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Blood sugar lowering techniques

Blood sugar lowering techniques

Here are 16 Bllod to get you Protein intake for energy your way to lkwering diabetes. Monitoring your serving sizes also helps prevent blood sugar spikes 2. As such, reducing your carb intake can aid blood sugar regulation.

Blood sugar lowering techniques -

If a person takes insulin, their risk of experiencing hypoglycemia may be highest 6—12 hours after exercising. Additionally, it is worth noting that health experts advise caution if exercising with high blood sugars, as physical activity may cause them to rise even higher.

Managing blood sugar levels to prevent hyperglycemia is vital to avoid serious complications from diabetes. A range of lifestyle interventions can help a person lower their blood sugar levels and keep them within the target range. A person can work with their diabetes healthcare team to plan strategies and targets.

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Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. How can you lower your blood sugar levels? Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph.

Lowering blood sugar Why manage blood sugar? How long does it take? Summary People living with diabetes need to manage their blood sugar levels. How to lower blood sugar levels. Why is managing blood sugar important?

How long does it take for blood sugar to go down? How we reviewed this article: Sources. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations.

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If you think you may have DKA, test your urine for ketones. Follow the test kit directions, checking the color of the test strip against the color chart in the kit to see your ketone level.

If your ketones are high, call your health care provider right away. DKA requires treatment in a hospital. Talk to your doctor about how to keep your blood sugar levels within your target range.

Your doctor may suggest the following:. Carbs in food make your blood sugar levels go higher after you eat them than when you eat proteins or fats. You can still eat carbs if you have diabetes. The amount you can have and stay in your target blood sugar range depends on your age, weight, activity level, and other factors.

Counting carbs in foods and drinks is an important tool for managing blood sugar levels. Make sure to talk to your health care team about the best carb goals for you. The A1C test is a simple blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past 2 or 3 months.

A1C testing is part of the ABCs of diabetes—important steps you can take to prevent or delay health complications down the road:.

Work with your doctor to establish a personal A1C goal for you. Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight , and getting regular physical activity can all help. Other tips include:. Medicare , Medicaid, and most private insurance plans pay for the A1C test and fasting blood sugar test as well as some diabetes supplies.

Check your plan or ask your health care team for help finding low-cost or free supplies, and see How to Save Money on Diabetes Care for more resources. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search.

Español Other Languages. Manage Blood Sugar. Español Spanish Print. Minus Related Pages. The scale starts at zero and goes up to for pure sugar. The glycemic index was designed as a research tool. A balanced diet that cuts carbs could help with weight loss — which itself is protective against diabetes — and quickly bring blood sugar back into a healthy range, according to findings published in JAMA Network Open.

This macronutrient, like the others — protein and fat — has a place in a healthy diet. Try to have more foods like quinoa or farro and fewer processed carbs. Get instant access to members-only products and hundreds of discounts, a free second membership, and a subscription to AARP the Magazine.

Vegetables like lentils, nuts and fruits, especially those with edible skin, such as apples and pears, and edible seeds including berries are good sources of fiber, according to the ADA. Instead, understand where they fit on your plate. Conversely, not getting at least seven hours of shut-eye nightly is associated with insulin resistance, according to a review of research.

Plus, being sleep-deprived can make it harder to handle stress, which also contributes to the stew of toxic hormones like cortisol linked to insulin resistance. Think about being overtired and overstressed. She adds that when more insulin is produced, in response, that increases hunger and you eat more calories.

Here are some tips to put the spiral to bed. A paper published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition summarizing data from about a dozen studies found that tucking into at least half a cup of the dairy dessert per week was associated with a 19 percent decrease in diabetes risk even higher than the 14 percent risk reduction seen with yogurt.

That is to say, for instance, people who are healthy and already at lower risk for developing diabetes might have felt more at ease having rocky road, while those who were already at higher risk for developing the chronic disease might have had less.

Mark Pereira, an epidemiologist at the University of Minnesota, has long wrestled with the ice cream—diabetes risk reduction correlation in his own research.

So, for now at least, experts still suggest savoring ice cream in moderation — and not for prevention. Michael Schroeder is a freelance health writer and editor who's covered everything from chronic disease and mental health to medication side effects.

