Uncontrolled blood sugar levels can result in hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, which respectively means low or high blood sugar levels. To stay healthy and improve your well-being, your blood sugar levels should stay within a relatively tight range. Your dietary choices, your stress and physical activity level, your sleep and the medications you take can all influence your blood sugar levels. Controlling your blood sugar levels by keeping them more stable throughout the day can help you avoid suffering unnecessarily from hypoglycemia. If you have diabetes, you should consult your doctor if you experience more than two hypoglycemic episodes a week for adjustments to your treatment plan.
Blood Sugar Fluctuations
A sudden drop in your blood sugar levels, defined as a hypoglycemia episode, which are often characterized by dizziness, shakiness, irritability, weakness and confusion, is often the result of large fluctuations in your blood sugar levels. A diet rich in carbohydrates leads to a steep rise in your blood sugar levels, which are likely to quickly drop as your pancreas produces more insulin in an attempt to control your blood sugar levels. If your blood sugar levels fluctuate greatly throughout the day, like a roller coaster, you are more at risk of experiencing both highs and lows with their accompanying unpleasant side effects.
Controlling Your Blood Sugars
The first step to controlling your blood sugar levels is to look at your carbohydrate intake. Carbohydrates are mainly provided by grain-based products, sugar-containing foods and beverages, starchy vegetables, fruit, fruit juices, milk and yogurt. As carbohydrates are digested, they are broken down into sugar and cause your blood sugar levels to raise. Reduce your carb intake to prevent your blood sugar levels from fluctuating too much, and avoid a low blood sugar level between your meals and snacks.
Healthy Meals to Prevent Hypoglycemia
Instead of having a 12-inch sub with potato chips and a soft drink, have a large salad with avocado, meat and cheese accompanied with yogurt and berries. The latter meal has a lower carb content, but it will help you feel satisfied until the next meal by keeping your blood sugar levels more even. Instead of having a big plate of pasta, have a smaller serving or replace your pasta with spaghetti squash. Add plenty of olive oil or end your meals with a serving of almonds to compensate for the calories you would otherwise get from the carbohydrates in pasta. Carbohydrate-reduced meals help you stabilize your blood sugar levels and prevent hypoglycemia. If you have a blood glucose meter, check your blood sugar levels at regular intervals throughout the day to see the impact of your dietary choices.
Other Important Factors
In addition to controlling your carbohydrate intake, other factors also can help you keep your blood sugar levels under control to help you prevent hypoglycemia. Try to be physically active every day to keep a good sensitivity to insulin. A 30-minute walk on most days of the week is enough to help you ensure your body responds to insulin properly. Managing your stress by taking time for yourself to relax, by either listening to your favorite music, breathing deeply, scrapbooking, and sleeping at least seven hours each night also can help you better control your blood sugar levels.
