High blood sugar happens when your body can’t get the glucose in your bloodstream into your cells very efficiently. If you leave it untreated, it can lead to diabetes. One study showed that nearly 40% of adults are pre-diabetic. Prediabetes can turn into type 2 diabetes, but it doesn’t have to.
You can take steps now that lessen the chances of getting prediabetes or diabetes, and you can even reverse prediabetes if you have it now. Half of US adults have either prediabetes or diabetes. You should take serious strides in your diet, lifestyle, exercise, and workout routines to prevent prediabetes from occurring in the first place or developing into type 2 diabetes if you already have it. Let’s look at some of the best ways to lower blood sugar.
Keep this list handy. Remember that there’s a 50/50 chance you have either prediabetes or diabetes. Start putting this advice into action immediately!
1. Exercise Often and Hard
Routine exercise helps you keep your weight in check and also kickstarts insulin production and helps with insulin sensitivity. When you have better insulin sensitivity, your cells can use the sugar in your bloodstream more easily. In cases of prediabetes and diabetes, your body has trouble getting the excess glucose in the bloodstream into the cells to use for energy production. Anything you can do to help with that is a good idea.
Exercise also just helps your cells and muscles use that blood sugar for energy production and muscle contraction. Some good types of exercise for people with high blood sugar include walking fast, jogging, biking, hiking, swimming, dancing, yoga, and weightlifting. When you exercise, your muscles will need that glucose to be used for energy.
So, your liver will increase glucose production and pour it into your bloodstream. You just want to make sure your body can use that glucose, and that means you need insulin and low insulin resistance. Consult with your doctor before beginning any exercise regimen to ensure that you will be able to exercise safely. In theory, exercise is excellent for prediabetes sufferers and diabetes, but just consult your doctor to make sure you can do it.