How To Control Blood Sugar Spikes

Some Are Spikier Than Others

Most people who periodically check their blood sugar levels do so with a quick lance to the finger and a device that reads out the blood glucose concentration. The problem with this method is that it captures only a snapshot in time. The amount of sugar in a persons blood is not a constant it ebbs and flows depending on what the person has eaten that day, down to the specific kind of carbohydrate.

Were very interested in what it means to be healthy and finding deviations from that.

To get a better read on glucose levels, Snyder fitted 57 people with a device that continuously took blood glucose readings over about two weeks. Most of the participants were healthy or showing signs of prediabetes, and five had Type 2 diabetes. Data sent back to the lab showed that there were multiple types of spikers, which were classified into three overarching glucotypes. The glucotype categories low, moderate and severe are basically rankings of spike intensity.

Were very interested in what it means to be healthy and finding deviations from that, said Snyder, who holds the Stanford W. Ascherman, MD, FACS Professorship in Genetics. These glucotypes, he said, are subject to change based on diet. The researchers ultimately have two goals for their work: When people spike, catch it early and understand what makes a person spike, and adjust their diet to bring the glucotype into the low range.

Know Your Postprandial Sugar Level During Pregnancy

Gestational diabetes or diabetes during pregnancy is getting common. It is important to start your treatment for gestational diabetes as soon as possible. It helps in avoiding pregnancy complications and keeps your baby healthy. Your doctor will ask you to get your diabetes range after meal check. The normal sugar range after food for the expecting women is 120 mg/dL or less. The higher values indicate gestational diabetes. The treatment for gestational diabetes includes a meal plan, physical activities, medications, and insulin therapy .

How To Prevent Blood Sugar & Triglyceride Spikes After Meals

Previously, Iâve covered the effect adding berries to a meal has on blood sugar responses in If Fructose is Bad, What About Fruit? That raises the question: How Much Fruit is Too Much? In addition to the all-fruit jam question, in my next video Iâll cover The Effects of Avocados and Red Wine on Postprandial Inflammation. Vinegar may also help: Can Vinegar Help with Blood Sugar Control? Maybe this explains part of the longevity benefit of nut consumption. See Nuts May Help Prevent Death. I also talked about that immediate inflammatory reaction to unhealthy food choices in my recent video, Best Foods to Improve Sexual Function. Surprised by the chicken and butter reaction? Same thing happens with tuna fish, and other meat. Check out Paleo Diets May Negate Benefits of Exercise. If you havenât yet, you can subscribe to my videos for free by clicking here.Continue reading > >

• Why is My Blood Sugar High After Meals?

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Lessen Your Carb Intake

Your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose. Then, your hormone insulin aids your body in utilizing and keeping this sugar as fuel for your energy.

However, when you have excessive carbohydrate intake, this procedure becomes unsuccessful. This gives rise to your blood sugar levels.

Fortunately, there are ways to manage this problem. For instance, you must pay attention to the carbs you eat by knowing how many of them your body really needs. With this, you can plan your diet accordingly and prevent blood sugar fluctuations.

You need some carbs in your diet, but if you have diabetes, you must limit its amount to around 50% of your daily calories. This means that if you consume 1,800 calories per day, your carbs should amount to only 800-900 calories.

Its important to note that carbs arent only present in pasta, bread, and potatoes. You can also find them in sweets, vegetables, fruits, and dairy, so keep an eye on these food items as well.

Know Your Blood Sugar

Blood sugar is the amount of sugar in your blood at a given time. It’s important to check your blood sugar level, because it will:

• determine if you have a high or low blood sugar level at a given time
• show you how your lifestyle and medication affect your blood sugar levels
• help you and your diabetes health-care team make lifestyle and medication changes to improve your blood sugar levels

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What Is The Dawn Phenomenon

Another reason for high nighttime blood sugar levels is the dawn phenomenon. The dawn phenomenon occurs early in the morning when the body naturally signals your liver to produce glucose, giving your body the energy it needs to wake up.

The hormonal changes associated with the dawn phenomenon happen to people with or without diabetes, though those without diabetes do not experience hyperglycemia. If you take insulin, you may need to try a new basal insulin or adjust the timing and amount of your basal dose or your nighttime basal rates to cover an early morning rise.

Sweet Potatoes And Yams

Regular potatoes have a high GI score, but sweet potatoes and yams have low scores and are very nutritious.

Some research indicates that the flesh of the sweet potato contains more fiber than the skin, indicating that the whole vegetable could be beneficial for those with diabetes.

Reporting the findings of an animal study, the researchers also noted that sweet potato consumption may lower some markers of diabetes.

