1. Prevent a Low Blood Sugar Episode
You can help prevent dealing with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) by maintaining a healthy diet and eating at regular intervals. This helps your body adjust to rising and falling blood sugar levels. It is also important to take measurements of your blood sugar when necessary, using a blood glucose monitoring system. Exercise is another important part of regulating blood sugar. It's important to note, however, that you should always speak to a doctor before you embark on any blood sugar regulating lifestyle changes.
2. Treat Low Blood Sugar With Fast-Acting Glucose Foods
Once low blood sugar symptoms have set in, such as trembling, anxiety or disorientation, the best thing you can do is treat it with foods that are high in sugar. A tablespoon of honey is considered a fast-acting glucose food, a food in which the contained glucose can be quickly processed and released into your system. Orange juice is another such food, as are sugary candies. The goal is to treat your hypoglycemic episode with roughly 15 grams of sugar. If you're having a particularly serious episode then you might want to take in 20 grams or more, but you should also speak to a doctor if this is the case.
3. Fight Stress and Get Some Sleep
Stress is one of the biggest contributors to blood sugar problems. Stress makes it hard for your body to regulate your blood sugar levels and increases the potential for both hyper- and hypoglycemia. Use meditation to help center yourself, and give yourself a break whenever you're starting to feel overwhelmed. Another important factor is sleep. Lack of sleep reduces the effectiveness of our immune systems and hinders our body's ability to metabolize sugars for energy. That can lead to a loss of energy and a drop in blood sugar. Aim for at least eight hours of sleep every night.
