Diabetes Management_ How Daily Routine and Lifestyle Impact Blood Sugar

1. Diabetes Management: How Daily Routine and Lifestyle Impact Blood Sugar It can be challenging to maintain your blood sugar levels within the range advised by your doctor. That’s because various factors can alter your blood sugar levels, sometimes inadvertently. The factors listed below may have an impact on your blood sugar levels. Food Whether or not one has diabetes, healthy life starts with good nutrition. You must understand how foods impact your blood sugar levels if you have diabetes. Along with the food you eat, other factors to consider are quantity and meal type combinations. Steps to take: Discover carbohydrate counting and portion sizes. Measuring carbohydrates is a crucial component of many diabetes control strategies. The foods that frequently have the most effects on your blood sugar levels are those high in carbohydrates. It’s also important to know how many carbohydrates are in your diet if you take mealtime insulin to obtain the correct dosage of the drug. Find out the proper serving size for each type of food. You can make meal planning easier by noting the serving sizes for the foods you consume frequently. To guarantee adequate portion size and a precise carbohydrate count, use measuring cups or a scale. Make sure that each meal is balanced. Plan each meal to include a healthy balance of carbs, fruits and vegetables, proteins, and fats. You should pay close attention to the types of carbs you select. Specific sources of carbs, such as those found in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, are healthier than others. These meals provide fiber to help keep your blood sugar levels steady and are low in carbohydrates. Discuss the ideal diet and the proper balance of food kinds with your doctor, nurse, or nutritionist. Plan your meals and medication intake. A dangerously low blood sugar level can be caused by eating too little about your diabetic treatments, especially

2. insulin (hypoglycemia). Your blood sugar level could get too high if you overeat (hyperglycemia). How to arrange your meals and medications together for optimum results should be discussed with your diabetes care team. Limit beverages with added sugar. Beverages containing added sugar, like those sweetened with sucrose or high fructose corn syrup, typically have a high-calorie content and provide little nutrients. Also, it is advised to avoid these drinks if you have diabetes because they quickly raise blood sugar levels. Exercise Another crucial component of your diabetes control strategy is physical activity. Your muscles use sugar (glucose) as energy while you work out. Your body uses insulin more effectively when you exercise frequently. Together, these elements lower your blood sugar levels. The duration of the impact increases with the intensity of your workout. However, even simple tasks like housework, gardening, or standing for long periods can lower your blood sugar. Steps to take: Consult your doctor about a workout schedule. Find out from your doctor what kind of exercise is right for you. On most days of the week, individuals should generally exercise for at least 30 minutes daily. Your doctor might first want to assess your general health if you haven’t been active before giving you any advice. They can make recommendations regarding the ideal ratio of aerobic and muscle-building exercises. Set aside time to exercise. Please consult your doctor about the optimum time of day to work out so that it coincides with your eating and medication regimens. Understanding numbers Before exercising, discuss with your doctor what blood sugar levels suit you. Check the level of your blood sugar. Before, during, and after exercise, especially if you take insulin or other medications that lower blood sugar, check your blood sugar level. Exercise can drop your blood sugar levels even a day after, especially if you’re trying a new activity or exercising more

3. vigorously. Be on the lookout for symptoms of low blood sugar, such as trembling, weakness, exhaustion, hunger, dizziness, lightheadedness, irritability, anxiety, or confusion. Remain hydrated. While exercising, drink plenty of water or other fluids because dehydration might impact blood sugar levels. Get ready. When exercising, always carry a small snack or some glucose pills if your blood sugar level becomes too low. When you’re exercising, wear a medical identification bracelet. Medication When diet and exercise alone are insufficient for treating your diabetes, insulin and other diabetes drugs are intended to lower your blood sugar levels. However, when and how many of these medications are taken will determine their efficacy. Your blood sugar levels may be impacted by medications you take for illnesses other than diabetes. Steps to take: Insulin should be kept safely. Insulin that has been incorrectly stored or is outdated may not work as intended. Particularly susceptible to temperature extremes is insulin. Inform your doctor about any issues. The amount or timing of your diabetic medications may need to be altered if they persistently raise your blood sugar levels or cause them to drop too low. When using new medications, use caution. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if a new prescription prescribed by your doctor to treat another illness, such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, could influence your blood sugar levels before taking it. To mask their flavor, liquid drugs may be sweetened with sugar. A different drug might occasionally be suggested. Before taking any new over-the-counter medication, always consult your doctor to learn how it may affect your blood sugar level. Illness The body produces stress-related hormones while you are ill to aid in the body’s battle against the sickness, but they can also cause a rise in blood

4. sugar levels. Changes in your eating habits and regular activities can make managing your diabetes more difficult. Steps to take Think ahead. Create a sick day strategy with the assistance of your medical team. Include directions on how to take your prescriptions, how often to check your blood sugar and urine ketone levels, how to change your medication dosages, and when to call your doctor. Take your diabetes medicine as prescribed. However, call your doctor if nausea or vomiting prevents you from eating. Due to a risk of hypoglycemia, you may need to modify your insulin dosage in these circumstances or temporarily stop taking your medicine. Alcohol To counterbalance dropping blood sugar levels, the liver often releases stored sugar. However, if your liver is preoccupied with alcohol metabolism, it might not be able to increase your blood sugar level. Shortly after drinking alcohol and for up to 24 hours more, low blood sugar can occur. Steps to take: Obtain your doctor’s approval before drinking. Diabetes issues like nerve damage and eye degeneration might be made worse by alcohol. However, if your diabetes is under control and your doctor approves, the odd alcoholic beverage is acceptable. For women of any age and males older than 65, moderate alcohol intake is defined as no more than one drink per day and two drinks per day for men younger than 65. A 12-ounce beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits are considered one drink. Never consume alcohol on an empty stomach. Make careful to eat first or drink alongside a meal if you take insulin or other diabetes treatments to prevent low blood sugar. Pick your beverages wisely. Compared to other alcoholic beverages, light beer and dry wines offer fewer calories and carbs. Sugar-free mixers like seltzer, club soda, diet soda, or diet tonic won’t cause your blood sugar to spike if you like mixed drinks.

5. Add up the calories. Remember to factor any alcohol you consume into your daily calorie total. Including the calories and carbs from alcoholic beverages in your diet plan should be discussed with your doctor or nutritionist. Before you go to sleep: 1. Check your blood sugar. 2. Check your blood sugar level before you go to bed because alcohol can cause blood sugar levels to drop long after your last drink. 3. Have a snack before night if your blood sugar isn’t between 100 and 140 mg/dL (5.6 and 7.8 mmol/L) to prevent a decline. 4. Menstruation and menopause Blood sugar levels can significantly fluctuate throughout the week leading up to and during menstruation due to changes in hormone levels. Additionally, hormone fluctuations may cause unpredictable swings in blood sugar levels in the few years leading up to and during menopause, complicating the management of diabetes. Steps to take: Analyze patterns. Keep meticulous records of your monthly blood sugar readings. You can anticipate changes in your menstrual cycle. If necessary, modify your diabetes medication regimen. To compensate for fluctuations in blood sugar, your doctor may advise adjustments to your diet, level of exercise, or diabetic medications. Increased blood sugar monitoring. Ask your doctor if you should monitor your blood sugar more frequently if you are nearing or in menopause. When feasible, check your blood sugar before treating a suspected low to confirm the level. Menopause symptoms can occasionally be confused with symptoms of low blood sugar. Source By : https://cashnowforteststrips.com/2022/11/22/diabetes-management-how-daily- routine-and-lifestyle-impact-blood-sugar/