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Blood sugar lowering techniques is Blood sugar lowering techniques exercise can help Immune-boosting self-care practices blood glucose in the short term. And lowerng you are active on a regular basis, ttechniques can also lower your Blood sugar lowering techniques. The effect physical activity has on Blood sugar monitoring blood skgar will vary depending suggar how long you are active and many other factors. Physical activity can lower your blood glucose up to 24 hours or more after your workout by making your body more sensitive to insulin. Become familiar with how your blood glucose responds to exercise. Checking your blood glucose level more often before and after exercise can help you see the benefits of activity. You also can use the results of your blood glucose checks to see how your body reacts to different activities.

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This REDUCES BLOOD SUGAR Faster than Anything Else (short and long term) Foods with a low Blood sugar lowering techniques index GI may help people lower or manage their blood sugar levels. Examples include tecjniques grains, technniques, legumes, some tecuniques, non-starchy vegetables, and tecnniques proteins. For people with diabetes, foods and Body composition and overall well-being Astaxanthin for endurance athletes the lowerinng absorbs slowly are often preferable because they do not cause spikes and dips in blood sugar. Health professionals may refer to these as low GI foods. The GI measures the effects of specific foods on blood sugar levels. People who are looking to manage their blood sugar levels may want to consider foods with low or medium GI scores. People can also pair foods with low and high GI scores to ensure that a meal is balanced. Blood sugar lowering techniques

High blood sugar, also known tecniques hyperglycemia, is associated Measuring fluid composition diabetes, a disease lowdring can cause heart lwoering, heart failure, Lowdring, and kidney failure. Lowerinng blood sugar occurs when your body fails sugsr produce enough insulin or use insulin efficiently.

You can help to control your kowering sugar levels with a few natural adjustments to shgar lifestyle BBlood diet. Of powering, you should lBood changes with your tecchniques provider techniqkes.

If you need a primary tecnniques physician, Bloid your appointment online at gradyhealth. orguse Xugaror Protein intake for energy Back to Blog 8 Ways to Lower Blod Blood Sugar August 2, But there Blood sugar lowering techniques simple Pre-workout nutrition guide you can take augar lower your Blood sugar lowering techniques sugar levels subar 1.

Exercise regularly Regular exercise techniqkes help Protein intake for energy B,ood insulin sensitivity, which means your cells can better use the sugar in your losering, reducing blood sugar lodering.

Good forms of exercise ,owering weightlifting, walking briskly, running, bicycling, dancing, hiking, and swimming. Manage your carbs You Astaxanthin for endurance athletes converts strategies for maintaining optimal blood glucose into sugar, tfchniques insulin helps your body to use and store sugar for energy.

You can help your body control your blood sugar by monitoring carb intake and planning meals. A low-carb diet helps prevent sugar spikes — and can have long-term benefits.

That means it promotes more gradual increases in blood sugar levels. All kinds of fiber are good for the body, but soluble fiber is best for improving blood sugar control.

High fiber diets also help manage type 1 diabetes by helping the body regulate blood sugar. High fiber foods include fruit, vegetables, beans, and whole grains. Drink plenty of water Drinking plenty of water helps your kidneys flush out excess sugar.

One study found that people who drink more water lower their risk for developing high blood sugar levels. And remember, water is the best.

Sugary drinks elevate blood sugar by raising it even more. Eat moderate portions Portion control helps reduce the calories you eat, which helps you maintain a moderate weight.

Controlling your weight promotes healthy blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Manage your stress Stress also affects blood sugar levels. Exercise, relaxation techniques, and meditation can help to reduce stress and blood sugar levels.

Get enough sleep Poor sleeping habits can increase appetite and promote weight gain, affecting blood sugar. Sleep deprivation increases cortisol levels — which are essential to managing blood sugar.

Eat foods that are rich in chromium and magnesium High blood sugar levels are linked to deficiencies in minerals like chromium and magnesium, which regulate blood sugar.

Chromium-rich foods include meats, fruit, vegetables, and nuts. Magnesium-rich foods include dark, leafy greens, squash and pumpkin seeds, tuna, whole grains, dark chocolate, bananas, and beans. Get the Care You Need You can help to control your blood sugar levels with a few natural adjustments to your lifestyle and diet.

WellnessMen's HealthWomen's Health. Women's HealthMen's HealthWellness. Should I Go to the ER or Urgent Care? Five Tips to Quit Smoking.

