Cereal School Packs Make The Perfect Diabetic Snacks
Want perfectly portable, perfectly portioned diabetic snacks that won’t raise your blood sugar levels? Don’t worry we got you.
Cereal School makes healthy eating not just healthy snacking incredibly easy for diabetics. With 16 grams of protein, 1 gram of fat, and 1 gram of carbs per serving, it’s the low-calorie, low-fat, and low-carb snack you’ve been waiting for. Plus, they come individually portioned, so you can toss them in your desk, purse, or backpack for a quick, on-the-go snack.
And since Cereal School is sweetened with monk fruit, it contains zero grams of sugar per serving. Therefore, it’s perfectly safe for diabetics to consume. Give it a try. Well ship a few bags straight to your front door.
Reasons Your Blood Sugar Spikes
Medication
The older you get the more medication you may find yourself on however, that same medication may aid in one illness while also contributing to spikes in blood sugar. Prescriptions, over-the counter medications and even supplements can contribute to spikes in blood sugar. If you regularly monitor your blood sugar and have been noticing spikes after you take other medications, you may need to speak with your doctor about making changes.
Common medications which can spike blood sugar are asthma medications, certain antidepressants and corticosteroids.
Poor sleep
Much research has been conducted in the area of poor sleep and its link to diabetes. One study showed that poor sleep can lead to spikes in blood sugar. The study showed participants who only slept between four to six hours a night had a much lower tolerance to glucose.
The National Foundation of Sleep suggests that poor sleep is linked to spikes in sugar because it decreases cortisol the stress hormone and nervous system activity which occurs while asleep. Both of these aspects, along with some other nightly changes, have affects on blood sugar, so if youre not getting proper sleep, make the right changes to ensure you do.
Poor oral hygiene
Even if you dont have diabetes, although more care on oral hygiene should be paid if you do, always remember to brush and floss daily to maintain good health.Lack of exercise
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Whats The Outlook For People With High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is common. In most people, its not a cause for concern.
If you have high blood pressure, your doctor can treat it with medication or lifestyle changes.
Many people with high blood pressure dont need treatment. In fact, some people with high blood pressure have no symptoms.
If you have high blood pressure on an ongoing basis, your doctor can create a treatment plan for you.
The earlier you treat high blood pressure, the better. The more you control it, the less likely it is to cause health problems.
Talk with your doctor if you have high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, you can lower your risk of complications by treating it and making small changes to your lifestyle.
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Sudden Spikes In Blood Sugar Overnight Are Something That Diabetics Dont Want To Ever Experience
Something like this happening blood sugar soaring while youre sound asleep and totally unaware is a frightening thought.
But people who do not have diabetes dont have to worry about very high rises in blood sugar during sleep.
Actually, sugar can spike in anyone, but in people with normal sugar metabolism, no one notices, says Susan L. Besser, MD, with Mercy Medical Center, Baltimore, and Diplomate American Board of Obesity Medicine and board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.
The cause is normal fluctuation in body glucose and metabolism, continues Dr. Besser.
Even though we are asleep at night, the body is still working, still using energy.
At night we arent eating while we sleep , so the body has to use stored sugar to feed itself.
These stores are found in the liver and are released through a hormonal process. In most of us this is used immediately so the sugar doesnt spike.
In someone with diabetes, glycogen is converted to blood sugar , and this happens with everyone but with diabetics the body cannot use this glucose, so the sugar rises.
Ok So How Did You Get Here
You might assume a blood sugar spike happens after you eat a ton of sugar. That would make sense and would be a simple explanation with an easy fix. Unfortunately, its more complicated than that.
Your blood sugar fluctuates throughout the day, rising after you eat certain foods, such as carb-heavy ones like pasta and potatoes. If its consistently high, thats when you need to start worrying.
There are several reasons this could happen :
- You skipped a dose of insulin or didnt take enough.
- You skipped your oral diabetes medication.
- You have an illness or infection, like a cold or the flu.
- Youre extra stressed out.
- You ate too many carbohydrates.
- You havent been exercising.
- You spent too much time in the sun and got a sunburn.
- You skipped a meal the night before and didnt adjust your insulin dose.
- The dawn phenomenon is at play.
- Youre dehydrated, so your blood sugar is more concentrated.
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Choose The Right Insulin
The right insulin program can make or break your ability to control after-meal spikes. In general, insulins and other medicines that work quickly and for a short time will work better than those that work slowly over a prolonged period.
For instance, rapid-acting insulin analogs , which start working 1015 minutes after injection and peak in about an hour, will cover the after-meal blood glucose rises much better than Regular insulin, which takes 30 minutes to begin working and 23 hours to peak.
Newer ultra-rapid insulins, such as Fiasp , works even faster, with an onset and peak occurring 810 minutes earlier than traditional rapid-acting insulins.
The way insulin is administered can dramatically affect its speed of action. Afrezza is an inhaled insulin formulation that can be used at mealtimes. Because the dry powder is absorbed through the lungs , its onset and peak are much earlier than injected insulin .
