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Too much sugar in your blood makes it thick and syrupy, which is not good. Imagine how much extra work that is for your heart as it tries to pump goopy blood around your body.

In the short term, a spike in your blood sugar will cause a sugar rush, followed by a sugar crash, with all the cravings and lethargy that go along with that. In the long term, repeated spikes in your blood sugar can cause heart problems, kidney problems, problems with eyesight, and nerve issues like neuropathy, where you lose feeling in fingers and toes.

There are specific measures for fasting blood sugar. Your A1C level should be no more than 5. Complex carbohydrates help control blood sugar. But for some foods, this process takes longer, which gives your body more time to deal with the sugar. This is why brown rice, whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread are healthier for you.

The extra fiber slows down digestion, helps you avoid a sugar spike and makes you feel full for longer. The refined white versions will strain your pancreas and likely make you want to eat more. The effect is a vicious cycle and in order to break it, diet modification and exercise is needed.

Other simple swaps are switching from fruit juice to eating whole fruit or switching out sugary jelly for sugar-free peanut butter on your toast. Exercise helps your body regulate blood sugar. Adults should do at least minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise each week.

If you are concerned about blood sugar levels, stick to moderate exercise as vigorous exercise will release adrenalin and raise your blood sugar. Managing stress can help avoid blood sugar spikes. One of the reasons is that it knocks our hormones out of balance.

When we are in a moment of stress, the hormones adrenalin and cortisol are released, and our blood sugar rises to give us energy to deal with the immediate threat.

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This is called hypoglycemia. Too much food may cause your blood sugar level to climb too high. This is called hyperglycemia. Talk to your diabetes health care team about how to best coordinate meal and medicine schedules.

Limit sugary drinks. Sugar-sweetened drinks tend to be high in calories and low in nutrition. They also cause blood sugar to rise quickly. So it's best to limit these types of drinks if you have diabetes. The exception is if you have a low blood sugar level.

Sugary drinks can be used to quickly raise blood sugar that is too low. These drinks include regular soda, juice and sports drinks. Exercise is another important part of managing diabetes.

When you move and get active, your muscles use blood sugar for energy. Regular physical activity also helps your body use insulin better. These factors work together to lower your blood sugar level.

The more strenuous your workout, the longer the effect lasts. But even light activities can improve your blood sugar level. Light activities include housework, gardening and walking. Talk to your healthcare professional about an exercise plan.

Ask your healthcare professional what type of exercise is right for you. In general, most adults should get at least minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity. That includes activities that get the heart pumping, such as walking, biking and swimming. Aim for about 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a day on most days of the week.

Most adults also should aim to do strength-building exercise 2 to 3 times a week. If you haven't been active for a long time, your healthcare professional may want to check your overall health first. Then the right balance of aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise can be recommended.

Keep an exercise schedule. Ask your healthcare professional about the best time of day for you to exercise. That way, your workout routine is aligned with your meal and medicine schedules. Know your numbers. Talk with your healthcare professional about what blood sugar levels are right for you before you start exercise.

Check your blood sugar level. Also talk with your healthcare professional about your blood sugar testing needs. If you don't take insulin or other diabetes medicines, you likely won't need to check your blood sugar before or during exercise.

But if you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, testing is important. Check your blood sugar before, during and after exercise. Many diabetes medicines lower blood sugar. So does exercise, and its effects can last up to a day later.

The risk of low blood sugar is greater if the activity is new to you. The risk also is greater if you start to exercise at a more intense level. Be aware of symptoms of low blood sugar.

These include feeling shaky, weak, tired, hungry, lightheaded, irritable, anxious or confused. See if you need a snack. Have a small snack before you exercise if you use insulin and your blood sugar level is low. The snack you have before exercise should contain about 15 to 30 grams of carbs.

Or you could take 10 to 20 grams of glucose products. This helps prevent a low blood sugar level. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water or other fluids while exercising.

Dehydration can affect blood sugar levels. Be prepared. Always have a small snack, glucose tablets or glucose gel with you during exercise.

You'll need a quick way to boost your blood sugar if it drops too low. Carry medical identification too. In case of an emergency, medical identification can show others that you have diabetes. It also can show whether you take diabetes medicine such as insulin.