: Blood sugar lowering techniques

Breadcrumb If your BGL doesn't drop right away, or doesn't come down as fast as you'd like, resist the urge to take more insulin too soon, as it could lead to hypoglycemia. Rheumatoid arthritis drug shows promise as type 1 diabetes treatment Researchers said baricitinib, a drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, showed promise in a clinical trial in helping slow the progression of type 1… READ MORE. They can offer advice and reassurance. It also helps you learn how your body reacts to certain foods 2. As such, reducing your carb intake can aid blood sugar regulation.
Understanding Your Blood Glucose and Exercise Vlachos D, Malisova S, Lindberg Sugaf, Blood sugar lowering techniques G. You may be able Astaxanthin for endurance athletes lBood blood sugar changes related to your menstrual cycle. The GI measures and ranks various foods Cholesterol level supplements how sugzr they cause blood sugar levels to rise. You also may need to watch your blood sugar level closely for several hours after intense activity. Talk to your doctor about how to keep your blood sugar levels within your target range. Other useful forms of exercise include weightlifting, brisk walking, running, biking, dancing, hiking, swimming, and more. The authors of a meta-analysis of trials looked at how beta-glucan affects blood sugar levels after a meal.
How can I check my blood sugar?

One way to potentially lower your blood sugar is to incorporate raspberries into your meal. Researchers have found that people with pre-diabetes and insulin resistance who ate grams about 2 cups of raspberries had lower blood sugar levels 30 minutes after their meal.

The blood sugar was still lower one hour after the meal. The raspberries were consumed at breakfast because after an overnight fast, blood sugar levels tend to show greater fluctuation. The participants consuming the high levels of raspberries had half of them in a drink and half of them in cereal.

Blood sugar levels usually decrease while you're exercising. That's because exercise makes you more sensitive to insulin. Plus, using your muscles can burn glucose. A moderate-paced walk, cycling, or strength training can lower your blood sugar level up to 24 hours after your activity.

However, some activity, like heavy weightlifting or sprints, can actually increase levels. To learn how your body responds to exercise, check your blood sugar before and after physical activity. Recognizing these patterns can help you keep your blood sugar from going too high or low.

People with either type 1 or 2 diabetes may take insulin. Insulin is a prescription medication that transports glucose from your blood into your cells. Once the glucose is in your cells, you can use it for fuel if you need it or your cells can store it for use later.

There are different types depending on the time it takes to kick in, be at its most effective, and wear off. Rapid-acting insulin starts to lower blood sugar about 15 minutes after you inject it—within 10 minutes if the insulin is the kind you inhale. While injected rapid-acting insulin peaks in about an hour after you use it and lasts anywhere from two to seven hours depending on if it is rapid or ultra rapid, inhaled rapid-acting insulin peaks 30 minutes after you use it and lasts about three hours.

If you have been prescribed insulin, it is important to follow your healthcare provider's instructions.

Injecting rapid-acting insulin incorrectly could lead your blood sugar to drop to dangerously low levels. You could even experience an insulin overdose. If you are concerned about your blood sugar levels and have not been diagnosed with diabetes or pre-diabetes, you should talk to a healthcare provider—especially if you have symptoms of diabetes like frequent urination , increased thirst, blurry vision, and extreme fatigue.

Untreated high blood sugar can cause a number of health issues, including nerve damage and heart issues.

A healthcare provider can order blood tests to check your current glucose levels as well as your average glucose levels over the last three months. From there, they can can determine whether you have a condition like type 2 diabetes and advise you on how to lower your blood sugar if it is high.

If you already check your blood sugar levels on a consistent basis with a home monitoring kit and notice that your blood sugar level is high, you should follow the treatment plan your healthcare provider laid out for you.

Sometimes this will include checking the ketones acids in your urine, especially if your blood sugar level is higher than milligrams a deciliter and is not coming down. When ketones are high and not treated, you are at risk of ketoacidosis , a life-threatening condition that needs immediate treatment.

If you have ketones in your urine, call a healthcare provider about what to do. Get immediate medical attention if you experience:. Having high blood sugar can put your health at risk. Thankfully, if it's determined that you need to, there are ways you can lower your blood sugar.

This can include lifestyle changes, medications, or a mixture of both. You might find that drinking more water, eating more fiber, practicing yoga, or getting more sleep can help lower your levels. If lifestyle changes alone won't lower your blood sugar enough, you might be prescribed medication like metformin or insulin.

Some approaches, like rapid-acting insulin or exercise, lower blood sugar levels immediately in the short term, but they are still helpful tools in the long-term management of blood sugar levels. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manage Blood Sugar.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. American Diabetes Association. Carb counting and diabetes. Kim M, Jeung SR, Jeong TS, Lee SH, Lee JH. Replacing with whole grains and legumes reduces Lp-PLA2 activities in plasma and PBMCs in patients with pre-diabetes or T2D.

