How Can I Lower my Blood Sugar?
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If you suffer from high levels of blood sugar, you may be more likely to develop serious health conditions, such as infections, blood clotting, and the inability of cuts and wounds to heal. High sugar levels in the blood can also lead to conditions such as diabetes. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to lower blood sugar levels.
An easy way to lower blood sugar levels is to stay fit and healthy. Regular exercise not only helps lower blood sugar levels, but also helps fight infections. Staying active and taking regular exercise can also help with blood pressure problems. Exercise also helps control the body's weight and regulate cholesterol levels.
This exercise does not need to be a grueling workout. Thirty minutes of exercise a day, even walking, will help to lower blood sugar levels. Walking to the store instead of taking the car is all that may be necessary to provide you with some much needed exercise. Any extra exercise, including working out in a gym, should be discussed with a doctor first if you have irregular blood sugar levels.
The food that you eat also plays a part in helping to lower blood sugar levels. Low-glycemic foods that are digested more slowly by the body are a better option. High-glycemic foods enter the bloodstream easily and rapidly, causing the pancreas to work harder to produce insulin.
Low-glycemic foods that can help lower blood sugar levels include fruit such as pears, apples, and oranges. Oatmeal, peanuts, beans, peas, and granola are all low-glycemic foods. High-glycemic foods include potatoes, rice, and white bread. Research has shown that potatoes and white bread are converted extremely quickly by the body into glucose. In fact, they are converted more quickly than a candy bar would be.
Fast foods should always be avoided. The fat and sugar content in most fast foods is extremely high. Always look for a healthier option. Much food packaging now contains information on the food's sugar content. Most restaurants and even fast food outlets now have healthy meal options, such as salads or fish dishes.
Drinking plenty of water is another way to lower blood sugar levels. Drinking at least eight glasses of water per day will also flush harmful toxins from the body, help with weight loss, and keep the skin healthy. Recent research has shown that certain herbs can help lower blood sugar levels as well. Taking ginseng after meals has been shown to regulate blood sugar levels. Other helpful herbs include yarrow, huckleberries, cinnamon powder, and licorice extract.
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28
I'm thinking anon44469 might be talking about stevia. It is a sugar substitute and has been shown to help control diabetes. - anon52969
27
I was told the following by a diabetes advisor:
Foods that raise blood sugar are starches, fruits, juices, milk, sweets, carbohydrates. Also, stress and illness raise levels.
Things that lower blood sugar levels are exercise, insulin, water, weight loss, cinnamon, low carb foods. - anon45202
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Doubting Tom,
You just stop drinking so much caffeine and the cysts and lumps will get so small that they are of no effect. --Laura
- anon45197
25
my mom has diabetes for a while now. she is the type to try new stuff and then leave it as soon as she starts. she got a real hard pain in her chest and started to gasp for air. her blood sugar is above 400. its 407! she doesn't want a doctor. what do i do? - anon44967
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Anon44469, I am diabetic and have never heard of this kind of sugar. As far as I know, the only way to really get your sugar under control is to limit your carbohydrate intake and take your medicine, along with doing some form of exercise. Personally, I aim for about 100 grams of carbohydrates per day and I try to walk for 20-30 minutes several times a week. If you can't walk this much to start with, that's fine. But you need to do some activity, even if you start at five minutes per day. If you have tried all these options, then you may need to talk with your doctor about your treatment program. My last A1c was 5.3 and my average morning blood sugar is 89-95. When I was diagnosed, my A1c was 7.6. I've lost about 90 pounds since diagnosis. You also need to check your blood sugar several times per day to see how different foods affect you. Take a diabetes education class too, if you have not done so. They are very helpful. - anon44470
23
I have been a diabetic for about six years and I still do not have my sugar under control.I was told about a type of sugar that diabetics can use, and the more you use it the more it controls you blood sugars. Does anyone know what this sugar is called? Thank you.
- anon44469
22
I'm helping take care of my aunt who is a diabetic. I just took her blood sugar and it was 348! That's the highest it has been! I'm scared, but she said she feels fine, and she is drinking a lot of water. What else can I do? Is this high blood sugar going to hurt her? Help! Thank you! - anon42022
Editor's reply: The high blood sugar accounts for her thirst. If she takes insulin, make sure she has had her insulin and all medication. And although this may seem counterintuitive, give her a small protein-based snack, like a piece of cheese, a handful of nuts or a piece of lunchmeat. Also, call her doctor as soon as you can and let him/her know you are helping care for her and to tell you what to do when her sugar goes up, and when it is time to go to the emergency room. If it goes over 400, call 911. She will need to have it regulated in the hospital.