Medical IDs come in forms such as cards, bracelets and necklaces. Adjust your diabetes treatment plan as needed. If you take insulin, you may need to lower your insulin dose before you exercise.

You also may need to watch your blood sugar level closely for several hours after intense activity. That's because low blood sugar can happen later on. Your healthcare professional can advise you how to correctly make changes to your medicine. You also may need to adjust your treatment if you've increased how often or how hard you exercise.

Insulin and other diabetes medicines are designed to lower blood sugar levels when diet and exercise alone don't help enough. How well these medicines work depends on the timing and size of the dose.

Medicines you take for conditions other than diabetes also can affect your blood sugar levels. Store insulin properly.

Insulin that is not stored properly or is past its expiration date may not work. Keep insulin away from extreme heat or cold. Don't store it in the freezer or in direct sunlight.

Tell your healthcare professional about any medicine problems. If your diabetes medicines cause your blood sugar level to drop too low, the dosage or timing may need to be changed.

Your healthcare professional also might adjust your medicine if your blood sugar stays too high. Be cautious with new medicines. Talk with your healthcare team or pharmacist before you try new medicines. That includes medicines sold without a prescription and those prescribed for other medical conditions.

Ask how the new medicine might affect your blood sugar levels and any diabetes medicines you take. Sometimes a different medicine may be used to prevent dangerous side effects.

Or a different medicine might be used to prevent your current medicine from mixing poorly with a new one. With diabetes, it's important to be prepared for times of illness. When you're sick, your body makes stress-related hormones that help fight the illness. But those hormones also can raise your blood sugar.

Changes in your appetite and usual activity also may affect your blood sugar level. Plan ahead. Work with your healthcare team to make a plan for sick days.

Include instructions on what medicines to take and how to adjust your medicines if needed. Also note how often to measure your blood sugar. Ask your healthcare professional if you need to measure levels of acids in the urine called ketones.

Your plan also should include what foods and drinks to have, and what cold or flu medicines you can take. Know when to call your healthcare professional too. For example, it's important to call if you run a fever over degrees Fahrenheit Keep taking your diabetes medicine.

But call your healthcare professional if you can't eat because of an upset stomach or vomiting. In these situations, you may need to change your insulin dose. If you take rapid-acting or short-acting insulin or other diabetes medicine, you may need to lower the dose or stop taking it for a time.

These medicines need to be carefully balanced with food to prevent low blood sugar. But if you use long-acting insulin, do not stop taking it.

During times of illness, it's also important to check your blood sugar often. Stick to your diabetes meal plan if you can. Eating as usual helps you control your blood sugar. Keep a supply of foods that are easy on your stomach. These include gelatin, crackers, soups, instant pudding and applesauce.

Drink lots of water or other fluids that don't add calories, such as tea, to make sure you stay hydrated. If you take insulin, you may need to sip sugary drinks such as juice or sports drinks. These drinks can help keep your blood sugar from dropping too low.

It's risky for some people with diabetes to drink alcohol. Alcohol can lead to low blood sugar shortly after you drink it and for hours afterward. The liver usually releases stored sugar to offset falling blood sugar levels. But if your liver is processing alcohol, it may not give your blood sugar the needed boost.

Get your healthcare professional's OK to drink alcohol. With diabetes, drinking too much alcohol sometimes can lead to health conditions such as nerve damage. But if your diabetes is under control and your healthcare professional agrees, an occasional alcoholic drink is fine.

Women should have no more than one drink a day. Men should have no more than two drinks a day. One drink equals a ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine or 1.

Don't drink alcohol on an empty stomach. If you take insulin or other diabetes medicines, eat before you drink alcohol. This helps prevent low blood sugar. Or drink alcohol with a meal.

Choose your drinks carefully. Light beer and dry wines have fewer calories and carbohydrates than do other alcoholic drinks. If you prefer mixed drinks, sugar-free mixers won't raise your blood sugar. Some examples of sugar-free mixers are diet soda, diet tonic, club soda and seltzer.

Add up calories from alcohol. If you count calories, include the calories from any alcohol you drink in your daily count. Ask your healthcare professional or a registered dietitian how to make calories and carbohydrates from alcoholic drinks part of your diet plan.

