic in nature, which can result in severe health problems. It is important to have a proper blood sugar management plan to control the levels and ensure they stay stable throughout the day. Be sure to follow these tips, and consult your doctor to make appropriate lifestyle changes.

Learn more about blood sugar management in our Hydrate to Regulate Blood Sugar Ebook.

References

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