Different Ways to Control Blood Sugar without Medication
High amounts of sugar in the blood can eat away your vital organs, causing them to degenerate over time and lead to serious illnesses (not to mention rotten teeth!).
High blood sugar occurs when your body can't effectively transport sugar from blood into cells.
When left unchecked, this can lead to diabetes.
One study from 2012 reported that 12–14% of US adults had type 2 diabetes, while 37–38% were classified as pre-diabetic.
This means that 50% of all US adults have diabetes or pre-diabetes.
Thankfully, controlling blood sugar levels naturally, without the use of medications, is well within your reach. You can lower your blood sugar levels without drugs by using supplements and making a few simple, yet effective lifestyle changes.
What Is High Blood Sugar?
Your blood sugar level can be determined by taking a blood sample, either in a fasted state, or two hours after eating.
- If your blood sugar is less than 100 mg/dL after an eight-hour fast or less than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating, you’re in the normal range.
- If you conduct a test in the morning, after sleeping for eight hours, and your blood sugar is at 126 mg/dL or higher, you’ve got high blood sugar.
An estimated 29 million people in the U.S. have type 2 diabetes, which is the result of blood sugar levels being consistently high. Another 86 million have prediabetes, which can lead to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Natural Ways to Lower Blood Sugar Without Medications
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Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise can help you lose weight and increase insulin sensitivity.Increased insulin sensitivity means your cells are better able to use the available sugar in your bloodstream.
Exercise also helps your muscles use blood sugar for energy and muscle contraction.
If you have problems with blood sugar control, you should routinely check your levels. This will help you learn how you respond to different activities and keep your blood sugar levels from getting either too high or too low.
Good forms of exercise include weight lifting, brisk walking, running, biking, dancing, hiking, swimming and more.
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Eat less sugar/refined carbohydrates
The best way to keep blood sugar levels down without medication is to eat less sugar. The less sugar you consume, the smaller the metabolic response will be—keeping your pancreas and insulin levels healthy. You can cut back on sugars by limiting your intake of processed foods, sauces, fruit juices, candy, and soda, and paying attention to nutrition labels.In turn, boosting your intake of fruits and veggies can have major benefits. Instead of sauces, opt for sugar-free seasonings and rubs, and try to drink water in place of other beverages. All of this can have immediate benefits for lower blood sugar.
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Control Your Carb Intake
Your body breaks carbs down into sugars (mostly glucose), and then insulin moves the sugars into cells.
When you eat too many carbs or have problems with insulin function, this process fails and blood glucose levels rise.
However, there are several things you can do about this.
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends controlling carb intake by counting carbs or using a food exchange system.
Some studies find that these methods can also help you plan your meals appropriately, which may further improve blood sugar control.
Many studies also show that a low-carb diet helps reduce blood sugar levels and prevent blood sugar spikes.What's more, a low-carb diet can help control blood sugar levels in the long run.
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Eat more protein and fat
Lean sources of protein like eggs, egg whites, chicken breast, turkey breast, extra-lean ground beef, bison, etc. are all filling food options that have no sugar. These lean options will not cause a spike in blood sugar, and they provide high satiety so you won’t snack on sugary options later in the day.If you elect to have these high-protein options in a sandwich form, pick a whole-grain bun, because it won’t elicit the same metabolic response that white bread will, keeping blood sugar levels from spiking too high. Including some dietary fat with your meal or as a snack (i.e. a handful of almonds, peanuts, cashews; or a slice of avocado or drizzle of olive oil) can also improve insulin response. Instead of reaching for a sugary snack or plate of fries as a side, opt for nuts and fruit or a salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
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Increase Your Fiber Intake
Fiber slows carb digestion and sugar absorption. For these reasons, it promotes a more gradual rise in blood sugar levels.
Furthermore, the type of fiber you eat may play a role.
There are two kinds of fiber: insoluble and soluble. While both are important, soluble fiber specifically has been shown to lower blood sugar levels.
Additionally, a high-fiber diet can help manage type 1 diabetes by improving blood sugar control and reducing blood sugar lows.
Foods that are high in fiber include vegetables, fruits, legumes and whole grains.