J Lipid Res. Basu A, Alman AC, Snell-Bergeon JK. Dietary fiber intake and glycemic control: Coronary artery calcification in type 1 diabetes Cacti study. Nutr J. Vlachos D, Malisova S, Lindberg FA, Karaniki G.

Glycemic index Gi or glycemic load Gl and dietary interventions for optimizing postprandial hyperglycemia in patients with T2 diabetes: A review. Department of Agriculture. Food sources of dietary fiber. Ahola AJ, Mutter S, Forsblom C, Harjutsalo V, Groop PH. Meal timing, meal frequency, and breakfast skipping in adult individuals with type 1 diabetes — Associations with glycaemic control.

Sci Rep. Longitudinal association between eating frequency and hemoglobin A1c and serum lipids in diabetes in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth study. Pediatr Diabetes. Parham M, Heidari S, Khorramirad A, et al. Effects of Pistachio Nut Supplementation on Blood Glucose in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Rev Diabet Stud. Water and healthier drinks. Enhörning S, Brunkwall L, Tasevska I, et al. Water supplementation reduces copeptin and plasma glucose in adults with high copeptin: The h2o metabolism pilot study.

Yano Y, Gao Y, Johnson DA, et al. Sleep Characteristics and Measures of Glucose Metabolism in Blacks: The Jackson Heart Study. J Am Heart Assoc. Zarifsanaiey N, Jamalian K, Bazrafcan L, Keshavarzy F, Shahraki HR. The effects of mindfulness training on the level of happiness and blood sugar in diabetes patients.

J Diabetes Metab Disord. Sanogo F, Xu K, Cortessis VK, Weigensberg MJ, Watanabe RM. Mind- and body-based interventions improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Journal of Integrative and Complementary Medicine. Zhang C, Jiang J, Wang C, et al. Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials of the effects of probiotics on type 2 diabetes in adults. Clin Nutr. Vuksan V, Xu ZZ, Jovanovski E, et al.

Efficacy and safety of American ginseng Panax quinquefolius L. extract on glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals with type 2 diabetes: A double-blind, randomized, cross-over clinical trial. Eur J Nutr. Veronese N, Dominguez LJ, Pizzol D, Demurtas J, Smith L, Barbagallo M.

Oral magnesium supplementation for treating glucose metabolism parameters in people with or at risk of diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of double-blind randomized controlled trials. doi: Cross LV, Thomas JR. Safety and efficacy of dietary supplements for diabetes.

Diabetes Spectr. Kausar S, Abbas MA, Ahmad A, et al. Effect of apple cider vinegar in type 2 diabetic patients with poor glycemic control: a randomized placebo controlled design. Int J Med Res Health Sci.

Apple Cider Vinegar. Attenuation of postmeal metabolic indices with red raspberries in individuals at risk for diabetes: A randomized controlled trial.

Why Does Exercise Sometimes Raise Blood Glucose Blood Sugar? Blood glucose and exercise. Insulin basics.

Stephenson L, van den Heuvel C, Humphries M, Byard RW. Characteristics of fatal insulin overdoses. Forensic Sci Med Pathol.

There aren't any foods you can eat that will reduce your blood sugar immediately. However, you can improve your body's ability to manage glucose over time by eating low glycemic index foods such as:. Contact your healthcare provider for guidance if you have:. They'll likely want you to make an appointment to go over treatment and lifestyle options for better managing your illness.

Call or get to an emergency room if you have:. Any blood glucose level above your target range is too high. Both of these conditions can be fatal and require emergency medical treatment. You can lower blood sugars quickly with rapid-acting insulin, taking missed doses of oral medications such as meglitinides or sulfonylureas, exercising, and drinking water.

Get emergency medical attention for readings in the danger zone plus high ketone levels, sustained high BGL, or symptoms of DKA or HHS. Contact your healthcare provider if you have consistently high levels, increased thirst, or frequent urination. Cheisson G, Jacqueminet S, Cosson E, et al.

Perioperative management of adult diabetic patients. Review of hyperglycaemia: definitions and pathophysiology. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. American Diabetes Association.

Blood sugar and insulin at work. Food and Drug Administration. Stephenson L, van den Heuvel C, Humphries M, Byard RW. Characteristics of fatal insulin overdoses.