Research has also shown that injected insulin can work much faster when the injection site is warmed. This can be accomplished by rubbing the site, immersing in warm water or exercising the muscle near the site. Warming the site causes the blood vessels near the skin to dilate, which allows the insulin to absorb more quickly. By the way, smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict, so quitting smoking might improve your post-meal blood sugar .
Blood Sugar Spike Symptoms
Learning to recognize the symptoms of hyperglycemia can help you keep your diabetes in control. Some people with diabetes immediately feel the symptoms of high blood sugar, but others go undiagnosed for years because their symptoms are mild or vague.
Symptoms of hyperglycemia typically begin when your blood glucose goes above 250 milligrams per deciliter . Symptoms get worse the longer you go untreated.
Symptoms of a blood sugar spike include:
- frequent urination
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Diabetic Snacks That Wont Spike Your Blood Sugar
Nothing will ever come between you and your snacks. You’ll choose a night in with Netflix and snacks over a night out with friends. But just because you need to switch to low-sugar, low-carb snack options doesn’t mean you cant have fun. Let the hunt for diabetic snacks commence.
Your snacking escapades aren’t about to slow down now that you need to bring the carb count down a bit. You’re cool with ditching the Cheetos, Animal Crackers, and Cheez-Its. But ditching snacks altogether? Please, don’t joke of such things.
To help you keep your composure, we’re diving deep into the best snacks for diabetics. These high-fiber, high-protein, high-flavor foods are sure to keep your inner snack demon satisfied.
Carbs And Blood Sugar Spikes A Roller Coaster
As the Lark DPP check-in described, eating carbohydrates leads to a bump in blood sugar. Eating a lot of sugary foods and refined starches can cause fast and sharp spikes in blood sugar. This triggers the pancreas to release insulin to get blood sugar back down, and blood sugar may end up lower than it was when it started. Low blood sugar can make you tired and cranky, and increase cravings for you guessed it more carbs.
The bigger the spike, the bigger the dip. Have a sugar-sweetened coffee beverage and sugary, refined cereal for breakfast, and a sharp, high spike may have you bouncing off the walls for an hour before you crash right in time to sleep through a mid-morning meeting. Similarly, a desperate trip to the vending machine for pretzels and a soda can give you the instant pick-me-up you wantedfollowed by a lackluster afternoon.
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Caution: Birth Control Pills
Types that have estrogen can affect the way your body handles insulin. Still, oral contraceptives are safe for women with diabetes. The American Diabetes Association suggests a combination pill with norgestimate and synthetic estrogen. The group also says birth control shots and implants are safe for women with the condition, though they can affect your blood sugar levels.
Causes Of Spikes In Blood Pressure
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What To Do When Blood Sugar Spikes
It can be frustrating trying to keep blood sugar levels under control. Day by day, they can fluctuate widely, and theyre not always predictable. Although the greatest danger to people with is when blood glucose gets too low, its also important to take action when blood glucose is high. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to help prevent and treat these unexpected spikes.
High blood sugar, also called hyperglycemia, often develops in response to too little insulin or other glucose-lowering medication, or too much food. Its important to address hyperglycemia. Not only can it cause problems like impaired thinking in the short term, it can increase the risk for serious problems like , kidney damage, and blindness over time. Heres what you can do about hyperglycemia.
Surprising Factors That Could Be Spiking Your Blood Pressure
You Take NSAIDs Regularly
The effect of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can vary from one person to the other.
However, the drugs can cause raised blood pressure levels even in those who are fairly healthy. If you take them regularly, ask your doctor about alternatives.
You Use Decongestants All The Time
Many decongestants contain pseudoephedrine and phenylephrine, which narrow the blood vessels. This narrowing can contribute to having high blood pressure. When choosing a decongestant, ask your pharmacist for options that wont affect your blood pressure.
You Have Chronic Pain
As you might expect, experiencing acute pain can cause a temporary spike in your blood pressure. Persons who have chronic pain, on the other hand, may have a more permanent spike to deal with. The best route to relief is managing your pain as well as possible.
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Your Diet Is Lacking Potassium
Maintaining healthy blood pressure requires a balance between sodium and potassium. Even if youve cut down on your salt intake, not getting enough potassium will make it hard to get your blood pressure down. Foods like bananas, broccoli, and spinach are excellent sources of potassium.
You Take Certain Herbal Supplements
You Take A Hormonal Birth Control
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What Causes High Blood Sugar
A variety of things can trigger an increase in blood sugar level in people with diabetes, including:
- stress
- missing a dose of your diabetes medicine or taking an incorrect dose
- overtreating an episode of low blood sugar
- taking certain medicines, such as steroids
Occasional episodes of hyperglycaemia can also occur in children and young adults during growth spurts.
Prevent Blood Sugar Spikes When Eating Carbs
Exercise, Fitness & Nutrition Expert | Lark Health
What do you think of when you think of blood sugar spikes and the foods you eat? Carbohydrates are likely to come to mind since they get a good amount of attention when talking about prediabetes, diabetes, and blood sugar. They can be harmful, but a generalization that carbs are bad is not true.
