PREP TIME 5 min. Manage your stress Stress Body fat tracking suhar blood sugar levels. Several foods may help lower your blood sugar, but some may be more effective than others. Newsletter Sign Up.

Video

5 Tools for Managing Blood Glucose Numbers - Peter Attia, M.D. Diabetes is cpntrolling disease that causes high levels of glucose sugar in Body fat tracking blood. Over time, conrtolling blood sugar can damage tiny blkod vessels controlling blood sugar your body. Controlling your blood sugar can help you prevent or delay long-term damage to your heart, eyesfeet, and kidneys. Carbs are quick and easy and delicious. It can be pretty hard to break these habits and learn how to manage blood sugar. He says the key is balance — mixing sugars and carbohydrates with protein, fiber, and healthy fats.

Controlling blood sugar -

org , use MyChart , or call Back to Blog 8 Ways to Lower Your Blood Sugar August 2, But there are simple steps you can take to lower your blood sugar levels naturally: 1. Exercise regularly Regular exercise can help improve your insulin sensitivity, which means your cells can better use the sugar in your blood, reducing blood sugar levels.

Good forms of exercise include weightlifting, walking briskly, running, bicycling, dancing, hiking, and swimming. Manage your carbs You body converts carbs into sugar, then 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.

Be sure to tell your health care professional if your glucose levels often go above or below your target range. Sometimes blood glucose levels drop below where they should be, which is called hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia can be life threatening and needs to be treated right away. Learn more about how to recognize and treat hypoglycemia. If you often have high blood glucose levels or symptoms of high blood glucose, talk with your health care team. You may need a change in your diabetes meal plan, physical activity plan, or medicines.

Most people with diabetes get health care from a primary care professional. Primary care professionals include internists, family physicians, and pediatricians. Sometimes physician assistants and nurses with extra training, called nurse practitioners, provide primary care.

You also will need to see other care professionals from time to time. A team of health care professionals can help you improve your diabetes self-care.

Remember, you are the most important member of your health care team. When you see members of your health care team, ask questions. Watch a video to help you get ready for your diabetes care visit. You should see your health care team at least twice a year, and more often if you are having problems or are having trouble reaching your blood glucose, blood pressure, or cholesterol goals.

At each visit, be sure you have a blood pressure check, foot check, and weight check; and review your self-care plan. Talk with your health care team about your medicines and whether you need to adjust them.

Routine health care will help you find and treat any health problems early, or may be able to help prevent them. Talk with your doctor about what vaccines you should get to keep from getting sick, such as a flu shot and pneumonia shot. Preventing illness is an important part of taking care of your diabetes.

Feeling stressed, sad, or angry is common when you live with diabetes. Stress can raise your blood glucose levels, but you can learn ways to lower your stress. Try deep breathing, gardening, taking a walk, doing yoga, meditating, doing a hobby, or listening to your favorite music.

Consider taking part in a diabetes education program or support group that teaches you techniques for managing stress. Learn more about healthy ways to cope with stress. Depression is common among people with a chronic, or long-term, illness. Depression can get in the way of your efforts to manage your diabetes.

Ask for help if you feel down. A mental health counselor, support group, clergy member, friend, or family member who will listen to your feelings may help you feel better. Try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. Getting enough sleep can help improve your mood and energy level. You can take steps to improve your sleep habits.

If you often feel sleepy during the day, you may have obstructive sleep apnea , a condition in which your breathing briefly stops many times during the night.

Sleep apnea is common in people who have diabetes. Talk with your health care team if you think you have a sleep problem. This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases NIDDK , part of the National Institutes of Health.

NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public.

Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts. Home Health Information Diabetes Diabetes Overview Managing Diabetes. English English Español. Diabetes Overview What Is Diabetes? Show child pages.

Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes Show child pages. Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Show child pages. Preventing Diabetes Problems Show child pages. How can I manage my diabetes? Your self-care plan may include these steps: Manage your diabetes ABCs Knowing your diabetes ABCs will help you manage your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

A for the A1C test The A1C test shows your average blood glucose level over the past 3 months. C for Cholesterol You have two kinds of cholesterol in your blood: LDL and HDL.

S for Stop smoking Not smoking is especially important for people with diabetes because both smoking and diabetes narrow blood vessels.

If you quit smoking you will lower your risk for heart attack, stroke, nerve disease, kidney disease, diabetic eye disease, and amputation your cholesterol and blood pressure levels may improve your blood circulation will improve you may have an easier time being physically active If you smoke or use other tobacco products, stop.

Follow your diabetes meal plan Make a diabetes meal plan with help from your health care team. Make physical activity part of your daily routine Set a goal to be more physically active. Swimming or water walking is a good way to move more. Take your medicine Take your medicines for diabetes and any other health problems, even when you feel good or have reached your blood glucose, blood pressure, and cholesterol goals.

Check your blood glucose levels For many people with diabetes, checking their blood glucose level each day is an important way to manage their diabetes. Checking and recording your blood glucose level is an important part of managing diabetes.

What is continuous glucose monitoring? What are the recommended targets for blood glucose levels? What happens if my blood glucose level becomes too low?

What happens if my blood glucose level becomes too high? Doctors call high blood glucose hyperglycemia. Symptoms that your blood glucose levels may be too high include feeling thirsty feeling tired or weak headaches urinating often blurred vision If you often have high blood glucose levels or symptoms of high blood glucose, talk with your health care team.

Work with your health care team Most people with diabetes get health care from a primary care professional.

There are different types of diabetes, Subcutaneous fat and body shape Body fat tracking two conttrolling with diabetes Dehydration causes the same. Ocntrolling healthy eating tips Body fat tracking contfolling and can help you manage your blood glucose sugarblood conrrolling and cholesterol levels. They can also help you manage your weight and reduce the risk of diabetes complicationssuch as heart problems and strokesand other health conditions including certain types of cancers. We've based our tips on research involving people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. If you have a different type of diabetes, like gestationalcystic fibrosis-related diabetes or MODY, some of these tips are relevant to you.