That being said, when I was first diagnosed, I constantly fought the fear and panic that comes with a major diagnosis. I started checking my sugar obsessively, but then had no idea what to do when I was high.
This list is not meant to be new information. If you’ve had Type 2 Diabetes for any length of time, you’ve probably heard of at least a few of these. The goal of this list is to compile some strategies to deal with high blood sugar levels. It’s the list I looked for when I was first diagnosed. As with any information, your mileage my vary, but I’ll add to this list as I come across new ideas and possibilities. Enjoy!
Water – The A-1 best solution for high blood sugar. Pour yourself a tall glass of cool water however you take it. Squeeze a little lemon juice or cucumber in it for flavor if you like. The key here is drink it, then wait 10-15 minutes and drink more. Take a Walk – Low intensity exercise (such as walking) moves sugar through your system faster, as well as spikes insulin sensitivity. Weight Training – Lifting heavy weights will push glucose out of your blood into your glycogen (energy) stores in your muscles. Getting bigger muscles will also Insulin Injections – Only recommended if prescribed by your medical care provider. Make sure you know how and when to properly use this tool. Bitter Melon Tea – For thousands of years the Chinese used bitter melon rind to treat high blood sugar. For best results, take it without sugar or artificial sweeteners. Cinnamon Tea – Cinnamon in any form has been shown to spike insulin sensitivity, but getting fresh cinnamon sticks from a whole foodsstore brewed in a hot tea with a little nutmeg is particularly effective (and tasty). Apple Cider Vinegar – Yes, you’ve heard it’s effective for everything from a bathroom cleaner to treating muscle soreness, but it’s also been shown to improve blood glucose levels. Put two or three tablespoons in a glass of water if you can’t shoot it straight (my results have shown no difference). Fiber Supplement Chromium Decrease Stress Fenugreek Garlic Avocados Nuts Blueberries – Anthrocyanins Tart cherries/juice Coffee Running Calisthenics Resistant starches are found in: Unripe bananas Beans and lentils Whole grains, including wheat, oats, rice and buckwheat Corn Cold pasta Beans – EVERY day HIIT Training Prickly Pear Deep Breathing Tai Chi Start or Pursue a Hobby Move more every day Eat a High Protein breakfast – at least 40 grams! Dark Greens – Kale Spinach and Chard Lemon Water Alpha Lipoic Acid Decrease Alcohol Consumption Green Tea Time carbs for after resistance workouts Pumpkin SeedsSunflower Seeds Cacao Chia Seeds Hemp Seeds Red Wine Apples – quercetin Tomatoes Onions Cold Water Fish – Tuna, Herring, Salmon, Mackerel Steak – CLA Oatmeal Natural Peanut Butter – No Sugar Added Pecans Run Bodyweight Exercises Salacia – Only to lower spikes – Double Blind randomized against placebos showed it increases the effects of metformin
