Controlling blood sugar fluctuations -
Vinegar has been shown to increase insulin response and help control blood sugar when taken with carbs. It is thought to enhance the action of insulin. This could help control blood sugar spikes by encouraging the cells to absorb sugar from the blood. In one small study, 13 healthy men were given 75 grams of white bread with or without chromium added.
Recommended dietary intakes for chromium can be found here. Rich food sources include broccoli, egg yolks, shellfish, tomatoes and Brazil nuts. Magnesium is another mineral that has been linked to blood sugar control.
In one study of 48 people, half were given a mg magnesium supplement along with lifestyle advice, while the other half were just given lifestyle advice. Insulin sensitivity increased in the group given magnesium supplements Another study investigated the combined effects of supplementing with chromium and magnesium on blood sugar.
They found that a combination of the two increased insulin sensitivity more than either supplement alone Recommended dietary intakes for magnesium can be found here. Rich food sources include spinach, almonds, avocados, cashews and peanuts. Chromium and magnesium may help increase insulin sensitivity.
Evidence shows they may be more effective together. Cinnamon and fenugreek have been used in alternative medicine for thousands of years. They have both been linked to blood sugar control. The scientific evidence for the use of cinnamon in blood sugar control is mixed.
In healthy people, cinnamon has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity and reduce blood sugar spikes following a carb-based meal 43 , 44 , 45 , It found that eating 6 grams of cinnamon with grams of rice pudding significantly reduced blood sugar spikes, compared to eating the pudding alone One review looked at 10 high-quality studies in a total of people with diabetes.
The review found no significant difference in blood sugar spikes after participants had taken cinnamon The European Food Safety Authority EFSA has set the tolerable daily intake of coumarin at 0.
This is around half a teaspoon 1 gram of Cassia cinnamon for a pound kg person One of the properties of fenugreek is that the seeds are high in soluble fiber.
An analysis of 10 studies found that fenugreek significantly reduced blood sugar two hours after eating Fenugreek may help reduce blood sugar spikes. It can be added to food, but it does have quite a strong taste, so some people prefer to take it as a supplement.
Both cinnamon and fenugreek are relatively safe. They may have beneficial effects on your blood sugar if you take them with a meal that contains carbs. Berberine is a chemical that can be extracted from several different plants It has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
Some of its uses include cholesterol reduction, weight loss and blood sugar control 52 , Berberine reduces the amount of sugar produced by the liver and increases insulin sensitivity.
It has even been found to be as effective as some drugs used for type 2 diabetes 54 , 55 , 56 , One study looked at people with type 2 diabetes who either received berberine or a placebo for three months. However, another study found berberine caused side effects in some people, such as diarrhea, constipation and gas Although berberine appears to be fairly safe, speak to your doctor before taking it if you have any medical conditions or are taking any medication.
If you really want to reduce your blood sugar spikes, you should also consider these lifestyle factors that can affect blood sugar. Stress can negatively affect your health in a number of ways, causing headaches, increased blood pressure and anxiety.
It has also been shown to affect blood sugar. As stress levels go up, your body releases certain hormones.
The effect is to release stored energy in the form of sugar into your bloodstream for the fight-or-flight response One study of Italian workers found an increase in work-related stress was directly linked to an increase in blood sugar levels Actively addressing stress has also been found to benefit your blood sugar.
In a study of nursing students, yoga exercises were found to reduce stress and blood sugar spikes following a meal Both too little and too much sleep have been associated with poor blood sugar control.
A study of nine healthy people showed that sleeping too little, or only for 4 hours, increased insulin resistance and blood sugar levels With sleep, quality is as important as quantity. A study found the deepest level of sleep NREM to be most important in terms of controlling blood sugar Alcoholic drinks often contain a lot of added sugar.
This is particularly true for mixed drinks and cocktails, which can contain up to 30 grams of sugar per serving. The sugar in alcoholic drinks will cause blood sugar spikes in the same way as added sugar in food.
Most alcoholic drinks also have little or no nutritional value. As with added sugar, they are effectively empty calories. Furthermore, over time, heavy drinking can decrease the effectiveness of insulin, which leads to high blood sugar and can eventually lead to type 2 diabetes However, studies show that moderate, controlled drinking can actually have a protective effect when it comes to blood sugar control and can also lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes 67 , 68 , Poor sleep, stress and high alcohol intake all negatively affect blood sugar.
Simple dietary changes, such as sticking to a low-carb, high-fiber diet and avoiding added sugars and refined grains, can help you avoid blood sugar spikes. Exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight and drinking plenty of water can also have added benefits to your health beyond helping to control your blood sugar.
That said, if you have any medical conditions or are on any medications, speak to your doctor before making any changes to your diet.
For most people, making these simple diet and lifestyle changes is a great way to lower your risk of developing insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts. Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strive to be objective, unbiased, honest and to present both sides of the argument.
This article contains scientific references. The numbers in the parentheses 1, 2, 3 are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific papers.
