What is Blood Sugar
Blood sugar is the main fuel for the body and comes from the food you eat. The blood sugar that isn’t used right away is stored in cells to be used later. Too much sugar in the blood can be harmful and maintaining balance is essential for good health.
The Dangers
When the body's blood sugar is in balance, energy levels and moods are stable, and healthy brain activity is encouraged. An imbalance in blood sugar levels may produce sugar cravings, poor sleep, low energy, weight gain, irritability, anxiety, brain fog, and can lead to diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes is a disease that manifests by having higher than normal levels of blood sugar. When not managed carefully, this disease can cause problems with the heart, kidneys, eyes, and blood vessels.
How Blood Sugar Levels Work
After eating, the body breaks down and absorbs your food. The carbohydrates turn into blood sugar and the more carbohydrates consumed, the higher the levels of sugar released into your blood.
It is also interesting to note that liquid carbohydrates are absorbed faster than those in solid form, so drinking pop will cause a higher blood sugar level faster than eating a hamburger.
Illness, stress, injury, surgery, menstruation, and menopause are all factors that can also influence blood sugar levels.
Recognizing the Symptoms
Symptoms of low blood sugar (hypoglycemic) include nausea, fatigue, confusion, shakiness, and light-headedness.
Those with high blood sugar (hyperglycemic) levels may experience fatigue, thirstiness, blurry vision, shortness of breath, or stomach pain.
Balancing Blood Sugar Levels
Diet
With blood sugar levels being directly related to what is eaten, watching carbohydrate intake is a common way to manage blood sugar levels. Managing carbohydrate intake means being careful about portion size and avoiding processed carbohydrates like white grain products, cookies, bread, cereals, and sugar drinks. Instead, choose a diet of whole foods, such as whole grains, beans, fruits, and vegetables.
Another helpful diet trick is to include variety in meals. Eat carbohydrates along with proteins, fats, and fiber to help slow the digestion of carbohydrates and balance blood sugar levels.
Keep blood sugar levels more consistent by eating smaller meals more often during the day. Experts recommend eating every 3 to 5 hours by having 3 nutritious meals and then healthy snacks in-between.
Exercise
When exercising, the cells in the body absorb sugar from the blood for energy. Vigorous physical exercise can lower blood sugar levels for many hours and regular exercise helps keep blood sugar levels in balance.
Insulin
The pancreas creates insulin, a hormone that is important in regulating blood sugar levels. Type 1 diabetics do not create insulin naturally. Those with type 2 diabetes do not create enough insulin or are not able to use it well. Management of blood sugar levels is obtained through close observation and insulin injections.
A good diet and exercise can also help the body respond better to insulin. Maintaining a healthy weight prevents extra fat from being stored in the body. Extra fat causes insulin insensitivity.
Get good sleep
Restful sleep promotes good metabolism and healthy weight which helps balance blood sugar levels. Lack of sleep encourages cravings for high-carb foods and decreases the body’s production of insulin while increasing stress hormones. The Division of Sleep Medicine at Harvard Medical School has learned that lack of sleep can lead to chronic medical conditions like diabetes.
Avoid stress
Both physical and emotional stress can cause high blood sugar levels. Avoid stressful situations and practice good stress management.
Medicine
Doctors may prescribe medications to help maintain blood sugar balance, especially for those who have developed an insensitivity to insulin.
Supplements
There are also natural health supplements designed to help balance blood sugar levels. Blood Sugar Balance is formatted to improve glucose tolerance and assist in balancing low or high blood sugar levels. Diabetics may benefit from taking this supplement but should check with their doctor first.
Summary
Maintaining a stable blood sugar level is very important for everyone. Healthy levels promote good energy, brain activity, and balanced moods. Poor blood sugar levels result in weight gain, anxiety, brain fog, low energy, cravings, and even diabetes. Managing blood sugar can be accomplished through a healthy diet and good lifestyle choices.
Sources
“Important Reasons to Get Your Beauty Sleep.” Effective Natural Products, www.effectivenaturalproducts.com/blogs/healthy-living/important-reasons-to-get-your-beauty-sleep.
Kay, Stephanie. “Why Balancing Blood Sugar Is Key.” Stephanie Kay | Nutritionist & Speaker, 15 Feb. 2019, www.kaynutrition.com/2018/11/why-balancing-blood-sugar-is-key/.
Roland, James. “How Eating Affects Your Blood Sugar.” Healthline, Healthline Media, 2 Jan. 2020, www.healthline.com/health/and-after-effect-eating-blood-sugar#carbohydrates.
Sara J. Carlson, R.N. “Blood Sugar Levels Can Fluctuate for Many Reasons.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 5 June 2020, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/glucose-levels/faq-20424316.