When To Contact Your Doctor
Hyperglycemia can turn into a medical emergency like DKA and HHS that requires immediate intervention by your doctor or a local emergency department.;If you have two blood sugar readings of 300 mg/dL or more, or have blood sugar above your target range for more than a week, seek immediate medical help.
Signs of hyperglycemia include:
- Ketones in your urine
- Stomach pain, nausea, or vomiting
- Shortness of breath
Which Foods Keep Your Sugar Levels In Control
Carbohydrates need to be consistent. You dont want to eat all of your daily carb count in one meal. That will cause your blood sugar to spike, and then drop during the other meals. Giving your body a steady amount of carbohydrates will provide a stable amount of energy. It will also help your body make enough insulin to keep your blood sugar at a healthy number.
The easiest way to make sure that your carb intake is appropriate is to count carbohydrates. It is a simplified way to evaluate foods based on their nutritional value. The best place to start when counting is to aim for 45 to 60 grams of carbohydrates per meal and roughly 15 to 30 grams for each snack in between meals. You may have to adjust this based on your individual needs and your blood sugar readings. It is a lot easier to calculate the carbohydrates when you have a food with a label, but many foods do not. Check the serving size on the label to be sure that you are counting correctly. The US Department of Agriculture has a website that allows you to type in any food and it will give you the nutritional values. Check it out at . A few examples of 15 grams of carbs include:
- 1 slice of bread
- ½ cup of oatmeal
- 1 small piece of fresh fruit
It is important that you pay attention to nutrients other than the carbs too. Be sure to have adequate protein and fiber, while keeping lots of fat to a minimum.
Add More Resistant Starch To Your Plate
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Resistant starch found in some potatoes and beans bypasses the small intestine and ferments in the large intestine, which means it doesnt raise glucose levels and promotes the growth of good bacteria in the body, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Its a fiber-filled starch and helps with glycemic control, says Joelle Malinowski, RD, a certified diabetes care and education specialist with Ellis Medicine in Schenectady, New York. And the effect will last through your next meal, Weisenberger says. Its called the second-meal effect, she says.
Interestingly, resistant starch can change with heat, and some foods, like rice, are higher in resistant starch when cooked and cooled than when cooked and served warm, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Resistant starches are also found in:
Just be sure to keep carb count in mind when incorporating foods with resistant starch into your diet.
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Reduce And Manage Stress
Stress increases your levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which can lead to imbalances in your blood sugar and in many other hormones. Experiencing some stress from time to time is normal, but chronic stress can have serious consequences on your health and raise your blood sugar levels.
Proven ways to decrease stress are regular exercise, stretching, meditation, yoga practice, deep breathing, mindfulness practices, listening to music, family time, making time for self-care, and hobbies. Just 10 to 30 minutes a day of consistent practice of one or more of the above can make a huge difference in well-being, Dr. Raja advises.
Following a regular sleep routine, avoiding excessive screen time, and adjusting your work schedule to make time self-care is also important. I am a big proponent of taking time for self-care, family, and hobbies. These activities bring you joy and result in better health.
Ask Your Doctor If A Dog Is Right For You
Yeah, odd prescription, I know, but dog owners are more active than non-dog owners. Why? Wellpicture those big, brown, sad eyes pleading with you: Pleeeeeeeeeease take me for a walk. Frankly, most of us have a hard time with self-motivation. Were tired, overworked, and stressed outbut were human beings. Theres a root word of humane in there somewhere. Often, we will do for others what we wont do for ourselves; and pets are the hardest to say no to, because of the whole issue of interspecies communication. You can rationalize with your kid about why youre too busy to play in the park with her, but your dog isnt going to take no for an answer.
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Choose Foods With A Low Glycemic Index
The glycemic index was developed to assess the bodys blood sugar response to foods containing carbohydrates.
Both the amount and type of carbohydrates determine how a food affects blood sugar levels. Eating foods with a low glycaemic index has been shown to reduce long-term blood sugar levels in type 1 and type 2 diabetics.
Although the glycemic index of food is important for body weight and blood sugar, the amount of carbohydrates also plays a big role.
Foods with a low glycemic index include seafood, meat, eggs, oats, barley, beans, lentils, legumes, sweet potatoes, corn, most fruits and vegetables.
It is important to choose foods with a low glycemic index and control your total intake of carbohydrates.
How To Test Blood Sugar Levels
Your doctor can test your blood sugar levels using one of several methods depending on your unique health situation.
We usually do a hemoglobin A1C test or check their serum glucose levels, says Dr. Raja.
The most common testing method used is the glycated hemoglobin test, which screens you for prediabetes, and diabetes.