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My mother's blood sugar is around 16. What can she do to lower her blood sugar? - anon38622
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My best friend just recently discovered that she has diabetes. she is also a HIV/AIDS victim. she started losing serious weight in the last 1 week. her former doctor got a promotion and now works in california and her husband just her divorced because of her condition. she has nowhere to go. i decided to take her in and she refuses to eat. please what do i do. - smartguy
15
Eating fruit, beans raises my blood sugar. My sugar goes up big time when I eat oatmeal. I don't know how this article can say it's low low-glycemic. - anon33036
14
Few things that I have tried to control my diabetes for last 10 years are:1. drinking bittermelon juice ( an Indian vegetable juiced using JackLalaine juicer)...acts like insulin 2. Fenugreek powder 3. AlphaLipoic Acid 4. Cinnamon powder 5. Turmeric powder 6. Biotin 7. Accupressure under ring finger on heart line 8. using Flaxseed bread ...6 gms carb/slice (trader's joes) 9. Edemame young soybeans pods If my sugar after a meal goes over 250, I immediately drink bittermelon juice and within an hour the readings are normal. You must try these and feel the change in energy level, eye sight, feet sensitivity, etc. Good Luck! - anon31814
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I don't know how eating oatmeal is good for a diabetic. I eat it and my blood sugar level spikes. Also, eating fruits elevates it also. - anon31491
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my mother in law is diabetic and she has been using fenugreek and it helps to lower her sugar, i went online to read about it and sure enough it is used to lower blood sugar, it is available in organic stores, i recommend it to anyone that is suffering from high blood sugar. - anon31200
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Chromium Picolinate, Alpha Lipoic acid and cinnamon(already mentioned) are nutritional supplements that all assist insulin or replace insulin in helping glucose go across the cell membrane so the cell can use it in cellular respiration which produces energy. Also, white kidney bean extract when taken 30 minutes before a meal block the affect of amylase, an enzyme that digests starch and sugar into glucose, thus decreasing the amount absorbed. This taken with a high carb meal will decrease the total amount of glucose absorbed so blood sugar will not go so high. - anon30701
9
I am only a kid but i eat a kind of pasta that you can actually eat more than a serving with out going up in the 400's. you can get it at sprouts on 835 west foothill blvd in claremont. you can eat fruit too. they're just 15 carbs for 1 serving (a handful). you just need to be a bit smarter. - anon23754
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Fruit can raise it, & the answer to the pasta affecting more than the candy bar- most candy bars have more protein & fat than actual 'sugars' so it is processed more slowly, which is why eating candy bars for lows will not work as efficiently as a 4 oz glass of 0J :] - anon19958
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I have diabetes and I can assure you fruit is forbidden for me. I can eat one orange or an apple and my sugar goes up just as much and sometimes more than if I eat a big bowl of pasta. Carbs make my levels go up higher than a candy bar (I've experimented)and forget about soda or juice. I feel like a prisoner of my own body. I love food and now there if it tastes good I can't eat it because my glucose levels sky rocket. - anon17918
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Dear Wisegeek
I would like to thank you for this enlightening medical info and website, for I learned a great deal about the things I wanted to know about ways to control blood sugar. sincerely, S. Ross - anon8952
4
Excellent article. It is spot on - just do it. I've had fantastic success with my blood sugar levels by stepping up my exercise and taking the low GI diet seriously, losing 10kg from 100kg weight (Female, aged 53) so far.
High blood sugar absolutely wrecks your body, you will never regret making your health a priority.
It feels good to know to know that with this new knowledge of low GI eating and the amazing benefits of exercise, you can probably fully avoid the horrors of diabetes. - anon8941
3
According to the Mayo Clinic, chocolate contains more than just trace amounts of caffeine. A Hershey's milk chocolate bar contains about 10% of the amount in an 8 oz cup of regular coffee. Dark chocolate contains about double that. A decaf cup of coffee contains what I would call a "trace" amount of caffeine though...about 2 milligrams (which is like 2% the amount of caffeine in regular coffee). - somerset
2
Doubting Tom,
I'm not an expert of any kind, but have had enough education/experience to feel like I can offer some insight.
1. I would be EXTREMELY surprised to hear that caffeine intake by parents had any effect on a child. The exception is a pregnant mother, obviously.
2. Caffeine doesn't really hide in places where you're not expecting it. Hot drinks, like coffee and tea are known for caffeine. Sodas usually have caffeine added. Chocolate sometimes has trace amounts, depending on the quality and the refining process.
3. Regular caffeine use has been linked to benign lumps in breast tissue, as well as extended memory in older women. These side effects are seen to disappear as caffeine intake is eliminated.
- anon3568
1
Regarding Caffeine Levels: 300 mgms per day:
Does the level vary with the hereditary habits like higher intake of caffeine in the family, particularly parents? Most of them grow to be most insensitive to the intake of caffeine with next to nil side- effects.
Would you also give me a list of Caffeine-rich food / beverages / drinks items?
Can excessive caffeine intake result in cyst formation / lumps in Female Breasts? Any effective cure for it? - doubtingtom
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Written by
Garry Crystal
Last Modified: 18 November 2009
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