How can you lower your blood sugar levels?

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By Maria Prelipcean, MD

1. Why manage blood sugar?

2. Lowering blood sugar levels
3. Takeaway

Blood sugar levels are a primary concern for people with diabetes. High blood sugar,
known as hyperglycemia, occurs when a person's blood sugar is over 180 milligrams per
deciliter (mg/dL).
High blood sugar levels can be dangerous if not promptly managed and lead to both short-
term and long-term problems.

In this article, we look at some different ways to help people lower their blood sugar levels.
These steps include lifestyle changes, diet tips, and natural remedies.

Why is managing blood sugar important?

For those with diabetes, managing blood sugar levels can help to prevent serious
complications.
Keeping blood sugars at target levels helps people with diabetes avoid serious
complications from the disease. High blood sugar can cause many ill effects, which can be
sudden, such as acid buildup in the bloodstream, or occur gradually over time.

Over time, keeping blood sugar at unhealthful levels can damage small and large blood
vessels in several organs and systems, leading to serious consequences, such as:

vision impairment and blindness

foot ulcers, infections, and amputations
kidney failure and dialysis
heart attacks and strokes
peripheral vascular disease, a condition where blood flow to the limbs is reduced
damage to the nervous system, leading to pain and weakness

By keeping blood sugar levels under 100 mg/dL before eating and under 180 mg/dL after
eating, people with diabetes can significantly reduce their risk of adverse effects from the
disease.

How to lower blood sugar levels

Here are 12 ways that a person with diabetes can lower high blood sugar levels and reduce
the risk of complications.

1. Monitor blood sugar levels closely

High blood sugar levels often do not cause symptoms until they run well over 200 mg/dL.
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As such, it is essential for a person with diabetes to monitor their blood sugar several times
a day. Doing so will mean that blood sugar levels never get that high.

A person with diabetes can use a home glucose monitor to check blood sugar levels.

Recommendations for how frequently to check glucose levels during the day will vary from
person to person. A doctor can make the best recommendations regarding blood sugar
monitoring to a person with diabetes.

2. Reduce carbohydrate intake

Researchers have carried out studies showing that eating a low-carbohydrate, high-protein
diet reduces blood sugar levels.

The body breaks down carbohydrates into sugar that the body uses as energy. Some carbs
are necessary in the diet. However, for people with diabetes, eating too many
carbohydrates can cause blood sugar to spike too high.

Reducing the amounts of carbohydrates a person eats reduces the amount a person's
blood sugar spikes.

3. Eat the right carbohydrates

The two main kinds of carbohydrates — simple and complex — affect blood sugar levels
differently.

Simple carbohydrates are mainly made up of one kind of sugar. They are found in foods,
such as white bread, pasta, and candy. The body breaks these carbohydrates down into
sugar very quickly, which causes blood sugar levels to rise rapidly.

Complex carbohydrates are made up of three or more sugars that are linked together.
Because the chemical makeup of these kinds of carbohydrates is complicated, it takes the
body longer to break them down.

As a result, sugar is released into the body more gradually, meaning that blood sugar levels
do not rapidly rise after eating them. Examples of complex carbohydrates include whole
grain oats and sweet potatoes.

4. Choose low glycemic index foods

The glycemic index measures and ranks various foods by how much they cause blood
sugar levels to rise. Research shows that following a low glycemic index diet decreases
fasting blood sugar levels.

Low glycemic index foods are those that score below 55 on the glycemic index. Examples
of low glycemic foods include:

sweet potatoes
quinoa
legumes
low-fat milk
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 leafy greens
non-starchy vegetables
nuts and seeds
meats
fish

5. Increase dietary fiber intake

Eating plenty of soluble fiber, including whole grains such as brown rice, may help.
Fiber plays a significant role in blood sugar management by slowing down the rate that
carbohydrates break down, and the rate that the body absorbs the resulting sugars.

The two types of fiber are soluble and insoluble fiber. Of the two types, soluble fiber is the
most helpful in controlling blood sugar.

Soluble fiber is in the following foods:

vegetables
legumes
whole grains
fruit

6. Maintain a healthy weight

Losing weight helps control blood sugar levels. Being overweight is linked to increased
incidents of diabetes and greater occurrences of insulin resistance.

Studies show that reducing weight by even only 7 percent can reduce the chances of
developing diabetes by 58 percent.

It is important to note that a person does not need to achieve ideal body weight to benefit
from losing 10–20 pounds and keeping it off. Doing so will also improve cholesterol,
reduce the risk of complications, and improve a person's general sense of well-being.

Eating a healthful diet full of fruits and vegetables and getting enough exercise can help a
person lose weight or maintain their currently healthy weight.

7. Control portion size

At most meals, a person should follow portion guidelines provided by a doctor or
nutritionist. Overeating at a sitting can cause a spike in blood sugar.

Although simple carbohydrates are typically associated with elevated blood sugar levels, all
food causes blood sugar levels to rise. Careful control of portions can keep blood sugar
levels more controlled.

8. Exercise regularly
Exercise has many benefits for people with diabetes, including weight loss and increased
insulin sensitivity.

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Insulin is a hormone that helps people break down sugar in the body. People with diabetes
either do not make enough or any insulin in their body or are resistant to the insulin the
body does produce.

Exercise also helps to lower blood sugar levels by encouraging the body's muscles to use
sugar for energy.

9. Hydrate
Proper hydration is key to a healthful lifestyle. For people worried about lowering high blood
sugar, it is crucial.

Drinking enough water prevents dehydration and also helps the kidneys remove extra sugar
from the body in the urine.

Those looking to reduce blood sugar levels should reach for water and avoid all sugary
drinks, such as fruit juice or soda, which may raise blood sugar levels instead.

People with diabetes should reduce alcohol intake to the equivalent of one drink per day for
women and two for men unless other restrictions apply.

10. Try herbal extracts

Herbal supplements, such as green tea, may help to boost the diet with essential nutrients.
Herbal extracts may have a positive effect on treating and controlling blood sugar levels.

Most people should attempt to gain nutrients from the foods they eat. However,
supplements are often helpful for people who do not get enough of the nutrients from
natural sources.

Most doctors do not consider supplements as a treatment by themselves. A person should

consult their doctor before taking any supplement, as they may interfere with any
prescribed medications.

Some supplements a person may want to try include:

green tea
American ginseng
bitter melon
cinnamon
Aloe vera
fenugreek
chromium

11. Manage stress

Stress has a significant impact on blood sugar levels. The body gives off stress hormones
when under tension, and these hormones raise blood sugar levels.

Research shows that managing stress through meditation and exercise can also help to
lower blood sugar levels.
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12. Get enough sleep
Sleep helps a person reduce the amount of sugar in their blood. Getting adequate sleep
each night is an excellent way to help keep blood sugar levels at a normal level.

Blood sugar levels tend to surge in the early morning hours. In most people, insulin will tell
the body what to do with the excess sugar, which keeps the blood sugar levels normal.

Lack of sleep can have a similar effect to insulin resistance, meaning that a person's blood
sugar level could spike significantly from lack of sleep.

Takeaway
Managing high blood sugar is key to avoiding serious complications from diabetes.

There is a range of lifestyle interventions that can help a person struggling with high blood
sugar to lower their glucose levels.

A person should always follow their doctor's advice for lowering high blood sugar.

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