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In order to decrease blood sugar levels, it is important to pay attention to food, giving preference to whole foods and avoiding excess carbohydrates and sugar, and to practice physical activity on a regular basis, so that it is possible to avoid spikes in blood glucose and the accumulation of circulating sugar.
Excess blood sugar, scientifically called hyperglycemia, occurs when the fasting blood glucose level is above 100 mg / dL, a situation that, if persistent, can have bad consequences for the functioning of the organs. Therefore, whenever these symptoms appear, it is important to consult the general practitioner or endocrinologist to carry out the clinical evaluation and initial tests that identify blood glucose levels, as well as blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, for example. , situations that are also risks to cardiovascular health.
How to lower your blood sugar
To decrease blood sugar levels it is important to follow the guidelines of the general practitioner or endocrinologist, and it is usually recommended:
- Make use of antidiabetic medications, such as Metformin, Glibenclamide, Glimepiride, Gliclazide or Insulin, in the case of people already diagnosed with diabetes;
- Have a healthy diet, avoiding excess sugar or carbohydrates, and investing in vegetables and whole foods, especially in the case of people with pre-diabetes;
- Eat small meals throughout the day, with an average interval of 3 hours, as this way it is possible to avoid blood sugar spikes;
- Do not substitute meals for sweets or fruits, as it can cause a rapid rise in blood glucose levels;
- Practice physical activity on a regular basis, such as walking, jogging or weight training, as the sugar consumed can be used as an energy source, preventing large concentrations from circulating in the body.
In addition, in the case of diabetes and pre-diabetes, it is important that the person is monitored regularly by the doctor and the nutritionist, as it is thus possible to check the evolution of blood glucose levels and make changes to the treatment plan or diet.
Nutritional monitoring in prediabetes has a fundamental role, because through changes in eating habits, it is possible to prevent progression to diabetes. Learn how to identify and treat prediabetes.
How to know if sugar levels are high
To find out if blood sugar levels are high, it is important to have a fasting glucose test, also known as a fasting blood glucose test, in which glucose levels are considered to be high when a concentration above 100 mg is found. / dL. It is usually considered diabetes when the glucose concentration is above 126 mg / dL in at least two different dosages, or above 200 mg / dL in a single dosage.
In addition to the fasting glucose test, other tests such as oral glucose tolerance test (TOTG), postprandial glycemia or glycated hemoglobin, which informs you about glucose levels in the last three months, may also be requested by your doctor. Learn more about the tests that confirm diabetes.
To confirm elevated blood sugar levels, the doctor also evaluates signs and symptoms that may be presented by the person and that are indicative of hyperglycemia, such as excessive thirst, increased urge to urinate, headache, tingling in the hands or feet and drowsiness, for example. Check out other symptoms of hyperglycemia.