The recommended daily intake of fiber is about 25 grams for women and 38 grams for men. That's about 14 grams for every 1,000 calories. -
Increase activity
One of the best ways to regulate blood sugar and keep it in a normal range is activity. Every time you contract a muscle—walk, jog, grab a cup, do a bicep curl—sugar is required to fuel the muscles. There is plenty of evidence that indicates exercise can reverse prediabetes and regulate blood sugar, so finding ways to increase activity every day can offer some real benefits. Going for a light walk after a meal, for example, can improve sugar absorption and keep levels normal. -
Eat more resistant starch
Resistant starch – found in some potatoes and beans – bypasses the small intestine, gets metabolized by the good bacteria and then behaves as dietary fiber in the large intestine, Weisenberger says.
“Even after your next meal, your blood sugar will be lower,” she says. “It’s called the ‘second-meal effect.’”
You’ll find resistant starch in a potato that has been baked and then cooled, but not in a warm potato. So a half-cup of potato salad will bring on better blood sugar readings than the same amount of warm mashed potatoes.
Resistant starches are also found in Unripe bananas,Beans and lentils,Whole grains, including wheat, oats, rice and buckwheat,Corn,Cold pasta -
Shed a few pounds.
Carrying around extra pounds causes insulin resistance, keeping the blood sugar-lowering hormone from working.
Your weight-loss goals don’t have to be enormous either. Some of Weisenberger’s patients have seen improvements in blood glucose readings with only a 5-pound loss, she says. -
Alpha lipoic acid (ALA)
ALA is an antioxidant made by the body, but it can also be purchased in supplement form. It can help the body utilize blood sugar and convert it to energy, while also fighting off damage and infection to organs. Evidence shows that it can lower blood sugar levels, improve insulin response and combat peripheral neuropathy in diabetics. -
Drink Water and Stay Hydrated
Drinking enough water may help you keep your blood sugar levels within healthy limits.
In addition to preventing dehydration, it helps your kidneys flush out the excess blood sugar through urine.
One observational study showed that those who drank more water had a lower risk of developing high blood sugar levels.
Drinking water regularly re-hydrates the blood, lowers blood sugar levels and reduces diabetes risk
Keep in mind that water and other non-caloric beverages are best. Sugar-sweetened drinks raise blood glucose, drive weight gain and increase diabetes risk. -
Cinnamon
Adding cinnamon to spice up your favorite foods or taking it as a supplement can also help lower blood sugar without medicine. Dosages of up to six grams per day can reduce blood sugar and other diabetes risk factors. -
Chromium
Chromium is an essential mineral that helps the body regulate blood sugar levels, and is a nutrient 90% of Americans aren’t getting enough of. Including chromium in your daily supplement regimen is highly recommended as a way to naturally normalize blood sugar. -
Green tea
Drinking green tea is another way to boost your metabolism and reduce weight, both of which are important in regulating blood sugar and lowering the risk of diabetes. People who drink up to six cups per day have a significantly lower risk of getting type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease than those who drink one cup per week. Supplementation doesn’t seem to offer the same benefit, so take a tea break! -
Control Stress Levels
Stress can affect your blood sugar levels.
Hormones such as glucagon and cortisol are secreted during stress. These hormones cause blood sugar levels to go up.
One study showed that exercise, relaxation and meditation significantly reduced stress and lowered blood sugar levels for students.
Exercises and relaxation methods like yoga and mindfulness-based stress reduction can also correct insulin secretion problems in chronic diabetes. -
Monitor Your Blood Sugar Levels
"What gets measured gets managed."
Measuring and monitoring blood glucose levels can also help you control them.
For example, keeping track helps you determine whether you need to make adjustments in meals or medications.
It will also help you find out how your body reacts to certain foods.
Try measuring your levels every day, and keeping track of the numbers in a log. -
Get Enough Quality Sleep
Take the enough sleep felt great and is necessary for the good health.
Poor sleeping habits and lack of rest also affect the blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity. better Sleep can increase appetite and promote weight gainSleep deprivation decrease the release of growth hormones and increase the cortisol levels. In blood sugar control these play an important role.
Furthermore, better sleep is about both quantity and quality. It is the best to get a sufficient amount of high-quality sleep every night. -
Try Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar has many benefits for health.
It promotes lower fasting blood sugar levels, possibly by decreasing its production by liver or increasing its use by the cells.
What's more, studies show that vinegar significantly influences the body's response to sugars and improves insulin sensitivity.
To incorporate apple cider vinegar into the diet, you can add it to salad dressings & mix 2 teaspoons in 8 ounces of water.
However, it is important to check with your doctor before taking the apple cider vinegar if you are already taking medications of lower blood sugar.
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