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Diabetes is a problem many people suffer from. The recommended average for glucose levels is between 80 and 120 mg/dl, though some people do better at levels that may be slightly higher or lower than those figures. People whose glucose levels remain high run into risks of things such as eye problems, kidney problems, and numbness of body parts. It can even cause heart attacks. It’s important to work on bringing down glucose levels for your health.

Diet

The most important thing a person can do is to change their diet. Changing the types of foods one eats on a consistent basis is essential to bringing glucose levels down. Reducing sugar in one’s diet is a major facet in decreasing glucose levels, and it’s what most people think is the most important thing to eliminate, but it’s not true.

Carbohydrates

Diabetics need to reduce the carbohydrates in their diet to affect glucose levels. Sugar is only one type of carbohydrate, but it’s not the worst one. Carbohydrates such as pasta and white bread will stay in the body much longer than pure sugar, which means they will affect the body negatively over a longer period of time. Reducing these items, along with sugar, will have a positive impact on one’s body. It’s better to eat more protein, grains, and vegetables. Fruits are important, but not all fruits are good for you because some of them are high on the glycemic index, such as apples and bananas. Everyone needs a little bit of carbohydrates, but eating the right ones, in small quantities, will decrease blood glucose levels.

Frequency

Eating three square meals a day doesn’t work for many diabetics trying to reduce glucose. Instead, multiple small meals throughout the day helps to keep glucose levels even, instead of having spikes of glucose whenever one eats. Some people will eat 5 or 6 mini meals a day.

Exercise

Working out will help to reduce glucose levels also. The exercise must be brisk enough to get the heart rate up, though, so walking at a slow pace for 15 minutes won’t get it done. Walking at a more brisk pace for 30 minutes will get your heart pumping, though, and any exercise that’s more strenuous that that, as long as it gets your cardio up, will help out dramatically.

Medication

If your physician puts you on medication, it’s important to take it at the frequency and times that you’ve been told. Most diabetic medication is meant to be taken around meals for it to be effective. Taking medication without eating often doesn’t do anything because the body has nothing to work on. Skipping medication frequently also hurts because some medications take time, even a couple of weeks, to get into the system so that they can help maintain proper glucose levels.

Lose Weight

Losing weight will definitely decrease one’s glucose levels over time. Dropping even 20 pounds can have the effect of reducing one’s glucose levels anywhere from 30 to 50 points if their numbers are high. However, one still has to have a balanced diet while doing it. Fasting to lose weight can have a negative effect on glucose levels, and only eating carbs, though in small amounts, won’t reduce blood glucose levels either.

See more:
Testing Blood Glucose Levels
About Dangerous Levels of Blood Sugar
Top Warning Signs of Diabetes