Balancing Blood Sugar for Diabetes Management

Millions of people are diagnosed with diabetes each year. Unmanaged diabetes may cause a wide range of health issues, including severe illness, injury, or death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists diabetes as the eighth most common cause of death. In 2021, over half a million people visited “emergency departments with type two diabetes as the primary diagnosis.” LifeSpring Home Nutrition helps people maintain diabetes management by providing diabetic-friendly home-delivered meals.

What Is Diabetes Management?

Diabetes affects the body’s ability to produce or regulate blood sugar. Individuals must monitor their blood sugar to ensure it does not stay too high or low for prolonged periods. Diabetes management reduces the risk of health complications caused by fluctuations in blood glucose levels. According to the CDC, “Diabetes complications often share the same risk factors, and one complication can make other complications worse.”

Unmanaged diabetes may cause many severe health issues, including:

• Loss of vision
• Nerve damage
• Heart attack or stroke
• Kidney damage
• Infections

If blood sugar levels remain too high for a prolonged period, it can cause unconsciousness, coma, or death. Managing diabetes and monitoring blood sugar levels is essential for reducing health risks. LifeSpring Home Nutrition offers diabetic-friendly meals and nutritional support to individuals in the community.

4 Practical Tips for Diabetes Management

Individuals diagnosed with diabetes may experience a wide range of symptoms and side effects. Diabetes management is essential to reduce the risk of severe health complications. According to the CDC, “It takes time and practice to live well with diabetes,” and “Everything you do to take care of yourself helps.” Below are four practical tips for diabetes management.

#1. Eat Healthy Meals and Stay Hydrated

Diet is an essential part of diabetes management. The types of foods people eat affect how their bodies regulate blood sugar.

Some of the foods people use for diabetes management include:

• Healthy carbohydrates
• Fiber-rich foods, including vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grains
• Lean proteins, including fish, eggs, beans, and nuts

Hydration is also essential for good overall health. Dehydration can cause blood sugar to become dangerously high. Drinking the recommended amount of water each day helps people regulate their blood sugar levels.

#2. Monitor Blood Sugar Levels for Diabetes Management

People must keep an eye on their blood sugar levels throughout the day. If people do not keep track of their glucose levels, they risk experiencing high or low blood sugar levels for a prolonged period. Chronic low blood sugar can cause seizures, brain damage, coma, or death. Prolonged high blood pressure can cause unconsciousness, coma, or death. People should make a routine of monitoring their blood sugar levels multiple times a day.

Some ways people track their blood sugar levels include:

• Keeping a journal
• Using an app
• Writing their numbers down in a notebook
• Having a loved one help with tracking

Blood sugar levels fluctuate throughout the day based on multiple factors, including the foods people eat, hydration, and the level of physical activity. Carefully monitoring blood sugar levels is an essential step in diabetes management.

#3. Keep a Log Book of Symptoms

People benefit from keeping a record of their symptoms that is separate from monitoring their blood sugar levels. Keeping this kind of record allows individuals to observe any changes to general health and potential patterns they might need to report to their health care provider. In addition, tracking symptoms improves self-awareness and ensures people have a better idea of their overall health needs. People may use apps or physical notebooks to keep a log book of their diabetes symptoms and side effects.

#4. Take Medication for Diabetes Management

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), “Taking diabetes medicines is often part of managing diabetes.” Combining prescription medications with a healthy diet and other lifestyle changes allows people to manage their diabetes more effectively.

Some of the medications used to treat diabetes include:

• Insulin
• Metformin
• Amylinomimetic injectables, including Pramlintide (SymlinPen)
• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, including Miglitol (Glyset)
• Biguanides, including Metformin (Glumetza, Riomet, Riomet ER)
• Dopamine-2 agonists, including Bromocriptine (Cycloset, Parlodel)
• Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors
• Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 receptor agonists)
• Meglitinides
• Sulfonylureas
• Thiazolidinediones

In addition to directly affecting insulin production and regulation, medications can also help people manage potential symptoms and side effects of diabetes. For example, a family doctor may suggest that individuals use aspirin and cholesterol medications to reduce the impact of diabetes on the cardiovascular system. Often, health care professionals recommend a combination of medication and lifestyle changes to ensure people successfully manage their diabetes.

How LifeSpring Home Nutrition Supports Diabetes Management

LifeSpring Home Nutrition provides people with nutritional guidance and healthy meals that help balance blood sugar levels. Vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and other nutritious foods create delicious and nourishing meals for individuals with diabetes or other chronic health conditions.

Home-delivered meals may also prevent type 2 diabetes for individuals at high risk of developing it. Weekly meal deliveries are tailored to meet the needs and preferences of each participant. The prep team ensures that every dish has high-quality ingredients for added nutrients. LifeSpring Home Nutrition helps people follow a healthy lifestyle and successfully manage their diabetes.

Balancing blood sugar is essential for diabetes management. Prolonged high or low blood sugar levels may cause significant health problems. People must track changes to their blood sugar levels to reduce the risk of experiencing severe illness, injury, or death. Individuals with diabetes benefit from using journals, monitoring apps, and other tools to keep track of their blood sugar levels throughout the day. Diet plays an essential role in diabetes management and can help people reduce the potential side effects and complications of diabetes. LifeSpring Home Nutrition offers diabetes-friendly meals to help people manage blood sugar levels and other aspects of their condition. To learn more about our services and how to receive meal deliveries, call us at (800) 798-5767.