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By Alexandra Rowles, RD — Updated on March 13, Go low-carb. Eat fewer refined carbs. Explore our top resources. Reduce your sugar intake. Keep a healthy weight. Discover more about Type 2 Diabetes.
Exercise more. Eat more fiber. Drink more water. Introduce some vinegar into your diet. Whole grain, bran, and germ intake and risk of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study and systematic review.
PLoS Med. Beulens JW, de Bruijne LM, Stolk RP, et al. High dietary glycemic load and glycemic index increase risk of cardiovascular disease among middle-aged women: a population-based follow-up study.
J Am Coll Cardiol. Halton TL, Willett WC, Liu S, et al. Low-carbohydrate-diet score and the risk of coronary heart disease in women. N Engl J Med. Anderson JW, Randles KM, Kendall CW, Jenkins DJ. Carbohydrate and fiber recommendations for individuals with diabetes: a quantitative assessment and meta-analysis of the evidence.
J Am Coll Nutr. Ebbeling CB, Leidig MM, Feldman HA, Lovesky MM, Ludwig DS. Effects of a low-glycemic load vs low-fat diet in obese young adults: a randomized trial. Maki KC, Rains TM, Kaden VN, Raneri KR, Davidson MH. Effects of a reduced-glycemic-load diet on body weight, body composition, and cardiovascular disease risk markers in overweight and obese adults.
Am J Clin Nutr. Chiu CJ, Hubbard LD, Armstrong J, et al. Dietary glycemic index and carbohydrate in relation to early age-related macular degeneration. Chavarro JE, Rich-Edwards JW, Rosner BA, Willett WC. A prospective study of dietary carbohydrate quantity and quality in relation to risk of ovulatory infertility.
Eur J Clin Nutr. Higginbotham S, Zhang ZF, Lee IM, et al. J Natl Cancer Inst. Liu S, Willett WC. Dietary glycemic load and atherothrombotic risk.
Curr Atheroscler Rep. Willett W, Manson J, Liu S. Glycemic index, glycemic load, and risk of type 2 diabetes. Livesey G, Taylor R, Livesey H, Liu S. Is there a dose-response relation of dietary glycemic load to risk of type 2 diabetes? Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. Mirrahimi A, de Souza RJ, Chiavaroli L, et al.
Associations of glycemic index and load with coronary heart disease events: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohorts. J Am Heart Assoc. Foster-Powell K, Holt SH, Brand-Miller JC. International table of glycemic index and glycemic load values: Buyken, AE, Goletzke, J, Joslowski, G, Felbick, A, Cheng, G, Herder, C, Brand-Miller, JC.
Association between carbohydrate quality and inflammatory markers: systematic review of observational and interventional studies. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition Am J Clin Nutr.
AlEssa H, Bupathiraju S, Malik V, Wedick N, Campos H, Rosner B, Willett W, Hu FB. Carbohydrate quality measured using multiple quality metrics is negatively associated with type 2 diabetes.
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Patient Guide Book Health Packages Patient Login. Attaining and maintaining trim waistline fat Fat distribution and gender differences levels Euglycemia is controlling blood sugar fluctuations contfolling task for bloor person with diabetes. Blood sugar levels controlling remains same and keeps fluctuating throughout the day like a stock market or roller coaster. Fluctuating blood sugars are called Glycaemic variability. This refers to swings in blood glucose, including episodes of high sugars i. Fluctuating blood sugar levels or Brittle diabetes occur because of explained and unexplained causes, leading to increased sugar levels Hyperglycemia and low sugar levels Hypoglycaemia.Controlling blood sugar fluctuations -
In fact, any activity that regularly gets you up and moving — regardless of the intensity — beats a sedentary lifestyle. Plus, know that if you have trouble dedicating longer periods to exercise throughout the week, you can still gain many benefits by doing shorter sessions. For example, try aiming for minute exercise sessions 3 times a day for 5 days, with the goal of minutes per week.
Exercise increases insulin sensitivity and helps your muscles use blood sugar for movement. This can lead to reduced blood sugar levels. Your carb intake strongly influences your blood sugar levels 7.
Your body breaks carbs down into sugars, mainly glucose. Then, insulin helps your body use and store it for energy. When you eat too many carbs or have insulin-function problems, this process fails, and blood glucose levels can rise.
Some studies find that this can help you plan your meals appropriately, further improving blood sugar management 9 , Many studies also show that eating a low carb diet helps reduce blood sugar levels and prevent blood sugar spikes 11 , 12 , You can still eat some carbs when monitoring your blood sugar.
However, prioritizing whole grains over processed ones and refined carbs provides greater nutritional value while helping decrease your blood sugar levels Your body breaks down the carbs you eat into glucose, which then raises your blood sugar levels.
As such, reducing your carb intake can aid blood sugar regulation. Fiber slows carb digestion and sugar absorption, thereby promoting a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels There are two types of fiber — insoluble and soluble.
