Top seven tips to lower blood sugar
It goes without saying that having high levels of blood sugar is not just discomforting, but debilitating for your health as well. When you are affected by type 2 diabetes, your choice of foods can go a long way in helping you manage it. Diabetes happens when a person has his glucose or blood sugar levels higher than normal. According to experts, when you have high blood sugar, you should be attentive about the amount and types of carbohydrates which you consume to lower blood sugar.
- Opt for raw or roasted vegetables:
A mélange of vegetables would add flavor, color, and texture to the entire meal and thus you should aim to choose varieties of low-carb vegetables such as mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, zucchini, and sprouts. You can try them with low-fat dips and dressings like guacamole, salsa, and hummus or roast with seasonings like rosemary, cayenne, and pepper. - Go green:
When it comes to achieving lower blood sugar levels, the importance of green leafy vegetables can never be ignored. You should try and experiment beyond the regular salad items and opt for chard, kale, and spinach. They are not just healthy and low in carbohydrate content but are delicious as well. You can take some kale leaves and roast them in a few drops of olive oil for making crunchy chips. You may also choose to add roasted vegetables and mushrooms for adding taste and texture. - Consume low-calorie drinks with loads of flavors:
Even though plain water is the best way to keep yourself hydrated, having water infused with fruits and vegetables is so much more interesting. You can make ice cubes with added flavors in them or add some mint leaves, lemon juice and cucumber slices in a plain glass of water to rejuvenate yourself. Whether you like hot tea or cold tea, you can always have it with cinnamon sticks or lemon juice. These would keep you full so that you don’t eat anything unhealthy. - Go for berries and melons:
You would be surprised to know that one cup of berries or melons would give you just 15 grams of carbohydrates. Even though berries are quite expensive, they are a healthy and tasty treat for those willing to lower blood sugar levels. Moreover, they are packed with fiber and nutrients, and you can always experiment with them. - Choose whole-grain foods with high fiber:
The greatest problem of diabetics is that they tend to overeat and often choose the wrong food. But these can be avoided with the whole-grain foods as you can try peas, legumes, beans, and lentils. You may also prepare corn salsa or black bean with roasted vegetables. Even though these foods have carbohydrates, they can add an interesting flavor to the whole meal that would keep you fuller for longer. - A bit of fat is all you need:
To lower blood sugar, you need not avoid fats altogether. However, make healthy choices such as olive oil, avocado, salmon, sardine and other such options. The fat-derived from fishes like salmon and sardines can serve to be a salad dressing. - Add protein to your diet:
When it comes to maintaining a lower blood sugar level, having cheese, cottage cheese, Greek yogurt, lean meat, and eggs are beneficial. Peanut butter on celery stick is an amazing diet with a balance of fat and protein for a healthy and fulfilling snack. You can also snack on low-fat cheese and chicken. But make sure that you have the sodium count in mind.
It is also crucial to consume those foods you love, and you must eat enough so that you are satiated. But make sure that you don’t overeat or make poor choices. These foods would help you keep your blood sugar in check and make you both happy and healthy. All in all, you must bear in mind that your diet plan must not be boring at all- you should have all that you love with a balance of all the needful ingredients.
Also, working out regularly would not just help you lose weight, but improve your insulin sensitivity. When the insulin sensitivity increases, it means that the cells are better capable of using the sugar present in the bloodstream. Moreover, exercise aids your muscles to use the blood sugar for contraction of muscles and giving out energy.
If you are not able to lower blood sugar levels, you should check it routinely as it would enable you to respond to various activities and prevent your blood sugar levels from going too high or too low. You can indulge in brisk walking, biking, swimming, dancing, weight lifting, hiking and any such activity that suits you best.