Continue Learning About Diabetes
Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.
Which Foods Can Help Lower Blood Sugar
While there are some people who have blood sugar imbalances due to genetics, it can also be due to lifestyle, specifically what foods and beverages are consumed.
The foods you want to stay away from are super sugary foods and drinks, foods high in trans-fats like fried foods, grains , processed carbs, and processed meats.
There are also foods that help your blood sugar levels stay balanced. The glycemic index provides insight into how much a certain food affects blood sugar levels focus on low glycemic index foods.
While aiming for low-glycemic index is a good guide, it only takes into account the way your body reacts to the sugar and does not take into account any other nutrition or calories. Make sure to stick with whole foods, too.
Here are some of the best foods you can eat to help lower your blood sugar levels.
How Much Water Should We Be Drinking Daily If I Have Diabetes
Guidelines set by the Institute of Medicine for the Dietary Reference Intakes are as follows:
- For men, 1970+ years: require approximately 15.5 cups/day of total water. According to the recommendations, the amount of water to drink for men is about 12 cups with 3 cups coming from other foods and other beverages.
- Women 19-70+ years of age: require approximately 11 cups/day of total water. For women, the recommendations calculate out to 9 cups of water plus 2 cups of fluid coming from food and other beverages.
Other factors that affect your requirements are physical activity, temperature , and altitude.
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Monitor Your Carbohydrate Intake
What and how you eat is a very important factor in keeping your blood sugar levels in the healthy range. Choosing foods that stabilize your blood sugar and keep high blood sugar spikes to a minimum will help you stave off a diabetes diagnosis or help control existing diabetes. Some diets oversimplify a comprehensive food intake, and simply tell you to limit carbs or focus on low-carb foods. Its more complicated than that.
However, tracking your intake of foods that contribute to high blood sugar levelssuch as baked goods, processed foods, fried foods, and sweeteners can be a good place to start modifying your diet to balance your blood sugar.
Rose And Lavender Water
That last one is my favorite and my go-to. I find drinking water incredibly difficult , but using fresh fruits and herbs to add zest and flavor has changed everything. Rose and lavender-infused water is one of my absolute favorites. Heres how its done. Use 10 rose buds and a spoon of lavender buds in 1 liter of water. Let it sit and infuse for an hour. Drink it hot at night or drink it cold in the morning with some zested lemon slices simply store your infusion in the fridge overnight!
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How To Lower Blood Sugar Naturally
Blood sugar, also known as glucose, is the main sugar in your blood and your bodys main source of energy. Blood sugars vary all day. A normal fasting blood sugar is less than 100 mg/dl. Blood sugars anytime of day regardless of when or what the last meal was should always be under 200 mg/dl. Blood sugars exceeding these two levels could signal prediabetes or Type 1 diabetes or Type 2 diabetes. Diabetes is a condition where the body cannot produce enough insulin or use insulin properly to correct blood sugars to safe levels.
Water And Diabetes: Are You Drinking Enough Water
Staying hydrated is important for everyone especially considering that water makes up more than half of the human body!
60 percent of our body is composed of water, 75 percent in our muscles, 85 percent in our brains, its like oil to a machine, explained Dr. Roberta Lee at Medicine Daily.
But we dont drink enough. According to recent research at the Institute of Medicine, 75 percent of Americans are perpetually dehydrated.
As people with diabetes, drinking enough water is especially crucial. Even a little dehydration during the day can impact our blood sugars.
This article will explain how dehydration affects blood sugar levels, how much water we should drink each day, who should limit their water intake, and what else you can drink if you dont want to just drink plain water.
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Water For Diabetes Insipidus
Diabetes insipidus is a condition with some traits that are similar to the more common forms of diabetes mellitus. In cases of diabetes insipidus, though, your blood glucose levels dont get too high. Instead, your body produces too much urine all the time.
If you have diabetes insipidus, you may feel thirsty frequently, and you are at a higher risk of dehydration. Your doctor will give you instructions about how much water you should drink. Water will ease some of your symptoms and prevent complications caused by being dehydrated.
How To Stay Hydrated If Youre Managing Type 2 Diabetes
Even if scientists still have questions about how dehydration affects the body, staying hydrated is clearly important for good health especially if you have type 2 diabetes.
So how can you make sure youre getting enough water to manage diabetes? Rizza and Simos offer the following tips.
