Diabetes Management: Tips for Lowering Blood Sugar

Understanding how to manage your diabetes could potentially save your life! There are a few factors to consider when learning how to control your blood sugar levels including diet, physical activity levels, drinking habits, illness, stress, menstruation cycles, and medication.

• Diet
Food and diet play a massive role in diabetes management. Food is a major contributor to blood sugar levels and should be monitored closely. We recommend booking an appointment with us to learn how food may improve or worsen your diabetes. Valuable skills such as carbohydrate counting, meal coordination with your medication, and portion control have the potential to prevent serious diabetic side effects.
• Physical Activity
When you engage in physical activity or exercise of any kind, your muscles use glucose for energy which results in lowered blood sugar levels. Our doctors can help you learn how to reach your daily exercise goals. If you don’t know where to start, you can begin going on 30-minute walks once a day!
• Drinking Habits
At the time of drinking, you may notice an increase in blood sugar but after a few hours, it can dramatically and dangerously drop. Get your doctor’s permission to drink and monitor your blood sugar throughout the night.
• Illness
Getting sick presents higher risks for those who are diabetic. Even a common cold can cause a high rise in blood sugar levels. The best way to deal with this is to keep on top of your diet and medication.
• Stress
Manage your stress levels as best as you can so that your blood sugar doesn’t dramatically fluctuate. Try and reduce stress triggers as much as you possibly can.
• Menstruation Cycle
Hormonal changes during your menstrual cycle can cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels. During your period, check your blood sugar frequently and adjust your diet, physical activity, and medications accordingly.
• Medication
There are two medications commonly used to manage diabetes: insulin and metformin. Insulin is typically used for patients with type 1 diabetes while metformin is used for patients with type 2 diabetes. Discuss with your doctor about lifestyle changes before going on metformin.

Long-term ways to control your blood sugar are consistent healthy eating and exercise. In emergencies, a quick way to reduce blood sugar is by taking fast-acting insulin. Some diabetic patients will need to take medications every day to control their blood sugar levels.

• A = A1C
A1C is a test provided by your physician once a year to check your glucose levels. The aim of glucose levels for those with diabetes is anywhere below 7 percent. Your doctor will discuss your levels and adjust any unhealthy lifestyle changes to lower your A1C.
• B = Blood Pressure
High blood pressure can be dangerous for diabetic patients and their cardiovascular health. Trying to control hormone fluctuations and cholesterol intake can help you manage your blood pressure. Some patients may need to start taking blood pressure medications if the problem doesn’t resolve itself.
• C = Cholesterol
Try and keep your cholesterol levels less than 200mg/dL to prevent heart complications.

Target blood glucose levels for people with diabetes are between 80 and 130 mg/dL before meals and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after a meal.

Our doctors can help you come up with an extensive personalized treatment plan best suited for your lifestyle and needs. Diabetes is a complicated condition that can sometimes feel impossible to manage on your own. We would love to help you understand your condition better and empower you with the necessary tools to fight it. For more information, please contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 610 Jones Ferry Rd Suite 102, Carrboro, NC 27510. We serve patients in Chapel Hill NC, Southern Village NC, Fearrington NC, Blands NC, and surrounding areas.