How You Can
Lower Blood Sugar Level
People who suffer from high levels of blood sugar are more likely to
develop serious health conditions such as infections, blood clotting, and the
inability of cuts and wounds to heal. Over time high blood glucose (sugar)
levels in the blood can lead to diabetes. If you are suffering from this
disease there are some steps you can take to lower your blood sugar levels.
Staying fit and healthy is the best way to lower levels. Daily exercise
is important, not only to lower levels, but to also fight infections. Staying
active and exercising regularly will also help with blood pressure problems. If
you are fighting diabetes it is important to stay at a healthy weight and here
is where exercise is incredibly helpful.
You do not need to immediately go out and join a gym to get your
exercise and it does not need to be a grueling workout. Setting aside thirty
minutes a day to walk will help lower blood sugar levels. Walking to the
mailbox, around the block, even to the neighborhood store is all that may be
necessary to provide you with some much needed exercise. Prior to beginning any
exercise program it is advisable to talk with your doctor, especially if you
are thinking of doing strenuous activity such as jogging, boxing, or aerobic,
especially if you are diabetic or pre-diabetic.
Your diet also plays a part in helping to lower sugar levels. Foods
that are digested more slowly by the body are a better option, including fibers
and proteins. Foods high in starch and sugar enter the bloodstream easily and
rapidly, causing the pancreas to work harder to produce insulin.
Foods that can help lower blood sugar levels include items such as
pears, apples, and oranges. Oatmeal, peanuts, beans, peas, and granola are also
good for your blood sugar. Items to avoid include potatoes, rice, and white
bread. Research has shown that potatoes and white bread are converted extremely
quickly by the body into sugar. These foods are converted to sugar more quickly
than a candy bar would be.
Avoid fast foods at all costs. These foods contain extremely high levels
of fat and sugar. When possible it is best to look for a healthier option.
Government mandates that food packaging contain information on the food’s sugar
content so please read labels prior to purchasing items. You will also find
healthy meal options, such as salads or fish dishes, in most restaurants and
even fast food outlets.
Another way to lower blood sugar levels is to make sure you drink plenty
of water each day. You should drink at least eight glasses of water per day as
this will flush harmful toxins from the body, help with weight loss, and keep
the skin healthy. You can also take certain herbs which can help lower blood
sugar levels. Herbs such as and cinnamon ginseng have been shown to regulate
blood sugar levels. Other herbs that help lower blood sugar include yarrow,
huckleberries, and licorice extract.
Why is Your Blood Sugar Level
Higher in the Morning
Too much insulin causes low blood
sugar levels or hypoglycemia and because this is a life-threatening situation,
your body will respond by releasing several insulin antagonists… cortisol and
epinephrine from your adrenal glands, growth hormone from the pituitary gland
and glucagon from your pancreas. Why… to negate the effects of insulin.
These are very powerful hormones
that bring about rapid and powerful elevations in your blood sugar levels and
often cause your blood sugars to shoot too high. So then these high levels need
to be treated with more insulin which can then cause another plunge in your
blood glucose. This will be followed by another compensatory response and even
larger doses of insulin.
Now the Dawn
Phenomenon is a natural occurring process that occurs during the
sleep cycle, where your body starts to work on the compensatory response
mentioned above. These hormones fight against your insulin’s attempt to lower
your blood sugars, and usually occurs when your insulin dose is wearing off.
This results in your high blood sugars in the morning. This occurs in many type
2 diabetics six to ten hours after bedtime.
Many people with type 2 diabetes
wake up in the morning with a higher blood sugar level than when they went to
bed, although they have not eaten and had their insulin injection or
anti-diabetic medication the previous night.
A higher level above 108 mg/dl (6
mmol/l) when you get up in the morning is a common feature of type 2 diabetes
and is actually a puzzle to those who experience it.
Events leading to the Somogyi
Effect or rebound hyperglycemia are similar to the Dawn
Phenomenon… the difference is the cause. In this case your blood glucose has
dropped due to taking too much insulin or failing to have a snack before your
bedtime.
Checking your blood sugar levels
between 2 and 3am on several consecutive nights will give you a clue as to
which effect is the cause of your early morning high sugar level. If your level
is consistently low the Somogyi Effect is likely to be the cause. This would
then indicate your night-time insulin level is too high or your bedtime snack
too small. On the other hand, if your level is high between 2 and 3am, the Dawn
Phenomenon is more likely the cause.
Do not hesitate to talk to your
health care practitioner as you may need to change the time you take your
evening insulin so that its peak action occurs when your blood sugar levels
start to rise. Bringing your level down aggressively will only worsen the
problem by creating hypoglycemia.
Another theory is that you should
be less concerned with blood sugar levels that are elevated in the morning
unless there is consistent elevation during the day.
Once your health care provider
works out the cause of your high blood sugar levels during the night-time he
can advise you as to the changes you need to make.
How to Maintain Healthy and Normal Blood Sugar Levels
Normal blood sugar levels are
challenging to maintain, especially for people suffering from Diabetes, which
is a disease characterized by the body’s inability to break down sugars due to
lack of the hormone insulin. It is also a problem for people with Hypoglycemia,
which is a disorder wherein too much insulin in the body breaks down sugars too
much and too soon. Blood sugar, or the amount of glucose in the blood, is
crucial for maintaining normal bodily functions. There have been researches
that say that abnormal blood sugar levels could eventually lead to heart
diseases, and terminal illnesses such as cancer. Here are a few tips to
maintain normal blood sugar levels, whether or not you are suffering from the
aforementioned illnesses.
First, a good diet is a must in
order to keep your weight proportioned accordingly to your height and age. Your
diet must consist of fibers, which is found in foods like brown rice, wheat
bread, and fruits and vegetables. Processed carbohydrate-laden foods like white
rice and bread are high in simple sugars, which is absorbed in the body too
easily.
Avoid foods that have high
contents of sugar such as candies, sodas, cookies and cakes. It can be
challenging for a person with sweet tooth, however, you can replace your
cravings with low-sugar alternatives.
Get a good dose of fruits and
vegetables daily. They are a good source of vitamins and minerals, and are low
in calories.
Finally, exercise. Walk to work,
or climb the stairs if you can afford to. Shed some extra pounds, as overweight
people are more susceptible to blood glucose-related diseases. Remember that
normal blood sugar levels are critical for brain and body functioning, and are
reliant primarily on your diet and lifestyle.
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