Have some salt but not too much. Too much salt can be bad for blood pressure, Rizza says, but you do need some to maintain proper hydration. When you eat salt, notes the U.S. National Library of Medicine, you help stabilize your electrolytes, which are charged substances that regulate essential functions in your body, helping you stay hydrated. If you already have high blood pressure, talk with your doctor about how much salt to consume.
Check your blood glucose levels in extreme heat, and drink water if they are elevated. When its hot, its easier to become dehydrated, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Staying well hydrated can help reduce your blood glucose levels, which helps you manage the hormone insulin, Simos explains. And make sure that your blood glucose test strips and insulin are stored in a cool, dry place, she says, so that they dont lose their potency and accuracy.
Reach for hydrating snacks if youre hungry. For example, choose a cold piece of melon or a few frozen grapes, Simos says. Drinking a glass of water isnt the only way to get your fix.
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Natural Ways To Lower Blood Sugar
Whether you have symptoms of high blood sugar or youve been diagnosed with diabetes, you may be wondering how to lower blood sugar naturally. While blood sugar may be improved with home remedies, people with diabetes should not stop taking their medication or change their dosage without talking to their healthcare provider. But in addition to medication, you can try these natural remedies for lowering your blood sugar. Also consider the opposite, if you do not follow these healthful ways to lower blood sugar, the medication that your physician prescribes may never effectively control your blood sugars.
Can I Drink Lemon Water All Day
Also, how much lemon water you drink daily is important. According to Bengaluru-based nutritionist Dr Anju Sood and consultant nutritionist Dr Rupali Datta, having the juice of 2 lemons per day is enough to keep you hydrated in the summers, and it is perfectly healthy to drink lemon water every day.
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Water To Prevent High Levels Of Blood Sugar
One study suggests that routinely drinking water might prevent the onset of hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia, which is sometimes called pre-diabetes, occurs when your blood sugar is higher than it should be. Over time, hyperglycemia can lead to the same types of health problems as diabetes.
In a 2011 paper, researchers reported results from a nine-year study of 3,615 people between the ages of 31 and 65. All of the participants started the study with normal blood sugar levels. Over time, 565 study participants began showing elevated blood sugar levels. Of those with high blood sugar, 202 eventually developed diabetes.
Researchers learned that the people who developed hyperglycemia reported drinking less water than people whose blood surge stayed in the normal range. They concluded that there is a link between chronic dehydration and developing high blood sugar. This doesnt mean that everyone who forgets to drink water will get pre-diabetes, but it does suggest that drinking water is very important for overall health.
If you have questions about how much water you should be drinking to manage diabetes, talk to your doctor.
Your Diet Plays A Crucial Role In Managing Your Blood Sugar Levels A Plain Glass Of Lemon Water May Also Make A Great Addition To Your Diabetes Diet
It is an ideal thirst quencher you are looking for in scorching day. It is a miracle potion for those looking shed some extra pounds. It has also been your go-to drink after a nasty hangover. You guessed it, we are talking about a glass of the versatile and ever-so lemon water. The refreshing beverage is low-calorie delicious alternative to your sugary and aerated beverages. This is one of the prime reasons why experts recommend drinking lemon water to diabetics. Diabetes is a condition characterised by elevated blood sugar levels. Diabetes currently affects over 425 million people worldwide. It is not easy to reverse the condition. Lack of proper care, medication and late diagnosis can make diabetes management even tougher. Your diet plays a crucial role in managing your blood sugar levels. Diabetics should refrain from refined carbohydrates and take foods and drinks that are high on fibre and antioxidants. A plain glass of lemon water may also make a great addition to your diabetes diet. Heres how.
Diabetes Management: Why Should Diabetics Drink Lemon Water Regularly?
Squeezing lemon juice and drinking it with water may not amount to your daily recommended intake of fibre or vitamin C. But it is still a better bet than the sodas you find in markets, filled with empty calories and sugar. Make sure you do not add sugar to your lemon water when you are making it at home. It is best to consume it early in the morning on an empty stomach.
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How To Avoid A Lack Of Water
If we stay properly hydrated, well see better blood sugars and, overall, better health. But drinking enough water is definitely a challenge. To make adequate water consumption doable, try these tips:
Top 10 Infused Water That Helps In Managing Diabetes
Water is healthy and a basic necessity that is a fact! But imagine turning that same old boring glass of water into a lip-smackingly delectable drink. You dont have to imagine anymore weve got it all covered.
