Whether you’re at risk for diabetes or not, your blood sugar plays an integral role in your overall health.  Knowing your blood sugar numbers and the lifestyle that helps you maintain a healthy blood sugar can lead to better overall health.  FitClub has broken down the science so you can understand your blood sugar and build a healthier lifestyle.

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What is blood sugar?

Blood sugar, also called glucose, enters your bloodstream from the food you eat.  Glucose provides energy throughout your body and is produced by the food taken in and regulated by the liver, small intestine, and pancreas.  While blood sugar naturally fluctuates throughout the day, either a spike or drop in blood sugar can cause ailments ranging from minor discomfort to diabetes.

High Blood Sugar

In people without diabetes, high blood sugar is caused by foods that contain high levels of sugar or carbohydrates that are broken down into sugars.  If you are at risk for high blood sugar or diabetes, limiting the portion sizes and frequency of eating high sugar or carbohydrate foods can help regulate your blood sugar and protect you from high blood sugar spikes.  When the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin to regulate a person’s blood sugar, the body can’t break down the sugars in the blood and the blood sugar remains consistently high.  The effect of high blood sugar ranges from blurred vision and headaches to developing diabetes.

A lack of physical activity has also been associated with blood sugar spikes.  A consistent exercise regimen helps your body regulate blood sugar levels and lowers your risk of developing diabetes or other health conditions related to high blood sugar.

Low Blood Sugar

By contrast, some people suffer periodically from having low blood sugar.  When your body has too little blood sugar, you might experience anxiety, confusion, or nausea.  When you feel symptoms that may be related to low blood sugar, it’s just as important to eat in order to raise your blood sugar as it is to eat the right foods for a healthy blood sugar level.  Your body needs sugar, but not all sugar is created equally.  A small serving of fruit juice might instantly solve the problem, but a lifestyle of eating fresh vegetables and fruit can naturally regulate your low blood sugar level without adding dangerous added sugar to your diet.

Prevention

To prevent either high or low blood sugar, there are certain changes you can make today.  Eating a varied diet of key nutrient and minerals without added sugar is key to creating a healthy lifestyle.  Consistent, moderate exercise of at least one hundred fifty minutes each week can also ward off dangerous fluctuations of blood sugar.  Most importantly, follow your doctor’s orders and complete all recommended blood work panels.  Your doctor can help you understand your blood sugar readings and make suggestions that can help you even out high or low readings.  If you think you may be at risk for diabetes, it’s essential that you work with a medical professional that can help you understand the simple, but important, lifestyle changes necessary for a healthier life.