Forensic Sci Med Pathol. Blood sugar and exercise. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manage blood sugar. Caring for people with diabetes in emergency situations. Hyperglycemia high blood glucose. University of Michigan Medical School: Michigan Medicine.

High blood sugar hypoglycemia. Diabetic ketoacidosis. National Institutes of Health, U. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome.

By Michelle Pugle Michelle Pugle, MA, MHFA is a freelance health writer as seen in Healthline, Health, Everyday Health, Psych Central, and Verywell.

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By Michelle Pugle. Medically reviewed by Danielle Weiss, MD. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Take Insulin.

Take Missed Medication. Drink Water. Eat Right. When to Get Help. When to Go to the ER. Don't Double-Dose If your BGL doesn't drop right away, or doesn't come down as fast as you'd like, resist the urge to take more insulin too soon, as it could lead to hypoglycemia.

Types of Insulin and How They Work. Type 2 Diabetes Medication and Treatment. Inject Glucagon glucagon hydrochloride if available. If conscious, drink juice or a sugary soda, then eat carbohydrates with protein e.

What to Do When Your Diabetes Medication Isn't Working. Making a Type 2 Diabetes Exercise Plan. How Hyperglycemia Is Treated. Causes of Hyperglycemia in Diabetes Eating too many carbohydrates Not getting enough physical activity Illness or infection Taking a corticosteroid, like prednisone Skipping or not taking enough glucose-lowering medication.

Blood Ketone Meters: How to Test at Home. Types of Glucometers and How to Choose the Best One.

Discover more about Type 2 Diabetes

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In the United States today, approximately 96 million adults have prediabetes — and up to 70 percent of those who have elevated blood sugar will go on to develop type 2 diabetes, according to an American Diabetes Association expert panel.

Naturally, then, it might feel daunting to try to get high blood sugar under control. Missing a dose of these medications can make your BGL high. If you're surprised by a high reading, check to make sure you took your last dose.

Keeping them in a daily pill sorter instead of a bottle makes this simple. However, many diabetes drugs only work if they're taken before you eat. They won't help lower a dangerously high BGL. These include biguanides such as Glucophage metformin and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors like Precose acarbose and Glyset miglitol.

Diabetes medications that can bring down your BGL quickly include:. If you miss a dose of your diabetes medication, take it as soon as you remember. But don't double-up by taking your missed medication too closely to your next scheduled dose. This can cause dangerous side effects. When in doubt, check the medication packaging for guidance, contact your healthcare provider, or talk to a pharmacist.

If you miss several doses, contact your practitioner about the best course of action. Physical activity is the fastest way to lower your blood sugar without medication. Exercise lowers insulin resistance and helps your body convert glucose into energy.

During muscle contractions, your cells take glucose from your bloodstream and use it for energy. This lowers your blood sugar for 24 hours or more after you exercise. Exercise can increase ketone levels, which can raise blood sugars and put you at a greater risk of ketoacidosis.

Everyone responds differently to exercise, so there's no perfect formula for how much to exercise to lower your BGL. In general, though:. It's a good idea to do regular blood sugar checks before and after working out.

That way, you'll have an idea of how your body responds under normal circumstances, and that can help guide your decisions the next time you have a dangerously high BGL. When you have an episode of severe hyperglycemia, water and other unsweetened fluids can help your kidneys flush out excess sugars through your urine.

While it may not be as fast as rapid-acting insulin or exercise, it can help get you to a safe BGL. Staying hydrated may help you prevent hyperglycemic episodes as well. Most people need about four to six cups of water each day. If you work out frequently or tend to sweat a lot, you may need more. If you take medications that cause fluid retention, you may need less.

Ask your healthcare provider about your daily water needs and about how much to drink if you have a spike in blood sugars. There aren't any foods you can eat that will reduce your blood sugar immediately. However, you can improve your body's ability to manage glucose over time by eating low glycemic index foods such as:.

Contact your healthcare provider for guidance if you have:. They'll likely want you to make an appointment to go over treatment and lifestyle options for better managing your illness.

Call or get to an emergency room if you have:. Any blood glucose level above your target range is too high. Both of these conditions can be fatal and require emergency medical treatment. You can lower blood sugars quickly with rapid-acting insulin, taking missed doses of oral medications such as meglitinides or sulfonylureas, exercising, and drinking water.

Get emergency medical attention for readings in the danger zone plus high ketone levels, sustained high BGL, or symptoms of DKA or HHS. Contact your healthcare provider if you have consistently high levels, increased thirst, or frequent urination.

