Factors Likely to Impact Your Blood Sugar Levels

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Fluctuating blood pressures and cholesterol levels are common with diabetes. Diabetes affects almost every part of your body, increasing your risk of developing heart attack and stroke complications. However, knowing the possible triggers that might increase your blood sugar levels can help you manage the chronic condition. Your typical Southaven diabetes management plan entails learning how the various factors, including diet and medications, can help you achieve a healthy target range of your blood sugar. For instance, your healthcare provider may suggest a meal plan to help maintain healthy cholesterol levels, blood glucose and blood pressure.

What are the factors likely to affect your blood sugar levels?

Maintaining your blood sugar levels within a healthy range can be challenging because several things may shift your sugar levels, sometimes unexpectedly. Therefore, your healthcare provider will advise you to know factors that may change your sugar levels and how to control them. They include:

Medications

Your doctor will recommend insulin and several other medications to help lower your sugar levels when exercise and diet fail to manage the condition. However, the effectiveness of the medications will significantly depend on your timing and dosage. However, other medications you might be taking to address other conditions besides diabetes may affect your blood sugar levels. To minimize your risk of experiencing alternating sugar levels, the medical professional will suggest you store your insulin properly, report any complications and be careful with additional medications.

Food

Eating a healthy meal is not a preserve for diabetic patients. However, with diabetes, you might need to know how the type of foods you eat and their quantity affect your sugars. For instance:

  • Carbohydrate counting is crucial in managing diabetes because they have the most significant impact on your sugar levels. For instance, you might need to know the number of carbohydrates in your food to know your proper insulin dose if you take mealtime insulin.
  • You should try to balance your intake of vegetables, fruits, proteins, fats and starch. Your dietician will help highlight the best food choices, especially those with low carbohydrates levels, and advise on the proper balance of your food.
  •  Poor coordination between your meals and medications will likely affect your sugars. For instance, too little food that is not proportionate to your medications, especially insulin, will dramatically minimize your sugar levels (hypoglycemia). On the other hand, too much food consumption may shoot your blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia).
  •  Minimize your sugar-sweetened beverages intake. The drinks are high in calorie levels and can significantly increase your blood sugar levels. However, your doctor may use the sweetened beverages as an effective treatment to boost your sugar levels if you are experiencing low sugar levels.

Exercise 

Regular physical activity is essential in your diabetes management plan. During exercise, your muscles use glucose for energy, helping your body to use insulin efficiently. However, the effects will last depending on your workout levels. For instance, your sugar levels will remain steady for longer if you go for a more strenuous workout.

Several factors influence your blood sugar levels. However, knowing about them might help you anticipate and plan how to stabilize the levels. Call your doctor for help if you struggle to maintain your target range to learn different coping strategies.