12 Ways to Manage High Blood Sugar Levels
If you’ve been diagnosed with Diabetes, you probably know how difficult it is to live with the symptoms of high blood sugar, and to make it more convenient, you may purchase insulin online . You may experience blurred vision, fatigue, hunger pangs, and headaches. Not to mention, if your blood sugar levels get too high, you’re at risk of getting diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or Hyperglycemic Hyperosmolar State (HHS), both of which are life-threatening. To avoid life-threatening situations and cope well in your daily life, it’s essential to manage your blood sugar levels. Read more to learn about how you can manage high blood sugar levels!
1. Monitor Blood Sugar Levels Closely
If you have diabetes, your blood sugar level will be 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) or higher. When blood sugar reaches that level, you begin experiencing symptoms and your health is at risk.
To manage high blood sugar levels, you must monitor your blood sugar levels closely and make sure that you stay within the prescribed range. This means using a home glucose monitor or meter to regularly check your blood sugar levels.
This is important in helping you monitor the effectiveness of your treatment. It also helps you track whether you are hitting your treatment goals.
As every person’s condition and treatment are unique, you should ask your doctor about how often you should check your blood sugar levels.
2. Lessen Carbs Intake
When you consume carbohydrates (carbs), your body breaks them down into glucose, raising your blood sugar level. This sugar serves as fuel for energy, therefore you must include carbs in your diet.
However, if you are diabetic, your blood sugar is already high. Eating a carb-filled diet is going to cause fluctuations in your blood sugar which is why it’s best to limit them.
If you are diabetic, CDC suggests limiting your daily carb intake from 200 to 245 grams a day. That makes up approximately half of your daily calories.
3. Choose Carbs Wisely
Although CDC suggests that half your daily caloric intake should be from carbs, not all carbs are created equal. Some carbohydrates are nutrient-dense and are better choices for managing blood sugar, whereas others are filled with added sugars, sodium, and unhealthy fats which can cause further problems with your blood sugar levels.
The key is choosing mostly whole, unprocessed, and non-starchy veggies like asparagus, broccoli, cucumbers, green bananas, lettuce, and tomatoes.
These foods are high in fiber and have very little carbohydrates, which means they have less effect on your blood sugar levels.
You can also have some minimally processed carbs like brown rice, whole wheat bread, oats, and starchy vegetables like corn, peas, or beans.
Lastly, avoid refined or highly processed carbs with added sugar; these are sodas, sweet teas, juices, white bread, white rice, sugary cereals, and sweets.
4. Fill Up On Fiber
Other than serving as a healthier source of carbohydrates and keeping you full for longer, dietary fiber in vegetables and fruits is also shown to help stabilize blood sugar levels, according to the study titled Advances in Obesity Weight Management & Control .
Fiber is found in plant foods. So vegetables and whole grains are excellent food options to manage blood sugar levels. When consuming fiber, men should aim to eat 30 g to 38 g of fiber a day while women should aim to consume 21 g to 25 g of fiber a day.
5. Maintain A Healthy Weight
Being overweight is linked to a higher risk of developing insulin resistance and diabetes. Studies also show that losing weight, even by only 7%, can significantly reduce the chances of Diabetes. Just be mindful of your blood sugar levels as you alter your diet to lose weight.
6. Avoid Overeating
When managing your blood sugar, what you eat is not the only thing you need to pay attention to. Eating too much in one sitting can spike your blood sugar levels even if you are eating healthy sources of carbohydrates.
Therefore, it’s important to be mindful of how much you eat and control your portion sizes.
7. Exercise Regularly
For people with type 2 diabetes, increasing their insulin sensitivity can go a long way in helping their bodies use glucose as energy.
Exercise is a proven method of improving insulin resistance, which then results in lower blood sugar levels. As such, it helps to adopt a regular exercise regimen to help manage one’s blood sugar levels.
8. Drink Lots of Water
Water contains zero calories and it helps flush glucose out of the body, this makes it the best drink for those watching their blood sugar levels.
You must drink lots of water if you are diabetic as high blood sugar can increase your risk of dehydration .
9. Manage Your Stress Levels
Stress can cause your blood sugar to spike. When you are stressed, your body releases hormones that can elevate your blood sugar levels.
Therefore managing stress levels through meditation, exercise, and rest can also help lower your blood sugar levels.
10. Get Adequate Sleep
Sleep has a direct impact on blood sugar levels. Even a few hours of sleep increases insulin resistance.
This can then lead to higher blood sugar levels. This means that getting enough shuteye every night is a must when managing blood sugar levels.
11. Don’t Skip Breakfast
People with Diabetes must not skip breakfast. Not only will breakfast help them feel full and keep their blood sugar levels stable, but insulin sensitivity is also higher in the morning than in the evening.
Hence those with type 2 diabetes would benefit from eating breakfast rather than snacking late at night.
12. Undergo Insulin Therapy
If you have type 1 diabetes, your body is not producing enough insulin to regulate your blood sugar levels and store excess glucose for energy. In such situations, insulin therapy is vital to replace the Insulin your body does not produce.
Meanwhile, if you have type 2 diabetes, you may also be prescribed insulin therapy if other treatment methods fail to keep your blood sugar within the target range.
There are several types of insulin and they vary in how quickly and how long they control blood sugar. Depending on your situation, your doctor will recommend a combination of these.
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