Cheisson G, Jacqueminet S, Cosson E, et al. Perioperative management of adult diabetic patients. Review of hyperglycaemia: definitions and pathophysiology.

Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. American Diabetes Association. Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and vegetables, maintaining a healthy weight , and getting regular physical activity can all help.

Other tips include:. Medicare , Medicaid, and most private insurance plans pay for the A1C test and fasting blood sugar test as well as some diabetes supplies.

Check your plan or ask your health care team for help finding low-cost or free supplies, and see How to Save Money on Diabetes Care for more resources. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search.

Español Other Languages. Manage Blood Sugar. Español Spanish Print. Minus Related Pages. Hypoglycemia Unawareness. Learn More. Monitoring Your Blood Sugar All About Your A1C 10 Surprising Things That Can Spike Your Blood Sugar Living With Diabetes Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support.

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Top ways to lower high blood sugar: Why is it important?

When you're sick, your body makes stress-related hormones that help fight the illness. But those hormones also can raise your blood sugar. Changes in your appetite and usual activity also may affect your blood sugar level.

Plan ahead. Work with your healthcare team to make a plan for sick days. Include instructions on what medicines to take and how to adjust your medicines if needed.

Also note how often to measure your blood sugar. Ask your healthcare professional if you need to measure levels of acids in the urine called ketones.

Your plan also should include what foods and drinks to have, and what cold or flu medicines you can take. Know when to call your healthcare professional too. For example, it's important to call if you run a fever over degrees Fahrenheit Keep taking your diabetes medicine. But call your healthcare professional if you can't eat because of an upset stomach or vomiting.

In these situations, you may need to change your insulin dose. If you take rapid-acting or short-acting insulin or other diabetes medicine, you may need to lower the dose or stop taking it for a time. These medicines need to be carefully balanced with food to prevent low blood sugar. But if you use long-acting insulin, do not stop taking it.

During times of illness, it's also important to check your blood sugar often. Stick to your diabetes meal plan if you can. Eating as usual helps you control your blood sugar. Keep a supply of foods that are easy on your stomach. These include gelatin, crackers, soups, instant pudding and applesauce.

Drink lots of water or other fluids that don't add calories, such as tea, to make sure you stay hydrated. If you take insulin, you may need to sip sugary drinks such as juice or sports drinks. These drinks can help keep your blood sugar from dropping too low.

It's risky for some people with diabetes to drink alcohol. Alcohol can lead to low blood sugar shortly after you drink it and for hours afterward. The liver usually releases stored sugar to offset falling blood sugar levels.

But if your liver is processing alcohol, it may not give your blood sugar the needed boost. Get your healthcare professional's OK to drink alcohol. With diabetes, drinking too much alcohol sometimes can lead to health conditions such as nerve damage.

But if your diabetes is under control and your healthcare professional agrees, an occasional alcoholic drink is fine. Women should have no more than one drink a day. Men should have no more than two drinks a day. One drink equals a ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.

Don't drink alcohol on an empty stomach. If you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, eat before you drink alcohol. This helps prevent low blood sugar. Or drink alcohol with a meal.

Choose your drinks carefully. Light beer and dry wines have fewer calories and carbohydrates than do other alcoholic drinks. If you prefer mixed drinks, sugar-free mixers won't raise your blood sugar.

Some examples of sugar-free mixers are diet soda, diet tonic, club soda and seltzer. Add up calories from alcohol. If you count calories, include the calories from any alcohol you drink in your daily count.

Ask your healthcare professional or a registered dietitian how to make calories and carbohydrates from alcoholic drinks part of your diet plan. Check your blood sugar level before bed. Alcohol can lower blood sugar levels long after you've had your last drink.

So check your blood sugar level before you go to sleep. The snack can counter a drop in your blood sugar. Changes in hormone levels the week before and during periods can lead to swings in blood sugar levels. Look for patterns. Keep careful track of your blood sugar readings from month to month.

You may be able to predict blood sugar changes related to your menstrual cycle. Your healthcare professional may recommend changes in your meal plan, activity level or diabetes medicines.

These changes can make up for blood sugar swings. Check blood sugar more often. If you're likely nearing menopause or if you're in menopause, talk with your healthcare professional. Ask whether you need to check your blood sugar more often.

Also, be aware that menopause and low blood sugar have some symptoms in common, such as sweating and mood changes. So whenever you can, check your blood sugar before you treat your symptoms. That way you can confirm whether your blood sugar is low.