This could help you better manage type 1 diabetes The recommended daily intake of fiber is about 25 grams for women and 35 grams for men. Eating plenty of fiber can aid blood sugar management. Soluble dietary fiber appears to be more effective than insoluble fiber for this purpose. In addition to preventing dehydration, it helps your kidneys flush out any excess sugar through urine.
One review of observational studies showed that those who drank more water had a lower risk of developing high blood sugar levels Drinking water regularly may rehydrate the blood, lower blood sugar levels, and reduce diabetes risk 20 , Keep in mind that water and other zero-calorie drinks are best.
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.
These are used as indicators of your blood sugar levels over the past 3 months 60 , Maintaining a moderate weight will support blood sugar management and decrease your risk of developing diabetes. Spreading your meals and snacks throughout the day may help you avoid both high and low blood sugar levels Snacking between meals may also reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes Muscles soak up glucose during exercise to burn for energy, and the higher-intensity movements may aid this process even more.
Carbs plus protein or fat is a super combo when it comes to controlling blood sugar. The protein or fat you eat slows down digestion, thus buffering a blood sugar spike. That's especially true if you have type 1 diabetes.
That's the exact opposite of what you want to happen after you've eaten a meal. Next time you grab some fruit carb , pair it with a hard-boiled egg protein. A glass of orange juice is not the same as eating a whole orange.
Plus, you get more fiber from the whole fruit. For instance, there are about 4 grams in a large orange, compared to less than 1 gram in 8 ounces of juice. A small amount of juice is OK, but it shouldn't be your go-to beverage, she says. When you do drink it, make sure you're serving it up in an actual juice glass which might hold 4 ounces, for example rather than a large cup.
Dinner is done, but the dishes can wait: it's time to go for a stroll. A study published in Medical Science Monitor showed that participants with type 2 diabetes who walked for 20 minutes after dinner at a slow-moderate pace signficantly reduced their blood sugar levels. The walk-it-off strategy is especially helpful after eating carb-heavy meals, particularly dinner, other research has found.
Staying active improves insulin sensitivity and helps your cells remove glucose from your bloodstream. Get those walking shoes ready, it's only 10 minutes.
If the weather isn't cooperating, walk in place in front of the TV or stay active indoors by streaming a workout class. You know vegetables are good for you—but they're not all equal when it comes to carbs.
A half-cup of starchy veggies, like peas, corn or squash, equals 15 grams of carbohydrates, Wylie-Rosett points out.
But nonstarchy veggies contain about half that, so you can eat much more of them while making less of an impact on blood sugar. Everything in moderation is fine, but make your most-of-the-time choices the nonstarchy variety, like lettuce, cauliflower, spinach, kale and Brussels sprouts.
Here's another reason to ask your doctor to check your vitamin D levels: it could help you decrease your risk of diabetes.
If you are deficient, supplementing with vitamin D and calcium can help stabilize blood sugar levels. Scientists think the sunshine vitamin might impact insulin resistance. Your doctor can tell you if you need a supplement or not; in the meantime, make sure you fill your diet with D-rich foods like sardines, wild or UV-exposed mushrooms, fortified milk and non-dairy milk.
Yes, sipping water can affect your blood sugar. But the important point is avoiding dehydration, says Wylie-Rosett.
When you're dehydrated , sugars in your blood are more concentrated, and thus, your blood glucose levels are higher. But you don't need to glug a ton. You should generally drink water when you're thirsty—whether you have blood sugar problems or not, says Wylie-Rosett.
They're one super-portable food that you can pop in your mouth without worrying that they're doing something funky to your blood sugar levels. When eaten alone or with meals, nuts can help keep blood sugar levels steady because they're packed with healthy fats and few carbs.
For instance, an ounce of almonds contains calories and only 6 grams of carbs, per the USDA. Aim for five 1-ounce servings a week of nuts like pistachios, almonds and cashews. Pictured Recipe: Pizza Pistachios.
Ditch eating lunch in front of your computer or having dinner while watching TV at night, and make it a goal to eat more mindfully. This practice means that you pay attention to hunger and fullness cues, stay present when you're eating and assess the emotional component of food.
Bonus: Mindful eating can also help you deal with food cravings and prevent binge eating, two things that can spur weight gain.
To suss out exactly what you need, many insurance plans cover medical nutrition therapy, which pairs you up with a registered dietitian to create the best plan for your unique needs. And remember, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a nutritious diet and staying active all go a long way in keeping your blood sugar under control.
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If you sutar diabetes, Carbohydrate metabolism and gluconeogenesis pathway should try to keep your blood suagr sugar as close to target range as possible. Flluctuations will help Fat distribution and gender differences delay or sugarr complications related to diabetes. Blood sugar is the amount of sugar in your blood at a given time. It's important to check your blood sugar level, because it will:. A blood glucose meter is used to check your blood sugar at home. You can get these meters at most pharmacies or from your diabetes educator. Talk with your diabetes educator or pharmacist about which one is right for you.
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