Check your blood sugar level before bed. Alcohol can lower blood sugar levels long after you've had your last drink. So check your blood sugar level before you go to sleep. The snack can counter a drop in your blood sugar.

Changes in hormone levels the week before and during periods can lead to swings in blood sugar levels. Look for patterns. Keep careful track of your blood sugar readings from month to month. You may be able to predict blood sugar changes related to your menstrual cycle.

Your healthcare professional may recommend changes in your meal plan, activity level or diabetes medicines. These changes can make up for blood sugar swings. Check blood sugar more often. If you're likely nearing menopause or if you're in menopause, talk with your healthcare professional.

Ask whether you need to check your blood sugar more often. Also, be aware that menopause and low blood sugar have some symptoms in common, such as sweating and mood changes. So whenever you can, check your blood sugar before you treat your symptoms.

That way you can confirm whether your blood sugar is low. Most types of birth control are safe to use when you have diabetes. But combination birth control pills may raise blood sugar levels in some people.

It's very important to take charge of stress when you have diabetes. The hormones your body makes in response to prolonged stress may cause your blood sugar to rise. It also may be harder to closely follow your usual routine to manage diabetes if you're under a lot of extra pressure.

Take control. Once you know how stress affects your blood sugar level, make healthy changes. Learn relaxation techniques, rank tasks in order of importance and set limits.

Whenever you can, stay away from things that cause stress for you. Exercise often to help relieve stress and lower your blood sugar. Get help. Learn new ways to manage stress. You may find that working with a psychologist or clinical social worker can help.

These professionals can help you notice stressors, solve stressful problems and learn coping skills. The more you know about factors that have an effect on your blood sugar level, the better you can prepare to manage diabetes.

If you have trouble keeping your blood sugar in your target range, ask your diabetes healthcare team for help. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health.

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Because of this, many nutrition experts advise front-loading your meals, or eating bigger meals earlier in the day and having a smaller dinner at least three hours before bed.

Both sleep deprivation and stress can cause elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which raises blood sugar. Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night, and adopt stress-busting habits such as exercise, meditation, or yoga. One study found that nursing students who did meditation and yoga experienced lower blood sugar spikes 5 after meals.

Drinking water helps your kidneys flush out excess blood sugar through your urine. One study found that people who drank more water had a lower risk of developing hyperglycemia 6 high blood sugar. Can't seem to drink enough? Or is water is just too plain for your taste buds? Try these other drinks for blood sugar balance.

Your muscles need blood glucose for fuel, which means that when you do that strength training routine , you're helping move blood sugar from the bloodstream into the muscles where it's then burned up.

Over time, this can help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level and increase insulin sensitivity 7 i. Intense exercise can temporarily raise blood sugar, so if you have poor blood sugar control, then it makes sense to start moderate think walking, jogging, or yoga , and then work your way up.

Swigging apple cider vinegar might not sound appealing, but it could help keep your blood sugar in balance if taken before you eat. Some research has found that consuming ACV reduced post-meal blood sugar levels by about half in healthy patients.

The theory is that acetic acid, a component of the vinegar, slows down the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar in the bloodstream. Pro tip: Mix a tablespoon or two into a glass of water—taking it straight will burn!

Research on cinnamon's blood-sugar-stabilizing powers is a little mixed, and it may not be a wonder spice. But if you're adding it to an already healthy diet, then it can have a subtle benefit, especially if you add a lot of it into your diet more than just a teaspoon.

Some studies suggest that cinnamon promotes healthy blood sugar by increasing insulin sensitivity 8 , or making insulin more efficient at moving glucose into cells.

Bonus: It tastes delicious! Magnesium seems to be of particular importance when it comes to maintaining a healthy blood sugar level and improving insulin sensitivity 9. Nosh on some chromium-rich foods like broccoli, barley, and oats while you're at it. One study found that the combined effects of chromium and magnesium 10 were more beneficial than either mineral alone.

You can also try a magnesium supplement to support optimal levels. Probiotics are an obvious supplement for supporting digestive health, but they can also play an important role in blood sugar maintenance.