While there is still no conclusive evidence that sweet potatoes can help to stabilize or lower blood sugar levels in humans, they are undoubtedly a healthful, nutritious food with a low GI score.

People can substitute sweet potatoes or yams for potatoes in a variety of dishes, from fries to casseroles.

Oats have a GI score of 55 or lower, making them less likely to cause spikes and dips in blood sugar levels.

Oats also contain B-glucans, which can do the following:

• reduce glucose and insulin responses after meals
• improve insulin sensitivity

2012 study found that incorporating legumes into the diet improved glycemic control and lowered the risk of coronary heart disease in people with type 2 diabetes.

Avoid legume products that contain added sugars and simple starches, such as those in syrups, sauces, or marinades. These additions can significantly increase a products GI score.

Garlic is a popular ingredient in traditional medicines for diabetes and a wide variety of other conditions.

People can eat garlic raw, add it to salads, or use it in cooked meals.

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How To Lower Blood Glucose Degrees Through Diet

Lowering blood glucose degrees via nutritional changes can be done by adhering to a low glycemic diet regimen. Lowering blood sugar degrees can be done by eating foods that dont make the body produce high quantities of sugar when digested. Lowering blood sugar additionally needs physical modifications, such as reducing weight or enhancing physical activity.

It is very important to keep in mind that in order to lower blood sugar levels, it must be performed in conjunction with a medical professionals supervision. Decreasing blood sugar level degrees should only be done when the body is healthy enough to take on such an endeavor, and also it can have negative effects if done improperly.

How Can You Tell The Difference

The major difference between the dawn phenomenon and the Somogyi effect is that the latter includes a decrease in glucose levels hypoglycemia followed by a rebound hyperglycemia.

The easiest way to rule out the Somogyi effect is to check blood sugar levels at bedtime, around 2 to 3 a.m., and after waking up. The person should do this for several nights and mornings.

Some people may choose to wear a continuous glucose monitor, which can record the sugar levels throughout the day and night, allowing the user to track the trends.

Here are two possible results and what they might mean:

• If the blood sugar level is low at or between 2 to 3 a.m., there is a good likelihood the Somogyi effect is the cause.
• If the blood sugar level is normal or high at or between 2 to 3 a.m., it is more likely that the cause is the dawn phenomenon.

Treatment for the dawn phenomenon is likely to be the same as treatment for a spike in blood sugar.

This may involve:

• injecting insulin
• using specific medication to target increases in blood sugar

Each person with diabetes should discuss with their doctor what to do when their blood sugar levels spike, whether due to the dawn phenomenon or not.

If a person often experiences high blood sugar in the morning, doctor may suggest

Some common home remedies or lifestyle changes that may reduce the risk of high blood sugar in the morning include:

• drinking a large glass of water
• going for a walk

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Blood Sugar Spike Causes

Blood sugar levels fluctuate all day long. When you eat food, particularly those foods that are high in carbohydrates like bread, potatoes, or pasta, your blood sugar will immediately begin to rise.

If your blood sugar is consistently high, you need to talk to your doctor about improving your diabetes management. Blood sugar rises when:

• youre not taking enough insulin
• your insulin isnt lasting as long as you think it is
• youre not taking your oral diabetes medication
• your medication dosage needs adjusting
• youre using expired insulin
• youre not following your nutritional plan
• you have an illness or infection
• youre using certain medications, like steroids
• youre under physical stress, such as an injury or surgery
• youre under emotional stress, such as trouble at work or home or with money problems

If your blood sugar is usually well-controlled, but youre experiencing unexplained blood sugar spikes, there might be a more acute cause.

Try keeping a record of all the food and drinks you consume. Check your blood sugar levels according to your doctors recommendations.

Its common to record your blood sugar reading first thing in the morning, before youve eaten, and then again two hours after eating. Even a few days of recorded information can help you and your doctor discover whats causing your blood sugar spikes.

Common culprits include:

Preparations For Postprandial Glucose Test

Your doctor often asks you for the fasting test before the postprandial glucose test. For a fasting glucose test, you need to fast for at least 8 hours before giving the sample for the test. After this, you need to eat a meal containing around 75 grams of carbohydrates. The healthcare provider takes your next sample for the PP blood sugar test 2 hours after the meal. Make sure you dont anything else before the test. You just need to rest for 2 hours. Physical activities especially workouts can alter your blood sugar levels.

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Lowering Blood Glucose Degrees With Way Of Living Modifications

One of the most efficient means of lowering your blood sugar level is via a combination of nutritional adjustments, exercise, and also drugs. Reducing your blood glucose degrees can be tough however aid is available if you stick to a diet regimen and also adhere to an everyday workout routine. Reducing blood sugar level degrees might conserve your life in the future, so it is certainly well worth making changes in your way of living if you have a pre-diabetic problem or diabetes.

