The Highs and Lows of Blood Sugar: Understanding What Causes Fluctuations in Non-Diabetics

Blood sugar levels are a delicate balance, and for those who don't have diabetes, maintaining healthy levels can be just as challenging. One common issue non-diabetics face is high fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels, which can lead to various what should my blood sugar level be after eating health complications if left unchecked.

The Insulin Sensitivity Connection Insulin sensitivity how to reduce blood sugar through diet plays a crucial role in regulating blood sugar levels. When your body becomes insulin-resistant, it means that glucose builds up in the bloodstream instead of being absorbed into cells for energy use. This buildup is what causes high FBS levels. Various factors can contribute to insulin resistance, including genetics, obesity, physical inactivity, and an unhealthy diet.

The Role of Diet: Uncovering Hidden Sources of High Blood Sugar What you eat has a significant impact on your blood sugar levels. Consuming foods with a high 8.9 blood sugar glycemic index (GI), such as refined carbohydrates like white bread and sugary snacks, can cause spikes in FBS levels. Even seemingly healthy options like fruit juice and dried fruits contain natural sugars that ultra blood sugar contribute to increased blood glucose.

Exercise: The Overlooked Key to Managing Blood Sugar Regular exercise is essential for maintaining healthy insulin sensitivity. When you engage in physical activity, your body uses stored energy sources and becomes more responsive to insulin, reducing the risk of high FBS levels. Even small changes like taking a daily walk can make a difference.

The Impact of Sleep on Blood Glucose Regulation Sleep quality affects many bodily functions, including blood sugar regulation. Research suggests that sleep deprivation can lead to increased glucose production in the liver and reduced insulin sensitivity, both contributing to elevated FBS levels.

Stress Management: Reducing Cortisol's Unwanted low blood sugar hungry Effects Chronic stress has a significant impact on blood sugar levels by triggering the release of cortisol. Elevated cortisol causes your body to store fat around organs, including visceral fat which promotes inflammation in those areas making glucose and fatty acid production even worse. By learning effective stress-reduction techniques like meditation or deep breathing exercises, you can minimize this effect.

Getting Back on Track: Reversing High Fasting Blood Sugar Maintaining a healthy weight through exercise and diet plays a significant role in regulating blood sugar levels. Combining these lifestyle changes with regular sleep and reduced stress can lead to healthier insulin sensitivity over time, reducing the risk of high fasting blood glucose in non-diabetics.

In 2 words: overtreating lows. Think about it. When your blood sugar is low, we know what we are “supposed to do”. The whole “15/15” rule and let our blood sugar do its thing. But lets be real for a second: 95% of the time, we want to eat the WHOLE damn fridge AND pantry as fast as humanly possible 😬 (Fun fact; while I was in college I once consumed 2,000 calories in 15 minutes while I was low.) So we overdo it…then watch our blood sugars skyrocket… Which is a first-class, one-way ticket to a blood sugar rollercoaster…. Aka, a higher A1c than we want. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like riding the blood sugar rollercoaster. So, moral of the story? do everything in your power to NOT over treat your low. Get out of the kitchen. Sit on your hands. Watch a movie. Do SOMETHING so you aren’t overtreating. What are your thoughts on overtreating when low?