In addition to popping a quality probiotic supplement , add healthy, probiotic-rich foods to your diet such as kefir, plain yogurt, sauerkraut, kimchi, or even a little low-sugar kombucha. To help probiotic bacteria to thrive, eat plenty of prebiotic foods such as fiber-rich leafy greens and vegetables.

No single food, supplement, or workout session is going to be the magic bullet. To maintain a healthy blood sugar level and keep it balanced for good , start eating a minimally processed diet that contains fiber, protein, healthy fats, and high-quality carbohydrates; get regular exercise; make sure you're hydrated and well-rested; play around with meal composition; and experiment with research-backed superfoods and supplements.

Skip to Content. Shop Health Coaching Classes Editor's Picks Beauty Food Healthy Weight Login Login. Login Login. This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features. Close Banner. Integrative Health medically reviewed. Author: Stephanie Eckelkamp.

By Stephanie Eckelkamp. Stephanie Eckelkamp is a writer and editor who has been working for leading health publications for the past 10 years. She received her B. in journalism from Syracuse University with a minor in nutrition.

Molly Maloof, M. Medical Doctor. Molly Maloof. is passionate about extending healthspan through her medical practice, personal brand, entrepreneurial and educational endeavors.

Molly Maloof provides health optimization and personalized medicine to high achieving entrepreneurs, investors, and technology executives. Signs your blood sugar is out of whack. Fatigue Sugar and carb cravings Weight gain Headaches Trouble concentrating Mood swings or nervousness Dry skin Excessive thirst Frequent peeing Blurred vision.

Follow a minimally processed diet. Load up on fiber. Eat plenty of high-quality protein. Consume healthy fats. Switch up your carbs. Balance your meals. Supplement with a greens powder. Eat bigger meals earlier in the day. Sleep more, stress less.

Drink plenty of water. Exercise regularly. At present, two out of three adults in the US are considered to be overweight or obese Being overweight or obese can make it more difficult for your body to use insulin and control blood sugar levels.

This can lead to blood sugar spikes and a corresponding higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Weight loss , on the other hand, has been shown to improve blood sugar control. In one study, 35 obese people lost an average of Being overweight makes it difficult for your body to control blood sugar levels.

Even losing a little weight can improve your blood sugar control. Exercise helps control blood sugar spikes by increasing the sensitivity of your cells to the hormone insulin. Exercise also causes muscle cells to absorb sugar from the blood, helping to lower blood sugar levels Both high-intensity and moderate-intensity exercise have been found to reduce blood sugar spikes.

One study found similar improvements in blood sugar control in 27 adults who carried out either medium- or high-intensity exercise One study found exercise performed before breakfast controlled blood sugar more effectively than exercise done after breakfast Increasing exercise also has the added benefit of helping with weight loss, a double whammy to combat blood sugar spikes.

It dissolves in water to form a gel-like substance that helps slow the absorption of carbs in the gut. This results in a steady rise and fall in blood sugar, rather than a spike 24 , Fiber can also make you feel full, reducing your appetite and food intake Fiber can slow the absorption of carbs and the release of sugar into the blood.

It can also reduce appetite and food intake. When you are dehydrated, your body produces a hormone called vasopressin. This encourages your kidneys to retain fluid and stop the body from flushing out excess sugar in your urine.

It also prompts your liver to release more sugar into the blood 27 , 28 , A long-term study on 4, people in Sweden found that, over How much water you should drink is often up for discussion. Essentially, it depends on the individual. Stick to water rather than sugary juice or sodas, since the sugar content will lead to blood sugar spikes.

Dehydration negatively affects blood sugar control. Over time, it can lead to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Vinegar, particularly apple cider vinegar , has been found to have many health benefits.

It has been linked to weight loss, cholesterol reduction, antibacterial properties and blood sugar control 31 , 32 , Several studies show that consuming vinegar can increase insulin response and reduce blood sugar spikes 31 , 34 , 35 , 36 , One study found vinegar significantly reduced blood sugar in participants who had just consumed a meal containing 50 grams of carbs.

The study also found that the stronger the vinegar, the lower the blood sugar Another study looked into the effect of vinegar on blood sugar after participants consumed carbs.

The addition of vinegar can also lower the glycemic index of a food, which can help reduce blood sugar spikes. A study in Japan found that adding pickled foods to rice decreased the glycemic index of the meal significantly 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.