The A1C test is a blood test that measures the percentage of blood sugar attached to hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen from your lungs to tissues in the body. The A1C test will reveal your average blood sugar level for the previous two to three months.
Certain health conditions such as severe anemia, vitamin deficiencies, thalassemia, and sickle cell trait can often result in inaccurate A1C test results. When A1C test results seem inaccurate or inconsistent, your doctor may perform one or more other tests. These include a random glucose test, a fasting glucose test, or an oral glucose tolerance test.
For the random glucose test, your doctor will take a sample of your blood at a random time to test your blood sugar level. A fasting glucose test requires you to do an overnight fast before your doctor draws blood the following day. The oral glucose tolerance test also requires you to do an overnight fast, and consume a sugary liquid after you arrive at the doctors office, and get blood drawn at one hour and three hour intervals.
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Get In A Quiet Room And Calm Yourself Down
If you are in a crowded place, shelter yourself in a quiet room immediately.;
The undertone is to get away from the crowd. High BP triggers anxiety and breathlessness which needs isolation.
However, its advisable to keep a friend around just in case the situation goes out of hand.
But it is important to get away from the crowd and focus on yourself to get a hold of yourself.;
Erratic heartbeat, ragged breathing, and flashes of warmth are signs of hypertension. Therefore, these are the signs you should look out for!
Add Probiotics To Your Diet
Probiotics have significant effects on reduction of glucose, HbA1c, insulin levels and insulin resistance in diabetics, according to research. Probiotics encourage;a healthy gut microbiome, which improves glucose metabolism. This positively benefits lipid profile, glycemic control, inflammation and blood pressure in diabetes type 2 patients.
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How Fast Can I Lower My Blood Sugar
It may be faster than you think! Researchers at UCLA;tracked over 650 men and women with type 2 diabetes who had attended the Pritikin Longevity Center to determine the effects of the healthy lifestyle change on their health. They found that in you can lower your blood sugar quickly. Of the adults who were new diabetics, their blood sugar levels fell from an average of 164mg/dL to 124 mg/dL within 3 weeks.
Better yet, many cases, adopting a healthy lifestyle is effective at reversing diabetes! The majority of the diabetics taking oral medication lowered their blood sugar to a point in which mediation was no longer needed. Those with advanced stages of diabetes noticed improvements as well. At the Pritikin Center, trained experts, including board certified physicians, registered dieticians and exercise physiologists, work with the adults to help them better understand their health, and how to eat, move, and live healthier.
What is a dangerous level of blood sugar?
Pre-diabetes is defined as having a fasting glucose between 100 and 125. Diabetes is a fasting glucose of 126 or higher. There is significant scientific evidence showing that a healthy lifestyle, such as the Pritikin Plan, can prevent pre-diabetes from developing into full-blown diabetes.
Choose A High Protein Breakfast
One thing that above should have taught you is that protein on a morning is good for you. That is certainly the case for your diabetes.
Choose a high protein breakfast to lowerthe amount of sugars you add to your system. If you have a carb filled breakfast especially simple carbs youll just add to the glucose that is already in your system!
Look out for high protein ingredients that you can add to your food, even if it is as well as the carbs. For example, you could opt for peanut butter on your toast instead of jam! You get away from the sugars and focus more on the healthy fats and high protein toppings that will balance out some of the carbs that you eat on the toast.
All-protein breakfasts that have no carbs at all will be better, though. Think about vegetable omelets or protein berry smoothies to start your morning just right. Youll find that your blood sugar levels start to drop as your body gets the energy that it needs.
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Include Healthy Sources Of Carbohydrate
Although it is imperative that you keep a watch on the total amount of carbohydrates that you are eating, it is essential that you do not avoid this important nutrient completely from your diet. A few healthy sources of carbohydrates are in fact essential to maintain a healthy level of blood sugar or blood glucose in our body. When you avoid the food completely, the body is deprived of all the essential nutrients, leading to elevated levels of blood pressure.
Get Enough Quality Sleep
Good sleep has a role in blood sugar control. It also promotes a healthy weight. If you are deprived of sleep or have poor sleeping habits, your metabolic hormones get disrupted.
Growth hormones are decreased, and cortisol is increased, which also affects blood sugar levels. Poor sleep and lack of rest also effects on insulin sensitivity and promotes weight gain.
Get enough sleep of good quality every night to maintain your good health in general and control blood sugar .
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Best Ways To Lower Blood Sugar Quickly
When treated early, you can bring high blood sugar levels down and prevent complications, including DKA.
Some sources suggest that drinking water or eating a high protein snack can quickly lower your blood sugar levels, though there isnt enough research to support this.
If you have high blood sugar and need to lower it fast, try the following methods:
How To Lower Blood Sugar
Why is it that our bodies have glucose or sugar in our blood naturally, but we end up having to find ways on how to lower blood sugar levels?