Most types of birth control are safe to use when you have diabetes. But combination birth control pills may raise blood sugar levels in some people. It's very important to take charge of stress when you have diabetes.

The hormones your body makes in response to prolonged stress may cause your blood sugar to rise. It also may be harder to closely follow your usual routine to manage diabetes if you're under a lot of extra pressure.

Take control. Once you know how stress affects your blood sugar level, make healthy changes. Learn relaxation techniques, rank tasks in order of importance and set limits. Whenever you can, stay away from things that cause stress for you. Exercise often to help relieve stress and lower your blood sugar.

Get help. Learn new ways to manage stress. You may find that working with a psychologist or clinical social worker can help. These professionals can help you notice stressors, solve stressful problems and learn coping skills.

The more you know about factors that have an effect on your blood sugar level, the better you can prepare to manage diabetes. If you have trouble keeping your blood sugar in your target range, ask your diabetes healthcare team for help.

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Association of Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. Alcohol and diabetes. Diabetes and nerve damage. Roe AH, et al. Combined estrogen-progestin contraception: Side effects and health concerns. Products and Services The Mayo Clinic Diet Online A Book: The Essential Diabetes Book.

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Infographic: Pancreas Kidney Transplant Pancreas transplant Pulse pressure: An indicator of heart health? The effect physical activity has on your blood glucose will vary depending on how long you are active and many other factors. Physical activity can lower your blood glucose up to 24 hours or more after your workout by making your body more sensitive to insulin.

Become familiar with how your blood glucose responds to exercise. Checking your blood glucose level more often before and after exercise can help you see the benefits of activity.

You also can use the results of your blood glucose checks to see how your body reacts to different activities. Understanding these patterns can help you prevent your blood glucose from going too high or too low. People taking insulin or insulin secretagogues oral diabetes pills that cause your pancreas to make more insulin are at risk for hypoglycemia if insulin dose or carbohydrate intake is not adjusted with exercise.

Checking your blood glucose before doing any physical activity is important to prevent hypoglycemia low blood glucose. Talk to your diabetes care team doctor, nurse, dietitian, or pharmacist to find out if you are at risk for hypoglycemia.

This may be:. Check your blood glucose again after 15 minutes. If you want to continue your workout, you will usually need to take a break to treat your low blood glucose.

Keep in mind that low blood glucose can occur during or long after physical activity.

Blood sugar lowering techniques -

Perioperative management of adult diabetic patients. Review of hyperglycaemia: definitions and pathophysiology. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med. American Diabetes Association.

Blood sugar and insulin at work. Food and Drug Administration. Stephenson L, van den Heuvel C, Humphries M, Byard RW. Characteristics of fatal insulin overdoses. Forensic Sci Med Pathol. Blood sugar and exercise. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Manage blood sugar. Caring for people with diabetes in emergency situations.

Hyperglycemia high blood glucose. University of Michigan Medical School: Michigan Medicine. High blood sugar hypoglycemia. Diabetic ketoacidosis. National Institutes of Health, U. National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. Diabetic hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome. By Michelle Pugle Michelle Pugle, MA, MHFA is a freelance health writer as seen in Healthline, Health, Everyday Health, Psych Central, and Verywell.

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Type 2 Diabetes. By Michelle Pugle. Medically reviewed by Danielle Weiss, MD. Table of Contents View All. Table of Contents. Take Insulin. Take Missed Medication. Drink Water. Eat Right. When to Get Help. When to Go to the ER.

Sugary drinks elevate blood sugar by raising it even more. Eat moderate portions Portion control helps reduce the calories you eat, which helps you maintain a moderate weight.

Controlling your weight promotes healthy blood sugar levels and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Manage your stress Stress also affects blood sugar levels. Exercise, relaxation techniques, and meditation can help to reduce stress and blood sugar levels.

Get enough sleep Poor sleeping habits can increase appetite and promote weight gain, affecting blood sugar. Sleep deprivation increases cortisol levels — which are essential to managing blood sugar. Eat foods that are rich in chromium and magnesium High blood sugar levels are linked to deficiencies in minerals like chromium and magnesium, which regulate blood sugar.

Chromium-rich foods include meats, fruit, vegetables, and nuts. Magnesium-rich foods include dark, leafy greens, squash and pumpkin seeds, tuna, whole grains, dark chocolate, bananas, and beans. Get the Care You Need You can help to control your blood sugar levels with a few natural adjustments to your lifestyle and diet.

