High amounts of sugar in your blood, also called hyperglycemia, can prove to be dangerous. If you have diabetes (a condition of high blood sugars), your glucose levels can skyrocket and lead to various medical complications. You can go into a diabetic coma, have a stroke or heart attack and have problems with your feet and eyes. There are specific steps to reduce glucose in your blood.
Step 1
Take insulin or oral glucose-lowering medications like metformin and acarbose, as directed by your doctor. The type of medication prescribed will depend on the type of diabetes you have. Talk to your doctor to determine which treatment is best for you.
Step 2
Limit carbohydrate-containing foods like breads and pasta that break down into sugar and can increase blood sugar levels. When you are at a restaurant or cooking at home, eat small portions and share food with your family. Make food substitutions and eat a vegetable and salad instead of a hamburger. Your blood sugar levels increase one to two hours after eating so you should eat at the same time every day. Use "MyFoodAdvisor," a tool provided by the American Diabetes Association, which offers healthy recipes and helps you count your calorie and carbohydrate intake (see Resources).
Step 3
Exercise daily for at least 30 minutes to reduce your blood glucose levels. When you exercise, your muscles use glucose for energy and this decreases glucose in the blood. It is important to tell your doctor you are exercising because you might have to adjust certain diabetic medications like insulin. If medications aren't adjusted, the glucose levels in your blood may get low and you could have a hypoglycemic reaction---low glucose condition characterized by fainting, muscle pain, confusion and paleness. Stop exercising if you feel dizzy or nauseous.
Tips and Warnings
- A nutritionist can help design a diet to help with your glucose levels.
Things You'll Need
- Insulin
- Oral medications (such as metformin and acarbose)