People with prediabetes can eat carbohydrates without spiking blood sugar levels, gaining weight, or doing other harm to their health. Not only can you avoid harm from eating carbohydrates, but you can actually do some good for your health by eating the right ones in the right ways.
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Reasons Your Blood Sugar Spikes And Why Food Isnt To Blame
Written byDr. Victor MarchionePublished onSeptember 19, 2015
Blood sugar is sugar found in the bloodstream which gets transported throughout the body as a means to feed cells and make energy. The human body naturally regulates blood sugar levels, but in a person with insulin resistance or diabetes, blood sugar can spike or take dangerously low dips.
Typically, when we eat food the contents get broken down and converted into glucose so that we become energized. Post-meal our blood-sugar spikes, and the food we eat determines how high the spike is and how quickly it will fade out. For example, if we eat something that is sugary, we may experience a sudden spike followed by a crash. If we eat foods high in fiber, our blood sugar levels will maintain a normal level for longer.
Although its more common to associate the foods we eat to spikes in our blood sugar, there are other factors which can contribute to uncontrolled blood sugar. Whether youre diabetic or not, here are four other non-food reasons why you may experience spikes in your blood sugar.
What Should My Blood Sugar Level Be
When you’re first diagnosed with diabetes, your diabetes care team will usually tell you what your blood sugar level is and what you should aim to get it down to.
You may be advised to use a testing device to monitor your blood sugar level regularly at home.
Or you may have an appointment with a nurse or doctor every few months to see what your average blood sugar level is. This is known as your HbA1c level.
Target blood sugar levels differ for everyone, but generally speaking:
- if you monitor yourself at home with a self-testing kit a normal target is 4 to 7mmol/l before eating and under 8.5 to 9mmol/l 2 hours after a meal
- if your HbA1c level is tested every few months a normal HbA1c target is below 48mmol/mol
The Diabetes UK website has more about blood sugar levels and testing.
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Exercise Prevents Blood Sugar Spikes
Incorporating regular physical activity is good for overall health, but its also essentially free medicine when it comes to blood sugar management.
Any activity is going to beneficial compared to no activity.
The general goal for most people is 30 minutes per day, 5 days per week. But if you cant fit in a 30 minute block of time, thats okay, do what you can!
Try a quick walk, house cleaning, gardening, or a few squats or lunges after meals anything you do will help get sugar out of the bloodstream and into the muscle cells faster .
KEY POINT: Add regular exercise to your routine and try quick bouts of activity after-meals to help achieve better blood sugar levels.
What Causes Blood Glucose Levels To Rise
Food
Foods that contain the energy sources carbohydrates, fats, and protein have all been known as causes of immediate and definable spikes in blood glucose levels.
Carbohydrates
Of the three, carbohydrates have been found to affect blood glucose the most. Carbs with a higher glycemic index tend to cause the most rapid spikes in blood glucose. Plus, counting carbohydrates can be difficult, since getting the number wrong can affect blood glucose.
Fats
Fatty foods make those with diabetes more resistant to insulin. This means someone eating a fatty meal would need to take more insulin to cover the exact portion of food without the fat.
Protein
While protein typically has very little effect on blood glucose, in the absence of carbohydrates or insulin, it can raise blood glucose. Many individuals with diabetes who eat carb-free meals will take a bit of insulin to cover the difference.
Caffeine
Caffeine has been known to increase insulin resistance and also stimulate the release of adrenaline.
Alcohol
During alcohol consumption, the liver breaks down the alcohol and reduces its output of glucose into the bloodstream. This causes a drop in blood sugar levels. Mixers rich in carbohydrates like orange juice can be under-the-radar causes of blood sugar increases if the alcohol was consumed on an empty stomach.
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Good And Bad Exercises For Diabetes
One of the first things you might ask is if there are good and bad exercises for people with diabetes as in maybe I should just avoid the bad ones.
Christel Oerum, certified personal trainer and founder of Diabetes Strong and Diabetic Foodie, offered an alternative way to look at this question. Think about it like this: Your body just wants to help you out, it wants you to be successful. So, when you do certain types of workouts, predominantly anaerobic exercises, your body tries to ensure that you have the energy to be successful. It does this by releasing hormones that allow energy, in the form of glucose, to be released into your bloodstream. And that can raise blood sugars.
This response is not unique to people with diabetes. Vieira confirmed that In a nondiabetic body, the exact same process is happening, but their bodies produce extra insulin to deal with the extra glucose.
Just because blood sugar levels rise during certain types of exercise doesnt mean they are bad exercises or that the rise is happening for a bad reason, Vieira added. This is the bodys normal reaction to several factors that can occur mostly during anaerobic exercise like weight lifting, sprinting, spinning classes, competitive moments, etc.
Since its anaerobic exercise that causes BG spikes during activity, you might think that just avoiding sprints, resistance training, or other anaerobic activities could be the answer.