Interesting question dont you think?
I will try to answer that for you in the article below, in the clearest way I can.
When we have the right amount of sugar in our blood it is distributed to give energy to our organs and cells.
When we have an excess of this sugar, problems start to occur and this excess is referred to as hyperglycemia.
Do not confuse hyperglycemia , with hypoglycemia, which is when the blood sugar levels are too low.
It wasnt all that long ago that most of us went around happily doing our daily bits, being totally oblivious to the effects that blood sugar levels had on our health.
Now, with the explosion of the type 2 diabetes epidemic, hearing more about it is becoming virtually unavoidable.
Hyperglycemia is becoming a problem for a lot of people, and is something that needs to be addressed and brought under control.
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Stick To Your Medication And Insulin Regimen
Skipping a dose of medication or insulin can be harmful to your body and increase your blood sugar levels.
Its important to stick to your treatment plan and follow your doctors instructions for taking your medication.
Summary
Healthful lifestyle habits can help people manage their blood sugar levels over the long term, such as eating a balanced diet, getting regular exercise, staying hydrated, and getting good sleep.
Make It A Priority To Eat Breakfast
We often dont feel hungry first thing in the morning, or dont have time to make a meal. Then when lunchtime comes, you find yourself starving for food and you end up eating a huge meal. Studies show that skipping breakfast corresponds to higher blood glucose levels. Moreover, it can affect your blood glucose level for the entire day. Starting your day with a healthy, fiber and protein-rich breakfast will help regulate blood sugar and keep you feeling your best throughout the day.
Breakfast doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as easy as an egg on whole grain toast, or mixed berries with high-protein yogurt and nuts. Check out this unique spin on a classic: avocado superfood toast.
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Reduce Added Sugars In Your Diet
While many of us are aware of the common high sugar foods and beverages including cakes, cookies, ice cream, sodas, and candy, one study shows that over 70% of our food supply in the grocery store has added sugar! ;Its everywhere! ;Often, it is hidden in foods and we dont even realize it! ;Sadly, it is also hidden in foods that are labeled or considered healthy like gluten-free or heart healthy foods.
Did you know that most packets of flavored oatmeal have 3 teaspoons of added sugar! ;What about that healthy gluten-free granola in your pantry? ; ;Sugar plagues us and it isnt going away. ;It is our responsibility to take action by reading nutrition labels and selecting the best options available to us. Find a full list of names for added sugar here these are a variety of terms that could be used on a nutrition label to indicate sugar. ;Read carefully because it is often cleverly disguised.
To make it even easier for you to do your grocery shopping, this is a list of 15 Hidden Sources of Added SugarsAND better options you can find at a regular grocery store!
Dietary Supplements Also Help
The increase your intake of nutrients that support your bodys ability to use insulin and can help keep your blood sugar stable. Besides vitamins, herbs and spices that are good for diabetes, we also highly recommend Magnesium Citrate, CoQ10 supplementation, D-Chiro Inositol, Chromium, ALA, Green Tea Extract and Pomegranate Extract.
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Ramp Up Your Movement Each Day
Exercise helps improve blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity and the bodys ability to use glucose as energy, according to the American Diabetes Association. In type 2, exercise helps improve insulin resistance, says James G. Beckerman, MD, a cardiologist in Portland, Oregon. The end result is lower blood sugars.
Crandall Snyder tells patients that exercise is like spring cleaning for the body. It takes the stored form of glucose and uses it for energy so the next time you eat carbohydrates there’s a place to put it, she says.
Because exercise can immediately reduce blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes, work with your healthcare team to determine the right amount of activity and timing for you. A study published in September 2017 in Frontiers in Endocrinology found exercising 30 minutes after the start of a meal is usually best for maintaining blood sugar controls.
Learn more about managing your blood sugar in Diabetes Daily’s article “HbA1C: Everything You Need to Know.”
How Do You Feel When Your Blood Sugar Is Too High
The symptoms can be subtle the increase in thirst, or more frequent urination. So many people do not even realize that they need to lower your blood sugar level. If you dont, you are at a greater risk of developing diabetes. It can take up to 12 years for diabetes to develop. Evidence shows the ability to reverse diabetes is greater when a healthy lifestyle is emphasized early.
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Supplements That Show Promise In Lowering Blood Sugar Without Medication
There are a lot of claims about supplements that can help lower blood sugar naturally. But it can be tough to know what works and what doesnt.;
In the following list, weve highlighted which supplements have actual clinical studies backing these claims, and which ones are still inconclusive.
It is important to speak with your healthcare provider about starting a supplement, as certain supplements are not reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration and can interact with your medications.