Mayo Clinic Minute - Who Is Affected By Diabetes And Tips To Reduce Risks [ed51f7]

Understanding Your Blood Sugar Levels: What You Need to Know

Maintaining a healthy blood sugar level is crucial for optimal health, and it's essential to understand what your levels mean. A reading of 100 mg/dL might seem like nothing to worry about, but it can be indicative of underlying issues.

In normal circumstances, the body regulates blood sugar through a delicate balance of insulin and glucose production in the liver. However, factors such as diet, exercise, stress, and sleep quality can disrupt this balance and cause fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

Managing Blood Sugar Through Lifestyle Changes

When it comes to managing your blood sugar level effectively, lifestyle changes play a significant role. Research has shown that certain foods have a direct impact on glucose metabolism. Foods with high glycemic index values, such as white bread and sugary drinks, can cause rapid spikes in blood sugar levels.

On the other hand, consuming fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes can help stabilize blood sugar levels by slowing down digestion and absorption of carbohydrates into the bloodstream.

The Importance of Monitoring Your Blood Sugar Range

Monitoring your blood sugar level is crucial for understanding how well you're managing it. By regularly tracking your readings with a glucometer or continuous glucose monitor (CGM), you'll gain valuable insights into how different factors like food, exercise, and stress impact your levels.

This knowledge will empower you to make informed lifestyle choices that support healthy blood sugar regulation and overall health.

Maintaining a Healthy Blood Sugar Range for Optimal Health

Achieving and sustaining a healthy blood sugar range is crucial for preventing chronic diseases like diabetes. By making conscious dietary choices, incorporating regular exercise into your routine, managing stress levels through relaxation techniques does xanax lower your blood sugar like meditation or yoga, and getting adequate sleep each night, you'll be well on your way to maintaining stable blood sugar levels.

Incorporating supplements that support healthy glucose metabolism can also be beneficial in conjunction with a balanced lifestyle. Some examples include chromium, magnesium, and how long to fast before a blood sugar test alpha-lipoic acid.

The Role of Exercise in Managing Blood Sugar Range

Exercise has long been touted as an effective means of managing blood sugar levels due to its direct impact on insulin sensitivity. When you engage in physical activity like brisk walking or swimming for at least 30 minutes per day, your body becomes more responsive to insulin, allowing glucose to be absorbed into the cells more efficiently.

Regular exercise also helps reduce stress and anxiety by releasing endorphins, which can further contribute to how to lower blood sugar levels immediately maintaining stable blood sugar levels throughout the day.

Three main forms of diabetes — Type 1, Type 2 and gestational — can happen during pregnancy and go away once baby is born. Those with Type 1 diabetes don't produce enough insulin and may need to take insulin daily. Most people with diabetes have Type 2.  Complications from Type 2 diabetes can include heart disease, kidney disease and a host of other issues. Obesity, family history and a poor diet are among risk factors.  Diabetes affects certain racial groups more than others. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than half of Hispanic adults in the U.S. are expected to develop Type 2 diabetes. With lifestyle changes, there are ways to help manage this disease and perhaps prevent it, says Mayo Clinic Dietitian Lori Heath. ____________________________________________ For the safety of its patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in an area not designated for patient care, where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed. FOR THE PUBLIC: More health and medical news on the Mayo Clinic News Network. FOR THE MEDIA ONLY: Register at to access clean and nat sound versions of this video on the Mayo Clinic News Network. Mayo Clinic Follow Mayo Clinic on Instagram: Like Mayo Clinic on Facebook: Follow Mayo Clinic on Twitter: