Diabetes Management: Tips for Lowering Blood Sugar

When your blood sugar levels spike, the quickest way to get them down is by using a fast-acting insulin. If that isn’t available, exercising can have a significant impact on high blood sugar.

Hyperglycemia happens when the body has too little insulin or is not able to use it properly. Using fast-acting insulin can bring the levels of blood sugar down. After you have administered this, you will want to check your blood sugar levels after about 15-30 minutes. This is done to make sure they are dropping to the right level.

Exercise is another method to bring down blood sugars quickly. Exercise can lower the levels for 24 hours or longer after you have finished. This works because exercise makes your body more sensitive to insulin. Exercise requires the body to use glucose to create energy. As the glucose is used the blood sugar levels drop. The best type of exercise for this is anything that increases your heart rate.

Exercise is not recommended for those times when the levels are above 250 mg/dL.

Diet plays a major role in managing blood sugar and diabetes. Unfortunately, there is no specific food that can bring blood sugar levels down quickly. There are foods that are recommended that will help you manage your blood sugar levels and help prevent spikes in blood sugar levels.

A healthy diet with proper portion sizes can make an immense difference in handling blood sugar levels. Some foods that are good for managing blood sugars are:

• Peas
• Onions
• Cabbage
• Leafy greens
• Green beans
• Tomatoes
• Cucumbers
• Artichokes
• Brussels sprouts
• Cauliflower
• Celery
• Eggplant
• Peppers
• Zucchini
• Apples
• Blueberries
• Avocado
• Olives
• Dried apricots
• Pears
• Strawberries
• Cherries
• Oranges
• Grapefruit
• Coconut
• Barley
• Whole wheat
• Oat bran
• Sourdough bread
• Mushrooms
• Seeds, such as chia, sunflower, pumpkin, and flax
• Poultry
• Eggs
• Fish and shellfish
• Plain yogurt
• Cheese
• Cottage cheese
• Beans of any kind

A healthy diet and eating pattern are essential for good blood sugar management. It helps to stay aware of what you eat and when you eat. Other factors that can be of benefit are activity level and body weight in managing blood sugar levels.

The best drink to help lower blood sugar is water. Drinking water keeps you hydrated and helps the kidneys to do their work. Proper kidney function will help to remove excess sugar from the bloodstream through the urine. One study showed that people who drank more water had less risk of having high blood sugar levels.

Zero-calorie drinks are also beneficial in helping to moderate blood sugar levels.

It is very imperative to control your blood sugar levels. Keeping them in the target range will help prevent, or at least delay, long-term and serious health concerns. Serious health problems like vision loss, heart disease, and kidney disease can be directly attributed to diabetes and high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels have also been linked to sexual dysfunction, problems will circulation, and even nerve damage that can cause chronic pain. Keeping your blood sugars in the correct range will improve your mood and energy.

Living with diabetes can be difficult. Proper diet and support can make managing this much easier. Dr. Nassar, MD can help you live with this disease. He can provide you with the care you need to thrive. For more information, call us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 255 Terracina Blvd, Suite 105 Redlands, CA 92373. We serve patients from Redlands CA, Loma Linda CA, Mentone CA, Highland CA, Moonlight Rim CA, Grand Terrace CA, El Casco CA, Greenspot CA, and surrounding areas.