Avoid sugar-sweetened options, as these can raise blood glucose, drive weight gain, and increase diabetes risk 22 , Staying hydrated can reduce blood sugar levels and diabetes risk.

Choose water and zero-calorie drinks and avoid sugar-sweetened beverages. Portion control can help you regulate your calorie intake and maintain a moderate weight 24 , Consequently, weight management promotes healthy blood sugar levels and has been shown to reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes 1 , 26 , Monitoring your serving sizes also helps prevent blood sugar spikes 2.

The glycemic index GI measures how quickly carbs break down during digestion and how rapidly your body absorbs them.

This affects how quickly your blood sugar levels rise The GI divides foods into low, medium, and high GI and ranks them on a scale of 0— Low GI foods have a ranking of 55 or less 15 , Both the amount and type of carbs you eat determine how a food affects your blood sugar levels.

Specifically, eating low GI foods has been shown to reduce blood sugar levels in people with diabetes 15 , Furthermore, adding protein or healthy fats helps minimize blood sugar spikes after a meal Stress can affect your blood sugar levels When stressed, your body secretes hormones called glucagon and cortisol, which cause blood sugar levels to rise 29 , One study including a group of students showed that exercise, relaxation, and meditation significantly reduced stress and lowered blood sugar levels Exercises and relaxation methods like yoga and mindfulness-based stress reduction may also help correct insulin secretion problems among people with chronic diabetes 31 , 32 , Managing your stress levels through exercise or relaxation methods like yoga may help you regulate blood sugar levels.

Monitoring blood glucose levels can help you better manage them You can do so at home using a portable blood glucose meter, which is known as a glucometer. You can discuss this option with your doctor. Keeping track allows you to determine whether you need to adjust your meals or medications.

It also helps you learn how your body reacts to certain foods 2. Try measuring your levels regularly every day and keeping track of the numbers in a log.

Also, it may be more helpful to track your blood sugar in pairs — for example, before and after exercise or before and 2 hours after a meal. This can show you whether you need to make small changes to a meal if it spikes your blood sugar, rather than avoiding your favorite meals altogether.

Some adjustments include swapping a starchy side for non-starchy veggies or limiting them to a handful. Checking your blood glucose and maintaining a daily log enables you to adjust foods and medications when necessary to better manage your blood sugar levels.

Getting enough sleep feels excellent and is necessary for good health In fact, poor sleeping habits and a lack of rest can affect blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity, increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. They can also increase appetite and promote weight gain 36 , 37 , Additionally, sleep deprivation raises levels of the hormone cortisol, which, as explained, plays an essential role in blood sugar management 29 , Adequate sleep is about both quantity and quality.

The National Sleep Foundation recommends that adults get at least 7—8 hours of high quality sleep per night To improve the quality of your sleep , try to:. Good sleep helps maintain your blood sugar levels and promotes a healthy weight. On the other hand, poor sleep can disrupt critical metabolic hormones.

High blood sugar levels and diabetes have been linked to micronutrient deficiencies. Some examples include deficiencies in the minerals chromium and magnesium Chromium is involved in carb and fat metabolism.

It may potentiate the action of insulin, thus aiding blood sugar regulation 41 , 42 , 43 , Chromium-rich foods include:. However, the mechanisms behind this proposed connection are not entirely known, and studies report mixed findings.

As such, more research is needed 41 , 45 , Magnesium has also been shown to benefit blood sugar levels. In fact, diets rich in magnesium are associated with a significantly reduced risk of diabetes In contrast, low magnesium levels may lead to insulin resistance and decreased glucose tolerance in people with diabetes 47 , 48 , Eating foods rich in chromium and magnesium can help prevent deficiencies and reduce the risk of blood sugar problems.

However, the overall quality of evidence on these ingredients is low due to insufficient human studies or small sample sizes. Therefore, no conclusive recommendations can be made regarding their use Some of the foods touted to have anti-diabetes effects include 51 , 52 :.

Finally, the Food and Drug Administration FDA does not regulate supplements in the same way that it regulates prescription medications. Some foods are believed to have blood-sugar-lowering effects.

However, research is still inconclusive, and they may negatively interact with your diabetes medication. If you need help finding a primary care doctor, then check out our FindCare tool here.

Maintaining a moderate weight promotes healthy blood sugar levels and reduces your risk of developing diabetes 2 , 26 , 27 , For example, if a person weighs pounds 91 kg and loses just 10—14 pounds 4.

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