Recommended Blood Sugar Targets For Most People With Diabetes*

Your targets may not be the same as the examples in this chart. Your targets are important and should be specific to you.

* This information is based on the Diabetes Canada 2018 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada and is a guide.** A1C is a measurement of your average blood sugar control for the last two to three months and approximately 50 per cent of the value comes from the last 30 days.

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What Causes High Morning Blood Sugars

Two main culprits prompt morning highs: the dawn phenomenon and waning insulin. A third, much rarer cause, known as the Somogyi effect, may also be to blame.

The occasional morning high will have little impact on your A1C, a measure of your average blood sugar levels over time that indicates how well managed your diabetes is. But if those highs become consistent, they could push your A1C up into dangerous territory.

Why Does Blood Sugar Go Up At Night

There are many factors that can cause your blood sugar to increase at night. For example: what food you ate during the day, how much and when you exercised, whether you ate snacks before bed, the timing of your insulin doses, and your stress level. You can experience different patterns of high blood sugar at night. You may start with high glucose when you go to bed, start the night in range but go high several hours later, or spend most of the night in range until the hours just before you wake up. By identifying your bodys patterns, you can figure out what is causing your high blood sugar and how to address it.

Common causes of a glucose increase at night include:

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Just How To Lower Blood Sugar Degrees With Diet Regimen

It is important to remember that in order to lower blood sugar levels, it must be carried out in combination with a doctors supervision. Lowering blood sugar degrees should just be done when the body is healthy sufficient to take on such an endeavor, and it can have unfavorable effects if done incorrectly.

How To Measure Your Spikes

The American Diabetes Association recommends you check your blood sugar levels right before mealtime with a blood sample from a finger stick. Then do it again 1 to 2 hours after that first bite of food.

Keep this up for a week or so. Write down the time and the blood sugar number. Make a note about anything you think might affect your levels, like medicine or exercise. And don’t forget to log exactly what you ate, along with portion sizes and the amount of carbs.What levels are too high after a meal? Experts vary on what the number should be, but the ADA says a general goal is a blood sugar level under 180 mg/dL, 1 to 2 hours after a meal. Talk to your doctor about what you should aim for, and don’t adjust your medicine without speaking to them first.

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Whey Protein And Diabetes: A Vital Change

Adding whey protein to your routine is one way to create a healthier, more balanced diet that could help control blood sugar. Whey protein is a protein from cows milk. Its one of the easiest proteins for your body to digest, and it can provide quick energy immediately following your workout.

But, what about whey protein for diabetics? Does whey protein lower blood sugar? Or does whey protein spike blood sugar?

Thankfully, there is a lot of research around whey protein and diabetes:

Study 1: A 2017 study found that consuming whey protein for breakfast helped diabetics lose 200% more weight compared to those that ate a higher carbohydrate breakfast. Of the 48 participants with type 2 diabetes, the group that had whey protein lost an average of 7.6 kilograms in 12 weeks. Those who ate other proteins lost 6.1 kilograms, while the carb-heavy breakfast group lost just 3.1 kilograms during the study period.

Not only that, but the insulin response was significantly higher in the group that had the whey protein with their meals. This means their bodies had a better control on blood glucose, thanks to the addition of whey protein powder to their diet.

Whey protein helps suppress ghrelin, the hormone that tells your body youre hungry. It keeps you satiated throughout the day and can even help to prevent glucose spikes after your meals.

Have Collagen With Meals

âIf youâre eating a light meal with little to no protein, try drinking a cup of bone broth or mixing a drinkable collagen formula into a cup of tea or coffee post-meal,â says Nutritional Advisor and VP of Product Strategy Corey Friese with Vital Proteins over email with me. âThe high levels of glycine will promote the conversion of glucose into energy,â Friese adds, which can stabilize levels.

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Which Is Right For You

Finding the best glucose monitoring system that is right for you is about finding the choice that best suits your needs. By considering the benefits and limitations between the different systems that are available in Canada, you can find a system that meets your individual requirements while improving the efficiency and effectiveness of your diabetes care routine.

Our glucose monitoring comparison chart provides a summary of CGM, Flash glucose monitoring devices and test strips and meters.

Sprinkle On Some Cinnamon

Research on cinnamon’s blood-sugar-stabilizing powers is a little mixed, and it may not be a wonder spice. But if you’re adding it to an already healthy diet, then it can have a subtle benefit, especially if you add a lot of it into your diet .* Some studies suggest that cinnamon promotes healthy blood sugar by increasing insulin sensitivity, or making insulin more efficient at moving glucose into cells.* Try sprinkling it onto oatmeal or into low-sugar smoothies . Bonus: It tastes delicious!

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