Your body converts the food you eat into sugar it can use as energy, and for most people, this process occurs without a hitch. But certain circumstances can cause the glucose (sugar) in your blood to elevate or drop, which has serious health consequences.
If you need help managing your blood sugar, Dr. Naima Cheema at Nexclin Medicine offers comprehensive care that can keep you in the blood sugar safe zone. Meanwhile, you can do your part by making some changes to your diet and daily habits. Here, Dr. Cheema offers some practical tips for stabilizing your blood glucose.
Every time you eat, drink, and exercise, the amount of sugar in your blood fluctuates without any symptoms whatsoever as long as it stays within a certain range — an A1c level between 4% and 5.6%.
When you eat, your body turns the food into sugar that enters your bloodstream. Then, your pancreas secretes a hormone called insulin to “unlock” your cells so they can take the sugar from your blood and use it as energy. This is the ideal. However, when things go wrong, you can end up with too much or too little sugar in your blood.
If you have a problem producing insulin or your body doesn’t process insulin well, the sugar stays in your blood, and you can develop diabetes mellitus, a chronic, incurable condition that requires lifelong management.
Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, causes some problems, as well. When your brain doesn’t get enough glucose, it tells your body to go into emergency mode, which triggers a flood of the hormone epinephrine. This makes your heart pump faster, and you may feel tingling or numbness in your extremities, start sweating, and feel confused, anxious, and shaky.
Sharp spikes in your blood sugar levels lead to serious health problems, so it’s important to learn what causes those highs and lows and avoid them. Here are some steps you can take.
Carbohydrates increase blood sugar. If you have diabetes or prediabetes, you need to curb your carb intake by avoiding white bread, white rice, sodas, pastries, crackers and chips, even breakfast cereals.
You may be surprised at how much sugar you eat every day. Even if you don’t add it to your coffee or sprinkle it on your cereal, it’s hidden in so-called healthy items, such as tomato sauce, fruit juice, yogurt, and granola bars. In fact, American adults consume an average of 17 teaspoons of sugar every day, which is the equivalent of 270 calories, and bad news for your blood sugar.
Being overweight or obese makes it even harder for your body to use insulin and control your blood sugar on its own, so losing weight can make a big difference. In fact, studies show that losing just 5-10% of your body weight can decrease your risk of developing diabetes by 58%. We can help you reach your goal with our medically supervised weight loss program.
You can control spikes in your blood sugar by incorporating more exercise into your daily routine. This encourages your muscle fibers to absorb more sugar from your blood.
Soluble fiber (the type that dissolves in water) turns into a gel that slows down your body’s ability to absorb carbs. So eating foods high in soluble fiber, such as nuts, legumes, oats, and many fruits and vegetables, you can improve your blood sugar levels.
Dehydration leads to blood sugar spikes, so keep some water handy all day long. Drinking about four eight-ounce glasses of water a day can lower your risk of developing high blood sugar problems.
Certain lifestyle factors can affect your blood sugar, too. For example, high stress triggers the release of hormones that can contribute to blood sugar spikes. Poor sleep and insufficient sleep can lead to insulin resistance and increased blood sugar levels. And skipping meals can tank your blood sugar.
Stay calm, get plenty of rest, and eat small meals throughout the day to keep your blood sugar stable.
Although blood sugar management depends a lot on you, you don’t have to do it alone. Dr. Cheema comes alongside you every step of the way, helping you lose weight, manage metabolic disorders, and understand your unique nutritional needs. If warranted, she may also prescribe medication and/or insulin injections to address diabetes symptoms and reduce your risk for complications.
To talk with Dr. Cheema about stabilizing your blood sugar, call us at any of our three Georgia locations in Alpharetta, Roswell, or Milton today, or contact us online.
