Glucose is one of the most abundant sugars in your body. It serves as a source of energy, helping to fuel the cells in your brain and muscles and throughout your body. However, glucose can also play an important role in disease -- chronically high levels of glucose can harm your tissues, and glucose can also provide the energy for cancer growth. Blocking glucose can aid in the treatment of some diseases.
Step 1
Eat soluble fiber -- a nutrient found in plant-based foods. Soluble fiber ferments as it passes through your digestive tract and absorbs water to form a gel-like substance. Consuming soluble fiber helps absorb some nutrients in your digestive tract and can inhibit glucose absorption in your intestines, blocking rapid glucose uptake after you eat a meal. Oatmeal, beans, fruits and vegetables all contain soluble fiber.
Step 2
Consume glucose-blocking medications to help block specific cells from using glucose. The ability to block glucose proves beneficial in cancer treatment, since preventing cancer cells from using glucose essentially "starves" the tumor. A study published in "Molecular Cancer Therapeutics" in 2008 indicates that glucose blockers increase the efficacy of other cancer medications to effectively induce cancer cell death.
Step 3
Prevent excessively high levels of glucose in your body by maintaining a healthy diet and treating any underlying conditions. Individuals with undiagnosed or poorly controlled diabetes might experience high levels of glucose in their bloodstream due to the absence of or resistance to insulin -- a hormone that would normally lower blood sugar levels. Treating diabetes can increase the levels of insulin in your body or help your body respond better to insulin, blocking excessively high glucose levels. A physician can determine how best to block the high blood glucose levels that can occur in diabetes.
Tips and Warnings
- Drugs that block high glucose levels or block your cells from using glucose can cause side effects. If you take glucose-blocking medications, talk to your doctor about how best to deal with the possible side effects of medication.
- If you're interested in blocking glucose because you suffer from high blood glucose levels, seek medical attention so your doctor can address the underlying issue affecting your blood sugar.