Without further ado, lets check out the best-infused water recipes to battle diabetes. These recipes combine the healthiest herbs, vegetables and fruits to make a potent health drink. Try them for managing your glucose levels naturally.
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Avoid Eating Large Meals
Jess Craven/Stocksy
One way to keep carbs under control is by eating in moderation. I always tell my patients to spread their food out over the day, Weisenberger says. Dont eat small meals to save up for a big dinner. Feeding your body throughout the day helps regulate your blood sugar levels and prevents highs and lows, Crandall Snyder says.
Both Weisenberger and Crandall Snyder say to keep an eye on carbs, even while snacking. Classically, less than 15 g of carbs per snack is a good standard approach, Crandall Snyder says. Thats about whats found in 1 cup of fruit, she says.
Things To Look Out For
Many drinks contain high levels of sugars and carbohydrates. Food labels and nutritional facts can give valuable information about what they contain. Labels should state the serving size and carbohydrate content of any drink.
People with diabetes have different needs, so there are no exact dietary rules, but the following tips may help manage blood sugar:
- Consume a balanced diet and manage the intake of carbohydrate from food and drinks.
- Keep carbohydrate levels consistent from day to day and spread evenly throughout.
- Consume enough carbohydrate to enable the body and brain to function properly.
- Check blood sugar levels regularly and speak to a doctor if there are any concerns.
- Each person should speak to their healthcare provider about their daily nutritional needs.
The following drinks are not good choices for people with diabetes.
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Flavored Carbonated Water Can Help Keep Blood Sugar Low
If you want to drink water with flavor and bubbly action, go for the carbonated option. Many of the popular carbonated beverages such as La Croix and Bubly use natural flavors and dont include any sweeteners.
Although more studies need to be conducted on human participants, one 2021 study on hyperglycemic mice showed that mice who received natural soda water had both improved insulin and blood glucose levels.
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Can Dehydration Affect Type 2 Diabetes Risk
Although dehydration can lead to serious health issues, not much research has looked at whether chronic dehydration and the associated higher blood sugar may increase the risk of prediabetes and full-blown type 2 diabetes.
There have been a variety of things dehydration has been suggested to contribute to, but not diabetes, Rizza says.
But there may be a connection, says Anna Simos, MPH, a certified diabetes care and education specialist with the Stanford Health Care Diabetes Education and Prevention Program in Palo Alto, California. Indeed, according to a previous study, which monitored healthy adults over nine years, peoples self-reported water intake was inversely associated with a risk of developing high blood sugar. This means that people who reported drinking less than ½ a liter of water per day were more at risk of elevated blood sugar than people who reported more than 1 liter.
Scientists theorize that dehydration can lead to an increase in the hormone vasopressin, which prompts the kidneys to retain water and the liver to produce blood sugar, potentially affecting the bodys ability to regulate insulin over time.
The bottom line: More research is needed to fully understand the relationship between dehydration and diabetes, but hydration likely keeps blood glucose levels a little more stable, Simos says.
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Almost Every Process In Your Body Relies On Water
Water actually does far more for our bodies than we realize. Water aids your digestion, lubricates joints, helps flush waste products and performs a host of other important tasks in your body. Not being properly hydrated will significantly reduce your physical capacity and brain function.
According to Harvard University, adequate water intake is vital for a variety of daily functions within our body:
- carries nutrients and oxygen to cells throughout your body
- flushes bacteria from your bladder
- aids in the digestion of meals
- prevents constipation
- protects your organs and tissues from a variety of potential damage
- regulates your body temperature
- maintains your bodys electrolyte/sodium levels
Water has been pinpointed in many studies as an important part of losing weight, but researchers still arent clear how its accelerating your weight-loss efforts.
Theories behind water consumption and weight-loss include:
- Drinking more water means youre likely drinking less soda and other sugar-laden beverages
- Drinking more water might boost your metabolism and cause you to burn more calories
- Drinking more water might help reduce cravings for not-so-healthy foods
- Drinking more water in place of diet soda may reduce insulin resistance
Regardless, it is clear in study after study that those who drink more water tend to lose more weight, in contrast, to study participants drinking less water.
Drinking enough water impacts so many aspects of our daily health. But how much water is enough?
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