High blood sugar, also known as hyperglycemia, affects those with diabetes. Common symptoms include increase thirst, urination and fatigue, according to MayoClinic.com. It is vital to receive treatment for high blood sugar as it can lead to serious health complications, including a diabetic coma. Eating foods in accordance with your high blood sugar requires healthy alternatives to sugar-laden items.
Whole Grains
If you're suffering from hyperglycemia, you will need to eat whole grains, specifically oats and barley, which have a low glycemic index, according to Len Marquart and Graeme McIntosh in their book "Whole Grains and Health." Increasing dietary fiber, Marquart and McIntosh note, including whole-wheat products, like bread and pasta, can effectively improve blood sugar levels. If you have Type 2 diabetes brought on by obesity, high fiber foods such as whole grains are effective tools in weight management, Marquart and McIntosh say. Additional health benefits include lowered blood pressure, cholesterol and digestive regularity.
Lean Meats
High blood sugar requires you to reduce meats high in saturated fats. This includes luncheon meats and other highly processed varieties that have an inordinate amount of fat, according to Ronald Codario in his book "Type 2 Diabetes, Pre-Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome." Lean meats and fish in moderation, as well as fiber-rich foods can effectively keep blood sugar levels low to prevent any hyperglycemic complications, Codario says. Eating chicken breast, fatty fish varieties and turkey in lieu of red meat can provide essential protein levels without compromising your health, according to Codario.
Low-Sugar Fruits and Vegetables
Perhaps the most important part of a balanced diet for hyperglycemics is a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables. You have to be careful, however, especially with fruits as some can contain high levels of sugar that can cause you blood levels to spike. According to Alan Rubin and Cait James in their book "Diabetes Cookbook," fruits with a lower glycemic index include apples, apricots, blueberries, cherries, grapefruit and kiwis.
Alternately, vegetables contains complex carbohydrates, which help to keep blood sugar leveled without any sudden spikes. Eating dark green leafy varieties, for example, are high conducive for those with hyperglycemia as they do not affect blood sugar but provide an ample amount of nutrition, including vitamins A, C and E, as well as a healthy serving of fiber for regularity and improved digestion, according to Margaret Powers in her book "Handbook of Diabetes Medical Nutrition Therapy."
References
- MayoClinic.com: Hyperglycemia in Diabetes
- "Whole Grains and Health"; Len Marquart and Graeme McIntosh; 2007
- "Type 2 Diabetes, Pre-Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome"; Ronald Codario; 2005
- "Handbook of Diabetes Medical Nutrition Therapy"; Margaret Powers; 1996
- "Diabetes Cookbook,"; Alan Rubin and Cait James; 2010
